Difference between revisions of "Medusa"
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|resistances=Poison, Stoning | |resistances=Poison, Stoning | ||
|resistances conveyed=Poison (100%) (but see warning about being [[stoning|turned to stone]]) | |resistances conveyed=Poison (100%) (but see warning about being [[stoning|turned to stone]]) | ||
| − | |attributes={{attributes|Medusa|fly=1|swim=1|amphibious=1|humanoid=1|pois=1|omnivore=1|nopoly=1|hostile=1|strong=1|female | + | |attributes={{attributes|Medusa|fly=1|swim=1|amphibious=1|humanoid=1|pois=1|omnivore=1|nopoly=1|hostile=1|strong=1|female=1|waitsforu=1|infravisible=1}} |
| − | |reference=[[monst.c# | + | |reference=[[monst.c#line2286]] |
}} | }} | ||
'''Medusa''' is a dangerous [[monster]] with her [[Medusa's Island|own level]], which is somewhere in the main [[Dungeons of Doom]], but below the level that contains the [[magic portal]] to the [[Quest]]. | '''Medusa''' is a dangerous [[monster]] with her [[Medusa's Island|own level]], which is somewhere in the main [[Dungeons of Doom]], but below the level that contains the [[magic portal]] to the [[Quest]]. | ||
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The difficult thing about reaching Medusa is crossing the water full of [[sea monster]]s. [[Levitation]] or [[water walking boots]] are the most common ways to cross the water. Using a [[wand of cold]], a [[frost horn]] or the [[cone of cold]] spell to freeze a path across the water is another option, as is filling the water with [[boulder]]s (push to stairs and throw items to make them roll down; read preferably uncursed [[scroll of earth|scrolls of earth]] if not enough are available) (8 boulders are needed for the first version and 16 for the second; this can be reduced to 7 and 14 respectively if you are willing to jump into water and crawl out), or some means of [[jumping]]. An [[amulet of magical breathing]] may also be used to traverse the level underwater, with [[Wet|attendant effects]]. If crossing the water is not an option, you may also opt to dig a [[hole]] to the next level and then come back up by using the [[staircase]]. The stairs to the next level are in the same room as Medusa, so make sure that you are ready for her before going up the stairs! | The difficult thing about reaching Medusa is crossing the water full of [[sea monster]]s. [[Levitation]] or [[water walking boots]] are the most common ways to cross the water. Using a [[wand of cold]], a [[frost horn]] or the [[cone of cold]] spell to freeze a path across the water is another option, as is filling the water with [[boulder]]s (push to stairs and throw items to make them roll down; read preferably uncursed [[scroll of earth|scrolls of earth]] if not enough are available) (8 boulders are needed for the first version and 16 for the second; this can be reduced to 7 and 14 respectively if you are willing to jump into water and crawl out), or some means of [[jumping]]. An [[amulet of magical breathing]] may also be used to traverse the level underwater, with [[Wet|attendant effects]]. If crossing the water is not an option, you may also opt to dig a [[hole]] to the next level and then come back up by using the [[staircase]]. The stairs to the next level are in the same room as Medusa, so make sure that you are ready for her before going up the stairs! | ||
