Syllable

Tiles are a class of items in dNethack which represent the syllables of power.

To read a tile, you must type-identify it first (so it shows the syllable, not the shape of the glyph). Which glyph corresponds to which syllable is randomly assigned each game.

Each has a different temporary effect when read, along with a different permanent effect. If the tile is uncursed, the temporary effects last for 10 turns. If it's blessed, they last for 15 turns. If the tile is cursed, the temporary effects last for 40 turns but the permanent bonus is not confered.

There are 6 syllables:

Aesh, the syllable of strength

Temporary bonus: +10 damage using weapons for the duration.

Permanent bonus: +1/3 damage per non-cursed Aesh used. So after the third Aesh, all attacks will deal +1 damage. If the total number of Aesh tiles read is not divisible by three, there is a remainder-in-three chance of dealing an extra +1 damage on each attack.

Krau, the syllable of power

Temporary bonus: 150% damage on all spells and some spell-like effects from artifacts.

Permanent bonus: +1/3 damage per non-cursed Krau used. So after the third Krau, all attacks will deal +1 damage. If the total number of Krau tiles read is not divisible by three, there is a remainder-in-three chance of dealing an extra +1 damage on each spell.

Hoon, the syllable of life

Temporary bonus: +10 hp / turn for the duration.

Permanent bonus: +1 to natural healing rate for every non-cursed Hoon used. For comparison, a each level earned also increases the natural healing rate by 1, so if a 15th-level character reads 15 non-cursed Hoon tiles their healing rate will be approximately doubled.

Uur, the syllable of grace

Temporary bonus: +10 to-hit and -10 AC, along with +6 movement points per turn.

Permanent bonus: +1/2 AC for every non-cursed Uur used (increasing after each odd-numbered tile read). If an even number of non-cursed Uur tiles have been read, the full bonus is applied to the character's base AC, defending them against all attacks. If an odd number of non-cursed tiles have been read, the final +1 AC is applied to the character's armor-based AC, which is bypassed by some attacks.

Naen, the syllable of thought

Temporary bonus: +10 pw / turn regenerated, along with 100% spell success rates while active.

Permanent bonus: You gain a permanent energy regeneration bonus, 1 power every 30 turns per non-cursed Naen used. For comparison, a each level earned also increases the natural regeneration rate by 1, so if a 15th-level character reads 15 non-cursed Hoon tiles their power regeneration rate will be approximately doubled.

Vaul, the syllable of spirit

Temporary bonus: Half damage (stacks with half physical or spell damage) on all attacks that hit you, as well as displacement.

Permanent bonus: +1/5 DR per non-cursed Vaul used. You'll get +1 DR to a specific slot per Vaul, rotating between slots evenly. So your first you'll have +1 DR for your head slot, second will apply to your upper torso, third to your arms, fourth to your lower torso, fifth to your legs, before finally rotating back to the head for +2 DR for your head slot on the sixth non-cursed Vaul.