Wand of speed monster
| / | |
|---|---|
| Name | speed monster |
| Appearance | random |
| Abundance | 5% |
| Base price | 150 zm |
| Weight | 7 |
| Type | beam |
| Maximum charges | 8 |
| Monster use | May be used by monsters as misc items. |
A wand of speed monster is a type of wand that appears in NetHack.
Contents
Generation
Randomly generated monsters may receive a wand of speed monster as a miscellaneous item: if a speed item is chosen for that monster's starting inventory, it has a 1⁄6 chance of receiving the wand unless it is a guard.[1]
Description
Zapping the wand at yourself or a monster gives the target(s) intrinsic speed; gaining intrinsic speed by zapping yourself also exercises dexterity.[2] Monsters can zap the wand at themselves, and observing them doing so will auto-identify it. Monsters that you zap with this wand are capable of resisting its effect, dependent on a check against their magic resistance value, and zapping a peaceful monster will anger it - this check does not occur for monsters zapping the wand at themselves.
Engraving with a wand of speed monster gives a unique message if you are not blind, but does not auto-identify the wand.[3]
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.
Per commit 95972d7, zapping yourself with a wand of speed monster gives 50–74 turns of very fast speed (as from worn speed boots), and does not give permanent intrinsic speed; monsters still get permanent speed.
Peaceful monsters zapped with this wand no longer become angry since being sped up is a beneficial effect.Strategy
Roles that do not gain intrinsic speed through experience levels will want the wand of speed monster to zap themselves once for the intrinsic. A few spare wands are best kept in the main inventory (ideally in a bag) for speeding up pets and steeds, as well as restoring speed lost to delayed stoning from a footrice or the slowing attacks of skeletons and shades.
Pets may resist the wand's effect like any other monster, particularly if they are a high-MR score monster like a vampire lord - you can leave the wand on the floor for such a pet to pick up, since a monster zapping itself with the wand does not check against their MR score. If zapping your pet does not generate a message, they may have resisted or else already have intrinsic speed; you can check to see if a pet has intrinsic speed by applying a stethoscope. Most spellcasting pets, including high-level ones such as Archons, have no need for the wand due to the haste self monster spell, which they will apply as necessary.
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.
The changes to the wand makes it more useful for you in the long term: The temporary speed can be used to escape from a dire situation, or else close in quickly on a particularly troublesome monster to kill it faster, making it a potential alternative to speed boots.History
The wand of speed monster appears in Hack 1.21 and Hack for PDP-11, both based on Jay Fenlason's Hack. It is included in the initial item list for Hack 1.0.
Messages
- The bugs on the floor speed up!
- You engraved with a wand of speed monster.[3]
- You speed up.
- You gained intrinsic speed by zapping yourself with the wand.
- Your quickness feels more natural.
- As above, while you were wearing a source of extrinsic speed.
Variants
SLASH'EM
In SLASH'EM, two wands of speed monster can be found in the outside area of Grund's Stronghold, and the statue trap of an arch-lich found in the Lawful Quest contains a wand of speed monster with a single charge. This also applies to SlashTHEM.
NetHack brass
In NetHack brass, the wand of speed monster's effects are temporary.
UnNetHack
In UnNetHack, Durin's Bane is always generated with a wand of speed monster.
dNetHack
In dNetHack, the wand instead grants temporary very fast speed when zapping yourself, and its effects on monsters are unchanged.
xNetHack
In xNetHack, the wand gives you temporary very fast speed, making the wand in general more useful. The temporary speed can be used to escape from a dire situation, or else close in quickly on a particularly troublesome monster to kill it faster. The potion of speed now grants intrinsic speed, as well as temporary very fast speed.
SpliceHack
In SpliceHack, the extraplanar merchants that inhabit the City of Brass may generate with a wand of speed monster.
EvilHack
In EvilHack, you can use the #loot extended command to give a pet the wand, which they will use to give themselves intrinsic speed. This is useful for high-MR score pets without spell casting.
Hack'EM
In Hack'EM, in addition to SLASH'EM details, the wand grants you temporary very fast speed as in dNetHack and xNetHack.
