Naga

Version 0.29: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

This article covers the player species. For the monster, see Naga (monster). For a list of all monstrous nagas, see List of nagas.

Nagas are a hybrid species: Human from the waist up with a large snake tail instead of legs. They are reasonably good at most things and advance in experience levels slightly slower than Humans. They are naturally resistant to poisons, can see invisible creatures, and have tough skin, but their tails are relatively slow and cannot move them around as quickly as can other creatures' legs (this only affects their movement rate; all other actions are at normal speed). Like Palentongas, their body shape also prevents them from gaining full protection from body armour. A Naga's biggest forte is stealth: Nagas are very good at moving unnoticed. Their tails eventually grow strong enough to constrict their foes in combat. Nagas can spit poison; the accuracy and damage of this poison increases with the Naga's experience level.

Innate Abilities

• A Naga's serpentine skin is tough (Nagas gain additional AC as they grow).
• Nagas are hybrid creatures, with a snake-like lower body but medium torso:
  • Nagas can equip bardings, but cannot wear boots.
  • Nagas are less encumbered by Shields than other medium-sized races, as if they were large.
  • Nagas are large enough to attack normally while standing in shallow water, though still move slowly through it.
• Deformed: Nagas gain only half the base AC from body armour.
• Spit Poison: Nagas can spit poison as an attack, with a cooldown.
• Poison Resistance: Nagas innately resist poison.
• Acute Vision: Nagas can see invisible.
• Slow 2: Nagas move very slowly.

Naga have a base Strength of 10, Intelligence of 8 and Dexterity of 6 (before Background modifiers). They have average base magic points.

Preferred Backgrounds

• Zealots: Berserker
• Warrior-mages: Transmuter, Warper, Enchanter
• Mages: Hedge Wizard, Fire Elementalist, Ice Elementalist, Venom Mage

Level Bonuses

• +1 to a random stat every 4th level.
• 20% more HP than average.
• +5 willpower per level.
• +1 AC every third level
• Gain the ability to constrict foes at level 13.

Difficulty of Play

Nagas are a moderately difficult race to play, primarily because their slow movement speed makes it impossible to escape most opponents by retreating. This is particularly noticeable in the early game, where a Naga's Deformed Body mutation penalizes any armour they wear, their innate AC bonus hasn't had time to balance that out, and their combat skills and alternative options are most limited. Don't be afraid to make use of their Poison Spit ability to soften up difficult fights you can't avoid, and don't feel bad burning consumables to keep yourself alive through difficult encounters you can't get away from.

Once a naga survives long enough to come into its own, however, they acquire an excellent array of useful perks, including better than average AC, auxiliary constriction, see invisible, poison resistance, good willpower, and an excellent HP pool. Their slow movement speed will blight them the entire game, but survival becomes much less of a struggle.

Skill aptitudes

The higher the value, the better the aptitude.

Skill	Aptitude	Skill	Aptitude	Skill	Aptitude
Attack		Miscellaneous		Magic
Fighting	0	Armour	-2	Spellcasting	-1
		Dodging	-2
Maces & Flails	0	Shields	-1	Conjurations	0
Axes	0	Stealth	5	Hexes	0
Polearms	0			Summonings	0
Staves	0	Invocations	1	Necromancy	0
Unarmed Combat	0	Evocations	0	Translocations	0
Throwing	-1	Shapeshifting	-1	Alchemy	2
				Fire Magic	0
Short Blades	0			Ice Magic	0
Long Blades	0			Air Magic	0
Ranged Weapons	-1	Experience	0	Earth Magic	0

Strategy

Despite their slow speed and large size, Nagas have a +5 Stealth aptitude, the highest in the game barring the Gnoll. Use it.

Stealth is quite useful (if not required) in order to avoid fights with dangerous enemies like orc priests or ogres. Nagas can use Stealth offensively, but they aren't the best stabbers. This isn't because they are spotted more; regardless of how slow you move, enemies have the same chance to detect you. It's because slow speed makes retreating, from a failed stab attempt, difficult. For many Nagas, high stealth is more of an avoidance tool than an offensive one.

See Also

• Tasonir's Melee Naga Guide

History

• Prior to 0.29, Nagas had a -2 Shields aptitude (buffed due to the large-size shield nerf in 0.28).
• Prior to 0.26, Nagas had Slow Metabolism.
• Prior to 0.17, Nagas did not have innate slow metabolism, but slow movement caused less hunger per aut than normal-speed movement.
• In 0.12, the global hidden Stealth XP buff (80% XP cost) was removed; Nagas were the only species to not get their aptitude raised in compensation.
• In 0.10 only, nagas had Constriction from level 1. They also gained constriction this version.