Deck of battle

Version 0.15: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

The deck of battle is a "virtual" deck consisting of seven distinct cards which do various things pertaining to combat. The cards here appear only in the decks of changes, defence, and war.

Elixir card

The Elixir card increases your HP or MP rapidly for a few turns. At power level 2, both will be fully restored over 10 turns.

This card also appears in the deck of emergency.

Potion card

The Potion card gives you the effect of a random potion.

• Power level 0: 33% chance of curing and 11% each of agility, brilliance, might, confusion, slowing, and decay.
• Power level 1: 25% chance each of resistance and speed, 17% of curing, and 6% each of the others.
• Power level 2: 25% chance each of heal wounds and magic, 13% each of resistance and speed, 8% of curing, and 3% each of the others.

Metamorphosis card

Applies a random bodily transformation, selected as follows.

• Power level 0: Spider Form, Ice Form, or Bat Form.
• Power level 1: Statue Form or Blade Hands.
• Power level 2: Dragon Form or Lich Form.

Transformation happens at a random power up to (power / 4) - 1.

Helm card

Casts random protective enchantments on you.

• Power level 0: Either Phase Shift or Stoneskin.
• Power level 1: Phase Shift or Stoneskin, with a 50% chance of both, plus 50% chance of a magical shield that increases your SH.
• Power level 2: Phase Shift or Stoneskin, with a 75% chance of both, plus 75% chance of a magical shield and 100% chance of elemental resistance.

Blade card

Prompts you to wield a weapon, then:

• Power level 0: Applies a temporary brand selected from flaming, freezing, venom, draining, or vorpal.
• Power level 1: Applies a temporary brand selected from anti-magic, chaos, electrocution, distortion, or pain.
• Power level 2: Casts Tukima's Dance.

The temporary brand will fail on artifacts, permanently branded weapons, and unarmed players. Felids get a special message:

You feel like a smilodon for a moment.

Shadow card

The Shadow card makes you invisible with duration up to (power / 4) + 14. At power level 1 or 2, it additionally gives you 1d(power/4) turns of bonus stealth.

Dowsing card

The Dowsing card has three possible effects: Magic Mapping, Detect Items + Detect Traps, and temporary telepathy. You get one effect at power level 0, one or two at level 1, and all three at level 2.

This card also appears in the deck of wonders.

Battlelust card

• Power level 0: Acts as a potion of might with a random power up to (power / 4) - 1.
• Power level 1: Sets your "building rage" timer to 1.
• Power level 2: Sets your temporary "slaying" buff to a random duration of up to (power / 6) turns.

Mercenary Card

Offers a mercenary for a fee. The fee is roughly the XP value of the mercenary offered, plus or minus 15 percent. If you cannot or choose not to purchase the ally, it will be created hostile. It is a durable summon, which means that it is worth no experience, can't be abjured, can't time out, and doesn't leave any equipment behind. However, it can pick up new equipment to better arm itself. This is the list of possible mercenaries:

• KBig kobold
• HTengu
• qDeep dwarf scion
• oOrc knight
• cCentaur warrior
• iSpriggan rider
• OOgre mage
• HMinotaur
• A random (non-professional) draconian
• eDeep elf blademaster

High card power increases the chances of getting a stronger mercenary.

History

In 0.15, the Potion card was moved here from the deck of wonders, and the Mercenary card moved in the other direction. The Dowsing card was moved from the old deck of dungeons. The Battlelust card, which granted agility, might, or building rage, was removed.

The Mercenary card was added in 0.11. Prior to 0.12, mercenaries would not change their equipment.