Difference between revisions of "Animate Dead"

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[[Animate Dead]] is a level 4 [[Necromancy]] spell that attempts to raise all [[corpse]]s and [[skeleton]]s in [[LOS]] as [[zombie]]s or [[skeleton (monster)|skeleton]]s. These minions cannot heal or use [[stairs]], but will serve you faithfully until death or until they crumble to dust. Some corpses cannot be raised in this manner.
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[[Animate Dead]] is a level 4 [[Necromancy]] spell that attempts to raise all [[corpse]]s and [[skeleton]]s in [[LOS]] as [[zombie]]s or [[skeleton (monster)|skeleton]]s. These minions cannot heal or use [[stairs]], but will serve you faithfully until death or until they crumble to dust. Some corpses cannot be raised in this manner. The [[HD]] of raised skeletons and zombies depends on the [[spellpower]]: <code>minion_hd = mons_hd * (100 + pow) / 300</code>.
  
This spell is similar to [[Yredelemnul]]'s power of the same name.
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[[Necromancer]]s begin with this spell in their libraries. [[Kikubaaqudgha]] also guarantees the spell at 3* piety.
  
 
==Strategy==
 
==Strategy==
*Animate Dead is a very powerful spell for [[Kikubaaqudgha]] followers. Combining the Corpse Delivery ability with this spell allows you to rapidly create a large gang of allies at will, in exchange for a very affordable chunk of [[piety]] and [[MP]]. Other characters can also put it to good use; animating the remains of every powerful enemy you defeat on a given floor means that you'll have plenty of allies available in case you come across a very powerful [[unique]]. Couple it with [[Recall]] in order to compensate for the slow movement speed of the undead.
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*Animate Dead is a very powerful spell for [[Kikubaaqudgha]] followers -- conviently, the god will always gift it. Combining the Corpse Delivery ability with this spell allows you to rapidly create a large gang of allies at will, in exchange for a very affordable chunk of [[piety]] and [[MP]]. Other characters can also put it to good use; animating the remains of every powerful enemy you defeat on a given floor means that you'll have plenty of allies available in case you come across a very powerful [[unique]].
 
*Although pricier than [[Animate Skeleton]], Animate Dead offers significant advantages:
 
*Although pricier than [[Animate Skeleton]], Animate Dead offers significant advantages:
**Like skeletons, zombies have lower stats than the monsters they were raised from. However, the reduction is less dramatic (except for movement [[speed]]).
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**Zombies have better stats than skeletons, though both are weaker than the original monster.
**Animate Dead can raise multiple corpses at once, and from a distance. This makes it a much more useful option in the middle of combat.
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**Animate Dead can raise multiple corpses at once. This makes it a much more useful option in the middle of combat.
 
* Fast species may want to use the Ctrl-E command to limit the travelling speed to the lowest ally speed.
 
* Fast species may want to use the Ctrl-E command to limit the travelling speed to the lowest ally speed.
  
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==History==
 
==History==
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*Prior to [[0.26]], the lifespan of raised undead didn't depend on spellpower, and was longer. Necromancers had to be slightly aware of [[food]], as raised zombies did not drop [[chunk]]s (but Animate Skeleton did).
 
*Prior to [[0.17]], raised creatures were permanent until death. Also, some monsters could cast this spell.
 
*Prior to [[0.17]], raised creatures were permanent until death. Also, some monsters could cast this spell.
 
*Prior to [[0.15]], [[plague shambler]]s would also only produce skeletons.
 
*Prior to [[0.15]], [[plague shambler]]s would also only produce skeletons.

Revision as of 21:27, 24 May 2022

Version 0.28: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.
Animate dead.png Animate Dead
Level 4
School1 Necromancy
Source(s) Book of Death
Book of Unlife
Casting noise 3
Spell noise 0
Power Cap 100
Hated By Elyvilon
The Shining One
Zin
Flags Helpful, Selfench, Utility
For some time after casting this, living creatures killed by the caster will rise as zombies. The chance of reanimating a monster and the duration of the effect increase with spell power. Re-casting this spell will return zombies to dust, as will leaving the floor.

“Remember, I am not recording the vision of a madman. The sun does not more
certainly shine in the heavens, than that which I now affirm is true. Some
miracle might have produced it, yet the stages of the discovery were distinct
and probable. After days and nights of incredible labour and fatigue, I
succeeded in discovering the cause of generation and life; nay, more, I became
myself capable of bestowing animation upon lifeless matter.”
-Mary Shelley, _Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus_,
Vol. I, Chapter 3. 1818 (1st Ed.)

Animate Dead is a level 4 Necromancy spell that attempts to raise all corpses and skeletons in LOS as zombies or skeletons. These minions cannot heal or use stairs, but will serve you faithfully until death or until they crumble to dust. Some corpses cannot be raised in this manner. The HD of raised skeletons and zombies depends on the spellpower: minion_hd = mons_hd * (100 + pow) / 300.

Necromancers begin with this spell in their libraries. Kikubaaqudgha also guarantees the spell at 3* piety.

Strategy

  • Animate Dead is a very powerful spell for Kikubaaqudgha followers -- conviently, the god will always gift it. Combining the Corpse Delivery ability with this spell allows you to rapidly create a large gang of allies at will, in exchange for a very affordable chunk of piety and MP. Other characters can also put it to good use; animating the remains of every powerful enemy you defeat on a given floor means that you'll have plenty of allies available in case you come across a very powerful unique.
  • Although pricier than Animate Skeleton, Animate Dead offers significant advantages:
    • Zombies have better stats than skeletons, though both are weaker than the original monster.
    • Animate Dead can raise multiple corpses at once. This makes it a much more useful option in the middle of combat.
  • Fast species may want to use the Ctrl-E command to limit the travelling speed to the lowest ally speed.

Limitations

The following corpses are unaffected by Animate Dead:

p Shapeshifter.png Shapeshifter p Glowing shapeshifter.png Glowing shapeshifter

The following corpses are too rotten for a proper zombie. You will get skeletons instead.

n Necrophage.png Necrophage n Ghoul.png Ghoul (monster) n Bog body.png Bog body

See Also

History

  • Prior to 0.26, the lifespan of raised undead didn't depend on spellpower, and was longer. Necromancers had to be slightly aware of food, as raised zombies did not drop chunks (but Animate Skeleton did).
  • Prior to 0.17, raised creatures were permanent until death. Also, some monsters could cast this spell.
  • Prior to 0.15, plague shamblers would also only produce skeletons.
  • Prior to 0.13, vampire mosquitoes, ugly things, very ugly things, guardian serpents, sky beasts and Arachne could not be animated.
  • Prior to 0.10 Animate Dead would ignore any corpses on a spot after the first corpse.
  • Prior to 0.5, zombies and skeletons could use stairs, making this an excellent spell for creating armies.