Difference between revisions of "Wand of death"
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| − | The '''wand of death''' is among the most powerful [[wand]]s in [[Nethack]] | + | The '''wand of death''' is among the most powerful [[wand]]s available in ''[[Nethack]]''. |
== Generation == | == Generation == | ||
The wand of death is one of the rarest wands, making up only 0.5% of randomly generated wands. | The wand of death is one of the rarest wands, making up only 0.5% of randomly generated wands. | ||
| − | [[Orcus]] is always generated a wand of death | + | [[Orcus]] is always generated a wand of death; other monsters with a [[monster difficulty|difficulty rating]] of 8 or more have a 1/35 chance of receiving it as an [[offensive item]] if eligible. |
== Effects == | == Effects == | ||
| − | [[Zap]]ping it | + | [[Zap]]ping it in any direction fires a ray of death, similar to the {{spell of|finger of death}}, that instantly kills almost any [[monster]] it hits in its path, including the player character if it rebounds. [[Riders#Death|Death]], all major [[demon]]s, all [[nonliving]] monsters, and monsters with [[magic resistance]] or [[reflection]] are completely unaffected; Death in particular will actually become stronger. As with all [[ray]]-type wands, it can rebound, and there is a chance that it will miss. |
| − | Zapping a wand of death at yourself results in an [[instadeath]], even if you have | + | Zapping a wand of death directly at yourself results in an [[instadeath]], even if you have magic resistance or reflection—''unless'' you are [[polymorph]]ed into any of the unaffected monsters mentioned above. |
| − | Breaking the wand results in a standard magical explosion with (16 × charges) damage, and the wand is identified. Although the game refers to this explosion as a "death field" if it kills you, magic resistance is not necessary to survive it. | + | Breaking the wand results in a standard magical explosion, with the game rolling a number of d16 (16 × charges) damage, and the wand is identified. Although the game refers to this explosion as a "death field" if it kills you, magic resistance is not necessary to survive it. |
| − | == | + | == Strategy == |
| − | The wand of death | + | :{{For|the guaranteed wand from Orcus|Orcus#Strategy}} |
| + | The fabled [[Gnome With the Wand of Death]] is one of the major sources of [[YASD]]; while very much an outlier scenario, it represents the possibility of any intelligent monster with hands finding a wand that could end your game (to speak nothing of a wand of death specifically). It may be ideal to snag whatever wands you see as soon as possible, if only to keep them out of other monsters' hands; if one of those early wands happens to be a wand of death, it should be saved only for immediate emergencies where the only alternative to not using a precious charge is dying. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Identifying a wand of death is not too difficult: [[engraving]] with the wand of death provides the same message as the [[wand of sleep]], but the former is much more common. The wand also has a base cost of 500 [[zm]], only shared with the [[wand of wishing]]. Identifying one in the possession of a monster is much more difficult for obvious reasons—if you learn that a monster has a wand of death without having been instantly killed by it, beware of bouncing rays and consider using an [[escape item]] unless you have reflection or magic resistance. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Reflection in particular tends to trivialize some of the wand's danger if the reflected ray kills the user, and you can then pick it up to preserve the charges; be sure to watch out for monsters with reflection themselves while using the wand yourself. [[Pacifist]]s with magic resistance or reflection may sometimes want to deliberately give a wand of death to a particularly dangerous monster—the purpose is to manipulate them into killing themselves with the rebounded/reflected ray, and is one of the pacifistic strategies for dealing with [[Medusa]] (since reflection breaks the conduct). | ||
| − | + | The wand of death is often employed in the late game to kill the [[Wizard of Yendor]], both during the initial meeting and every reappearance after; this is done to minimize the risk of him stealing [[quest artifact]]s, especially ones that provide magic resistance. Make sure that {{purple|@}} isn't a [[summon nasties|summoned]] [[Elvenking]] before taking your shot! | |
| − | |||
| − | + | ==Messages== | |
| + | {{message|The bugs on the floor stop moving!|You engraved with a wand of sleep or a wand of death.}} | ||
| + | {{message|You irradiate yourself with pure energy!|You zapped a wand of death directly at yourself.}} | ||
| + | {{message|The wand shoots an apparently harmless beam at you.|As above, but you are polymorphed into a form immune to death rays.}} | ||
==Variants== | ==Variants== | ||
In [[SporkHack]] and [[EvilHack]], death rays will still cause damage and reduce your maximum hit points if you have magic resistance or reflection. If you have both, the damage and maximum HP loss are dramatically reduced. | In [[SporkHack]] and [[EvilHack]], death rays will still cause damage and reduce your maximum hit points if you have magic resistance or reflection. If you have both, the damage and maximum HP loss are dramatically reduced. | ||
| − | {{nethack- | + | {{nethack-364}} |
[[Category:Wands|Death]] | [[Category:Wands|Death]] | ||
[[Category:Instadeath]] | [[Category:Instadeath]] | ||
Revision as of 17:50, 27 February 2020
| / | |
|---|---|
| Name | death |
| Appearance | random |
| Abundance | 0.5% |
| Base price | 500 zm |
| Weight | 7 |
| Type | ray |
| Maximum charges | 8 |
| Spell | finger of death |
| Monster use | May be used offensively by monsters. |
The wand of death is among the most powerful wands available in Nethack.
