Difference between revisions of "Wand of digging"

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A '''wand of digging''' can [[dig]] through walls, doors and floors. It can also help you escape a monster who is [[digest]]ing you.
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A '''wand of digging''' is a type of [[wand]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''.
  
== Generation ==
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==Generation==
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Monsters may be generated carrying a wand of digging as a [[defensive item]]. A fleeing monster with a wand of digging they may zap this wand downward to escape. Monsters that try to dig downward through an undiggable floor will simply fail to dig. They do not learn, though.
  
Monsters may be generated carrying a wand of digging as a [[defensive item]]. When fleeing, they may zap this wand downward to escape. Monsters that try to dig downward through an undiggable floor will simply fail to dig. They do not learn, though.
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Minotaurs have a {{frac|3}} chance of [[monster starting inventory|being generated with]] a wand of digging; the one generated upon entering the [[Plane of Earth]] is guaranteed to have one.
  
Minotaurs have a {{frac|1|3}} chance of being generated with a wand of digging (except on the [[Plane of Earth]], where they are guaranteed to have the wand).
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==Description==
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[[Zap]]ping a wand of digging in a given direction produces a ray that can [[dig]] open a corridor of several [[square]]s through [[solid rock]] and walls, destroying any [[door]]s in its path. Zapping the wand downward creates a [[hole]] and causes you to fall through it, unless you are [[levitating]] or else manage to escape the hole somehow; zapping the wand upward causes a [[rock]] to fall from the ceiling and bonk you on the head unless you are underwater.
  
== Identification ==
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Zapping the wand in a maze level will limit the ray's effect to one square; the ray has no effect on undiggable walls and rock, and zapping it downward on undiggable floors will create a [[pit]] instead.  Zapping the wand while being [[engulfed]] by a solid monster sets the monster's current HP to 1 and expels you.{{refsrc|dig.c|1166}} The ray has no effect on [[boulder]]s.
  
If you see a monster escape by zapping a wand of digging down, that will [[identify]] the wand for you. [[Engrave|Engraving]] with a wand of digging automatically identifies the wand.
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[[Apply]]ing a wand of digging with non-zero charges to break it creates pits or holes on your square and the eight squares around you, with the exception of undiggable floors and [[stairs]], [[boulder]]s or [[trap]]s.{{refsrc|apply.c|2697}}{{reffunc|dig.c|dig_check}} This can also destroy [[altar]]s and [[throne]]s.
  
== Effects ==
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Zapping the wand, seeing a monster zap it, or else [[engraving]] with the wand will [[auto-identify]] it.
 
 
=== Zapping ===
 
 
 
You can [[zap]] the wand to [[dig]] open a corridor of several [[square]]s (unless you're in a maze level, in which case the beam will continue as normal but will end after digging one wall square). Closed [[door]]s are broken through; as-of-yet-undetected [[secret door]]s are cleared. Note, however, that a wand of digging will not destroy [[boulder]]s.
 
 
 
If you zap the wand upward, a [[rock]] will fall from the ceiling and bonk you on the head, unless you are underwater, in which case you get the message "You barely hear some noises".
 
 
 
Zapping the wand downward makes a [[hole]] in diggable floors, through which you may fall, or a [[pit]] in undiggable floors. If the latter happens on a [[Gehennom]] level with an ordinary maze, it's time to look for the [[vibrating square]].
 
 
 
If you are being [[Engulfing|engulfed]] by an [[ochre jelly]], [[lurker above]], [[trapper]], [[purple worm]], or [[Juiblex]], zapping a wand of digging sets the monster's HP to 1 and expels you.{{refsrc|dig.c|1166}}
 
  
 
{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Juiblex now only loses half of his HP when hit with digging magic from inside.}}
 
{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Juiblex now only loses half of his HP when hit with digging magic from inside.}}
  
=== Engraving ===
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==Strategy==
 
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Any text engraved with a wand of digging is as durable as text engraved with a [[weapon]] or hard [[gem]]; this makes it as effective as an [[athame]] and slightly less effective than a [[wand of fire]] or [[wand of lightning]] for engraving [[Elbereth]]. In addition, the wand of digging is also an invaluable [[escape item]].
Any text engraved with a wand of digging is as durable as text engraved with a weapon or hard gem. Wands of digging can engrave [[Elbereth]] in one turn.
 
  
=== Breaking ===
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Zapping the doors on the [[Astral Plane]] can save a lot of in searching for your high altar.
  
Breaking a wand of digging with non-zero charges (by [[apply]]ing it) creates [[pit]]s or [[hole]]s in your square and in the eight squares around you, if those squares are diggable and don't contain [[stairs]], [[boulder]]s or [[trap]]s.{{refsrc|apply.c|2697}}{{reffunc|dig.c|dig_check}} Unlike a [[drum of earthquake]], this will not let you destroy existing traps from another square, although altars and thrones can still be destroyed.
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==Variants==
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===UnNetHack===
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In [[UnNetHack]], wands of digging are no longer restricted to digging a single square on maze levels. Wands of digging are ineffective on the [[ice wall]]s and [[crystal ice wall]]s generated in [[Sheol]], although other forms of digging are still effective.
  
