Wands (part 1)

wan1-330.txt  Update version 2 for NetHack 3.3.0
Compiled for 3.2.2 by Kevin Hugo.
Revised and updated for 3.3.0 by Dylan O'Donnell
Converted to html by Payne Simpson

Wands are listed above by increasing price, then alphabetically. The Cost field denotes the base price of each item. Wgt specifies the weight (100 zorkmids weighs 1).

Wands comprise 4% of all randomly-generated items in the main dungeon, 6% in containers, 5% in Rogue level, and 8% in hell. Prob is the relative probability of each subtype. They appear 1/34 cursed, 16/17 uncursed, and 1/34 blessed.

The Chg field specifies the maximum number of charges that a wand normally has. An exclamation (!) denotes that a wand of wishing may only be recharged once. Wands of wishing start with 1 to 3 charges; otherwise, the wand starts with a number of charges at most 4 less than its maximum.

Each time you zap or Engrave with a wand, you use one charge. A wand with zero charges left has a 1 in 121 chance of wresting a last charge and then turning to dust each time it is zapped (this won't happen if the wand was cancelled but not recharged). Cancelling a wand will make it uncursed and (except for wands of cancellation) it will get zero charges.

Wands may be recharged by scrolls of charging or by the Platinum Yendorian Express Card. Previously-recharged wands have a chance of exploding (up to a maximum of 100% for a 7:x wand or a wand of wishing); see Scrolls. A cursed scroll will have no effect on a blessed wand or a wand with no charges; otherwise, Your <wand> vibrates briefly and it gets zero charges. An uncursed scroll will bring the number of charges to a random number from 1 to a random number from 5 to the maximum charges shown above, or for a wand of wishing a random number from 1 to 3 for a wand of wishing); a blessed scroll will bring the number of charges in the wand to a random number from 5 to the maximum charges shown above, or for a wand of wishing to three charges. If it already has that number of charges, it gains one more charge. A wand of wishing charged beyond three charges will explode. Your <wand> <glows/vibrates> briefly. if the new enchantment is below the maximum; Your <wand> <glows blue/vibrates> for a moment. otherwise.

The Type of wand denotes the behavior when it is zapped. NODIR wands do not ask for a direction. IMMED wands ask for a direction, but do not show a beam when zapped. RAY wands produce a beam which is animated on the screen; if you are unblind when you zap the wand, you will also identify that type of wand.

The appearances of wands are randomized from the following descriptions:

Zapping wands

Nondirectional wands will be identified if you saw their effect (e.g., you found a secret door with a wand of secret door detection). If the wand produces a ray, you will identify the wand if you were unblind. The range of the ray will be 7 to 13 squares; this range may be lessened by the ray causing effects or bouncing. Zapping a RAY wand upwards or downwards is equivalent to restricting the ray to a range of 1. IMMED wands have a range of 6 to 13 (other than digging), which can similarly be lessened, and will not bounce; they will be identified if you observe an effect caused by them.

Cursed wands have a 1% chance of exploding when zapped; this does 1 to 6 points of damage for each charge in the wand, plus an additional 2 to 12 points of damage, and abuses your strength.

zap monster

Some monsters may resist.
Clay golems are killed
Some writing vanishes from <monster's> head!
Weremonsters return to human form.
The monster is cancelled.

zap downwards

Any engraving at the location is removed.

zap object

Object is cancelled.

zap self

All items in your inventory are cancelled.
If you are polymorphed into a clay golem, you revert to your normal form.
Some writing vanishes from your head! (if not blind)

zap monster

The location of the monster is revealed, if unseen.
If monster is cold resistant, no effect.
Otherwise, does 6 to 36 damage. It does an additional 6 to 18 damage if the monster is fire resistant. Some monsters may resist and take half damage.
Potions in the monster's inventory may be destroyed.
The bolt of cold rips into the <monster>. (if swallowed)
The bolt of cold hits the <monster>. (otherwise)

zap self

If you are not cold resistant, does 12 to 72 damage.
You imitate a popsicle! (not cold resistant)
You feel a little chill. (cold resistant)
May freeze potions in your inventory.

