Difference between revisions of "Curse skull"

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m (Using a scroll of blinking to get into melee range is a bit of an overkill. There are other methods of minimizing torment damage.)
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{{monster info}}
{{monster
 
|name=curse skull
 
|glyph={{LightCyan|z}}
 
|tile=[[File:Curse skull.png]]
 
|flags={{Speaks flag}}<br>{{Stationary flag}}<br>{{Noisy spells flag}}<br>{{Evil flag}}<br>{{See invisible flag}}<br>{{Levitate flag}}<br>{{!sil flag}}
 
|resistances={{Hellfire resistance}}, {{Cold resistance 2}}, <br>{{Electricity resistance 2}}, {{Poison resistance 3}}, <br>{{Negative energy resistance 3}}, {{Torment resistance}}, <br>{{Rot resistance 3}}, {{Drown resistance}}
 
|vulnerabilities={{Holy vulnerability 2}}, {{Holy wrath vulnerability}}
 
|max_chunks=0
 
|meat={{No corpse}}
 
|xp=1810
 
|holiness={{Undead}}
 
|magic_resistance=Immune
 
|hp_range=66
 
|avg_hp=66
 
|armour_class=40
 
|evasion=3
 
|habitat=Land
 
|speed= 10
 
|size={{tiny}}
 
|item_use={{Uses nothing}}
 
|attack1=
 
|attack2=
 
|attack3=
 
|attack4=
 
|hit_dice=13
 
|base_hp=0
 
|extra_hp=0
 
|fixed_hp=66
 
|intelligence={{High intelligence}}
 
|genus=curse skull
 
|species=curse skull
 
}}
 
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{{Flavour|A charred skull floating in the air and rotating slowly. Mystic symbols carved into its blackened surface indicate its resistance to almost any form of attack.}}
 
  
 
==Useful Info==
 
==Useful Info==
[[Curse skull]]s are undead immobile monsters found in [[the Crypt]]. They have an almost complete set of resistances and cast powerful necromantic spells. Be prepared to fight the [[undead]] and endure [[torment]].
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'''Curse skulls''' are powerful [[undead]] monsters which resist almost everything, summon swarms of undead allies, and [[torment]] you repeatedly. They never move while you're within [[line of sight]], but will quickly position themselves in irritatingly out-of-reach places whenever you flee. They can be found in [[the Crypt]].
  
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{{monster spells}}
==Spells==
 
 
 
{{Spellcaster
 
|number=
 
|slot1=[[Summon Undead]]
 
|slot2=[[Summon Undead]]
 
|slot3=''none''
 
|slot4=[[Symbol of Torment]]
 
|slot5=[[Summon Undead]]
 
|slot6=''none''
 
}}
 
{{clear}}
 
 
 
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==Tips & Tricks==
 
==Tips & Tricks==
*They fall very quickly to [[Dispel Undead]], although since that spell requires a clear line of sight to hit, they can often shield themselves by summoning undead.
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*Their high AC, elemental resistances, and evasive behavior make them more difficult to kill than you might expect.
*Conjurers will want to switch to [[Earth]] spells or pure conjurations such as [[Orb of Destruction]], if they lack Dispel Undead. If you have it, [[Fire Storm]] is quite efficient at taking out curse skulls, since it is smite targeted; [[Ice Storm]] less so, as it requires a clear line of sight.
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**Casters with [[Dispel Undead]] can destroy them in a couple shots once they get within range, though their tendency to summon allies coupled with their habit of appearing at the very edge of your line of sight makes reaching them difficult. Several [[Earth Magic]] and pure [[Conjurations]] spells also work fairly well, though the undead allies often get in the way of [[Orb of Destruction]].
*Unfortunately, [[Silence]] doesn't affect them.
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**If you have to rely on elemental magic, use the most powerful spells you have at your disposal. Curse skulls might have a wide range of resistances, but they will still succumb eventually to spells like [[Bolt of Magma]], [[Starburst]], or [[Ozocubu's Refrigeration]]. [[Fire Storm]] works very well, if you can cast it, and [[Absolute Zero]] will kill them instantly (though the noise will draw practically the entire level down on your head).
*For melee fighters, it's important to get into melee range ASAP. Use a [[scroll of blinking]], or just try to enter their [[LOS]] as close as possible.
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**[[Air elementalist]]s are mostly out of luck; they ignore [[electricity]] damage, and even though they fly, their AC makes [[Airstrike]] much less effective than you might hope.
*They have absurdly high [[AC]] but fairly low [[HP]]. For [[short blades]] wielders, this generally means melee is out as an option, unless they have high amounts of [[ring of slaying|slaying]]. Even those wielding heavier weapons will find that the amount of time required to destroy a curse skull is highly variable, owing to the way AC damage reduction works.
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**Melee fighters with weapons of [[holy wrath]] can take them down quickly, and [[vorpal]] weapons are your best bet when that's not an option. Due to the way AC damage reduction works, killing them in melee will take somewhat longer for [[short blades]] specialists than for heavy two-handed weapon-wielders; try drinking a [[potion of might]] or corroding them with a [[wand of acid]] if you're having trouble doing damage. Also, if you're vulnerable to [[torment]], consider using a spare [[scroll of blinking]] to jump directly to melee range.
*Their [[EV]] is 3. If you've got it, [[Bolt of Inaccuracy]] is highly effective against them, especially since it'll pierce through their summons.
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*Try to minimize the time when a curse skull can see and torment you without you doing damage to it. Use corners or a [[scroll of fog]] to break the [[line of sight]].
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*Curse skulls are immune to [[Silence]] and [[Hexes]], so you can't simply disable their ability to cast spells.
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
In [[0.13]] curse skulls will be able to move while the player cannot see them (like [[wandering mushroom]]s), and their hp and ac will be lowered.
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*In [[0.14]], curse skulls could move (albeit slowly). In [[0.15]], they returned to being stationary, and finally in [[0.16]] and later they could move quickly.
 
