Ghost moth

Version 0.31: This article is up to date for the latest stable release of Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup.

For a list of all arthropods, see list of arthropods.

ghost moth y
HP	47-96
HD	13
XP	1198
Speed	12
AC	8
EV	10
Will	100
Attack1	24 (hit: drain stat)
Attack2	18 (hit: drain stat)
Attack3	18 (sting: drain stat)
Resistances	rC+ rPois+
Vulnerabilities	None
Habitat	Land
Intelligence	Animal
Uses	Uses nothing
Holiness	Natural
Size	Large
Type	moth, ghost moth
Flags	Flying Invisible No skeleton Web immune

A vile interdimensional predator that feeds on the life force of living beings. It resembles an enormous, spiny moth. “Always in focus You can't feel my stare. I zoom into you You don't know I'm there.” -Judas Priest, “Electric Eye”. 1982.

Useful Info

Ghost moths are speedy, invisible monsters with an MP-draining gaze and stat-draining melee attacks. If you can't see invisible, you'll "feel you are being watched by something" whenever a ghost moth is around. They can be found in the Spider's Nest (particularly in Spider:4), rarely in the Realm of Zot, and in a special "eye of draining" Pandemonium rune vault.

A ghost moth's gaze causes you to lose 0-19 MP, weighted towards the average. Since moths cast Draining Gaze on 50% of their actions, and as the gaze takes up no time, they can rapidly drain your MP.

Spells

Spell set I
Slot1	Draining Gaze	Magical flag, Instant flag

Tips & Tricks

• The loss of MP is very fast. Even if you're not a spellcaster, be wary that some god abilities require MP to invoke.
• Ghost moths are a good reason to keep a source of see invisible around. When fighting an invisible enemy you can't see - even if you detect their location - you get harsh penalties to accuracy, EV, and SH. If you receive the message "You feel you are being watched by something," swap to a source of see invisible immediately. Keep in mind they fly faster than most characters run, so escaping without items is not an option.
• Ghost moths themselves cannot see invisible. If you are invisible, ghost moths can't drain your MP.
• If you're a caster, the following can work (depending on the character):
  • Damage-over-time effects. Freezing Cloud, despite their cold resistance, can kill if the moth spends enough time in the cloud. Sticky Flame is usually too weak to kill in 1 cast, but it does negate their invisibility.
  • Summon Cactus Giant. While cactus giants lack SInv, the spines can do a lot. If the giant is in the moth's way, the moth will attack the giant, taking heavy damage (possibly killing the moth). If needed, tell the giant to retreat towards a desired direction.
  • For Kiku worshippers, Death Channel's spectres can see invisible. You can use Unearth Wretches multiple times for each ghost moth; it's a cheap 1* ability, so don't worry about piety too much.
  • Failing that, evocables are good MP-less ways of dealing damage. Even at 0 Evocations, using 4 charges of a lightning rod will take a huge chunk of the moth's HP. With good Evocations training, a condenser vane, tin of tremorstones, or attack wands can kill / finish off a moth.
• Ghost moths make for great Yredelemnul souls. When Draining Gaze hits a monster, it inflicts antimagic, which is brutally effective against spellcasters.

History

• Prior to 0.31, ghost moths would heal themselves when draining MP.
• Prior 0.28, ghost moths' melee attacks could inflict strong poison, making stat drain less likely.
• Prior to 0.16, ghost moths could drain for 5-17 MP.