Difference between revisions of "Wand of nothing"

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m (Updated to reflect change that Wand of Nothing is now non-directional.)
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  |name=nothing
 
  |name=nothing
 
  |cost=100
 
  |cost=100
  |type=non-directional
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  |type=random
  |maxcharges=8
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  |maxcharges=8 or 15
 
  |abundance=2.5%
 
  |abundance=2.5%
 
}}
 
}}
  
A '''wand of nothing''' does absolutely nothing, whether zapped, engraved with, or when broken.
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The '''wand of nothing''' is a [[wand]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''.
  
As of Nethack 3.6, Wands of Nothing no longer ask for a direction when zapped. This makes them much easier to identify, as the other wands that do not ask for a direction are: wands of light, enlightenment, create monster, and wishing, all of which have very obvious effects when zapped. The only wand this could be confused with is a Wand of Secret Door Detection - And this possibility can be eliminated pretty quickly. If you zap the wand, notice no change, then subsequently discover a secret door, mimic, within an 8 square radius of the zapping point - Then you know it is a Wand of Nothing. So a good strategy is to zap where you are pretty sure there is a secret door, then confirm.
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==Effects==
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True to its name, the wand does absolutely nothing when [[zap]]ped, [[engrave]]d with, or broken by [[apply]]ing. Nevertheless, it has charges like any other wand.
  
Similarly, the only other wand with a base price of 100 is the [[wand of light|light]], which is very easy to identify, and safe to zap / engrave with. It could also be identified by elimination once the wands are known that produce no message when engraving. Only 25% of all price 100 wands are wand of nothing.
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A wand of nothing can either be non-directional, giving no feedback whatsoever when zapped, or prompt for a direction, then do nothing with it; each variant is equally likely. The variant is randomly determined per-game, not per-item, so if you find a non-directional wand of nothing, all other wands of nothing in that game will also be non-directional. Whether the wand is directional or not determines how many starting charges it has (4-8 if directional, 11-15 if non-directional).
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A wand of nothing is non-magical, and so doesn't lose its charges to [[cancellation]]. As the only non-magical type of wand, it will usually turn into a magical wand when polymorphed.
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Note that the message '''"Nothing happens."''' isn't associated specifically with the wand of nothing, but with any wand that's out of charges. A wand of nothing only produces this message when it happens to be out of charges.
  
 
==Strategy==
 
==Strategy==
* As one would expect from the name, they are nearly worthless. Worse than useless, in fact, as they also get in the way of identifying other wands. Potential uses of a wand of nothing are as [[polyfodder]] in an attempt to get other wands, or selling it (for 50).
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The wand of nothing's properties tend to interfere with identifying other wands; however, the only other wand with a base price of 100 zorkmids is the [[wand of light]], which is very easy to identify and safe to zap or engrave with. Only 25% of all price 100 wands are wands of nothing. It can also be formally identified by elimination once all wands are known that produce no message when engraving.  
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The wand of nothing's only real use is as [[polyfodder]]. Converting it to any other magical wand will keep its amount of charges intact, which is especially useful if it's the non-directional variant with more charges.
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==History==
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Prior to [[NetHack 3.6.0]], all wands of nothing were directional.
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==xNetHack==
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In [[xNetHack]], wielding a wand of nothing gives a bonus when [[spellcasting]], increasing the player's effective intelligence score by 5 when calculating the energy cost. This effect is the same as wearing a [[robe]] or wielding a [[quarterstaff]], and these effects do not stack.
  
 
[[Category:Wands|Nothing]]
 
[[Category:Wands|Nothing]]
{{nethack-343}}
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{{nethack-366}}

Latest revision as of 23:33, 28 June 2022

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Name nothing
Appearance random
Abundance 2.5%
Base price 100 zm
Weight 7
Type random
Maximum charges 8 or 15
Monster use Will not be used by monsters.

The wand of nothing is a wand that appears in NetHack.

Effects

True to its name, the wand does absolutely nothing when zapped, engraved with, or broken by applying. Nevertheless, it has charges like any other wand.

A wand of nothing can either be non-directional, giving no feedback whatsoever when zapped, or prompt for a direction, then do nothing with it; each variant is equally likely. The variant is randomly determined per-game, not per-item, so if you find a non-directional wand of nothing, all other wands of nothing in that game will also be non-directional. Whether the wand is directional or not determines how many starting charges it has (4-8 if directional, 11-15 if non-directional).

A wand of nothing is non-magical, and so doesn't lose its charges to cancellation. As the only non-magical type of wand, it will usually turn into a magical wand when polymorphed.

Note that the message "Nothing happens." isn't associated specifically with the wand of nothing, but with any wand that's out of charges. A wand of nothing only produces this message when it happens to be out of charges.

Strategy

The wand of nothing's properties tend to interfere with identifying other wands; however, the only other wand with a base price of 100 zorkmids is the wand of light, which is very easy to identify and safe to zap or engrave with. Only 25% of all price 100 wands are wands of nothing. It can also be formally identified by elimination once all wands are known that produce no message when engraving.

The wand of nothing's only real use is as polyfodder. Converting it to any other magical wand will keep its amount of charges intact, which is especially useful if it's the non-directional variant with more charges.

History

Prior to NetHack 3.6.0, all wands of nothing were directional.

xNetHack

In xNetHack, wielding a wand of nothing gives a bonus when spellcasting, increasing the player's effective intelligence score by 5 when calculating the energy cost. This effect is the same as wearing a robe or wielding a quarterstaff, and these effects do not stack.