zap location

If water, it freezes (except on Plane of Water). The water freezes. (normal water, in sight)
The moat is bridged with ice! (moat, in sight)
You hear a crackling sound. (water, out of sight)
The water freezes for a moment. (Plane of Water, in sight)
You hear a soft crackling. (Plane of Water, out of sight)
If lava, it solidifies.
The lava cools and solidifies. (lava, in sight)
If closed door, it is destroyed. The ray is halted.
The door freezes and shatters! (in sight)
You feel cold. (otherwise)

monster zaps you

If you are riding a non-reflective monster, 1/3 chance of hitting
your steed instead. (Effects as zap monster above.)
If you are not cold resistant, does 6 to 36 damage.
You don't feel cold. (cold resistant)
Potions in your inventory may be destroyed.

zap

22/23 chance of creating a monster adjacent to you.
1/23 chance of creating 2 to 8 monsters around you.

monster zaps

Creates a monster adjacent to the monster. If you are both in water, the monster created will be a giant eel; if it is in water and you are on land, it will be a crocodile; otherwise the monster will be random.

zap monster

If monster is Death, his maximum HP are increased by 50% (to a limit of 999) and he is healed to maximum HP.
If monster is magic resistant, a demon, or nonliving, no effect.
Otherwise, does damage equal to the monsters HP plus one.
Some monsters may resist and take half damage.
The death ray rips into the <monster>. (if swallowed)
The death ray hits the <monster>. (otherwise)

zap location

If closed door, halts ray.
The door absorbs your bolt!

zap self

If you are a demon or a non-living monster, no effect.
The wand shoots an apparently harmless beam at you.
Otherwise, you die.
You irradiate yourself with pure energy! You die.

monster zaps you

If you are magic resistant or polymorphed into a demon or a non-living monster, no effect.
You aren't affected. (magic resistant)
You seem unaffected. (demon or non-living)
Otherwise, you die.

zap monster

If swallowed by a non-vortex non-elemental, you are expelled and the monster is reduced to 1 hit point.
You pierce <monster's> stomach wall! (if animal)

zap upwards

If not on the Planes of Air or Water or underwater, causes a rock to fall on your head doing 1 to 6 damage (1 to 2 if wearing a metal helmet).
The beam bounces off the <stairs> and hits the <ceiling>! (on stairs)
You loosen a rock from the <ceiling>. It falls on your <head>.

zap downwards

If standing on stairs, same effect as zapping upwards.
If in a pit or another trap on a hard-floored level, or a magic portal on any level, or phasing within a wall on a level with non-diggable walls, no effect.
The <floor> here is too hard to dig in.
If on an altar or throne, no effect.
The <throne/altar> is too hard to break apart.
If on a sink, turns it into a fountain.
The pipes break! Water spurts out!
If on a fountain, creates a number of pools nearby.
Water gushes forth from the overflowing fountain! (made at least one)
Water sprays all over you. (didn't)
If over, on or in water or lava, wakes nearby monsters.
The <water> sloshes furiously for a moment, then subsides.
If on a lowered drawbridge or its portcullis, it is destroyed. Things in the vicinity are very likely to die.
The drawbridge collapses into the <moat>! (if still moat or lava)
The drawbridge disintegrates! (if iced or dried up)
You are blown apart by flying debris. (died standing on portcullis)
You are hit by a huge chunk of metal! (died on drawbridge)
If standing on same spot as a boulder, it is destroyed. An existing pit has a 50% chance of just having any spikes removed; otherwise any trap is destroyed.
The boulder settles into the pit. (existing pit, 50% chance).
KADOOM! The boulder falls in! (otherwise)
If on a grave, it is excavated.
Otherwise, digs a pit if on a hard-floored level, or a hole if not.
You dig a <pit/hole> in the <floor>. (pit)

