Wand of clouds

Obsolete: This article refers to an aspect of the game which has been removed. It is retained for historical reference only.

Type	Wand
Name	Wand of clouds
Icon

A magical device that allows its wielder to blast a cone-shaped area in front of them with various destructive clouds, their lethality increasing with Evocations skill.

A wand of clouds is evoked to cover a cone-shaped area in front of the caster with semi-random clouds, with the cloud types increasing in lethality with higher Evocations skill.

Useful Info

The effects of multiple uses of a wand of clouds at high power.

When evoked, clouds of a random type engulf a cone-shaped area of your choice. This cone begins as a 4x4 area, but grows larger with increasing Evocations.

Possible clouds include, in ascending order of power:

• Noxious Fumes
• Poisonous Gas
• Flame / Freezing vapours
• Negative Energy
• Thunder
• Acidic Fog

At low levels of Evocations, you'll get noxious fumes with bursts of poison, fire, ice. As the skill is leveled up, the other types of clouds become more likely.

Good gods will inflict penance if and only if you get negative energy clouds. Penance is inflicted each time a monster is hurt by negative energy.

Strategy

A wand of clouds can be devastatingly strong. Even if you have 0 (or otherwise low) Evocations, it offers powerful effects. Flaming & freezing clouds deal significant damage, enough to melt mid-game enemies in a few turns. Noxious fumes, the weakest cloud, inflict confusion against anything without rPois. It is best used against groups of tough enemies.

In the late game, using a wand of clouds at high Evocations is similarly strong. This mainly comes from acidic fog, which deals fairly high damage and significantly lowers enemy AC.

There is always a risk that you roll a cloud that enemies are immune to, wasting a charge and a turn. But if targets are vulnerable, it can be very strong. If you have low Evocations, avoid using this wand against monsters with poison resistance.

Tips & Tricks

• It takes a minimum of 6 Evocations skill to get negative energy clouds. So long as you have less than 6 Evocations, this wand is safe to use for good god worshippers.

History

• Wands of clouds were replaced by condenser vanes in 0.26.
• Prior to 0.24, monsters couldn't use this wand.
• Prior to 0.22, Dithmenos worshippers had to be careful when using this wand, as their god hated fire.
• The wand of clouds was added in 0.20, replacing the rod of clouds.