Potion of gain level
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| |
|---|---|
| Name | gain level |
| Appearance | random |
| Base price | 300 zm |
| Weight | 20 |
| Monster use | May be used by monsters as misc items. |
A potion of gain level is a type of potion that appears in NetHack.
Contents
Generation
Wizards may be given a potion of gain level as any of the three random potions in their starting inventory.[1]
Potions of gain level make up 1⁄50 (2%) of all randomly-generated potions. General stores and liquor emporiums can sell potions of gain level.
Randomly generated monsters may receive a potion of gain level as a miscellaneous item.[2]
Mixing a potion of enlightenment with a potion of levitation has a 3⁄5 chance of producing a diluted potion of gain level.
Description
Quaffing a non-cursed potion of gain level will auto-identify the potion and increase the hero's experience level by one, increasing their stats as though they gained an experience level normally:[3] an uncursed potion will set their experience points to the minimum for their new experience level, while a blessed potion will set their experience points to a random value from the minimum to the maximum for their new experience level.[4] As an example, when quaffing an potion of gain level at XL 2 to increase the hero's level to 3, an uncursed potion will set their experience points to 40 (the minimum for level 3), while a blessed potion will set their experience points to a random number from 40 to 79 (80 points is the minimum for level 4). If quaffing the non-cursed potion while already at the maximum experience level, the hero's HP and energy are still increased.
Quaffing a cursed potion of gain level causes the hero to gain one dungeon level by pulling them through the ceiling to the floor above[5] - this does not work in the End Game, Sokoban, the top floors of the Wizard's Tower and Vlad's Tower, the top floor of the Quest, or in Fort Ludios. A cursed potion of gain level will only work on dungeon level 1 if the hero is carrying the real Amulet of Yendor. Quaffing a cursed potion of gain level does not auto-identify the potion, but will prompt the player to name it - doing so while carrying the Amulet is subject to the effects of the mysterious force in addition to the above.
Intelligent monsters with hands will quaff a potion of gain level in their inventory as soon as the player is within a certain range. A monster quaffing a non-cursed potion will gain experience and possibly grow up into a more powerful form (e.g. a master lich into an arch-lich); if their grown-up form is genocided, the monster dies instead. If the potion is cursed, the monster may rise through the ceiling, subject to the same conditions as the hero. As usual, witnessing a monster gain experience will auto-identify the potion, and witnessing the cursed potion's effects will prompt the player to name it.
Strategy
Blessing potions of gain level before drinking them makes more sense earlier in the game than later. At higher levels - usually around the time you are quest-ready (e.g. XL 14-17) - the experience points needed to gain levels from normal adventuring runs into the hundreds of thousands, such that there is little point in blessing them to get closer to the next experience level. Potions, foocubi, and wraith corpses are the preferred methods of gaining levels in that phase.
Cursed potions of gain level are most useful for quickly leaving Moloch's Sanctum and other non-teleport levels while on the ascent to the Elemental Planes, and can be used as an escape item in a pinch. A player with an otherwise 'complete' ascension kit may consider wishing for 2 or 3 cursed potions of gain level as needed.
For alchemy, the potion of gain level has the same uses as a potion of gain energy, but gaining an extra level of experience is generally a better idea unless you have potions to spare. There are also an couple of alchemy recipes for producing them.
A constant supply of non-cursed potions of gain level is essential for pacifist players to gain experience levels, though most of those potions will be reserved for their pet of choice (which is almost always an Archon).
History
The potion of gain level first appears in Hack 1.21 and Hack for PDP-11, which are based on Jay Fenlason's Hack, and is included in the initial item list for Hack 1.0.
Messages
- You feel more experienced.
- You quaffed a non-cursed potion of gain level.
- You rise up, through the ceiling!
- You quaffed a cursed potion of gain level.
- You have an uneasy feeling.
- As above, but under conditions where it could not take effect.
- <The monster> seems more experienced.
- A monster quaffed a non-cursed potion of gain level, and may grow up.
- <The monster> rises up, through the ceiling!
- A monster quaffed a cursed potion of gain level.
- <The monster> looks uneasy.
- As above, but under conditions where it could not take effect.
Variants
NetHack: The Next Generation
In NetHack: The Next Generation, the chemistry set can be used to create a potion of gain level, using up four charges.
SLASH'EM
In SLASH'EM, two potions of gain level can be found in the outside area of Grund's Stronghold.
The hero can upgrade objects by dipping them into a potion of gain level - this does not violate polypileless conduct, and doing so will prompt them to name the potion if necessary.
The potion of gain level is also more worthwhile to bless and quaff in SLASH'EM, as the lower XP requirements for gaining levels make killing enough monsters to advance a level feasible for a longer period in comparison to vanilla.
Messages
- Hmm! You don't recall dipping that into the potion.
- You upgraded an item by dipping it into a potion of gain level; if the potion is not identified, you will be prompted to name it.
UnNetHack
In UnNetHack, there is a chance of a potion of gain level being found at the bottom of the Dragon Caves branch.
dNetHack
In dNetHack, The Rod of the Elvish Lords, The Rod of Lordly Might, and The Sceptre of Lolth all have an invoke effect that can emulate a cursed potion of gain level if used prior to picking up the Amulet of Yendor.
SlashTHEM
In SlashTHEM, in addition to SLASH'EM details, the chemistry set from NetHack: The Next Generation is present and uses the same amount of charges for a potion of gain level.
References
- ↑ src/u_init.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 166
- ↑ src/muse.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 2039
- ↑ src/potion.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 987
- ↑ src/potion.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 990: u.uexp = rndexp(TRUE) for a blessed potion
- ↑ src/potion.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 964
