Difference between revisions of "Bolt of Draining"

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(Updated for 0.14, monsterlinked, removed unnecessary calculations)
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==Strategy==
 
==Strategy==
While Bolt of Draining is effective at softening up or destroying rows of dangerous natural monsters, using it does reduce the [[XP]] you gain from kills, though this loss is relatively minor. Also, many of the more dangerous late game monsters (including all undead and demons) are partially or completely immune to its effects. On the other hand, undead immunity means you can send hordes of undead minions at your foes and shoot Bolts of Draining through them without any risk of harming them, and [[Orb Guardian]]s, [[list of draconians|draconians]], and almost all [[list of giants|giants]] are still quite susceptible to its damage. [[Necromancer]]s looking for means of dealing damage may wish to save the spell levels for the level 7 Necromancy/[[Summonings]] spell [[Haunt]] (which ''is'' effective against the undead and demons), or branch into some other school of magic. Regardless, consider [[scroll of amnesia|forgetting]] Bolt of Draining once you reach the extended end-game and using those spell levels on something more universally useful.
+
While Bolt of Draining is effective at softening up or destroying rows of dangerous natural monsters, using it does reduce the [[XP]] you gain from kills, though this loss is relatively minor. Also, many of the more dangerous late game monsters (including all undead and demons) are partially or completely immune to its effects. On the other hand, undead immunity means you can send hordes of undead minions at your foes and shoot Bolts of Draining through them without any risk of harming them, and [[Orb Guardian]]s, [[list of draconians|draconians]], and almost all [[list of giants|giants]] are still quite susceptible to its damage.
 +
 
 +
[[Necromancer]]s looking for means of dealing damage may wish to save the spell levels for the level 7 Necromancy/[[Summonings]] spell [[Haunt]] (which ''is'' effective against the undead and demons), or branch into some other school of magic. Regardless, consider [[scroll of amnesia|forgetting]] Bolt of Draining once you reach the extended end-game and using those spell levels on something more universally useful.
  
 
==Monster Version==
 
==Monster Version==
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The following monsters can cast Bolt of Draining:
 
The following monsters can cast Bolt of Draining:
*[[Vampire mage]]
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*{{monsterlink|Black sun}}
*[[Orc sorcerer]]
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*{{monsterlink|Deep elf conjurer}}
*[[Deep elf conjurer]]
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*{{monsterlink|Deep elf death mage}}
*[[Deep elf sorcerer]]
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*{{monsterlink|Deep elf sorcerer}}
*[[Deep elf death mage]]
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*{{monsterlink|Eidolon}}
*[[Lich]] (50% chance)
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*{{monsterlink|Gloorx Vloq}}
*[[Ancient lich]] (50% chance)
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*{{monsterlink|Nergalle}}
*[[Ancient champion]] (25% chance)
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*{{monsterlink|Orc sorcerer}}
*[[Eidolon]]
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*{{monsterlink|Serpent of Hell}}
*[[Shadow fiend]]
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*{{monsterlink|Shadow dragon}}
*[[Pandemonium lord]] (sometimes)
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*{{monsterlink|Shadow fiend}}
*[[Nergalle]]
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*{{monsterlink|Vampire mage}}
*[[Gloorx Vloq]]
 
*[[Shadow dragon]]
 
*[[Serpent of Hell]] (Tartarus)
 
 
 
==Spell Mechanics==
 
The hit point damage inflicted by a player's Bolt of Draining from any source is determined by:
 
 
 
{{crawlquote|calc_dice(4, 15 + (power * 3) / 5)}}
 
 
 
so at power 50, it will do 4d11 (4-44) damage and at power 100 it will do 4d18 (4-72) damage.
 
 
 
Its [[to-hit]] number is
 
 
 
{{crawlquote|(8 + power/20)}}
 
 
 
giving a value of 10 at power 50 and 13 at power 100.
 
 
 
Cast by a monster, the spell has power equal to 12 times the caster's HD (like any monster spell). All monster-launched bolts of draining do an amount of damage given by
 
 
 
{{crawlquote|dice_def(3, 6 + power / 13)}}
 
 
 
with a to-hit number of
 
  
{{crawlquote|(16 + power / 35)}}
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The following monsters may be able to cast Bolt of Draining, depending on their spell set:
 
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*{{monsterlink|Ancient champion}}
Thus, thrown by a 15 HD caster, it will do 3d19 (3-57) damage and have a to-hit number of 21.
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*{{monsterlink|Ancient lich}}
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*{{monsterlink|Antique lich}}
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*{{monsterlink|Draconian knight}}
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*{{monsterlink|Lich}}
 +
*{{monsterlink|Pandemonium lord}}
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
Prior to [[0.14]] Bolt of Draining was a level 6 spell.
+
Prior to [[0.14]], Bolt of Draining was a level 6 spell.
 
 
[[Category:Crystal Ball Articles]]
 

Revision as of 15:11, 8 May 2014

Version 0.14: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.
Bolt of draining.png Bolt of Draining
Level 5
School1 Conjuration
School2 Necromancy
Source(s)
Casting noise 2
Spell noise 0
This spell hurls a deadly bolt of negative energy, which drains the life from any living creature it strikes.
Spell Details
Damage Formula 4d(3.75+Power*3/20)
Max Damage 4d33 negative energy
Max Power 200
Range 6
Targeting Bolt
To-hit
Special Draining

Bolt of Draining is a level 5 Conjurations/Necromancy spell which fires a bolt of negative energy, dealing damage and draining any creatures in its path. It functions much like a more powerful wand of draining with reduced range (range 8 vs. range 6, and it loses one square of range each time it hits something). Negative energy resistance reduces the damage dealt by this spell by 50% (rN+), 75% (rN++), or 100% (rN+++).

Strategy

While Bolt of Draining is effective at softening up or destroying rows of dangerous natural monsters, using it does reduce the XP you gain from kills, though this loss is relatively minor. Also, many of the more dangerous late game monsters (including all undead and demons) are partially or completely immune to its effects. On the other hand, undead immunity means you can send hordes of undead minions at your foes and shoot Bolts of Draining through them without any risk of harming them, and Orb Guardians, draconians, and almost all giants are still quite susceptible to its damage.

Necromancers looking for means of dealing damage may wish to save the spell levels for the level 7 Necromancy/Summonings spell Haunt (which is effective against the undead and demons), or branch into some other school of magic. Regardless, consider forgetting Bolt of Draining once you reach the extended end-game and using those spell levels on something more universally useful.

Monster Version

Many monsters are capable of casting Bolt of Draining with extremely irritating results; a loss of skill levels which only disappears after you've gained sufficient experience.

The following monsters can cast Bolt of Draining:

The following monsters may be able to cast Bolt of Draining, depending on their spell set:

History

Prior to 0.14, Bolt of Draining was a level 6 spell.