Airstrike

Version 0.28: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

Airstrike
Level	4
School1	Air
Source(s)	Book of Air Book of Storms
Casting noise	2
Spell noise	4
Power Cap	200
Range	LOS
Flags	Not self, Target

Causes the air around a creature to twist itself into a whirling vortex of meteorological fury. It does more damage to targets surrounded by empty space.

Spell Details
Damage Formula	2d([pow+13]/14)
Max Damage	2d(15) 2d(31) with 8 empty spaces
Max Power	200
Range	LOS
Targeting	Smite
To-hit	Automatic Hit
Special	Each adjacent empty space adds +2 to maximum die roll

Airstrike is a level 4 Air Magic spell which hits a single enemy, dealing moderate wind damage using smite-targeting - anything in your line of sight can be targeted with perfect accuracy. For every adjacent tile that is empty of walls or creatures, the damage increases and becomes less variable.

Strategy

Airstrike is a useful spell for elemental specialists who lack the means to deal with enemies immune to their attacks. Cloud-producing spells may match its accuracy and exceed its power, but they lack precision. It's also useful for summoners, as they can fire past their summoned creatures without fear.

While the damage bonus from empty space is desirable, it is by no means necessary. At modest spell power (50 to 100), the average damage boost from eight tiles of empty space is around 30%. If you need something dead now and don't have time or space to lure it into a better position, Airstrike will still do the job—it just might take an extra cast or two.

Monster Version

This spell is known by a number of opponents, who can hit you from any distance.

The following enemies cast Airstrike:

• 2 Blizzard demon (2d(11-27) damage)
• @ Cloud Mage (2d(18-34) damage)
• w Gastronok (2d(18-34) damage)
• Q Sojobo (2d(18-34) damage)
• i Spriggan air mage (2d(12-28) damage)
• C Titan (2d(18-34) damage)
• k Wind drake (2d(7-23) damage)

History

• Prior to 0.29, Airstrike dealt 5 + M + Md[2 + (Power)/7]/M damage, for M = empty tiles, 3 minimum. This meant the empty space bonus was weaker, and that Gastronok in particular gained a powerful buff.
• Prior to 0.27, Airstrike dealt 50% bonus damage to flying targets.
• Prior to 0.25, Airstrike damage did not vary based on the empty space around the target. The old formula was :8 + 1d(2 + Power / 7)
• Prior to 0.22, some enemies could resist wind damage, including Tornado.
• In 0.20, the Airstrike damage formula was given a much-wanted simplification. The old formula was:

7 + 1d(1d4 1 + (1d(Power) - 1)/6) + (1d(Power) - 1)/7)