Chaos

Version 0.29: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

Each time it hits an enemy, it has a different, random effect.

Chaos is a brand that weapons may have. Each attack produces a random effect, many of which imitate other brands.

Possible effects

Chaos-branded attacks randomly choose a brand from the following list:

• Flaming (13.5%)
• Freezing (13.5%)
• Electrocution (13.5%)
• Venom (13.5%)
• Draining (6.75%)
• Vampiricism (6.75%)
• Holy wrath (6.75%)
• Antimagic (6.75%)
• Confusion (2.70%)
• Distortion (2.70%)

or one of a variety of non-brand "true" chaos effects, which can be good for you (3.92%)

• Slow (1.96%)
• Petrify (0.98%)
• Paralysis (0.98%)

...or good for the defender (8.82%)

• Agility (1.96%)
• Might (1.96%)
• Invisibility (1.96%)
• Berserk (0.98%)
• Haste (1.96%)

...or something less easily categorized (0.77%).

• Cloned (0.19%) - 1/6 chance that the clone becomes neutral, 1/6 chance that the clone becomes an ally, 2/3 chance of remaining the same. If the clone is an ally, then the copy is treated as a summon and will time out eventually.
• Polymorphed (0.39%) into a monster of similar or higher HD
• Turned into a shapeshifter (0.19%) - shapeshifter (2/3 chance) or glowing shapeshifter (1/3 chance)

Additionally, each strike with the chaos brand has a 1% chance to apply the reaping effect to its damage. This may result in raising slain enemies as allied zombies depending on the total reaping damage.

Note that hexes produced by this brand don't check willpower. The Chaos brand does not pick useless effects (e.g. flaming brand on a fire elemental), where the odds of other effects increase proportionally.

Gods will disapprove of any effects you might call that offend them (evil effects for the good gods, haste or berserk for Cheibriados, etc.). Zin abhors chaos, regardless of its effect.

Occurrence

Chaos is a rare brand from a scroll of brand weapon; this is the only way for ranged weapons to receive this brand. Chaos weapons may be gifted by Xom (though not necessarily to the player), and various Xom altar vaults have chaotic weapons. Crazy Yiuf always wields a chaos quarterstaff, and Psyche often has a chaos dagger.

Strategy

Chaos is a fickle mistress. As a player brand, it can slow or paralyse your enemies, or it can haste or berserk them. Early game characters are simply unable to handle the negative effects, if and when they occur. And regardless of progress, a more reliable brand is heavily recommended. Chaos may have some niche use in longer battles, but over extended use, the chances of a devastating effect are high.

Monster with chaos, in turn, may paralyse or even banish you (from distortion), leading to potentially fatal situations. Utmost care should be taken against enemy chaos weapons.

History

• Prior to 0.25, chaos could inflict random miscast effects instead of the might and agility effects.
• Prior to 0.20, there was a rare chance of healing the target.
• Prior to 0.19, invalid effects could still be rolled with reduced probability.
• Prior to 0.18, ranged weapon ammo could have brands, including the chaos brand.
• Between 0.16 and 0.18, the chaos brand could move nearby stairs.
• Prior to 0.14, weapons of chaos could shaft or polymorph the attacker. Also, gods would forgive the player for disliked effects produced by chaos effects.