Asmodeus
& Asmodeus 
| |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 53 |
| Attacks |
Claw 4d4, magic cold |
| Base level | 49 |
| Base experience | 3225 |
| Speed | 12 |
| Base AC | −7 |
| Base MR | 90 |
| Alignment | 20 (lawful) |
| Frequency (by normal means) | Unique |
| Genocidable | No |
| Weight | 1500 |
| Nutritional value | 500 |
| Size | Huge |
| Resistances | Fire, cold, poison, death rays |
| Resistances conveyed | None |
|
Asmodeus:
| |
| Reference | monst.c#line2722 |
Asmodeus, &, is a demon prince who appears in NetHack. He is the most powerful of the demon princes guaranteed to appear in Gehennom.
One of the random epitaphs found on randomly generated graves may read "Postman, please note forwarding address: Gehennom, Asmodeus's Fortress, fifth lemure on the left". He and the other demon rulers are also the subject of a false rumor.
Contents
Generation
Under normal circumstances, Asmodeus will generally be encountered in his lair, waiting just one tile west of the room's downstair.[1] The lair is eligible for bones, which may result in him being elsewhere on the level.
Asmodeus will never generate with a random offensive item, instead always appearing with a wand of cold and a wand of fire.[2][3]
Strategy
Asmodeus will appear before you first if you attract his attention; if you were not wielding Excalibur at the time of level creation, he will demand that you pay him for safe passage, with the amount being a portion of your visible gold. If you are wielding Excalibur when he warps to you, refuse the bribe when he asks, or else he fails to see where you are, he becomes hostile.[4][5]
Giving Asmodeus the desired gold will cause him to disappear from the level, allowing you to continue on safely; this is the preferred strategy for speedruns in particular. If you plan to pay him off, be sure to unwield Excalibur beforehand. Unless you are not particularly attached to your wallet's contents at this point, it is best to hide most of it, e.g. in a bag or other container.
For those who elect to fight him instead, Asmodeus has 198 HP, high monster MR and a good natural AC of -7 - but he is of little trouble to a player with good AC of their own and cold resistance. He is covetous and will teleport to the upstairs when he takes a few hits.
The following information pertains to an upcoming version (3.7.0). If this version is now released, please verify that the information below is still accurate, then update the page to incorporate it.
Demonbane will now have the same effect as Excalibur on Asmodeus and other princes when wielded.Magical cold attack
Asmodeus has a unique magical cold attack. When used in melee, this attack does 30d6 damage (31d6 if Asmodeus has increased his level to 50),[6] for a maximum of 186 points of damage. This damage is reduced by half spell damage, and completely nullified by cold resistance. Magic resistance and reflection provide no protection against this melee attack. The cold melee attack cannot freeze potions in your inventory. In a normal game, most players will have acquired cold resistance by the time they meet Asmodeus; however, if you do not (for example, because of conducts), then Asmodeus becomes a fearsome opponent.
Asmodeus can also use a ranged version of his cold attack ("Asmodeus zaps you with a cone of cold"). The ranged version only does 6d6 damage. The ranged version's damage is also reduced by half spell damage, and is nullified by cold resistance and by reflection. Unlike the melee version, the ranged version can destroy potions in your inventory; reflection prevents this destruction.
The following information pertains to an upcoming version (NetHack 3.7.0). If this version is now released, please verify that the information below is still accurate, then update the page to incorporate it.
If Asmodeus observes that you have cold resistance, he will stop attempting to use this attack.Fighting Asmodeus
The easiest way to defeat Asmodeus is to lure him down one level and then stand on the upstairs, or else use an item that can wake him while still on the upstair yourself. A less effective method is to drive him upstairs until you reach a level that allows you to teleport to the upstairs ahead of him. Note also that level teleportation can be used to lure him to a level that permits teleportation.
Alternatively, you can use a cockatrice corpse or egg to turn him into a statue the first time he shows his face, then break the statue for his wands and any scrolls.
The following information pertains to an upcoming version (NetHack 3.7.0). If this version is now released, please verify that the information below is still accurate, then update the page to incorporate it.
You can no longer teleport to the stairs if Asmodeus is on the level in Gehennom. Jumping is effective as an alternative.Origin
Asmodeus is derived from Dungeons and Dragons, which in turn borrowed from Christian demonology; in both sources, he is a very powerful demon. It is possible that the name (if not the demon himself) was derived from the Zoroastrian daēva Aēšma, the demon of wrath.
The D&D Asmodeus is a handsome, red-eyed, dark-skinned and dark-haired humanoid bearing two small horns and clad in very expensive clothing. He is more than 4 meters (13 feet) tall. He also carries a powerful weapon named the Ruby Rod, which the wands he generates with may allude to.
History
In NetHack 3.4.3, monsters' covetous behavior towards the Amulet of Yendor could be exploited in Moloch's Sanctum. By luring a covetous monster like Asmodeus there, he would teleport to the high priest, engage and hopefully kill them, and take the Amulet before warping back to attack you - thus allowing you to obtain the Amulet without leaving the vicinity of the staircase.
In principle, you could also wound Asmodeus just enough to chase him up the stairs, and repeat on each level. This let you avoid the mysterious force, but was generally not worth the effort as Asmodeus can be struck by the force, too.
Variants
dNetHack
| & Asmodeus
| |
|---|---|
| Attacks |
weapon 9d1 physical, |
| Base level | 99
|
| Speed | 12 |
| Base AC | −9 to −99 |
| Base MR | 99 |
| Alignment | 20 (lawful) |
| Frequency (by normal means) | Unique |
| Genocidable | No |
|
| |
| Size | large |
| Resistances | fire, cold, poison, stoning, sickness |
| Resistances conveyed | None |
|
Asmodeus:
| |
| Reference | monst.c#line4991 |
Asmodeus is probably the second or third most powerful monster in dNetHack, and is certainly the most powerful creature that the character may be forced to confront. This being the case, it is best when exploring Nessus to check all the perimeter rooms for the true downstairs before checking the center room. He will always demand a bribe of at least 9000 gold, and up to 9999, no matter how much the player has visible.
Encyclopaedia entry
It is said that Asmodeus is the overlord over all of hell.
His appearance, unlike many other demons and devils, is
human apart from his horns and tail. He can freeze flesh
with a touch.
The evil demon who appears in the Apocryphal book of _Tobit_
and is derived from the Persian _Aeshma_. In _Tobit_ Asmodeus
falls in love with Sara, daughter of Raguel, and causes the
death of seven husbands in succession, each on his bridal night.
He was finally driven from Egypt through a charm made by Tobias
of the heart and liver of a fish burned on perfumed ashes, as
described by Milton in _Paradise Lost_ (IV, 167-71). Hence
Asmodeus often figures as the spirit of matrimonial jealousy
or unhappiness.