zap sideways

The range of the digging ray is 8 to 25 squares through open space.
Doors and walls count as 3 spaces; stone as two. If not in a non-mazelike Dungeon level or the Plane of Earth, the ray will halt after the first obstacle against which it has taken effect; on those levels it will continue.
Known, closed doors will be destroyed; secret doors and diggable walls will be converted into empty doorways; diggable stone into open corridor spaces.
The door is razed! (closed door)
The wall glows then fades. (undiggable wall)
The rock glows then fades. (undiggable rock)

monster zaps

If monster is on level 1 upstairs, fountain, throne, sink, grave, altar or drawbridge, no effect.
The digging ray is ineffective.
If level has hard floors, no effect.
The floor here is too hard to dig in. (if in sight)
Otherwise, creates a hole and falls through it.
You hear something crash through the floor. (out of sight)
<Monster> has made a hole in the floor.
<Monster> <falls> through... (otherwise)

zap

Same effect as quaffing an uncursed potion of enlightenment.

zap monster

The location of the monster is revealed, if unseen.
If monster is fire resistant, no effect.
Otherwise, does 6 to 36 damage. It does an additional 7 damage if the monster is cold resistant.
Some monsters may resist and take half damage.
Flammable armour worn by the monster may be burnt, and flammable objects in the monster's inventory may be destroyed.
The bolt of fire rips into the <monster>. (if swallowed)
The bolt of fire hits the <monster>. (otherwise)

zap location

If ice, it melts.
The ice crackles and melts. (in sight)
No message (otherwise)
If a pool, evaporates to leave a pit.
The water evaporates. (in sight)
You hear hissing gas. (otherwise)
If other water, no effect.
Some water evaporates. (in sight)
You hear hissing gas. (otherwise)
If fountain, it dries up.
Steam billows from the fountain. (in sight)
No message (otherwise).
If closed door, it is destroyed. The ray is halted.
The door is consumed in flames! (in sight)
You smell smoke. (otherwise)

zap object

If scroll or spellbook, may be destroyed. Scrolls of fire, spellbooks of fireball and the Book of the Dead will resist.
You see a puff of smoke. (not blind)
You smell a whiff of smoke. (blind)

zap self

If you are not fire resistant, does 12 to 72 points of damage.
You've set yourself afire! (not fire resistant)
You feel rather warm (fire resistant)
If polymorphed into an iron golem, restores 12 to 72 hit points and exercises your strength.
Strangely, you feel better than before.
May cause fire damage to worn armour and destroy flammable items in inventory. Burns away slime.

monster zaps you

If you are riding a non-reflective monster, 1/3 chance of hitting your steed instead. (Effects as zap monster above.)
If you are not fire resistant, does 6 to 36 damage.
You don't feel hot! (fire resistant)
If polymorphed into an iron golem, restores 6 to 36 hit points and exercises your strength.
Strangely, you feel better than before.
May cause fire damage to worn armour and destroy flammable items in inventory. Burns away slime.

zap

Same effect as reading an uncursed scroll of light.

zap monster

The location of the monster is revealed, if unseen.
If not swallowed and monster is not blinding resistant, blinds monster for 1 to 50 (more) turns (to a maximum of 127 more turns).
If monster is not shock resistant, does 6 to 36 damage.
Some monsters may resist and take half damage.
Rings and wands in the monster's inventory may be destroyed.
The bolt of lightning rips into the <monster>. (if swallowed)
The bolt of lightning hits the <monster>. (otherwise)

zap location

If closed door, it is broken. The ray is halted.
The door splinters! (in sight)
You hear crackling. (otherwise)

zap self

If you are not shock resistant, does 12 to 72 damage and abuses your constitution.
You shock yourself! (not shock resistant)
You zap yourself, but seem unharmed. (shock resistant)
If polymorphed into an iron golem, restores 2 to 12 hit points and exercises your strength.
Strangely, you feel better than before.
May explode wands and rings in your inventory.
If you do not resist blinding, you are blinded for 1 to 100 turns.
You are blinded by the flash!

