Difference between revisions of "Water walking boots"

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(note that crossing lava with water walking boots still does fire damage to your inventory)
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'''Water walking boots''' are [[boots]] that allow the wearer to walk on [[water]]. They can also be used to cross [[lava]] if they are [[fireproof]] (trying with non-fireproof boots will destroy the boots and probably plunge you into the lava).
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'''Water walking boots''' are a pair of magical [[boots]] that appear in ''[[NetHack]]''. When worn, they provide 1 AC and allow the wearer to walk on [[water]] tiles; they can also be used to cross [[lava]], but ''must'' be [[fireproof]]ed first, as trying with non-fireproof boots will destroy them and probably plunge you into the lava. Water walking boots have no impact on a [[steed]]'s ability to cross water.
  
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Water walking boots will ''not'' protect you against [[Holding_attack#Drowning_attack|drowning attacks]], nor will they protect you or your inventory against the fire damage from crossing lava. If you are mounted on a non-flying [[steed]], water walking boots will also not prevent the steed from drowning when you lead it into water.
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==Generation==
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A guaranteed pair of water walking boots is found within one of the niches on the middle level of [[Vlad's Tower]].
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Unlike [[levitation]], water-walking allows you to [[dip|#dip]] items into water squares, so it is useful for blanking [[scroll]]s and [[spellbook]]s, and diluting [[potion]]s.
 
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[[Vlad's Tower]] always contains a pair of water walking boots.
 
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==Identification==
 
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Water walking boots are non-trivial to identify, as they don't display a message when worn and have no obvious effects. If you can price-ID the boots, you can identify water walking by elimination, as [[speed boots]] and [[jumping boots]] are easy to identify.
 
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If you can't price-ID, the simplest way to test for water walking is simply to step onto water.  If you guess wrong, you can climb out again unless you're too heavily [[Encumbrance|encumbered]].  Make sure to remove and drop any scrolls, spellbooks, potions, and iron equipment first.
 
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A safer, although more difficult, option is to use [[teleport control]] to attempt to teleport onto a water square.  If you have water walking, you'll end up standing safely on top of the water; if not, you'll be sent elsewhere in the level.
 
  
 
== Strategy ==
 
== Strategy ==
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Water walking boots tend to be unpopular for [[ascension kit]]s. However, this is less due to their lack of merit than the existence of [[speed boots]] and [[jumping boots]], which many players consider more useful. For players who have not found speed or jumping boots and do not want to use a [[wish]] on them, water walking boots are an excellent choice. Players who have not found any of these boots by the [[Castle]] could choose to wear a pair of unenchanted [[high boots]] or [[elven boots]] until they reach [[Vlad's Tower]] and can pick up the water walking boots (or find another pair of better boots).
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Water walking lets you cross water levels safely similar to [[levitation]] sources such as the [[ring of levitation|ring]] or [[levitation boots|boots]]; however, water walking boots will ''not'' protect you against [[Holding attack#Drowning attack|drowning attacks]], nor will they protect you or your inventory against the fire damage from crossing lava. While the ring of levitation is easier to manage and generally preferred, water walking boots are still a more manageable method of crossing water compared to levitation boots - they do not cause you to break contact with the ground, so you can freely pick up items on land and walk down stairs without removing anything. If crossing over lava, be sure to fireproof other vulnerable items in your inventory as well.
  
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Water walking boots will allow you to cross [[Juiblex's Swamp]] and [[Medusa's Island]] and pass the trapdoors at the [[Castle]] by going around on the moat. Except for certain [[quest]]s (some of which can also be managed with water walking boots, [[fireproof]] ones in the case of quests with lava), these are the only levels with obstacles that are normally impassible without [[levitation]] (or water walking or [[jumping]] or some other special method). Therefore, water walking boots make it possible to put off obtaining levitation until the [[Elemental Planes|Planes]] and use a [[potion of levitation]] for those if necessary. This can often save a wish.
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The [[Castle]], [[Juiblex's Swamp]] and [[Medusa's Island]] are common levels where these boots are used, as well as the [[Quest]] for certain roles (e.g., the [[Healer]] [[Healer quest|quest]]). Some players keep them on routinely to reduce water-crossing hassle, particularly from forgetting to use levitation or else moving off dry land due to typos.
  
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If you have the choice of water walking boots or [[levitation boots]] to cross a water level, water walking boots are superior. This is because they don't cause you to lose contact with the ground, so you do not have to remove your boots (using several turns, potentially dangerous if there are [[sea monster]]s nearby) in order to pick up items from the ground or go down stairs. However, a [[ring of levitation]] is probably easier than water walking boots: it is much easier and faster to put on and remove and doesn't require taking off any other boots you may be wearing.
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Water walking also allows for unlimited #[[dip]]ing [[scroll]]s and [[spellbook]]s into water tiles to blank them, or diluting [[potion]]s for {{! of|water}} production - while falling into water is normally faster, it is also reliant on your [[Luck]]. Having access to water walking can also save time and even [[wish]]es in these cases, as you may be able to put off obtaining a source of sustained levitation until the [[Elemental Planes]].
  
