Difference between revisions of "Wand of fire"

From NetHackWiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(Generation information.)
m
 
(23 intermediate revisions by 19 users not shown)
Line 4: Line 4:
 
  |type=ray
 
  |type=ray
 
  |maxcharges=8
 
  |maxcharges=8
 +
|abundance=4%
 +
|muse=off
 
}}
 
}}
  
The '''wand of fire''' is quite easy to identify; [[engrave]] with it and it will burn into the ground. (Engraving into [[ice]] complicates things.) It is one of those directional attack wands; in emergencies, [[you]] can use it against most [[monster]]s. The [[ray]] can hit multiple monsters.
+
The '''wand of fire''' is a [[wand]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''.
  
You want to obtain [[reflection]] or [[fire resistance]] to guard against monsters employing a wand of fire against you. Otherwise, be careful to leave enough room so that your own bolts of fire do not bounce from a [[wall]] back at you.
+
==Generation==
 +
A [[Wizard]] may receive a wand of fire as part of their starting inventory.
 +
 
 +
There is a 4% chance that a [[Wand#Generation|randomly-generated wand]] within the dungeon and its branches will be a wand of fire. Monsters may generate with the wand as a random [[offensive item]].
 +
 
 +
[[Asmodeus]] [[Monster starting inventory|will always generate with]] a [[wand of cold]] and a wand of fire.{{refsrc|makemon.c|643}}{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|772|version=NetHack 3.6.6}}
 +
 
 +
==Effects==
 +
[[Zap]]ping the wand in a given direction emits a [[ray]] of fire that does 6d6 damage to non-[[fire resistance|fire resistant]] targets, with a +7 bonus if the monster has [[cold resistance]].{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3629|version=NetHack 3.6.6}} Monsters hit with this ray may have their inventory set aflame: [[potions]] may boil, [[scrolls]] and [[spellbooks]] may burn, and organic [[armor]] may smoulder. The ray bounces when it hits walls or targets with [[reflection]]; it can melt any squares of [[ice]] it travels over, destroy any [[door]]s it colid and evaporates [[pool]]s of water.
 +
 
 +
[[Engraving]] with a wand of fire will [[auto-identify]] the wand.
 +
 
 +
{{upcoming|3.7.0|Rays of fire that partially or completely evaporate pools or moats will generate [[cloud]]s of steam.}}
 +
 
 +
==Strategy==
 +
:''See also: [[Wand strategy]]''
 +
The wand of fire is a useful offensive item against most monsters that can prove just as deadly to you, especially early on where you typically lack a source of [[reflection]] or fire resistance. It can be especially deadly against vulnerable monsters if you have a means of rebounding or reflecting the ray back at them.
 +
 
 +
A wand of fire is a popular means of engraving [[Elbereth]] - such engravings are permanent and can only be removed by making it vanish (with a [[wand of cancellation]], wand of cold or [[wand of make invisible|make invisible]]), [[wand of teleportation|teleporting it]], [[wand of polymorph|polymorphing it]], or overwriting it (with a [[wand of lightning]] or another wand of fire). The wand can also be used to destroy the [[door]] to the [[Sokoban]] zoo without waking up ''all'' of its inhabitants.
 +
 
 +
In addition to holding off tougher hostiles, wands of fire can also be used to cut them off or dispose of them directly - you can lure an earthbound monster onto ice (e.g. moats frozen with a wand of cold) and then zap a wand of fire to melt it from beneath them, drowning them instantly. Beware, though: monsters using this wand can possibly do the same to you, which is a danger for [[Valkyrie]]s on their [[Valkyrie quest|quest]] in particular. A wand of fire can also be used to strand [[sea monster]]s and prevent drowning from [[giant eel]]s or [[electric eel]]s, though this only works if the monster is in a moat.
 +
 
 +
In an emergency where you are afflicted with [[sliming]], zapping the wand at yourself can save you - though it may also damage your armor and inventory, it is much preferable to ending your game as a slime.
  
A wand of fire's most popular use is to burn [[Elbereth]] into the ground. A wand of fire's Elbereth will never degrade, and only the player can remove the engraving (by making it disappear with a [[wand of cancellation]], [[wand of make invisible|make invisible]], or [[wand of cold|cold]]).
+
==History==
 +
The wand of fire has been present in the game since Hack 1.21, a variant of [[Jay Fenlason's Hack]].
  
==Generation==
+
==Variants==
 +
===SLASH'EM===
 +
In [[SLASH'EM]], [[Flame Mage]]s start the game with a wand of fire.
 +
 
 +
[[Grund's Stronghold]] has a [[hobgoblin]] with a wand of fire in the open area, and the [[soldier]] that appears in the front corridors has a 60% chance of being generated with a wand of fire.
  