monster zaps you

If you are riding a non-reflective monster, 1/3 chance of hitting your steed instead. (Effects as zap monster above; you may still be blinded as below.)
If you are not shock resistant, does 6 to 36 damage and abuses your constitution.
You aren't affected. (shock resistant)
If polymorphed into an iron golem, restores 1 to 6 hit points and exercises your strength.
Strangely, you feel better than before.
May explode wands and rings in your inventory.
If you do not resist blinding, you are blinded for 6 to 300 turns. You are blinded by the flash!

zap downwards

If on a lowered drawbridge or its portcullis, it is destroyed. Things in the vicinity are very likely to die.
The drawbridge collapses into the <moat>! (if still moat or lava)
The drawbridge disintegrates! (if iced or dried up)
You are blown apart by flying debris. (died standing on portcullis)
You are hit by a huge chunk of metal! (died on drawbridge)
Otherwise, no effect.

zap upwards

If on a portcullis, destroys the drawbridge as 'zap downwards' above.
Otherwise, no effect.

zap location

If lowered drawbridge or portcullis, raises drawbridge. Things in the vicinity are very likely to die.
You see a drawbridge <coming/going> up!
If doorway on Rogue level, becomes secret door if clear of obstruction.
A cloud of dust springs up in the older, more primitive doorway.
The cloud quickly dissipates. (if obstructed)
The doorway vanishes! (otherwise)
If empty doorway with trap, no effect.
A cloud of dust springs up in the doorway, but quickly dissipates.
If an empty doorway, broken door, or open or closed door, becomes locked door.
A cloud of dust springs up and assembles itself into a door! (empty)
The broken door reassembles and locks! (broken)
The door swings shut and locks! (open)
The door locks! (closed)
Otherwise, no effect.

zap object

If chest or large box, is locked (and lock mended if broken).
Klunk! (if not already locked)
Otherwise, no effect.

zap monster

The location of the monster is revealed, if unseen.
If monster is magic resistant, no effect.
Otherwise, does 2 to 12 damage.
Some monsters may resist and take half damage.
The magic missile rips into the <monster>. (if swallowed)
The magic missile hits the <monster>. (otherwise)

zap location

If closed door, halts ray.
The door absorbs your bolt!

zap self

If you are magic resistant, no effect.
The missiles bounce!
Otherwise, does 4 to 24 damage.
Idiot! You've shot yourself!

monster zaps you

If you are riding a non-reflective monster, 1/3 chance of hitting your steed instead. (Effects as zap monster above.)
If you are magic resistant, no effect.
The missiles bounce off!
Otherwise, does 2 to 12 damage (1 to 6 if half spell damage) and abuses your strength.
The magic missile hits you!

zap monster

If not already invisible, the monster becomes invisible.
<Monster> turns transparent! (not already invisible, and you can see invisible or otherwise still sense the monster)
No message. (otherwise, or if swallowed)

zap downwards

Any engraving at the location is removed.

zap object

No effect. (There is stub code for invisible objects, but it is not yet implemented)

zap self

If you are wearing a mummy wrapping, no effect.
You feel rather itchy under your <mummy wrapping>.
Otherwise, gain permanent invisibility.
No message (if blind or already invisible)
Gee! All of a sudden, you can't see yourself. (not hallucinating)
Gee! All of a sudden, you can see right through yourself. (not hallucinating, see invisible)
Far out, man! You can't see yourself. (hallucinating)
Far out, man! You can see right through yourself. (hallucinating, see invisible)

monster zaps itself

Monster becomes invisible.
Suddenly you cannot see <monster>. (no see invisible)
<Monster's> body takes on a strange transparency. (not hallucinating, see invisible.)
<Monster's> body takes on a normal transparency. (hallucinating, see invisible.)

zap

No effect.

zap monster

If you are being swallowed, you are expelled.
<Monster> opens its mouth! (animal, not blind)
You feel a sudden rush of air! (animal, blind)
Otherwise, no effect.

zap downwards

If on Quest home level and not permitted to descend, no effect (nice try).
The stairs seem to ripple momentarily.
If phasing through closed portcullis, drawbridge opens.
You see a drawbridge going down!

