Airstrike

Version 0.26: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

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	5 + m + [2 + (Power)/7] m = # of empty spaces (min 3) [] term is averaged over m rolls
Max Damage	5 + m + [214/7]
Max Power	200
Range	LOS
Targeting	Smite
To-hit	Automatic Hit
Special	+50% damage vs. flying enemies

Airstrike is a level 4 Air Magic spell which hits a single enemy, dealing moderate wind damage using smite-targeting (anything in your LOS can be targeted with perfect accuracy). For every adjacent tile that is empty (not a wall or creature, minimum 3), the damage increases and becomes less variable. It is particularly effective against flying opponents, dealing 50% more damage than normal. Just be aware that this spell has no impact against wind-resistant enemies.

Strategy

Airstrike is a useful spell for elemental specialists who lack the means to deal with enemies immune to their attacks. Cloud-producing spells may match its accuracy and exceed its power, but they lack precision. It's also useful for summoners, as they can fire past their summoned creatures without fear, and it is lethal to most flying nuisances, like harpies.

While the damage bonus from empty space is desirable, it is by no means necessary. At modest spell power (50 to 100), the average damage boost from eight tiles of empty space is around 30%. If you need something dead now and don't have time or space to lure it into a better position, Airstrike will still do the job, it just might take an extra cast or two.

Monster Version

This spell is known by a number of opponents, making them significantly more dangerous for flying characters; if possible, land before engaging them.

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

• In 0.27, Airstrike will not deal 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)
• 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)