Bite attack

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A bite attack, also known simply as a bite, is a melee attack type that appears in NetHack, and is primarily used by monsters. The attack type is defined by the AT_BITE flag within monattk.h in the source code.[1]

Description

A monster that has a bite attack, including a hero polymorphed into such a monster, performs the attack by attempting to tear into the target with their teeth or tusks.

Magic cancellation can block bite attacks if they use damage types that are also blocked by magic cancellation. Biting a cockatrice or chickatrice will turn the attacker to stone, and monsters will avoid doing so against such targets when possible with the exception of a hero in the form of either monster.[2][3][4][5]

List of monsters

The following monsters have bite attacks, which deal physical damage unless otherwise noted:

Strategy

The seduction used by foocubi is defined as a bite attack, which means that foocubi and (very critically) heroes in foocubi form will always be in danger of being turned to stone if they use the attack on a footrice—a hero in foocubus form should never engage one in melee for this reason, even if they have weapons and worn gloves.

History

The bite attack type is formally defined in NetHack 3.0.0.

Messages

<The monster> bites!
A monster other than a foocubus hit you with a bite attack.[6]
<The monster> snaps wildly and misses!
A monster targeted a bite attack at you, but missed because you are invisible or underwater.[7]
<The monster> bites <the other monster>.
A monster other than a foocubus hit another monster with a bite attack.[8]
You bite <the monster>.
You hit a monster with a bite attack.[9]

Variants

NetHack variants may add new monsters with bite attacks, as well as different types of bite attacks.

SLASH'EM

SLASH'EM adds many new monsters that have bite attacks, with notable ones listed below:

dNetHack

dNetHack has several subtypes of bite attack:

  • The long-necked bite (AT_LNCK) is an attack type that allows the attacker to target a bite at a hero or monster in a 5x5 square area centered on it, and it is used by monsters such as the daughter of Naunet and star spawn.
  • The five-square bite (AT_5BIT) is an attack type that allows the attacker the attacker to target a bite at a hero or monster in a 11x11 square area centered on it, and it is used by the first wraithworm and nachash tannin.
  • The "wolf-head bite" is a self-explanatory attack type that uses wolf heads to bite, and is exclusive to a hero that has the spirit Miska bound.
  • One type of "black goat" attack can randomly resolve as a bite attack.
  • Finally, there is an attack type used to represent all other bites (AT_OBIT) that do not fit into one of the other categories above, such as the bites from Medusa's snakes and the ancient naga's 'canopy' of snake heads.

dNetHack also adds many new monsters that have standard bite attacks, with notable ones listed below:

The hero can gain bite attacks through a few means other than polymorphing:

  • Chupoclops is a spirit that grants the hero a 2d4 poisonous bite attack while bound.
  • Miska grants the hero a 2d4 poisonous bite attack while bound at experience level 10 or higher, along with a second one at experience level 18 or higher. Both of these attacks use the wolf-head bite attack type described above, representing the wolf-heads that emerge from the hero's torso.

Biting an acidic monster can cure gray mold infection.

EvilHack

EvilHack adds many new monsters that have bite attacks, with notable ones listed below:

  • All zombies (including a draugr hero and draugr-race player monsters) have a bite attack that can either cause intelligence drain or an illness that may turn victims into zombies themselves if they die from it.
  • Medusa has her bite attack from NetHack replaced by a pair of attacks similarly flavored as bites coming from her hair full of snakes—the latter of the two attacks is considered a "true" bite attack and can induce stoning.

Bite attacks from a Druid that is wildshaped will be suppressed automatically if using them in melee would be instantly fatal, e.g. against a cockatrice or chickatrice.

References

  1. ↑ include/monattk.h in NetHack 3.6.7, line 14
  2. ↑ src/mhitm.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 385
  3. ↑ src/mhitm.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 1783
  4. ↑ src/mhitu.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 675: monster bite versus hero
  5. ↑ src/uhitm.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 2800-L2823: contact attacks against stoning passive
  6. ↑ src/mhitu.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 47
  7. ↑ src/mhitu.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 163
  8. ↑ src/mhitm.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 589
  9. ↑ src/uhitm.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 2527
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