Static Discharge

Version 0.31: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

Static Discharge
Level	2
School1	Air
School2	Conjuration
Source(s)	Book of Storms
Casting noise	3
Spell noise	0
Power Cap	100
Range	1
Flags	Area

Releases electrical charges against those next to the caster. These may arc to other adjacent creatures, or back to the caster, before eventually grounding out. It deals reduced damage when arcing to the caster, and bypasses any armour the target may have.

Spell Details
Damage Formula	1 + 1d(3 + pow/12)
Max Damage	1 + 1d(7)
Max Power	50
Range	1 (but can jump to monsters adjacent to the victim)
Targeting	Self
To-hit	Never misses
Special	Ignores AC Reduced damage to caster

Static Discharge is a level 2 Conjurations/Air Magic spell which releases charges of electricity at one or more targets adjacent to the caster.

Air Elementalists begin with this spell in their libraries.

Useful Info

Static Discharge deals electric damage to 1d(2 + pow/25) adjacent targets, ignoring AC.

For each target hit directly, an "arc" is created. Arcs will hit a creature adjacent to the previous target, repeating up to 1d(2 + pow/25) times. Each individual arc can only hit a creature once. However, a creature can be hit by multiple different arcs at once. E.g. if there are 2 monsters adjacent to the caster, up to 2 arcs can be created, so each monster can be hit twice.

If an arc hits the caster, its damage is halved. This spell does not affect electricity-immune targets; any arcs aimed at immune creatures will immediately ground out.

The Arc Blade uses a particularly high-powered version of this spell for its special effect.

Strategy

Static Discharge is a decent attacking spell for its level. It's most helpful against crowds of monsters, as such crowds allow for multiple arcs to bounce through them. Because it ignores AC and EV, it's also good against monsters with high defenses, such as orc warriors and killer bees.

Exercise caution against crowds, though -- much like axes, having more targets for Static Discharge means you'll also be taking more attacks. Unlike axes, Static Discharge can also hit monsters behind the target. When used in a hallway, you can hit 2 monsters while only being hit back by one (but for less damage than if both were adjacent to you).

History

• Prior to 0.31, Static Discharge arcs dealt 1d(2 + pow/15) to the player, even if a monster was casting the spell.
• Prior to 0.30, Static Discharge dealt 2 + 1d(3 + pow/8) damage, hit up to 1d(2 + pow/20) targets, and had a power cap of 100. rElec monsters were fully immune to this spell.
• Prior to 0.29, this spell dealt 2 + 1d(5 + Power/10 + (1d(Power)-1)/10) damage. The number of targets an arc could hit wasn't predetermined before cast; the power was reduced for each arc of the spell, and power determined the chance of making a new arc.
• Prior to 0.27, this spell was a level 3 spell.
• Prior to 0.26, insubstantial wisps could cast this spell.
• Prior to 0.13, this spell would deal less damage to levitating or flying targets.
• Prior to 0.9, Static Discharge was a level 4 spell.