Demonspawn

Version 0.12: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

This page is about the player species. For the monster, see Demonspawn (monster).

Demonspawn are horrible half-mortal, half-infernal creatures - the flip side of the Demigods. Demonspawn can be created in any number of ways: magical experiments, breeding, unholy pacts, etc. Although many Demonspawn may initially be indistinguishable from those of pure mortal stock, they will inevitably grow horns, scales or other unusual features. Powerful members of this class of beings also develop a range of unholy abilities, which are listed as mutations. Demonspawn advance slowly in experience and learn most skills at about the same rate as do Demigods. However, they are a little better at fighting and conjurations and much better at necromancy and invocations. Note that unlike Demigods, they can take on gods, although not all will accept them.

Innate Abilities

• Demonspawn deal more damage when using demonic weapons (Demon trident, Demon whip, Demon blade).
• Demonspawn are considered demonic creatures. They cannot worship any of the good gods (Zin, Elyvilon, or The Shining One), and they have vulnerability to holy damage.

Preferred Backgrounds

• Warriors: Fighter, Gladiator, Monk, Hunter
• Zealots: Berserker, Abyssal Knight, Death Knight
• Warrior-mages: Skald, Transmuter, Warper, Arcane Marksman
• Mages: Wizard, Conjurer, Summoner, Necromancer, Fire Elementalist, Ice Elementalist, Air Elementalist, Earth Elementalist, Venom Mage
• Adventurers: Artificer

Due to their demonic nature, Demonspawn are prohibited from becoming Priests or Healers.

Level Bonuses

• Demonspawn gain a random stat increase every 4 levels starting at level 4.
• Demonspawn have average HP
• Demonspawn have average MP.
• Demonspawn gain 3 magic resistance per level.
• Demonspawn gain more of their "demonic ancestry" (random Demonspawn mutations) as they rise in level. The levels this occurs at are randomized, but will include at least five mutations by the maximum level of 27. Some of these mutations are available only to Demonspawn. Unfortunately, gaining mutations you already have through other sources does not cause them to stack; the mutation simply becomes irrevocable and permanent. You may even lose benefits if you already had more than a single rank when the demonic mutation kicks in.

Starting Skills and Equipment

Demonspawn begin with the equipment and skills listed for their background, adjusted for their aptitudes.

Difficulty of Play

Demonspawn are a moderately difficult race to play because of their lack of specialization and demonic status. Being demonic, like being undead, makes one vulnerable to holy effects (Cleansing Flame, Holy Word, weapons of Holy wrath) and unable to worship the three good gods, but it offers none of the guaranteed bonuses of being undead (poison immunity, cold resistance, life protection, torment resistance). Instead, they receive benefits when using demonic equipment (excellent in the late game, but non-existent early on) and get random but potentially awesome demonspawn mutations.

Skill aptitudes

The higher the value, the better the aptitude.

Skill	Aptitude	Skill	Aptitude	Skill	Aptitude
Attack		Miscellaneous		Magic
Fighting	0	Armour	-1	Spellcasting	-1
Short Blades	-1	Dodging	-1	Conjurations	0
Long Blades	-1	Stealth	0	Hexes	0
Axes	-1	Stabbing	-1	Charms	-1
Maces & Flails	-1	Shields	-1	Summonings	0
Polearms	-1	Traps	-1	Necromancy	1
Staves	-1			Translocations	-1
Unarmed Combat	-1			Transmutation	-1
		Fire Magic	-1
Throwing	-1	Ice Magic	-1	Invocations	3
Slings	-1	Air Magic	-1	Evocations	1
Bows	-1	Earth Magic	-1
Crossbows	-1	Poison Magic	0	Experience	-1

Strategy

• Demonspawn Conjurer of Vehumet Guide

History

0.7.0 - Demonspawn became significantly easier to use due to a new and more powerful mutation system.

0.8 - Demonspawn no longer receive breath attack mutations.

0.10 - Demonspawns received several new mutations and had others rebalanced.