zap upwards

If phasing through closed portcullis, as 'zap downwards' above.

zap location

If secret door, it is revealed (but still closed).
A door appears in the wall!
If locked door, it is unlocked (but still closed).
The door unlocks!
Otherwise, no effect.

zap object

If iron chain attached to you, it is removed and you become unpunished.
No message.
If chest or large box, it becomes unlocked, or lock mended if broken.
Klick! (if locked)
No message for fixing lock.
Otherwise, no effect.

zap self

No effect.
Your chain quivers for a moment. (if punished)

zap monster

If the monster is magic resistant or resists, no effect.
Otherwise, 1/25 chance of monster dying from system shock.
<Monster> shudders!
If no system shock, monster polymorphs into a new form.
No message.

zap downwards

Any engraving at the location is changed into a randomly chosen engraving.

zap object

Object may be polymorphed into a new object. Some objects may resist.

zap self

If you are not unchanging, you polymorph into a new form.

monster zaps itself

Monster polymorphs into a new form.

zap monster

The location of the monster is revealed, if unseen.
Shows the status of the monster, and lists its inventory.

zap upwards

No effect.
You probe towards the <ceiling>. Your probe reveals nothing.

zap downwards

Will zap objects even if buried.
You probe beneath the <floor>.

zap object

Shows contents of the object, if any, and supplies its appearance if unknown.

zap self

Shows your status. The appearance of any object in inventory that has not been seen is supplied.

secret door detection (NODIR)

zap

Secret doors and corridors, traps and hidden monsters in an area of radius 8 are revealed.

zap monster

The location of the monster is revealed, if unseen.
If monster is sleep resistant, no effect.
Otherwise, monster falls asleep for 6 to 127 (more) turns (to a maximum of 127 more turns).
The sleep ray rips into the <monster>. (if swallowed)
The sleep ray hits the <monster>. (otherwise)

zap location

If closed door, halts ray.
The door absorbs your bolt!

zap self

If you have sleep resistance, no effect.
You don't feel sleepy!
Otherwise, fall asleep for 1 to 50 turns.
The sleep ray hits you!

monster zaps you

If you are riding a non-reflective monster, 1/3 chance of hitting your steed instead. (Effects as zap monster above.)
If you are not sleep resistant, fall asleep for 6 to 300 turns.
You don't feel sleepy. (sleep resistant)

zap monster

The monster becomes slow, or normal speed if fast. If you are engulfed by a vortex or air elemental, you are expelled. Some monsters may resist.
You disrupt <monster>! A huge hole opens up... (expelled)
No message otherwise.

zap self

If you currently have the speed intrinsic, it is lost.
You slow down (not wearing speed boots)
Your quickness feels less natural. (wearing speed boots)

zap monster

The monster becomes fast, or normal speed if slow. Some monsters may resist.
No message.

zap self

If you don't currently have the speed intrinsic, gain it and exercise dexterity.
You speed up. (not very fast)
Your quickness feels more natural (very fast)
Otherwise, any temporary speed is made permanent.
No message.

monster zaps itself

The monster becomes fast.
No message.

zap monster

The location of the monster is revealed, if unseen.
If the monster is magic resistant, no effect.
If monster's AC is greater than a random number between -9 and 10, and it is not swallowing you, the strike misses.
The wand misses <monster>.
Otherwise, does 2 to 24 points of damage (4 to 48 if you are a Knight with the Magic Mirror of Merlin). Some monsters may resist and take half damage. Fragile objects in monster's inventory may be broken, as 'zap object' below.
The wand hits <monster>.

zap downwards

If on a lowered drawbridge or its portcullis, it is destroyed. Things in the vicinity are very likely to die.
The drawbridge collapses into the <moat>! (if still moat or lava)
The drawbridge disintegrates! (if iced or dried up)
You are blown apart by flying debris. (died standing on portcullis)
You are hit by a huge chunk of metal! (died on drawbridge)
Any engraving at the location is corrupted.

