View source for Wand of magic missile

{{wand
  |name=magic missile
  |cost=150
  |type=ray
  |maxcharges=8
  |abundance=5%
  |spell=magic missile
  |muse=off
}}

The  '''wand of magic missile''' is a [[wand]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''.

==Generation==
A [[Wizard]] may receive a wand of magic missile as part of their starting inventory.

There is a 5% chance that a [[Wand#Generation|randomly-generated wand]] within the dungeon and its branches will be a wand of magic missile. Monsters may generate with the wand as a random [[offensive item]].

[[Shopkeeper]]s have a {{frac|4}} chance of being generated with a wand of magic missile.{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|678|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}

==Description==
[[Zap]]ping the wand in a given direction will fire a [[ray]] of magic missiles that damages monsters in its path - unlike the [[spell of magic missile]], the wand only deals 2d6 damage and does not scale with the user's level. The ray can [[rebound]] off walls and monsters with [[reflection]]. [[Magic resistance]] negates this damage, as does reflection.

[[Engraving]] with a wand of magic missile will give a unique [[#Message|message]], but does not [[auto-identify]] the wand.{{refsrc|src/engrave.c|712|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=the case for WAN_MAGIC_MISSILE does not set doknown|name=doknown}}

==Strategy==
Wands of magic missile are the least effective [[attack wand]], dealing only 2d6 damage and lacking useful secondary effects - they are best used liberally in the early game as a form of disposable [[ranged attack]] as it will soon be almost worthless. The wand's damage can be increased to a somewhat respectable 4d6 by bouncing the ray off a wall behind your target.

It is possible to use a wand of magic missile to engrave in the dust while [[levitation|levitating]]. If you're already levitating and want to engrave [[Elbereth]], you can use this to save a charge from a more useful [[wand of digging]], [[wand of fire|fire]] or [[wand of lightning|lightning]], since engravings will not erode while you are levitating.

Arguably the best use of a wand of magic missile in the late game is to [[throw]] it at an intelligent monster. They may elect to pick it up and use it over any more deadly innate attacks or ranged weaponry that they possess, and most late-game players will have [[reflection]], rendering it harmless while damaging the zapping monster along with other monsters in the ray's path that are not resistant.

==History==
The wand of magic missile has been present in the game since Hack 1.21, a variant of [[Jay Fenlason's Hack]].

==Origin==
The canonical [[D&D]] spell of ''[http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/magicMissile.htm Magic Missile]'' was a stereotypically puny level one wizard spell that quickly became a staple of the wizard class, as it was effectively a homing attack with each bullet doing its own damage roll; this can easily rack up significant damage, short of the target having magic resistance. The magic missiles of ''NetHack'' lack this homing property.

In [[Rogue (game)|Rogue]], a wand of magic missile did ''1d4+1'' damage unless a given monster saves vs. magic ("The missile vanishes in a puff of smoke");<ref>http://rogue.rogueforge.net/vade-mecum/#glossary</ref>; this is a rough translation of the spell into the world of Rogue. In [[Hack]], it would always have the appearance of an aluminum wand and dealt ''2d6'' damage;<ref>[http://homepages.cwi.nl/~aeb/games/hack/uni87a/part1. Hack 1.02 Files Part 1]</ref><ref>[http://homepages.cwi.nl/~aeb/games/hack/uni87a/part9. Hack 1.02 Files Part 9]</ref> the latter trait was carried over into ''NetHack''.

==Messages==
{{message|The floor is riddled by bullet holes!|You engraved on the floor with a wand of magic missile.<ref name="doknown"/>}}

==Variants==
In several variants, engraving with a wand of magic missile will auto-identify it.

==References==
<references/>
{{nethack-366}}
[[Category:Wands|Magic missile]]