Wand of create monster
| / | |
|---|---|
| Name | create monster |
| Appearance | random |
| Abundance | 4.5% |
| Base price | 200 zm |
| Weight | 7 |
| Type | non-directional |
| Maximum charges | 15 |
| Spell | create monster |
| Monster use | May be used defensively by monsters. |
A wand of create monster generates monsters around your character, consistent with the monster level your character normally generates. (In wizard mode, you will be asked what kind of monster to create).
Zapping or engraving with it creates one monster (22/23 chance) or 2-9 monsters (1/23 chance) [1][2]. The wand is automatically identified if you can see the monsters or when engraving.
Assuming the wand still has charges, breaking it will create a horde of eight [3] monsters around the player.
As with all wands, the BUC status of the wand does not have any effect on the outcome, other than the usual 1% chance of a cursed wand exploding when zapped.
Monsters may be generated with a wand of create monster in their inventory as a defensive item. Fleeing monsters will zap the wand to cover their escape.
Contents
History
In Rogue, there was no wand of create monster, per se, but a scroll of the same name; it would produce the message "You hear the cries of anguish in the distance."[4] when a monster read the scroll if the player was already surrounded.
The literal wand of create monster made its debut in Jay Fenlason's Hack.
Strategy
If you want to maximize the number of monsters created, you should break a wand with one charge left, so long as you are able to survive the onslaught and the damage from the magical blast. (Tips: stand on burned Elbereth, be magic resistant, have escape items in case you get dangerous monsters such as Archons.) In a temple, don't catch the priest in the blast or you will anger him or her.
Breaking generates 18.8 monsters per wand on average if you can identify the number of charges. If you don't know the number of charges, the optimal strategy is to zap it 9 times, then break it for expected 14.0 monsters. Zapping and wresting the last charge produces only 13.2 monsters.
If you want to generate lots of garden-variety monsters without violating any conducts, you should repeatedly #loot a throne while confused and let strong pets relieve the throne monsters of their wands.
Polymorphing for this wand is generally not worth it. Recharging is only worth a thought if you have the PYEC.
Autopickup exceptions are often set to pick up wands of create monster, if only to keep them out of monsters' hands.
In the later stages of the game, wands of create monster are common and since late game monsters tend to have high nutritional value, wands of create monster may be used in place of rations: zap, kill the resulting monster, eat it, repeat.
See also
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.
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