Spellspark Servitor

Version 0.33: This article is up to date for the latest stable release of Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup.

This page covers the spell. For the summoned construct, see Spellspark servitor (monster).

Spellspark Servitor
Level	7
School1	Conjuration
School2	Forgecraft
Source(s)	Book of Dangerous Friends Book of Power
Casting noise	7
Spell noise	0
Power Cap	200

Constructs a metallic servant with a spark of the caster's own arcane knowledge at its core. This spark allows the servitor to unleash some of the destructive spells known to its creator, though the strongest and most volatile of magics cannot be imbued in this fashion. The strength of the servitor increases with spell power. (While you know this spell, you may choose which of your eligible spells it will cast with the Imbue Servitor ability.)

Spellspark Servitor is a level 7 Conjurations/Forgecraft spell which constructs a spellspark servitor. This is a fairly durable, omni-resistant construct which knows one destructive spell from your own list of known spells.

Useful Info

One spellspark servitor is constructed.

It is able to cast any of the following spells (only one at a time), if you memorized the spell and the failure rate is less than 20%:

• Lehudib's Crystal Spear
• Orb of Destruction
• Bombard
• Plasma Beam
• Permafrost Eruption
• Fireball
• Arcjolt
• Stone Arrow
• Lee's Rapid Deconstruction
• Airstrike
• Irradiate
• Conjure Ball Lightning
• Freezing Cloud
• Mephitic Cloud

The current spell choice is displayed in the full spell description for Spellspark Servitor. By default, it will know the topmost eligible spell. You can use the Imbue Servitor ability to change the spell choice to any other valid listed spell. This takes 5 turns and dismisses your servitor if you already summoned one.

If you worship Vehumet and have at least 4* piety, your servitor will get +1 range for supported spells, just like you do.

Spell power determines how strong the spellspark servitor's spells are. It does not influence servitor HP or its duration.

• Servitors have a hit dice of 7 + pow/14; this determines the strength of a servitor's spells.
• Servitors have HP equal to 60 + 7d5 (67 - 95).
• Duration of the summons is around 36 turns, it does not depend on the spell power.

There is a summon limit of 1; casting the spell again will cause the old summon to very quickly time out.

Unlike most other summons, spellspark servitors won't vanish or become hostile if you attack them.

Strategy

An excellent, MP-efficient spell for an otherwise Conjurations-focused caster. Spellspark Servitor offers all the benefits of a summon (MP efficiency, blocks enemy line of fire, takes hits for you), and it's a great spell for combat too. It can cast Bombard or Lehudib's Crystal Spear multiple times for only 7 MP. Forgecraft-focused casters won't benefit as much, as the Servitor can't copy any Forgecraft spells, but it's easy to pick up Stone Arrow for a 3d20 or so attack from the get go. Plus, it's nice to have a ranged attacker who does not need to be close to the player.

As a summon, servitors have moderate durability and great resistances. A lucky servitor with a solid spell can beat orbs of fire in a straight fight (while blocking malmutates).

A notable downside is that you can get hit by the servitor. If a monster is between you and the servitor, it can miss the monster and end up hitting you.

Spells

Spells that are good with Spellspark Servitor:

• Earth Magic: Bombard and LCS both work well, simple and strong spells. Even Stone Arrow is a good option, since monsters will cast Stone Arrow much stronger than you can.
• Plasma Beam: Like Earth Magic, with better range, though it can be resisted.

Spells that you should avoid with Spellspark Servitor:

• Conjure Ball Lightning: It's even more dangerous in a servitor's hands than in yours.
• Orb of Destruction: Monster AI isn't the best at firing OODs; it often misses. Worst case scenario, orbs can end up hitting you.
• Irradiate: While not actively dangerous to have, Irradiate is clunky due to its limited range and AOE (the servitor won't hit you, so it just won't cast if you're adjacent).

The servitor's stats depends on your abilities at time of cast.

Tips & Tricks

• Servitors cast slowly (75% to decide to cast, each cast takes 1.8 decaAut), so don't rely on the servitor casting a spell to survive a sketchy situation.
• Your servitor won't disappear or become hostile you if you harm it. So feel free to sling a Fireball or Fire Storm right on top of your servitor. At worst, you kill it.
• Servitors can't see invisible. A friendly servitor can hit you if you're invisible and there's a monster in the path. It won't work against invisible monsters.

Monster Version

Spellspark Servitors summoned by monsters will know all of the caster's destructive spells.

The following enemies cast Spellspark Servitor:

• @ Frederick

Frederick's spellspark servitor will know Plasma Beam and Bombard.

History

• Prior to 0.33, this spell was called Spellforged Servitor and was level 7 Conjuration/Summoning.
• Prior to 0.32, the Imbue Servitor ability did not exist, and servitors did not benefit from Vehumet's range increase.
• Prior to 0.31, servitors could cast spells that had a 50% failure rate or lower. Also, they couldn't cast Irradiate, but could cast Sticky Flame. In addition, they had 2 more HD.
• Prior to around 0.29, allies weren't smart enough to stop their attacks before they'd hit you. So in this kind of position:

.....
.@y9.
.....

The servitor could miss monster 'y' with a projectile, hitting you in the process.

• In 0.27, many low level and (now) monster-only spells were pruned from the eligible spell list, in order to accommodate Djinn.
• Prior to 0.25, your servitor gained a random selection of up to 5 of your destructive spells.
• Spellforged Servitor was added in 0.14.