| − | Having reached her, you must now deal with her. Beware; as in Greek mythology, her [[gaze]] can [[stoning|turn people to stone]]. The best way to avoid this is to have reflection; she will look at you, see her [[reflection]], and turn to stone. (This makes her different from the Greek myth, or else Perseus could not have looked in his mirror to [[wikipedia:Medusa#Death|defeat her.]]) This can also be achieved by applying a mirror on her. Otherwise, you may blind yourself, or polymorph into a stoning-resistant creature, or you may rely on the speed system to kill her in one turn, e.g. with a [[spellbook of finger of death|spell]] or [[wand of death]]. Don't rely on the sleep spell to neutralize her gaze. | + | Having reached her, you must now deal with her. Beware; as in Greek mythology, her [[gaze]] can [[stoning|turn people to stone]]. The best way to avoid this is to have reflection; she will look at you, see her [[reflection]], and turn to stone. (This makes her different from the Greek myth, or else Perseus could not have looked in his mirror to [[wikipedia:Medusa#Death|defeat her.]]) This can also be achieved by applying a mirror on her. Otherwise, you may blind yourself, or polymorph into a stoning-resistant creature, or you may rely on the speed system to kill her in one turn, e.g. with a [[spellbook of finger of death|spell]] or [[wand of death]]. Don't rely on the sleep spell to neutralize her gaze. As of NetHack 3.6.0, [[hallucination]] will protect against all gaze attacks 75% of the time{{refsrc|mhitu.c|1998|nethack=3.6.0}}, but this shouldn't be relied upon. |
You lose [[pacifist]] conduct if you reflect Medusa's gaze to kill her. Becoming invisible will protect her from her own (reflected) gaze. Pacifists may find it useful either to simply blind her and let pets deal with her "peacefully", or to blind yourself and give Medusa some powerful attack wands so she can kill herself with her own rebound. <!--Elbereth will protect you from any accompanying monsters. Leave that as an exercise to the reader.--> | You lose [[pacifist]] conduct if you reflect Medusa's gaze to kill her. Becoming invisible will protect her from her own (reflected) gaze. Pacifists may find it useful either to simply blind her and let pets deal with her "peacefully", or to blind yourself and give Medusa some powerful attack wands so she can kill herself with her own rebound. <!--Elbereth will protect you from any accompanying monsters. Leave that as an exercise to the reader.--> | ||
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== Bones == | == Bones == | ||
| − | Medusa will never be left in a [[bones]] file.{{refsrc|bones.c| | + | Medusa will never be left in a [[bones]] file.{{refsrc|bones.c|369|nethack=3.6.0}} However, her statue will; this is [[Bugs in NetHack 3.4.3#C342-54|bug C342-54]]. As this will not prevent generation of an ordinary Medusa in the game loading the bones until the statue is unstoned, this can be abused to have two or more Medusas in a single game. |
Also corpse will be not removed on creation of bone file, this also allows you to have multiple unique monsters. | Also corpse will be not removed on creation of bone file, this also allows you to have multiple unique monsters. | ||
== Warning == | == Warning == | ||
| − | Eating the corpse of Medusa will cause you to turn to stone, instantly killing you and causing [[YASD]]{{refsrc|eat.c| | + | Eating the corpse of Medusa will cause you to turn to stone, instantly killing you and causing [[YASD]]{{refsrc|eat.c|46|nethack=3.6.0}}. |
== History == | == History == | ||
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[[Category:Unique monsters]] | [[Category:Unique monsters]] | ||
[[Category:Instadeath]] | [[Category:Instadeath]] | ||
| − | {{nethack- | + | {{nethack-360}} |
Revision as of 01:21, 6 February 2016
@ Medusa 
| |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 25 |
| Attacks | |
| Base level | 20 |
| Base experience | 634 |
| Speed | 12 |
| Base AC | 2 |
| Base MR | 50 |
| Alignment | -15 (chaotic) |
| Frequency (by normal means) | Unique |
| Genocidable | No |
| Weight | 1450 |
| Nutritional value | 400 |
| Size | Large |
| Resistances | Poison, Stoning |
| Resistances conveyed |
Poison (100%) (but see warning about being turned to stone) |
|
Medusa:
| |
| Reference | monst.c#line2286 |
Medusa is a dangerous monster with her own level, which is somewhere in the main Dungeons of Doom, but below the level that contains the magic portal to the Quest.
