Sting

Version 0.28: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

Sting
Level	1
School1	Alchemy
School2	Conjuration
Source(s)	Book of Cantrips Young Poisoner's Handbook
Casting noise	1
Spell noise	1
Power Cap	25
Range	3
Flags	Dir or target, Needs tracer

Briefly transforms one of the caster's limbs into a long insectoid stinger, which lashes out at the target. The stinger's impact will always poison a susceptible target. Even resistant targets have a chance to be poisoned and immune monsters will be damaged by the physical impact of the stinger.

Spell Details
Damage Formula	1d(3+Power/5) poison
Max Damage	1d8
Max Power	25
Range	3
Targeting	Beam
To-hit	8+Power/5
Special

Sting is a level 1 Transmutation/Poison Magic spell which briefly transforms a limb into a venomous stinger and strikes a target, dealing a small amount of physical + poison damage while poisoning the target. Enemies with poison resistance take about half damage and will be poisoned half the time, while those with complete poison immunity such as the undead will take 30% damage.

Venom Mages start with this spell memorized.

Strategy

Sting is good for softening up targets from a short distance, or just outright killing poison-vulnerable ones. While low level Venom Mages may wish to switch to Poisonous Vapours for most of their poisoning needs (due to its range and inability to miss), this spell remains marginally useful for its elementally neutral damage.

Monster version

Some monsters can cast Sting, which functions identically to the player version.

The following enemies cast Sting:

• o Blorkula the orcula (2d10 damage)
• P Scrub nettle (2d7 damage)

History

• Prior to 0.25, Sting was a Conjurations/Poison spell with range 7, and was entirely useless against targets with poison resistance.