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
Wizards may be given a wand of speed monster as the random wand in their starting inventory.[1]
Wands of speed monster make up 9⁄200 (4.5%) of all randomly-generated wands. General stores and "quality apparel and accessories" shops can sell wands of speed monster.
Randomly generated monsters that are given a miscellaneous item have an effective 1⁄18 chance of being given a wand of speed monster.[2]
Description
Zapping the wand grants the target intrinsic speed, and a hero that obtains speed from zapping themselves will also exercise dexterity;[3] monsters zapped with the wand can resist this effect dependent on their MR score, and zapping a peaceful monster will anger them. Monsters can zap the wand at themselves, which bypasses checks for MR, and will do so when the hero is close enough to them regardless of hostility. Obtaining speed from the wand or seeing another monster gain speed from it will auto-identify the wand.
Engraving with a wand of speed monster gives a unique message if the hero is not blind, but does not auto-identify the wand.[4]
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 95972d71, 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.
Per commit 9bc6e1be, 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 hero should keep a few spare wands on hand (ideally in a bag) for speeding up pets and steeds, as well as restoring speed for pets or themselves if the property is lost to delayed stoning from a footrice or the slowing attacks of skeletons and shades.
For intelligent pets with hands and a high MR score, e.g. a vampire lord, you can leave the wand on the floor for them such a pet to pick up and apply to themselves, then pick it back up after they drop the wand. If zapping a pet to grant them speed, you can use a stethoscope or wand of probing to double-check if a pet already has the intrinsic, since a lack of message can mean that the pet either resisted or else already has the property. Most spellcasting pets have no need for the wand if they are high enough level to cast the haste self monster spell, and will apply the spell as necessary if they lose speed or are slowed.
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 a hero 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, which are both based on Jay Fenlason's Hack, and 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.[4]
- 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 are placed in the outside area of Grund's Stronghold at level creation, and the statue trap of an arch-lich generated 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 grants temporary intrinsic speed.
UnNetHack
In UnNetHack, Durin's Bane is always generated with a wand of speed monster.
dNetHack
In dNetHack, notdNetHack and notnotdNetHack, the wand of speed monster grants temporary very fast speed for the hero. While its effects on monsters are unchanged, and the speed it grants them is still considered the same as "extrinsic" speed from the potion or worn boots, it can be stacked with "intrinsic" speed granted from innate qualities of that monster type (e.g. from certain types of monster creation or reaching certain monster levels).
A wand of speed monster can be used to repair the speed boosters of imperial elven boots, allowing them to grant very fast speed while worn.
xNetHack
In xNetHack, the wand gives the hero temporary very fast speed, while its effects on monsters are unchanged. 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, the wand gives the hero temporary very fast speed and cures temporary slowing, while its effects on monsters are unchanged.
Hack'EM
In Hack'EM, in addition to SLASH'EM details, the wand grants temporary very fast speed for the hero as in some other variants.
