Airstrike

Version 0.32: This article is up to date for the latest stable release of Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup.

Airstrike
Level	4
School1	Air
Source(s)	Book of Air Book of Storms
Casting noise	2
Spell noise	4
Power Cap	200
Range	LOS
Flags	Not self, Target

Causes the air around a creature to twist itself into a whirling vortex of meteorological fury. It does more damage to targets surrounded by empty space.

Spell Details
Damage Formula	2d([pow+13]/14 + 2m) m = empty spaces
Max Damage	2d(15) 2d(31) (8 empty spaces)
Max Power	200
Range	LOS
Targeting	Smite
To-hit	Never miss
Special	Each adjacent empty space adds +2 to maximum die roll

Airstrike is a level 4 Air Magic spell which hits a single enemy, dealing moderate and irresistible wind damage. The spell uses smite-targeting, able to target anything in your line of sight with perfect accuracy. For every empty tile adjacent to your target, the damage increases. Empty tiles are devoid of creatures (including the caster) or walls.

Air Elementalists start with this spell in their libraries.

Strategy

Airstrike is a useful spell for its smite-targeted, irresistible damage. Air Elementalists can use it to kill electric-resistant enemies like sky beasts (among other things). Summoners can use Airstrike to attack behind their summons.

Most of this spell's damage comes from the empty space bonus. At moderate levels of power, Airstrike deals 2d5 base damage, but 2d21 damage with 8 empty spaces - a huge boost. Since the empty space bonus is unaffected by spell power, even a low power Airstrike will deal good damage. Don't be afraid to snipe weaker enemies in a cramped space, but take advantage of empty space as much as possible.

Tips & Tricks

• If there's little/no open space around the opponent, Shock and Static Discharge will be more efficient to cast.
• Airstrike's targeter will treat any unknown space as solid, to avoid leaking information (as a wall/monster could be there). If the space is empty, though, you'll still get the space bonus.

Monster Version

This spell is known by a number of opponents, who can hit you from any distance. Like the player spell, each empty tile adds +2 to the die roll. The following enemies cast Airstrike:

• 2 Blizzard demon (2d(11-27) damage)
• @ Cloud Mage (2d(18-34) damage)
• w Gastronok (2d(18-34) damage)
• Q Sojobo (2d(18-34) damage)
• i Spriggan air mage (2d(12-28) damage)
• C Titan (2d(18-34) damage)
• k Wind drake (2d(7-23) damage)

History

• Prior to 0.29, Airstrike dealt 5 + M + Md[2 + (power)/7]/M damage, for M = empty tiles, 3 minimum. This meant the empty space bonus was significantly weaker, for both players and monsters.
• Prior to 0.27, Airstrike dealt 50% bonus damage to flying targets.
• Prior to 0.25, Airstrike damage did not vary based on the empty space around the target. The old formula was :8 + 1d(2 + power/7)
• Prior to 0.22, some enemies could resist wind damage, including Tornado.
• In 0.20, the Airstrike damage formula was given a much-wanted simplification. The old formula was:

7 + 1d(1d4 1 + (1d(power) - 1)/6) + (1d(power) - 1)/7)