== Strategy ==
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Zapping a wand of digging to escape the engulfing of Juiblex will only halve his current HP, rather than reducing it to one.{{refsrc|src/dig.c|1219|unnethack=1406}}
  
Zapping the doors on the [[Astral Plane]] can save a lot of time there.
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===SLASH'EM===
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In [[SLASH'EM]], zapping a boulder with a wand of digging will vaporize it; doing this in [[Sokoban]] will incur a -1 [[Luck]] penalty. Rays from a wand of digging will also halve the current HP of many "stony" monsters, including [[xorn]]s, [[earth elementals]], [[statue gargoyles]] and [[stone golems]]; strangely, this does not include regular gargoyles.{{refsrc|mondata.h|206|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}}
  
For the purposes of engraving Elbereth, the wand of digging is as effective as an [[athame]] and slightly less effective than a [[wand of fire]] or [[wand of lightning]].
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==References==
 
 
== Messages ==
 
 
 
{{message|The door is razed!| Zapped at a closed door.}}
 
 
 
{{message|The wall glows then fades.| Zapped at an undiggable wall.}}
 
 
 
{{message|The rock glows then fades.| Zapped at an undiggable rock.}}
 
 
 
== Variants ==
 
 
 
=== UnNetHack ===
 
Wands of digging in [[UnNetHack]] are no longer restricted to digging a single square on maze levels.
 
 
 
Zapping a wand of digging to escape the engulfing of Juiblex will only halve his current HP, rather than reducing it to one{{refsrc|src/dig.c|1219|unnethack=1406}}
 
 
 
Wands of digging are ineffective on the [[ice wall]]s and [[crystal ice wall]]s generated in [[Sheol]], although other forms of digging are still effective against ice walls.
 
 
 
=== SLASH'EM ===
 
Wands of digging have a couple of additional uses in [[SLASH'EM]].  Firstly, zapping a boulder will simply vaporize it.  Doing this in [[Sokoban]] will carry a -1 luck penalty.  Secondly, they are very deadly against certain monsters which are made of stone.  These include xorns, earth elementals, statue gargoyles and stone golems;{{refsrc|mondata.h|206|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2|comment=It is actually any thick-skinned monster that can phase through walls, as well as statue gargoyles and stone golems.  Strangely, it doesn't include regular gargoyles.}} zapping such monsters will cut their current HP in half, although it will never directly kill them.
 
 
 
== References ==
 
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
 
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{{nethack-343}}
 
[[Category:Wands|Digging]]
 
[[Category:Wands|Digging]]
{{nethack-343}}
 

Revision as of 19:54, 22 December 2021

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Name digging
Appearance random
Abundance 5.5%
Base price 150 zm
Weight 7
Type ray
Maximum charges 8
Spell dig
Monster use May be used defensively by monsters.

A wand of digging is a type of wand that appears in NetHack.

Generation

Monsters may be generated carrying a wand of digging as a defensive item. A fleeing monster with a wand of digging they may zap this wand downward to escape. Monsters that try to dig downward through an undiggable floor will simply fail to dig. They do not learn, though.

Minotaurs have a 13 chance of being generated with a wand of digging; the one generated upon entering the Plane of Earth is guaranteed to have one.

Description

Zapping a wand of digging in a given direction produces a ray that can dig open a corridor of several squares through solid rock and walls, destroying any doors in its path. Zapping the wand downward creates a hole and causes you to fall through it, unless you are levitating or else manage to escape the hole somehow; zapping the wand upward causes a rock to fall from the ceiling and bonk you on the head unless you are underwater.

Zapping the wand in a maze level will limit the ray's effect to one square; the ray has no effect on undiggable walls and rock, and zapping it downward on undiggable floors will create a pit instead. Zapping the wand while being engulfed by a solid monster sets the monster's current HP to 1 and expels you.[1] The ray has no effect on boulders.

Applying a wand of digging with non-zero charges to break it creates pits or holes on your square and the eight squares around you, with the exception of undiggable floors and stairs, boulders or traps.[2][3] This can also destroy altars and thrones.

Zapping the wand, seeing a monster zap it, or else engraving with the wand will auto-identify it.

The following information pertains to an upcoming version (NetHack 3.7.0). If this version is now released, please verify that it is still accurate, then update the page to incorporate this information.

Juiblex now only loses half of his HP when hit with digging magic from inside.

Strategy

Any text engraved with a wand of digging is as durable as text engraved with a weapon or hard gem; this makes it as effective as an athame and slightly less effective than a wand of fire or wand of lightning for engraving Elbereth. In addition, the wand of digging is also an invaluable escape item.

Zapping the doors on the Astral Plane can save a lot of in searching for your high altar.

Variants

UnNetHack

In UnNetHack, wands of digging are no longer restricted to digging a single square on maze levels. Wands of digging are ineffective on the ice walls and crystal ice walls generated in Sheol, although other forms of digging are still effective.

Zapping a wand of digging to escape the engulfing of Juiblex will only halve his current HP, rather than reducing it to one.[4]

SLASH'EM

In SLASH'EM, zapping a boulder with a wand of digging will vaporize it; doing this in Sokoban will incur a -1 Luck penalty. Rays from a wand of digging will also halve the current HP of many "stony" monsters, including xorns, earth elementals, statue gargoyles and stone golems; strangely, this does not include regular gargoyles.[5]

References

This page may need to be updated for the current version of NetHack.

It may contain text specific to NetHack 3.4.3. Information on this page may be out of date.

Editors: After reviewing this page and making necessary edits, please change the {{nethack-343}} tag to the current version's tag or {{noversion}} as appropriate.