Talisman of death

Trunk-only: This article pertains to a feature of Crawl which is being tested. It will likely change before the next release, and may even be removed entirely.

A lone finger-bone, infused with dark power through a sickening ritual. Transforms the user into an undying offense against life itself. Foes struck by user's melee weapons or hands are weakened, slowed, and drained, and they can heal themselves by tormenting foes nearby. (Shapeshifting skill increases the effectiveness of the latter.) The user also resists cold and is immune to poison, miasma, negative energy, and torment. The user also gains some of the more dubious benefits of having an undead body. They are vulnerable to holy damage and Dispel Undead, and cannot consume potions.

A talisman of death is a talisman that changes you into Death Form.

Useful Info

When eVoked, a talisman of death turns you into Death Form, which lasts until you end the form. Entering or exiting a form takes 5 turns.

Death Form has the following effects:

Combat Bonuses

• Unarmed Combat: 9 base damage.
• All melee attacks (including weapons) inflict drain, slow, and weakness for 3-6 turns.
• Siphon Essence: Active ability (20 MP). Halves HP to all enemies (except nonliving) within 2 tiles. Then, heals you for 100% of damage dealt, with a cap of 19 + 3 * Shapeshifting (50 at max skill). Does work against demonic, holy, and undead enemies.

Resistances

• Willpower+
• Standard undead resistances:
  • rC+
  • Immunity to poison and miasma.
  • rN+++ and immune to torment
  • Cannot be mutated. Receive stat drain if you would be mutated.
  • Cannot be polymorphed.
  • Vulnerable to holy, holy wrath, and Dispel Undead.

Restrictions

• Melded Gear: None.
• Cannot drink potions.
• Cannot use certain forms of Necromancy (Borgnjor's Revivification, Death's Door) or wield holy wrath weapons.

Death Form keeps most mutations, does not change your size, and gives no innate bonus to HP / AC.

Death Form has a minimum Shapeshifting skill of 21, below which you get an HP penalty. Maximum skill is 27, which is the cap on Shapeshifting itself.

Strategy

Most useful in the extended game. Not having access to potions is a hefty penalty, but Death Form gives immunity to two important things: torment and mutation. Before extended, if you have enough Shapeshifting skill, you should probably use Storm Form instead.

History

• Will be introduced in trunk, in the transformation overhaul. Death Form replaces Necromutation (lichform).

Previously, lichform gave +6 AC, Will+, and a spell enhancer for Necromancy, but it did not have the Siphon Essence ability.