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It should be noted that water walking boots, if worn routinely, can prevent drowning and getting your inventory [[wet]] due to typos next to water or forgetting to wear a [[ring of levitation]]. These mistakes can be very annoying, particularly if your [[Luck]] is poor, so this is an advantage of water walking boots, except in [[variants]] that warn you if you're about to step into water.
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Players crafting [[ascension kit]]s tend to forego these boots in favor of [[speed boots]] and [[jumping boots]], which are typically supplemented with the ring or [[potion of levitation|potions of levitation]]; for those who do not have either of the latter boots and do not want to use a [[wish]] on, them water walking boots are an excellent choice. If you have not found ''any'' of these boots by the time you reach the Castle, a pair of unenchanted [[high boots]] or [[elven boots]] can suffice until you reach the middle of Vlad's Tower or find another preferable pair.
  
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For players who don't use water walking boots as their normal boots, they can still be useful for making [[holy water]] and [[scroll of blank paper|scrolls of blank paper]] or otherwise wetting items, as they allow unlimited #[[dip]]ping over any water square. (If you don't have a convenient water square near you, you can usually make some by [[digging]] down over a [[fountain]].)
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===Identification===
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Water walking boots are non-trivial to identify, as they don't display a message when worn and have no obvious effects, unlike [[speed boots]] and [[jumping boots]]; [[price identification]] is one of the more reliable methods, as it poses no risk to your inventory.
  
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If you cannot price-ID, the simplest way to test boots for water walking is to remove and drop any scrolls, spellbooks, potions, and iron equipment first, then step into a water tile - unless your [[encumbrance]] is high, you will safely climb back out if the boots are not water walking. A safer and more difficult option is to use [[teleport control]], since water squares will be considered "safe" if you have water walking; if your boots are water walking, you can teleport onto a water tile and stand safely there, and if not, you will be teleported elsewhere in the level at random.
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{{nethack-366}}
 
[[Category:Boots]]
 
[[Category:Boots]]
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{{nethack-366}}
 

Revision as of 06:40, 26 June 2022

[   Combat boots.png Jungle boots.png Hiking boots.png Mud boots.png Buckled boots.png Riding boots.png Snow boots.png
water walking boots
Appearance random
Slot boots
AC 1
Special
Base price 50 zm
Weight 20
Material leather

Water walking boots are a pair of magical boots that appear in NetHack. When worn, they provide 1 AC and allow the wearer to walk on water tiles; they can also be used to cross lava, but must be fireproofed first, as trying with non-fireproof boots will destroy them and probably plunge you into the lava. Water walking boots have no impact on a steed's ability to cross water.

Generation

A guaranteed pair of water walking boots is found within one of the niches on the middle level of Vlad's Tower.

Strategy

Water walking lets you cross water levels safely similar to levitation sources such as the ring or boots; however, water walking boots will not protect you against drowning attacks, nor will they protect you or your inventory against the fire damage from crossing lava. While the ring of levitation is easier to manage and generally preferred, water walking boots are still a more manageable method of crossing water compared to levitation boots - they do not cause you to break contact with the ground, so you can freely pick up items on land and walk down stairs without removing anything. If crossing over lava, be sure to fireproof other vulnerable items in your inventory as well.

The Castle, Juiblex's Swamp and Medusa's Island are common levels where these boots are used, as well as the Quest for certain roles (e.g., the Healer quest). Some players keep them on routinely to reduce water-crossing hassle, particularly from forgetting to use levitation or else moving off dry land due to typos.

Water walking also allows for unlimited #diping scrolls and spellbooks into water tiles to blank them, or diluting potions for water production - while falling into water is normally faster, it is also reliant on your Luck. Having access to water walking can also save time and even wishes in these cases, as you may be able to put off obtaining a source of sustained levitation until the Elemental Planes.

Players crafting ascension kits tend to forego these boots in favor of speed boots and jumping boots, which are typically supplemented with the ring or potions of levitation; for those who do not have either of the latter boots and do not want to use a wish on, them water walking boots are an excellent choice. If you have not found any of these boots by the time you reach the Castle, a pair of unenchanted high boots or elven boots can suffice until you reach the middle of Vlad's Tower or find another preferable pair.

Identification

Water walking boots are non-trivial to identify, as they don't display a message when worn and have no obvious effects, unlike speed boots and jumping boots; price identification is one of the more reliable methods, as it poses no risk to your inventory.

If you cannot price-ID, the simplest way to test boots for water walking is to remove and drop any scrolls, spellbooks, potions, and iron equipment first, then step into a water tile - unless your encumbrance is high, you will safely climb back out if the boots are not water walking. A safer and more difficult option is to use teleport control, since water squares will be considered "safe" if you have water walking; if your boots are water walking, you can teleport onto a water tile and stand safely there, and if not, you will be teleported elsewhere in the level at random.

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