Arrow (attack type)

This article is about attack type in dNetHack and its derivatives. For the weapon type and individual item type, see arrow.

An arrow attack is a ranged attack type that appears in dNetHack, notdNetHack, and notnotdNetHack, and as its name implies it is primarily used by monsters to fire arrows and other projectiles. The attack type is defined by the AT_ARRW flag within monattk.h in the source code.

Description

The arrow attack can have various qualities set: the amount and type of projectile item that is fired, their enchantment, any poisonous coatings and object properties, the attack's range and valid targets (including whether or not the projectiles are teleported directly near a target to shoot at them), how accurately they are shot, and whether they are created with the attack or pulled from the attacker's inventory. Arrows are used by default if none of these qualities are specified. Many of these qualities are dependent on the damage type associated with the attack, which varies across monsters as listed below:

• The edderkop and alider's arrow attacks use the shadow damage type, causing them to ignore the target's AC, and fire one uncursed +8 shadowsteel spike per attack that is coated in basic poison and blinding poison, has the faded object property and will be teleported near the target prior to being shot. This ensures that the spike will at least reach a target that the attacker has a line of sight to, and the spike will always mulch and leave behind a web on impact with a monster or square, trapping any monster it hits.
• Pestilence's arrow attack uses the same damage type associated with their touch attack that is unique to them, and fires one uncursed, faded and filth-poisoned arrow that has an incredibly high enchantment ranging from +8 to +57—like the edderkop's spikes, the arrow is teleported near a target within line-of-sight before being shot at them.
• Manticores, ancient nupperibos and daughters of bedlam have an arrow attack that use the paralysis damage type, and fire one uncursed +0 envenomed bone spike per attack.
• Dao lao gui monks have an arrow attack that uses the poison damage type, and fires one uncursed +0 bone spike per attack that has a ¹⁄₂₀ chance of being coated in disease-inflicting filth and will otherwise be coated in regular poison.
• The arrow attacks of Zaphkiel and Light Archons use a damage type that is specific to them, and fire one blessed +7 faded silver arrow that flies until it hits a monster or the edge of the map.
• Surya Deva arrow attacks use a damage type specific to them, and the attacks fire blessed +57 faded silver arrows that fly until they hits a monster or the edge of the map.
• The arrow attack of argentum golems and the half-elf ranger fire silver arrows that deal standard physical damage.
• The arrow attack of Center of All fires cursed loadstones at a range of 8 squares, and loadstones that hit targets will become part of their inventory in order to weigh them down.
• The arrow attack of the Arsenal fires a volley of iron balls at a range of 8 squares.
• The arrow attack of siege ogres fires normal arrows that deal physical damage.

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