Difference between revisions of "Instadeath"

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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.
  
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:
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==Player Instadeath==
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There is only one way for the player to be killed instantly: the [[Zot clock]]. The player receives a significant amount of warning (at least 1000 turns) before this can occur.
  
* [[Starving]] to death is an instadeath.
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Of course, this does not include 1-turn KOs from a bunch of nasty monsters hitting you at once.
* 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.  Normally, the game will walk into deep water or lava, but it may happen in a number of ways:
 
** Moving while confused and adjacent to such terrain.  The game will ask for confirmation first if falling into deep water or lava is a possibility.
 
** Ending [[flight]] while over deep water or lava.  The game will not let you choose to end flight in such a situation, and will give you very clear warnings if a temporary source of flight is expiring.
 
** Being [[petrify|petrified]] while flying over deep water or lava.
 
** Despite how ominous their effects may seem, [[Ilsuiw]]'s [[Call Tide]] and [[merfolk aquamancer]]s' [[Primal Wave]] spells will '''not''' directly cause you to drown.  In the same vein, while [[water elemental]]s' attacks are referred to as "drowning" attacks, they merely do irresistible damage each turn, instead of causing any sort of 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:
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There are only a few ways to kill monsters irrespective of their hit points. They all require specific setups to work:
 
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*Monsters die if they fall in deep water or lava, assuming the terrain is inhospitable for them. Usually, this requires [[confusion|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.
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*[[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]].
* 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.
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*[[Uskayaw]]'s Grand Finale ***** ability can instantly kill any monster.
* 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.
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*The spell [[Maxwell's Capacitive Coupling]] "instantly" kills the closest monster, after a short delay.
* [[Orange crystal statue]]s and [[silver statue]]s can reliably be killed with one hit from a [[wand of disintegration]].
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*[[Yara's Violent Unravelling]] will instantly and explosively dismiss any [[summon]]ed monsters.
* 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==
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 simply 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.
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*In [[0.29]], the Zot clock will only instant-kill if you are [[drain]]ed to less than 10% maximum HP (else it drains you).
 
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*Prior to [[0.26]], players could face [[starvation]] and die, as opposed to the Zot clock.
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.
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*Prior to [[0.19]], players falling into deep water or lava (through flight expiring) would be subject to instadeath, instead of [[drain]]ing every turn.
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*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.
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*Prior to [[0.15]], it was possible to sometimes [[scramble]] out of deep water or lava.
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*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, one could die by being level-drained to level 0 - that is, being hit by a draining attack at XL1 (removed due to the removal of XP draining)
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*Prior to [[0.8]], statdeath killed the player as soon as the stat hit zero, as opposed to being a delayed instadeath.  
  
In [[0.14]], the player will no longer be able to instakill monsters with LRD.
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Instantkills on monsters has its own history:
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*In [[0.28]], Yara's Violent Unravelling now abjures [[summon]]s, always and instantly dismissing them.
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*In [[0.27]], Maxwell's Capacitive Coupling replaced [[Absolute Zero]] as the OHKO spell.
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*Prior to [[0.26]], players could instantly get rid of summoned monsters by casting [[Aura of Abjuration]].
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*In [[0.25]], Absolute Zero was introduced as an instant, instant killing spell.
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*Prior to [[0.15]], orange crystal and silver statues could be instantly killed by [[Wand of disintegration|wands of disintegration]].
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*Prior to [[0.14]], [[Lee's Rapid Deconstruction]] could instantly kill brittle monsters.
  
 
[[Category:Game mechanics]] [[Category:Crystal Ball Articles]]
 
[[Category:Game mechanics]] [[Category:Crystal Ball Articles]]

Revision as of 22:04, 1 August 2022

Version 0.28: 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.

Player Instadeath

There is only one way for the player to be killed instantly: the Zot clock. The player receives a significant amount of warning (at least 1000 turns) before this can occur.

Of course, this does not include 1-turn KOs from a bunch of nasty monsters hitting you at once.

Dealing instadeath to monsters

There are only a few ways to kill monsters irrespective of their hit points. They all require specific setups to work:

  • Monsters die if they fall in deep water or lava, assuming the terrain is inhospitable for them. Usually, this requires confusing them near such terrain.
  • 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.
  • The spell Maxwell's Capacitive Coupling "instantly" kills the closest monster, after a short delay.
  • Yara's Violent Unravelling will instantly and explosively dismiss any summoned monsters.

History

  • In 0.29, the Zot clock will only instant-kill if you are drained to less than 10% maximum HP (else it drains you).
  • Prior to 0.26, players could face starvation and die, as opposed to the Zot clock.
  • Prior to 0.19, players falling into deep water or lava (through flight expiring) would be subject to instadeath, instead of draining every turn.
  • 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, it was possible to sometimes scramble out of deep water or lava.
  • 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, one could die by being level-drained to level 0 - that is, being hit by a draining attack at XL1 (removed due to the removal of XP draining)
  • Prior to 0.8, statdeath killed the player as soon as the stat hit zero, as opposed to being a delayed instadeath.

Instantkills on monsters has its own history: