Difference between revisions of "Instadeath"

From CrawlWiki
Jump to: navigation, search
(Dealing instadeath to monsters)
(Update to 0.23)
(11 intermediate revisions by 7 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{version012}}
+
{{version023}}
 
+
The term '''instadeath''' can have several definitions, either in ''Crawl'' or in roguelikes in general.  Of course, many people use it to describe a death which occurs instantly or very quickly, e.g. an early [[ogre (monster)|ogre]] killing a low-level [[spriggan]] in one shot. However, the term is often more formally used to describe deaths which occur regardless of a character's current [[HP]], even if the death itself is not instant (so-called 'delayed instadeaths'). Such instadeaths are extremely rare in Crawl; specifically, there is only one way for the player to be killed instantly: [[starvation]] - and the player receives a significant amount of warning before this can occur.
The term '''instadeath''' can have several definitions, either in ''Crawl'' or in roguelikes in general.  Of course, many people use it to describe a death which occurs instantly or very quickly, e.g. an early [[ogre (monster)|ogre]] one-shotting a low-level [[spriggan]]. However, the term is often more formally used to describe deaths which occur regardless of a character's current [[HP]], even if the death itself is not instant (so-called 'delayed instadeaths'). Such instadeaths are fairly rare in Crawl, and can only occur in a few ways:
 
 
 
* [[Stat death]]: your character will die after a few dozen turns if any [[stat]] is reduced to zero and not restored.
 
* Falling into [[deep water]] or [[lava]] and failing to [[scramble]] free will result in an instadeath.  Falling into lava without fire resistance is always an instadeath. Even if you scramble free from lava when you have fire resistance, you may ''still'' be killed by the direct HP damage caused by the lava.
 
* Being [[drain]]ed to [[experience level]] 0 will kill you instantly. Generally speaking, this does not occur past D:1, since after that the character will be greater than XL1.
 
* [[Starving]] to death is an instadeath.
 
  
 
==Dealing instadeath to monsters==
 
==Dealing instadeath to monsters==
There are only a few ways to kill monsters irrespective of their hit points. All of them only work in a few specific situations:
+
There are only a few ways to kill monsters irrespective of their hit points. All of them only work in a few specific situations:
 
+
*Most monsters die if they fall in deep water or lava. Usually, this requires [[confuse|confusing]] them near such terrain.
* Most monsters die if they fall in deep water or lava. Usually, this requires [[confuse|confusing]] them near such terrain.  Be aware that highly intelligent creatures are smart enough not to move while confused and adjacent to deep water/lava.
+
*Arguably, [[Aura of Abjuration]] can deal a form of instadeath to summoned monsters.
* You can also drop monsters into deep water or lava by [[petrify]]ing them over it.  The [[harpies]] in the [[Shoals]] are a good target for this.
+
*[[Banishment]] (through [[Lugonu]]'s *** ability or a weapon of [[distortion]]) works regardless of a monster's current HP, although said monster may again be encountered in [[the Abyss]].
* Some "brittle" monsters (e.g. skeletons) may be instantly killed by the spell [[Lee's Rapid Deconstruction]], with a chance based on [[spell power]].  This is not true of [[Shatter]], however.
+
*[[Uskayaw]]'s Grand Finale ***** ability can instantly kill any monster.
* [[Orange crystal statue]]s and [[silver statue]]s can reliably be killed with one hit from a [[wand of disintegration]].
 
* Arguably, (Mass) [[Abjuration]] can deal a form of instadeath to summoned monsters.
 
* [[Banishment]] works regardless of a monster's current HP, although said monster may again be encountered in [[the Abyss]].
 
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
Statdeath will be no longer be an instadeath in [[0.13]]; instead, being at 0 in a stat will do irresistible damage each turn. Prior to [[0.8]], statdeath killed the player as soon as the stat hit zero, as opposed to being a delayed instadeath.
+
*Prior to [[0.19]], instead of receiving draining every turn, players falling into deep water or lava (through flight expiring) would be subject to instadeath.
 
+
*Prior to [[0.17]] it was possible for confused players to accidentally walk into deep water or lava. Intelligent monsters used to be immune to this type of death, but no longer are.
Due to the change in the mechanics of [[draining]] in 0.13, it will no longer be possible to suffer an instadeath from being drained of all life.
+
*Prior to [[0.15]], orange crystal and silver statues could be instantly killed by [[Wand of disintegration|wands of disintegration]]. Prior to this version it was also possible to sometimes [[scramble]] out of deep water or lava.
 +
*Prior to [[0.14]] [[Lee's Rapid Deconstruction]] could instantly kill brittle monsters.
 +
*Prior to [[0.13]], one could suffer [[statdeath]]: after a few dozen turns of a stat being at zero, the character would die. Presently, being at 0 in a stat will just apply some [[stat zero|penalties]]. In addition, prior to [[0.13]], one could die by being level-drained to level 0 - that is, being hit by a draining attack at XL1. This was removed when draining attacks were changed to temporarily drain skills instead of permanently draining experience.
 +
*Prior to [[0.8]], statdeath killed the player as soon as the stat hit zero, as opposed to being a delayed instadeath.  
  
[[Category:Game mechanics]] [[Category:Crystal Ball Articles]]
+
[[Category:Game mechanics]]

Revision as of 19:34, 13 August 2019

Version 0.23: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

The term instadeath can have several definitions, either in Crawl or in roguelikes in general. Of course, many people use it to describe a death which occurs instantly or very quickly, e.g. an early ogre killing a low-level spriggan in one shot. However, the term is often more formally used to describe deaths which occur regardless of a character's current HP, even if the death itself is not instant (so-called 'delayed instadeaths'). Such instadeaths are extremely rare in Crawl; specifically, there is only one way for the player to be killed instantly: starvation - and the player receives a significant amount of warning before this can occur.

Dealing instadeath to monsters

There are only a few ways to kill monsters irrespective of their hit points. All of them only work in a few specific situations:

  • Most monsters die if they fall in deep water or lava. Usually, this requires confusing them near such terrain.
  • Arguably, Aura of Abjuration can deal a form of instadeath to summoned monsters.
  • Banishment (through Lugonu's *** ability or a weapon of distortion) works regardless of a monster's current HP, although said monster may again be encountered in the Abyss.
  • Uskayaw's Grand Finale ***** ability can instantly kill any monster.

History

  • Prior to 0.19, instead of receiving draining every turn, players falling into deep water or lava (through flight expiring) would be subject to instadeath.
  • Prior to 0.17 it was possible for confused players to accidentally walk into deep water or lava. Intelligent monsters used to be immune to this type of death, but no longer are.
  • Prior to 0.15, orange crystal and silver statues could be instantly killed by wands of disintegration. Prior to this version it was also possible to sometimes scramble out of deep water or lava.
  • Prior to 0.14 Lee's Rapid Deconstruction could instantly kill brittle monsters.
  • Prior to 0.13, one could suffer statdeath: after a few dozen turns of a stat being at zero, the character would die. Presently, being at 0 in a stat will just apply some penalties. In addition, prior to 0.13, one could die by being level-drained to level 0 - that is, being hit by a draining attack at XL1. This was removed when draining attacks were changed to temporarily drain skills instead of permanently draining experience.
  • Prior to 0.8, statdeath killed the player as soon as the stat hit zero, as opposed to being a delayed instadeath.