Spell memorisation

Version 0.25: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

Spell memorisation is the process by which you learn spells from your spell library. This can be done by viewing the Memorisation tab of your inventory screen or pressing M and selecting the desired spell from the list. You can search the library with ctrl-F, and can switch between memorisation, checking descriptions, and hiding/showing spells you have no interest in with the ! key.

Memorisation restrictions

While any character may gain access to spells, the following restrictions apply:

• You can only memorise spells in your library. When you pick up a spellbook, all of its spells are permanently added to your library. Some backgrounds start with the spells from a basic spellbook in their library.
• Worshippers of Vehumet are periodically offered the chance to memorise a destructive spell. These are not permanently added to the library, and will be lost when the next spell is offered, or when memorised and forgotten.
• You can memorise at most 21 spells. A scroll of amnesia or Sif Muna's Forget Spell ability will allow you to forget unwanted spells to free up space.
• Each spell has a spell level, ranging from 1 to 9. You can only memorise a total of (Experience Level-1 + (2*Spellcasting)) levels of spells.
• You can't memorise while confused or berserk.
• You can't memorise a spell whose level is higher than your experience level.
• In addition, some species cannot learn certain spells:
  • Felid: Excruciating Wounds, Portal Projectile and Spectral Weapon.
  • Formicid: Blink, Controlled Blink, Swiftness
  • Gargoyle: Statue Form and Sublimation of Blood.
  • Ghoul and Mummy: Beastly Appendage, Blade Hands, Spider, Ice, Hydra, Statue and Dragon Forms; Necromutation, Death's Door, Borgnjor's Revivification and Sublimation of Blood.
  • Vampire: Necromutation, Death's Door and Borgnjor's Revivification.

Also note that memorising spells while worshipping Trog will trigger penance.

Memorisation success

All spells not affected by the conditions above can be memorised, however memorisation takes the spell level of the spell you are trying to learn + 1 turns to complete (during which you cannot do anything else), and should you take damage during this time your memorisation will be interrupted.

History

• In 0.26, spells gifted by Vehumet will be added into the player's library if the player memorizes them.
• Prior to 0.22, there was no spell library. Spellbooks were permanent objects, and spells had to be memorised directly from a book each time.
• Prior to 0.12, your chance of success at memorising a spell was related to your chance to cast the same spell. Failing to memorise a spell had no effect, except from a Book of Annihilations, a Grand Grimoire or a Necronomicon. In these cases, you'd suffer a (likely high level) miscast effect from Conjurations, Summonings or Necromancy, respectively.