Difference between revisions of "Malmutate"

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{{flavour|Bestows a mutation on a target. The mutation is almost always harmful. It cannot affect artificial beings, and the undead will decompose if affected.}}
 
{{flavour|Bestows a mutation on a target. The mutation is almost always harmful. It cannot affect artificial beings, and the undead will decompose if affected.}}
'''Malmutate''' is a monster-only spell which attempts to mutate its target. If Malmutate is used on a player, there is an 80% chance that it will cause a [[bad mutation]] and a 20% chance it will cause a [[random mutation]]. [[Willpower]] is useless against this, but [[mutation resistance]] functions normally.
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'''Malmutate''' is a monster-only spell which attempts to mutate its target.
  
When used on a monster, the victim gets the Wretched enchantment, unless the monster is an [[abomination]] or an [[ugly thing]]. This enchantment has the following effects:
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==Effect==
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===Against players===
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If Malmutate is used on a player, there is an 80% chance that it will cause a [[bad mutation]], and a 20% chance it will cause a [[random mutation]]. [[Willpower]] is useless against this, but [[mutation resistance]] functions normally. These mutations are permanent until removed.
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Undead players cannot mutate, but will decompose and take [[stat drain]], which can be cured by gaining XP.
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===Against monsters===
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When used on a monster, the victim gets the '''misshapen and mutated''' enchantment, with the following effects:
 
* -8 [[AC]]
 
* -8 [[AC]]
* -25% [[HD]]
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* -25% [[HD]]  
  
Abominations change their tile and ugly things change colour instead of the aforementioned effects.
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HD has an effect on monster [[accuracy]], [[willpower]], and spell damage, so the HD reduction also lowers these.
  
[[Undead]] and [[nonliving]] monsters are immune. Undead characters cannot mutate, but will decompose and take [[stat]] damage.
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[[Undead]] and [[nonliving]] monsters are immune to this status. [[Abomination]]s change their tile, and ([[very ugly thing|very]]) [[ugly thing]]s will change their colour, but are otherwise unaffected by the status.
  
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==Monster Spell==
 
{{monsters with spell}}
 
{{monsters with spell}}
  
Players can inflict similar effects with the [[Irradiate]] spell or the [[Plutonium Sword]]. [[Wretched star]]s and [[corrupter]]s can also cause temporary bad mutations, which will gradually disappear as the player gains experience.
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The following monster may inflict Malmutate on a melee attack (25% chance):
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*{{monsterlink|Mnoleg}}
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==Player Sources==
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Players can inflict the misshapen and mutated status on monsters via the following sources:
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* [[Irradiate]]
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* [[Yara's Violent Unravelling]]
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* [[Plutonium sword]]'s melee attacks
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* [[Flux talisman|Flux form]]'s third unarmed attack on a monster
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* [[Lugonu]]'s Banishment ability (if the target resists banishment)
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* The [[warlock's mirror]] can reflect Malmutate - you'll avoid malmutation, and the monster is mutated instead.
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==Strategy==
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The best method of dealing with Malmutate is to minimize the turns where you can be hit by it. It requires line of fire to hit you:
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* Any method of restricting [[line of sight]] will prevent line of fire. A [[scroll of fog]] will let melee characters get close to a malmutator. Ducking behind a corner will do the same.
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* [[Lesser Beckoning]] or [[Vhi's Electric Charge]] can be used by melee character to approach the enemy, without spending as many turns in line of fire.
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* You can hide behind other monsters or use [[summon]]s to block enemy fire; even [[Fulminant Prism]] can block LoF. Then, you can use piercing attacks, such as bolt [[wand]]s or [[javelin]]s, or [[smite-targeted]] attacks, like [[Airstrike]], to attack through blocking monsters.
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Fortunately, neqoxecs and shining eyes are fairly fragile. Cacodemons, while difficult opponents, are manageable enough if you're ready to explore areas where they are common (the deep [[Abyss]], [[Hell]], or [[Pandemonium]]). Orbs of fire are so incredibly dangerous that it's already worth hitting them with everything you have.
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If you ''do'' end up taking some mutations, it's usually not immediately lethal. The ones to watch out for mid-combat are [[Berserk (mutation)|berserkitis]] and [[No Unsafe Scrolls]] / [[No Unsafe Potions]], which can restrict your options for escaping. If you have any [[potions of mutation]] saved up, those have a decent chance of fixing your problems (though they might leave you with a set of new ones).
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===Tips & Tricks===
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*[[Mutation resistance]] protects against mutation, but sources are rare, and complete immunity is even rarer. You can get full immunity via [[Mutation Resistance (mutation)|Mutation Resistance 3]] (as a level 3 mutation, is rare), being [[undead]] (species, or the very high level spell, [[Necromutation]]), or by worshipping Zin at ****** piety.
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*All malmutators are [[chaotic]], and thus vulnerable to [[silver]]. Silver javelins are particularly effective.
  
