Steam

Version 0.30: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

Steam is one of the least common elemental forces you will encounter as you explore the Dungeon. Unlike most elements, it is very difficult for most characters to have access to steam, and few monsters are even capable of it.

Steam Clouds

Steam clouds are created when beams of fire travel over water, or when beams of cold travel over lava. Examples of fiery beams include the wand of flame, Flame Wave, and Fireball. The player cannot create any ice projectiles, but monsters like frost giants can use Throw Frost or Bolt of Cold. They are also created by the Steam Ball spell.

Steam clouds deal steam damage. In addition, they are opaque; having 2 or more steam clouds in a given direction will block line of sight.

Steam Damage

Steam damage is one of the rarest elements in the game. It appears from the following sources:

• steam clouds
• the Steam Ball spell

Resistance

Steam resistance (rSteam) prevents steam clouds from doing any damage, and reduces the impact damage from Steam Ball by -66%.

The following sources provide dedicated steam resistance:

• steam dragon scales
• Dragonskin cloak
• being a pale draconian

In addition, having any amount of fire resistance (rF+ or higher) grants steam resistance. You must actually have rF+, so Mummies with a ring of fire won't get steam resistance.

Vulnerability

Any amount of fire vulnerability also gives steam vulnerability, which increases all steam damage by +50%.

History

• Prior to 0.14, there were 3 levels of rSteam. Having any amount of rSteam gave immunity to steam clouds; having more levels only reduced impact damage from steam-related spells.
• Prior to 0.13, fire vulnerability did not give you steam vulnerability.

See Also

List of steam resistant monsters