Difference between revisions of "Death Channel"

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(This isn't true now, re stairs. Dunno that it was even true in 0.19? Rewrite some more.)
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'''Death Channel''' is a level 6 [[Necromancy]] spell that, while active, raises living creatures (natural [[holiness]]) slain by the caster into a state of temporary [[undead]] slavery as [[spectral thing]]s. The type of spectral thing depends upon what is killed, but its stats will be similar to that of the creature slain, and it will always have [[draining]]-branded attacks. Increasing your [[spell power]] will increase the duration of the spell, but has no effect on the duration of the spectral things themselves.
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'''Death Channel''' is a level 6 [[Necromancy]] spell that raises monsters into [[spectral thing]]s.
  
Spectral things are not permanent pets, so will not follow the caster up and down stairs. Creatures affected by this spell still generate corpses as normal.
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==Useful Info==
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Grants the '''DChan''' status for a duration. While active, it raises slain [[natural]], [[holy]], and [[demon]]ic monsters into [[spectral thing]]s 100% of the time. Spectral things are based on the monster as it was in life.
  
==Strategy==
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Each spectral thing lasts for around 81 turns. But if the DChan duration runs out, all spectral things immediately vanish. You cannot recast Death Channel to extend the spell duration.
Death Channel and [[Animate Dead]] function similarly, in that they raise up undead allies for you.  Zombies tend to have more hitpoints, less AC, and are of zombie intelligence; spectral things retain their original intelligence. Spectral things also have draining branded attacks.
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Increasing your [[spell power]] increases the duration of the spell; it does not increase duration of individual spectral things.  
  
Death Channel automatically reanimates monsters for you whereas Animate Dead requires that you take a turn to cast it now and then. Death Channel also does not require a corpse; a living creature slain by you will be reanimated whether it was going to drop a corpse or not.
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This spell, uniquely, works with all other "[[Necromancy#Undead_Creation|corpse-destroying]]" [[Necromancy]] spells. You may have DChan and one other necromancy effect work on a monster at any given time. It also works with [[Gozag]]'s gold touch. However, it does ''not'' work with [[Yredelemnul]] (who is able to create spectral things).
  
Foes that are turned into spectral things are no less likely to leave a corpse, and so using one spell does not make the other work less well.
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==Strategy==
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Like other Necromancy spells, Death Channel is great against crowds. Cast this spell once, kill a few monsters, and you'll have an army of [[drain]]ing spectral things. Devastates large packs of enemies, even in [[Zot]] and the [[extended game]].
  
Death Channel does not work with Kikubaquudgha's Corpse Delivery.
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Other than the MP cost, there is no reason ''not'' to use Death Channel alongside [[Animate Dead]], or any other undead-creating spell.
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
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*Prior to [[0.29]], Death Channel could be recast when active. This did not affect spectral thing duration, but did extend the DChan status.
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*Prior to [[0.28]], Death Channel did not work on holy or demonic creatures, nor creatures that did not leave a corpse.
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*Prior to [[0.26]], Death Channel had a summon duration of 6 (or ~170 turns) instead of 5, and the spectres did not time out once the spell ended.
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*Prior to [[0.16]], the spectral summons would take stairs with you.
 
*Prior to [[0.15]], Death Channel had a duration half as long.
 
*Prior to [[0.15]], Death Channel had a duration half as long.
*In earlier versions, the summons would take stairs with you.
 
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
 
*[[Derived undead]]
 
*[[Derived undead]]

Latest revision as of 15:18, 17 June 2023

Version 0.30: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.
Death channel.png Death Channel
Level 6
School1 Necromancy
Source(s) Book of Decay
Book of Unlife
Casting noise 5
Spell noise 0
Power Cap 200
Hated By Elyvilon
The Shining One
Zin
Flags Helpful, Selfench, Utility
Binds the souls of slain living, demonic and holy creatures, forcing their spectres to remain and fight for the caster for as long as the channel lasts.

Death Channel is a level 6 Necromancy spell that raises monsters into spectral things.

Useful Info

Grants the DChan status for a duration. While active, it raises slain natural, holy, and demonic monsters into spectral things 100% of the time. Spectral things are based on the monster as it was in life.

Each spectral thing lasts for around 81 turns. But if the DChan duration runs out, all spectral things immediately vanish. You cannot recast Death Channel to extend the spell duration.

Increasing your spell power increases the duration of the spell; it does not increase duration of individual spectral things.

This spell, uniquely, works with all other "corpse-destroying" Necromancy spells. You may have DChan and one other necromancy effect work on a monster at any given time. It also works with Gozag's gold touch. However, it does not work with Yredelemnul (who is able to create spectral things).

Strategy

Like other Necromancy spells, Death Channel is great against crowds. Cast this spell once, kill a few monsters, and you'll have an army of draining spectral things. Devastates large packs of enemies, even in Zot and the extended game.

Other than the MP cost, there is no reason not to use Death Channel alongside Animate Dead, or any other undead-creating spell.

History

  • Prior to 0.29, Death Channel could be recast when active. This did not affect spectral thing duration, but did extend the DChan status.
  • Prior to 0.28, Death Channel did not work on holy or demonic creatures, nor creatures that did not leave a corpse.
  • Prior to 0.26, Death Channel had a summon duration of 6 (or ~170 turns) instead of 5, and the spectres did not time out once the spell ended.
  • Prior to 0.16, the spectral summons would take stairs with you.
  • Prior to 0.15, Death Channel had a duration half as long.

See Also