[[Wand]]s comprise 4% of all randomly-generated items in the main dungeon, 6% in containers, 5% on the Rogue level, and 8% in hell.  There is a 4% chance that a randomly-generated wand will be a wand of fire.
+
===SlashTHEM===
 +
In [[SlashTHEM]], on top [[SLASH'EM]] changes, all [[Firefighter]]s start with a wand of fire.
  
==SLASH'EM==
+
===FIQHack===
 +
In [[FIQHack]], which incorporates the [[Wands Balance Patch]], unskilled usage of a wand of fire chooses the lesser of two values to deal as damage: 3d6 or 40% max HP damage.
  
In [[SLASH'EM]], the [[Flame Mage]] [[role]] conveniently starts with a wand of fire.
+
===NetHack Fourk===
 +
In [[NetHack Fourk]], which incorporates the [[Wands Balance Patch]], unskilled usage of a wand of fire also chooses the lesser of two values to deal as damage: 3d6 or 40% max HP damage.
  
 +
==References==
 +
<references/>
 +
{{nethack-366}}
 
[[Category:Wands|Fire]]
 
[[Category:Wands|Fire]]

Latest revision as of 17:21, 28 February 2022

/
Name fire
Appearance random
Abundance 4%
Base price 175 zm
Weight 7
Type ray
Maximum charges 8
Monster use May be used offensively by monsters.

The wand of fire is a wand that appears in NetHack.

Generation

A Wizard may receive a wand of fire as part of their starting inventory.

There is a 4% chance that a randomly-generated wand within the dungeon and its branches will be a wand of fire. Monsters may generate with the wand as a random offensive item.

Asmodeus will always generate with a wand of cold and a wand of fire.[1][2]

Effects

Zapping the wand in a given direction emits a ray of fire that does 6d6 damage to non-fire resistant targets, with a +7 bonus if the monster has cold resistance.[3] Monsters hit with this ray may have their inventory set aflame: potions may boil, scrolls and spellbooks may burn, and organic armor may smoulder. The ray bounces when it hits walls or targets with reflection; it can melt any squares of ice it travels over, destroy any doors it colid and evaporates pools of water.

Engraving with a wand of fire will auto-identify the wand.

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

Rays of fire that partially or completely evaporate pools or moats will generate clouds of steam.

Strategy

See also: Wand strategy

The wand of fire is a useful offensive item against most monsters that can prove just as deadly to you, especially early on where you typically lack a source of reflection or fire resistance. It can be especially deadly against vulnerable monsters if you have a means of rebounding or reflecting the ray back at them.

A wand of fire is a popular means of engraving Elbereth - such engravings are permanent and can only be removed by making it vanish (with a wand of cancellation, wand of cold or make invisible), teleporting it, polymorphing it, or overwriting it (with a wand of lightning or another wand of fire). The wand can also be used to destroy the door to the Sokoban zoo without waking up all of its inhabitants.

In addition to holding off tougher hostiles, wands of fire can also be used to cut them off or dispose of them directly - you can lure an earthbound monster onto ice (e.g. moats frozen with a wand of cold) and then zap a wand of fire to melt it from beneath them, drowning them instantly. Beware, though: monsters using this wand can possibly do the same to you, which is a danger for Valkyries on their quest in particular. A wand of fire can also be used to strand sea monsters and prevent drowning from giant eels or electric eels, though this only works if the monster is in a moat.

In an emergency where you are afflicted with sliming, zapping the wand at yourself can save you - though it may also damage your armor and inventory, it is much preferable to ending your game as a slime.

History

The wand of fire has been present in the game since Hack 1.21, a variant of Jay Fenlason's Hack.

Variants

SLASH'EM

In SLASH'EM, Flame Mages start the game with a wand of fire.

Grund's Stronghold has a hobgoblin with a wand of fire in the open area, and the soldier that appears in the front corridors has a 60% chance of being generated with a wand of fire.

SlashTHEM

In SlashTHEM, on top SLASH'EM changes, all Firefighters start with a wand of fire.

FIQHack

In FIQHack, which incorporates the Wands Balance Patch, unskilled usage of a wand of fire chooses the lesser of two values to deal as damage: 3d6 or 40% max HP damage.

NetHack Fourk

In NetHack Fourk, which incorporates the Wands Balance Patch, unskilled usage of a wand of fire also chooses the lesser of two values to deal as damage: 3d6 or 40% max HP damage.

References