zap upwards

If on the portcullis of an open drawbridge, it is destroyed. Effects as 'zap downwards' above.
Otherwise, if not on the Planes of Air or Water, there is a 2/3 chance of causing a rock to fall on your head doing 1 to 6 damage (1 to 2 if wearing a metal helmet).
A rock is dislodged from the ceiling and falls on your <head>.

zap location

If drawbridge or its portcullis, it is destroyed. Effects as 'zap downwards' above.
If secret door or closed door, door is broken, waking nearby monsters; trapped doors are additionally destroyed, waking slightly less nearby monsters.
A door appears in the wall! (secret door, in sight)
The door crashes open! (untrapped, in sight)
You hear a crashing sound. (untrapped, not in sight)
KABOOM!! You see a door explode. (trapped, in sight)
You hear a distant explosion. (trapped, not in sight)

zap object

Statue traps will be activated.
Instead of shattering, the statue suddenly comes alive!
Non-trapped statues and boulders will be broken into 8 to 66 rocks.
Breaking a boulder in Sokoban has a -1 penalty to Luck.
No message.
Fragile objects may be broken. Breaking a mirror has -2 penalty to Luck. Breaking your own eggs has a -1 penalty to Luck per egg (to a maximum of 5).
<object> shatters! (potion, in sight)
<object> shatters into a thousand pieces! (tool, in sight)
You hear something shatter! (potion or tool, out of sight)
Splat! (egg)
What a mess! (cream pie, in sight)

zap self

If you have magic resistance, no effect.
Boing!
Otherwise, does 2 to 24 points of damage and abuses strength.
You bash yourself!

monster zaps you

Does 2 to 12 points of damage (1 to 6 if half spell damage).
The wand hits you!

zap monster

A priest(ess) in his or her temple resists.
<Monster> resists your magic!
Riders have a 12/13 chance of being teleported to a square next to you.
Otherwise, the monster is teleported to a random location on the same level.
No message.
If the monster is unseen and does not move, its location is revealed.

zap downwards

Any engraving on the location will be teleported to a random position on the same level.

zap object

The object is teleported to a random location on the same level.

zap self

If you are on a non-teleport level, no effect.
A mysterious force prevents you from teleporting!
Otherwise, one-third of the time if you are carrying the Amulet of Yendor, no effect.
You feel disoriented for a moment.
Otherwise, you teleport to a random or controlled position on the same level.

monster zaps itself

If you are on a non-teleport level, no effect.
A mysterious force prevents <monster> from teleporting!
Otherwise, the monster is teleported to a random location on the same level.

monster zaps you

[This will only be used if the monster is carrying the Amulet of Yendor]
Same as 'zap self' above.

zap monster

Corpses in monster's inventory revive, eggs are rejuvenated. Undead monsters take 1 to 8 points of damage (2 to 16 if you are a Knight with the Magic Mirror of Merlin), their location is revealed if unseen, and they flee if they do not resist.
No message.

zap object

Eggs are rejuvenated.
Corpses are revived.
No messages.

zap self

Corpses in your inventory revive, eggs are rejuvenated.
If you are undead, you are stunned for 1 to 30 (more) turns.
You feel frightened and stunned. (not already stunned)
You feel frightened and even more stunned. (already stunned)
Otherwise, no effect.
You shudder in dread.

zap

You receive a wish unless your luck is less than a random number between -4 and 0.

Engraving with wands

Use the Engrave command to engrave with a wand. It will use one charge (possibly wresting the last) from the wand. Depending on the type of the wand, you can get one of the messages below if you are unblinded, not levitating, and over a writable floor. Some messages are the same for different types of wands, some messages require an engraving already on that square, and some wands will not provide any means of identification this way. Nondirectional wands will act as if they were zapped. If you didn't wrest the last charge from the wand, you can write a message in the dust (or engrave if specified below). These messages provide (perhaps in combination with judicious zapping) a safe method of identifying many wands.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Bruce Cox for proofreading the original version of this file.
Eva Myers corrected the chance of wands of striking missing monsters, and teleporting in the Wizard's tower.

Last changed: March 22, 2000