Deflect Missiles

Version 0.34: This article is up to date for the latest stable release of Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup.

Envelops the caster in a repulsion field, greatly increasing their evasion against all types of projectile - even while otherwise incapacitated.

Deflect Missiles is a monster-only spell and status effect which greatly increases evasion versus projectiles.

Effect

Creatures with the deflecting missiles status have +24 EV against ranged attacks, including spells. This effect only helps to evade ranged attacks; it does not change the target's ability to block them.

Sources

In addition, the following enemies provide a Deflect Missiles aura:

• v Polterguardian

Monsters with Deflect Missiles will start with the status permanently active, meaning they never have to cast the spell unless the status is dispelled.

Strategy

Monsters with Deflect Missiles are few and far between. As you would expect, trying to hit them with a ranged attack will be quite difficult. They are still vulnerable to Hexes and hex wands (though as usual monsters have a willpower-based chance to resist them). And of course, things that don't miss -- like Borgnjor's Vile Clutch, Fireball, and lightning rods -- are unaffected.

Yara's Violent Unravelling or a wand of quicksilver can be used to dispel a monster's Deflect Missiles.

History

Repel Missiles
Level	2
School1	Air
School2	Charms
Source(s)	Book of Air Book of Minor Magic
Casting noise	1
Spell noise	0

• Prior to 0.34, the monster version of Deflect Missiles was known as Repel Missiles, which only provided +15 EV against ranged attacks (similar to player RMsl).
  • To see information about the removed spell called Deflect Missiles, see this revision.
• Prior to 0.32, Repel Missiles reduced the to-hit of ranged attacks against the caster from 0-100% if single-target or 50-100% if penetrating. Also, it didn't work on incapacitated targets.
• Prior to 0.25, a more advanced version of Repel Missiles called Deflect Missiles existed. Monsters with DMsl instead got Repel Missiles.
• Prior to 0.20, Repel Missiles was a level 2 Air/Charms spell available to players; it expired as it helped dodge projectiles. However, other sources still exist.
• Prior to 0.14, the Repel Missiles status expired based on a timer.