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*Prior to [[0.13]], curse skulls had significantly higher HP and AC.
[[Category:Crystal Ball Articles]]
 

Revision as of 20:36, 20 August 2020

Version 0.25: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.
curse skull zCurse skull.png
HP 34-70
HD 13
XP 1586
Speed 15
AC 35
EV 3
Will Immune



Resistances rF++
rC++
rElec
rPois+++
rDrown
rMiasma
rN+++
rTorm
Vulnerabilities Holy
Habitat Land
Intelligence Human
Uses Uses nothing
Holiness Undead
Size Tiny
Type curse skull, curse skull
Flags Evil
See invisible
Flying
Unbreathing
Speaks
A charred skull floating in the air and rotating slowly. Mystic symbols are carved into its blackened surface.

Useful Info

Curse skulls are powerful undead monsters which resist almost everything, summon swarms of undead allies, and torment you repeatedly. They never move while you're within line of sight, but will quickly position themselves in irritatingly out-of-reach places whenever you flee. They can be found in the Crypt.

Spells

Spell set I
Slot1 Summon Undead Magical flag,
Noisy flag
Slot2 Symbol of Torment Magical flag,
Noisy flag

Tips & Tricks

  • Their high AC, elemental resistances, and evasive behavior make them more difficult to kill than you might expect.
    • Casters with Dispel Undead can destroy them in a couple shots once they get within range, though their tendency to summon allies coupled with their habit of appearing at the very edge of your line of sight makes reaching them difficult. Several Earth Magic and pure Conjurations spells also work fairly well, though the undead allies often get in the way of Orb of Destruction.
    • If you have to rely on elemental magic, use the most powerful spells you have at your disposal. Curse skulls might have a wide range of resistances, but they will still succumb eventually to spells like Bolt of Magma, Starburst, or Ozocubu's Refrigeration. Fire Storm works very well, if you can cast it, and Absolute Zero will kill them instantly (though the noise will draw practically the entire level down on your head).
    • Air elementalists are mostly out of luck; they ignore electricity damage, and even though they fly, their AC makes Airstrike much less effective than you might hope.
    • Melee fighters with weapons of holy wrath can take them down quickly, and vorpal weapons are your best bet when that's not an option. Due to the way AC damage reduction works, killing them in melee will take somewhat longer for short blades specialists than for heavy two-handed weapon-wielders; try drinking a potion of might or corroding them with a wand of acid if you're having trouble doing damage. Also, if you're vulnerable to torment, consider using a spare scroll of blinking to jump directly to melee range.
  • Try to minimize the time when a curse skull can see and torment you without you doing damage to it. Use corners or a scroll of fog to break the line of sight.
  • Curse skulls are immune to Silence and Hexes, so you can't simply disable their ability to cast spells.

History

  • In 0.14, curse skulls could move (albeit slowly). In 0.15, they returned to being stationary, and finally in 0.16 and later they could move quickly.
  • Prior to 0.13, curse skulls had significantly higher HP and AC.