Airstrike

Version 0.29: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

Airstrike
Level	4
School1	Air
Source(s)	Book of Air Book of Storms
Casting noise	2
Spell noise	4
Power Cap	200
Range	LOS
Flags	Not self, Target

Causes the air around a creature to twist itself into a whirling vortex of meteorological fury. It does more damage to targets surrounded by empty space.

Spell Details
Damage Formula	2d([pow+13]/14 + 2m) m = empty spaces
Max Damage	2d(15) 2d(31) (8 empty spaces)
Max Power	200
Range	LOS
Targeting	Smite
To-hit	Never miss
Special	Each adjacent empty space adds +2 to maximum die roll

Airstrike is a level 4 Air Magic spell which hits a single enemy, dealing moderate and irresistible wind damage. The spell uses smite-targeting, able to target anything in your line of sight with perfect accuracy. For every empty tile adjacent to your target, the damage increases. Empty tiles are devoid of creatures (including the caster) or walls.

Air Elementalists start with this spell in their libraries.

Strategy

Airstrike is a useful spell for elemental specialists who lack the means to deal with enemies immune to their attacks. Cloud-producing spells may match its accuracy and exceed its power, but they lack precision. It's also useful for summoners, as they can fire past their summoned creatures without fear.

The damage bonus from empty space is quite substantial. At 100 spellpower, hitting a target completely in the open is 2x more powerful than the same target with 0 tiles of empty space. For reference, 100 power is reached with 20 Int and 25 Air Magic - quite late in the game - so the bonus defintely matters. However, this spell remains useful for sniping weaker enemies from a distance, regardless of space.

For Air Elementalists in particular, this spell might be a bit expensive to cast at first. Use the empty space bonus to the fullest, and any source of extra MP helps. You shouldn't be ashamed at using Shock and Static Discharge as your go-to offense spells, at least for a short while. Later on, Airstrike has the advantage of being perfectly accurate (unlike Shock) and with actual range (unlike Static Discharge), making it worth the switch.

Monster Version

This spell is known by a number of opponents, who can hit you from any distance. Like the player spell, each empty tile adds +2 to the die roll. The following enemies cast Airstrike:

• 2 Blizzard demon (2d(11-27) damage)
• @ Cloud Mage (2d(18-34) damage)
• w Gastronok (2d(18-34) damage)
• Q Sojobo (2d(18-34) damage)
• i Spriggan air mage (2d(12-28) damage)
• C Titan (2d(18-34) damage)
• k Wind drake (2d(7-23) damage)

History

• Prior to 0.29, Airstrike dealt 5 + M + Md[2 + (Power)/7]/M damage, for M = empty tiles, 3 minimum. This meant the empty space bonus was weaker, and that monster Airstrikes were dramatically weaker.
• Prior to 0.27, Airstrike dealt 50% bonus damage to flying targets.
• Prior to 0.25, Airstrike damage did not vary based on the empty space around the target. The old formula was :8 + 1d(2 + Power / 7)
• Prior to 0.22, some enemies could resist wind damage, including Tornado.
• In 0.20, the Airstrike damage formula was given a much-wanted simplification. The old formula was:

7 + 1d(1d4 1 + (1d(Power) - 1)/6) + (1d(Power) - 1)/7)