The difficult thing about reaching Medusa is crossing the water full of sea monsters. Levitation or water walking boots are the most common ways to cross the water. Using a wand of cold, a frost horn or the cone of cold spell to freeze a path across the water is another option, as is filling the water with boulders (push to stairs and throw items to make them roll down; read preferably uncursed scrolls of earth if not enough are available) (8 boulders are needed for the first version and 16 for the second; this can be reduced to 7 and 14 respectively if you are willing to jump into water and crawl out), or some means of jumping. An amulet of magical breathing may also be used to traverse the level underwater, with attendant effects. If crossing the water is not an option, you may also opt to dig a hole to the next level and then come back up by using the staircase. The stairs to the next level are in the same room as Medusa, so make sure that you are ready for her before going up the stairs!
Having reached her, you must now deal with her. Beware; as in Greek mythology, her gaze can turn people to stone. The best way to avoid this is to have reflection; she will look at you, see her reflection, and turn to stone. (This makes her different from the Greek myth, or else Perseus could not have looked in his mirror to defeat her.) This can also be achieved by applying a mirror on her. Otherwise, you may blind yourself, or polymorph into a stoning-resistant creature, or you may rely on the speed system to kill her in one turn, e.g. with a spell or wand of death. Don't rely on the sleep spell to neutralize her gaze. As of NetHack 3.6.0, hallucination will protect against all gaze attacks 75% of the time[1], but this shouldn't be relied upon.
You lose pacifist conduct if you reflect Medusa's gaze to kill her. Becoming invisible will protect her from her own (reflected) gaze. Pacifists may find it useful either to simply blind her and let pets deal with her "peacefully", or to blind yourself and give Medusa some powerful attack wands so she can kill herself with her own rebound.
If you don't have reflection, you might like to investigate the statue of Perseus after killing Medusa.
Sometimes Medusa can escape to the upstairs, and/or up to the previous level. She can also escape downstairs. So if you lost track of her (i.e. entered blind and then she disappeared from the telepathy map but you don't see a corpse), beware of her around her lair and on the levels immediately above and below.
Bones
Medusa will never be left in a bones file.[2] However, her statue will; this is bug C342-54. As this will not prevent generation of an ordinary Medusa in the game loading the bones until the statue is unstoned, this can be abused to have two or more Medusas in a single game.
Also corpse will be not removed on creation of bone file, this also allows you to have multiple unique monsters.
Warning
Eating the corpse of Medusa will cause you to turn to stone, instantly killing you and causing YASD[3].
History
Medusa first appears in NetHack 2.2a.
Her lair first appears in NetHack 3.1.0. Before that version, she appeared in an ordinary room-type level. It seems likely that many an adventurer met an untimely end from not knowing he would soon see Medusa. NetHack 3.0.0 adds a number of statues to her room, but this is an ambiguous clue. The use of telepathy or a potion of monster detection is advisable.
Nethack 3.6.0 added two new possible layouts for Medusa's Island.
Encyclopedia entry
Medusa, one of the three Gorgons or Graeae, is the only one
of her sisters to have assumed mortal form and inhabited the
dungeon world.
When Perseus was grown up Polydectes sent him to attempt the
conquest of Medusa, a terrible monster who had laid waste the
country. She was once a beautiful maiden whose hair was her
chief glory, but as she dared to vie in beauty with Minerva,
the goddess deprived her of her charms and changed her
beautiful ringlets into hissing serpents. She became a cruel
monster of so frightful an aspect that no living thing could
behold her without being turned into stone. All around the
cavern where she dwelt might be seen the stony figures of men
and animals which had chanced to catch a glimpse of her and
had been petrified with the sight. Perseus, favoured by
Minerva and Mercury, the former of whom lent him her shield
and the latter his winged shoes, approached Medusa while she
slept and taking care not to look directly at her, but guided
by her image reflected in the bright shield which he bore, he
cut off her head and gave it to Minerva, who fixed it in the
middle of her Aegis.
UnNetHack
In UnNetHack, hallucination protects you from the stoning gaze.
References
This page may need to be updated for the current version of NetHack.
It may contain text specific to NetHack 3.6.0. Information on this page may be out of date.
Editors: After reviewing this page and making necessary edits, please change the {{nethack-360}} tag to the current version's tag or {{noversion}} as appropriate.