==Tips & Tricks==
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==See Also==
*Malmutate requires a line of fire, rather than being smite-targeted. If you do not have [[mutation resistance]], do your best to take cover until you can either get away or kill the caster. Any method of breaking line of effect will work -- [[teleport]]ing away, reading a [[scroll of fog]], ducking around a corner, ducking behind [[summon]]s, ducking behind other monsters... As long as the caster cannot target you, your genetics are safe.
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*[[Corrupting Pulse]] inflicts temporary but always bad mutations.
**Summoning spells are particularly effective for blocking Malmutate. Either you'll get one or more meat shields who can either help you take the monster down or keep them busy so you can get away (depending on the situation), or you might get a [[nameless horror]] -- which, while still quite dangerous, can block Malmutate long enough for you to reach a staircase.
 
**Alternatively, just cast [[Necromutation]] if you are capable of doing so. Your stats might take a hit, but that will fix itself as you continue to explore and fight.
 
*Your best method of dealing with Malmutate is generally going to be either killing the monster in question as quickly as possible or not dealing with them in the first place. If you can snipe them from behind cover with smite-targeted or piercing attacks, by all means do so, but otherwise, make Malmutators your first priority.
 
**Fortunately, neqoxecs and shining eyes are fairly fragile. Cacodemons, while difficult opponents, are manageable enough if you're ready to explore areas where they are common (the [[Abyss]], [[Hell]], or [[Pandemonium]]). Orbs of fire are so incredibly dangerous that it's already worth hitting them with everything you have.
 
*If you ''do'' end up taking some mutations, it's usually not immediately lethal. If you have any [[potions of mutation]] saved up, those have a decent chance of fixing your problems (though they might leave you with a set of new ones).
 
  
 
==History==
 
==History==

Latest revision as of 01:15, 1 April 2024

Version 0.30: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.
Bestows a mutation on a target. The mutation is almost always harmful. It cannot affect artificial beings, and the undead will decompose if affected.

Malmutate is a monster-only spell which attempts to mutate its target.

Effect

Against players

If Malmutate is used on a player, there is an 80% chance that it will cause a bad mutation, and a 20% chance it will cause a random mutation. Willpower is useless against this, but mutation resistance functions normally. These mutations are permanent until removed.

Undead players cannot mutate, but will decompose and take stat drain, which can be cured by gaining XP.

Against monsters

When used on a monster, the victim gets the misshapen and mutated enchantment, with the following effects:

HD has an effect on monster accuracy, willpower, and spell damage, so the HD reduction also lowers these.

Undead and nonliving monsters are immune to this status. Abominations change their tile, and (very) ugly things will change their colour, but are otherwise unaffected by the status.

Monster Spell

The following enemies cast Malmutate:

The following monster may inflict Malmutate on a melee attack (25% chance):

Player Sources

Players can inflict the misshapen and mutated status on monsters via the following sources:

Strategy

The best method of dealing with Malmutate is to minimize the turns where you can be hit by it. It requires line of fire to hit you:

Fortunately, neqoxecs and shining eyes are fairly fragile. Cacodemons, while difficult opponents, are manageable enough if you're ready to explore areas where they are common (the deep Abyss, Hell, or Pandemonium). Orbs of fire are so incredibly dangerous that it's already worth hitting them with everything you have.

If you do end up taking some mutations, it's usually not immediately lethal. The ones to watch out for mid-combat are berserkitis and No Unsafe Scrolls / No Unsafe Potions, which can restrict your options for escaping. If you have any potions of mutation saved up, those have a decent chance of fixing your problems (though they might leave you with a set of new ones).

Tips & Tricks

  • Mutation resistance protects against mutation, but sources are rare, and complete immunity is even rarer. You can get full immunity via Mutation Resistance 3 (as a level 3 mutation, is rare), being undead (species, or the very high level spell, Necromutation), or by worshipping Zin at ****** piety.
  • All malmutators are chaotic, and thus vulnerable to silver. Silver javelins are particularly effective.

See Also

History

This spell was added in 0.12, replacing the monster version of Polymorph Other.