Bolt of Draining

Version 0.17: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

Bolt of Draining
Level	5
School1	Conjuration
School2	Necromancy
Source(s)	Book of Death
Casting noise	2
Spell noise	0

This spell hurls a deadly bolt of negative energy, which drains the life from any living creature it strikes.

Spell Details
Damage Formula	4d(3.75+Power*3/20)
Max Damage	4d33 negative energy
Max Power	200
Range	6
Targeting	Bolt
To-hit	8+Power/20
Special	Draining

Bolt of Draining is a level 5 Conjurations/Necromancy spell which fires a bolt of negative energy, dealing damage and draining any creatures in its path. It functions much like a more powerful wand of draining with reduced range (range 8 vs. range 6, and it loses one square of range each time it hits something). Negative energy resistance reduces the damage dealt by this spell by 50% (rN+), 75% (rN++), or 100% (rN+++).

Strategy

Bolt of Draining is effective at softening up or destroying rows of dangerous natural monsters. On one hand, many dangerous late game monsters (including all undead and demons) are partially or completely immune to its effects (which is almost irrelevant for 3 rune game). On the other hand, undead immunity means you can send hordes of undead minions at your foes and shoot Bolts of Draining through them without any risk of harming them, and Orb Guardians, draconians, and almost all giants are still quite susceptible to its damage, which makes this spell quite effective in Zot. Excellent spell overall, especially when coupled with Dispel Undead.

Monster Version

Many monsters are capable of casting Bolt of Draining with extremely irritating results; a loss of skill levels which only disappears after you've gained sufficient experience.

The following enemies cast Bolt of Draining:

• e Deep elf death mage (3d22 damage)
• 6 Demonspawn black sun (3d22 damage)
• W Eidolon (3d21 damage)
• L Halazid warlock (3d25 damage)
• H Jorogumo (3d20 damage)
• z Laughing skull (3d(13-26) damage)
• p Necromancer (monster) (3d18 damage)
• o Nergalle (3d18 damage)
• o Orc sorcerer (3d17 damage)
• D Serpent of Hell (Tartarus) (3d24 damage)
• D Shadow dragon (3d24 damage)
• 1 Tzitzimitl (3d29 damage)
• V Vampire mage (3d18 damage)

The following enemies may be able to cast Bolt of Draining, depending on their spell set:

• & Pandemonium lord (5.2% chance)

History

• In 0.25, Bolt of Draining will be removed from the list of spells available to players.
• Prior to 0.14, Bolt of Draining was a level 6 spell.