Bolt of Draining

Version 0.14: 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
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

While Bolt of Draining is effective at softening up or destroying rows of dangerous natural monsters, using it does reduce the XP you gain from kills, though this loss is relatively minor. Also, many of the more dangerous late game monsters (including all undead and demons) are partially or completely immune to its effects. 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.

Necromancers looking for means of dealing damage may wish to save the spell levels for the level 7 Necromancy/Summonings spell Haunt (which is effective against the undead and demons), or branch into some other school of magic. Regardless, consider forgetting Bolt of Draining once you reach the extended end-game and using those spell levels on something more universally useful.

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 monsters can cast Bolt of Draining:

• 6 Black sun
• e Deep elf conjurer
• e Deep elf death mage
• e Deep elf sorcerer
• W Eidolon
• & Gloorx Vloq
• o Nergalle
• o Orc sorcerer
• D Serpent of Hell (Tartarus)
• D Shadow dragon
• 1 Shadow fiend
• V Vampire mage

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

• z Ancient champion
• L Ancient lich
• L Antique lich
• q Draconian knight
• L Lich
• & Pandemonium lord

History

Prior to 0.14, Bolt of Draining was a level 6 spell.