Difference between revisions of "Sandblast"

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{{Spell
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{{version030}}
|name=Sandblast
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{{spell info}}
|level=1
 
|school1={{Earth Magic}}
 
|school2=
 
|school3=
 
|sources=<div>
 
*[[Book of Geomancy]]
 
</div>
 
|castingnoise=1
 
|spellnoise=1, 2 or 3 (depends on the material: nothing, stones or large rocks)
 
}}
 
{{Flavour|This spell creates a short blast of high-velocity particles. It works best when the caster provides some source, but will do what it can with whatever ambient grit is available.}}
 
 
 
{{AttackSpell
 
|name=Sandblast (blast of sand)
 
|formula = 1d(8+Power/4)
 
|maxdmg = 1d(14.25)
 
|maxsp = 25
 
|range = 2
 
|target = Beam
 
|special = Triple AC damage reduction}}
 
 
 
 
{{AttackSpell
 
{{AttackSpell
 
  |name=Sandblast (rocky blast)
 
  |name=Sandblast (rocky blast)
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  |maxdmg = 2d(20.67)
 
  |maxdmg = 2d(20.67)
 
  |maxsp = 50
 
  |maxsp = 50
  |range = 3
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  |range = 4
 
  |target = Beam
 
  |target = Beam
|special = Triple AC damage reduction; You need to wield [[stone]]s}}
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|tohit = 13+Power/10
 
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|special = AC applied thrice<br>Takes 1.5 [[turn]] to cast}}
{{AttackSpell
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[[Sandblast]] is a level 1 [[Earth Magic]] spell which fires shrapnel with a range of 4, though it takes 1.5 [[turn]]s to fire. Sandblast maxes out at 2d20 damage, which is impressive for a level 1 spell. However, damage reduction from enemy AC is applied thrice instead of once, and the slow firing means that enemies will often get more attacks in. [[Miscast]]ing this spell will still take a normal turn.
|name=Sandblast (large rocky blast)
 
|formula = 3d(4+Power/3)
 
|maxdmg = 3d(20.67)
 
|maxsp = 50
 
|range = 3
 
|target = Beam
 
|special = Triple AC damage reduction; You need to wield [[large rock]]s}}
 
  
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[[Earth Elementalist]]s begin with this spell memorized.
  
[[Sandblast]] is a level 1 [[Earth Magic]] spell which fires grit and stones from the floor or your inventory, dealing physical damage to a nearby enemy. If you wield [[stone]]s while casting this spell, you deal more damage and increase its range from 2 to 3. Sandblast with stones maxes out at 2d20 damage, which is impressive for a level 1 spell. However, damage reduction from enemy AC is applied thrice instead of once, making it much worse against armored opponents. [[Ogre]]s and [[troll]]s can use [[large rock]]s to increase damage even further, to a max of 3d20.
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==Monster Version==
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While no monsters cast Sandblast normally, [[player ghost]]s with Sandblast may appear. Monsters will cast Sandblast in 1 turn rather than 2.
  
 
==Strategy==
 
==Strategy==
Though stones are plentiful, [[earth elementalist]] characters will quickly run out if they overuse this spell. Use stones sparingly; use the standard version of the spell against [[goblin]]s and save your ammo for bigger prey, like [[hydra]]s.
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Sandblast is noticeably more MP-efficent than [[Stone Arrow]], dealing the same and even more damage against low-AC foes. At lower levels, spending 66% less MP is worth the 50% slower speed. But as you gain maximum MP, Stone Arrow's damage/turn becomes more noticeable than Sandblast's damage/MP, and the former is not heavily reduced by AC.
 
 
Since large rocks are very heavy, you may want to break them up. If you repeatedly pick up a large rock and force throw it (press '''F''', then the letter of the rock), it will eventually shatter into 20-40 much more portable stones. Then again, the 50% increase to damage is significant.
 
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
Prior to version [[0.8]], Sandblast had a range of 1, but using stones changed it to range 2. Using large rocks did not increase damage. Prior to [[0.9]], AC was only applied twice instead of thrice, making the spell a little more viable against armoured targets.
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*Prior to [[0.30]], monsters would take 2 turns to cast Sandblast.
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*Prior to [[0.29]], Sandblast was a range-3 spell that took only 1 turn to fire, but consumed a [[stone]] per use.
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*Prior to [[0.20]], Sandblast could be used without stones, with reduced damage. To use the stronger version, the stone had to be wielded. Ogres and trolls could also use large rocks, for even bigger damage.
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*Prior to [[0.9]], AC was only applied twice instead of thrice, making the spell a little more viable against armoured targets.
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*Prior to [[0.8]], Sandblast had a range of 1, but using stones changed it to range 2. Using large rocks did not increase damage.

Latest revision as of 11:02, 5 May 2023

Version 0.30: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.
Sandblast.png Sandblast
Level 1
School1 Earth
Source(s) Book of Geomancy
Casting noise 1
Spell noise 2
Power Cap 50
Range 4
Flags Dir or target, Needs tracer, Not self
Blasts a target with high-velocity rock shards. Gathering the rock from ambient grit is slow, making this spell take half again as long to cast as most. Its damage is strongly reduced by armour.
Spell Details
Damage Formula 2d(4+Power/3)
Max Damage 2d(20.67)
Max Power 50
Range 4
Targeting Beam
To-hit 13+Power/10
Special AC applied thrice
Takes 1.5 turn to cast

Sandblast is a level 1 Earth Magic spell which fires shrapnel with a range of 4, though it takes 1.5 turns to fire. Sandblast maxes out at 2d20 damage, which is impressive for a level 1 spell. However, damage reduction from enemy AC is applied thrice instead of once, and the slow firing means that enemies will often get more attacks in. Miscasting this spell will still take a normal turn.

Earth Elementalists begin with this spell memorized.

Monster Version

While no monsters cast Sandblast normally, player ghosts with Sandblast may appear. Monsters will cast Sandblast in 1 turn rather than 2.

Strategy

Sandblast is noticeably more MP-efficent than Stone Arrow, dealing the same and even more damage against low-AC foes. At lower levels, spending 66% less MP is worth the 50% slower speed. But as you gain maximum MP, Stone Arrow's damage/turn becomes more noticeable than Sandblast's damage/MP, and the former is not heavily reduced by AC.

History

  • Prior to 0.30, monsters would take 2 turns to cast Sandblast.
  • Prior to 0.29, Sandblast was a range-3 spell that took only 1 turn to fire, but consumed a stone per use.
  • Prior to 0.20, Sandblast could be used without stones, with reduced damage. To use the stronger version, the stone had to be wielded. Ogres and trolls could also use large rocks, for even bigger damage.
  • Prior to 0.9, AC was only applied twice instead of thrice, making the spell a little more viable against armoured targets.
  • Prior to 0.8, Sandblast had a range of 1, but using stones changed it to range 2. Using large rocks did not increase damage.