Spell slot flag

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

One or multiple spell slot flags are attached to every monster spell or ability (which are coded as spells). Many of the monsters you'll encounter in DCSS can cast, but they have access to these spells in different ways. The spell slot flag determines what methods can disable a spell, as well as a few other features.

Natural flag

This spell is a natural process, such as a dragon's breath or an electric eel's electricity, and not really a spell. It cannot be affected by Antimagic, Sap Magic, or Silence.

Vocal flag

Much like Natural "spells", this is a natural ability and not truly magical in nature, but it requires spoken words to perform, like a vault sentinel's Warning Cry. It is unaffected by antimagic and Sap Magic, but cannot be cast while silenced.

Wizard flag

This spell requires spoken words to cast, and is not something innately available to the caster. Most non-demonic casters, such as deep elves, use the wizard flag. It can be affected by the antimagic brand and the Sap Magic enchantment and cannot be cast while silenced. Trog appreciates killing monsters with Wizard spells.

Summons created by these spells won't necessarily have the same god as the summoner.

Magical flag

This spell is an innate magical ability of a creature. It requires no spoken words, but is still magical in nature. It can be affected by the antimagic brand, but not by Silence or Sap Magic.

Priest flag

These are similar to Wizard flagged spells, but the magical force comes from a higher power, not the caster. For example, a spriggan berserker calls on Trog for its abilities. This spell cannot be cast while silenced, but Antimagic and Sap Magic have no impact on it.

Emergency flag

This spell slot will be used only when a monster is clearly losing a fight (when its health is very low in comparison to the player's).

Noisy flag

This spell creates noise when cast, even if the spell does not normally make noise.

Breath flag

Casting this spell leaves the caster breathless for 1-5 turns, during which they cannot cast any other breath flag spell.

Instant flag

This spell doesn't use the caster's turn -- the caster may move or act normally after casting the spell.

Short range flag

This spell can be used if target is less than half of LOS distance from a monster.

Long range flag

This spell can be used if target is farther than half of LOS distance from a monster.

History

• 0.28 renamed the No Silent flag to the Vocal flag.
• 0.18 merged the Demonic flag with the Magical flag.
• These flags were added in 0.16, greatly clarifying the interaction between monster spells, holiness, and effects which interfere with magic.