Contents
Generation
The wand of death is one of the rarest wands, making up only 0.5% of randomly generated wands.
Orcus is always generated a wand of death; other monsters with a difficulty rating of 8 or more have a 1/35 chance of receiving it as an offensive item if eligible.
Effects
Zapping it in any direction fires a ray of death, similar to the finger of death, that instantly kills almost any monster it hits in its path, including the player character if it rebounds. Death, all major demons, all nonliving monsters, and monsters with magic resistance or reflection are completely unaffected; Death in particular will actually become stronger. As with all ray-type wands, it can rebound, and there is a chance that it will miss.
Zapping a wand of death directly at yourself results in an instadeath, even if you have magic resistance or reflection—unless you are polymorphed into any of the unaffected monsters mentioned above.
Breaking the wand results in a standard magical explosion, with the game rolling a number of d16 (16 × charges) damage, and the wand is identified. Although the game refers to this explosion as a "death field" if it kills you, magic resistance is not necessary to survive it.
Strategy
- For the guaranteed wand from Orcus, see Orcus#Strategy.
The fabled Gnome With the Wand of Death is one of the major sources of YASD; while very much an outlier scenario, it represents the possibility of any intelligent monster with hands finding a wand that could end your game (to speak nothing of a wand of death specifically). It may be ideal to snag whatever wands you see as soon as possible, if only to keep them out of other monsters' hands; if one of those early wands happens to be a wand of death, it should be saved only for immediate emergencies where the only alternative to not using a precious charge is dying.
Identifying a wand of death is not too difficult: engraving with the wand of death provides the same message as the wand of sleep, but the former is much more common. The wand also has a base cost of 500 zm, only shared with the wand of wishing. Identifying one in the possession of a monster is much more difficult for obvious reasons—if you learn that a monster has a wand of death without having been instantly killed by it, beware of bouncing rays and consider using an escape item unless you have reflection or magic resistance.
Reflection in particular tends to trivialize some of the wand's danger if the reflected ray kills the user, and you can then pick it up to preserve the charges; be sure to watch out for monsters with reflection themselves while using the wand yourself. Pacifists with magic resistance or reflection may sometimes want to deliberately give a wand of death to a particularly dangerous monster—the purpose is to manipulate them into killing themselves with the rebounded/reflected ray, and is one of the pacifistic strategies for dealing with Medusa (since reflection breaks the conduct).
The wand of death is often employed in the late game to kill the Wizard of Yendor, both during the initial meeting and every reappearance after; this is done to minimize the risk of him stealing quest artifacts, especially ones that provide magic resistance. Make sure that @ isn't a summoned Elvenking before taking your shot!
Messages
- The bugs on the floor stop moving!
- You engraved with a wand of sleep or a wand of death.
- You irradiate yourself with pure energy!
- You zapped a wand of death directly at yourself.
- The wand shoots an apparently harmless beam at you.
- As above, but you are polymorphed into a form immune to death rays.
Variants
In SporkHack and EvilHack, death rays will still cause damage and reduce your maximum hit points if you have magic resistance or reflection. If you have both, the damage and maximum HP loss are dramatically reduced.
This page may need to be updated for the current version of NetHack.
It may contain text specific to NetHack 3.6.4. Information on this page may be out of date.
Editors: After reviewing this page and making necessary edits, please change the {{nethack-364}} tag to the current version's tag or {{noversion}} as appropriate.
