Static Discharge

From CrawlWiki
Revision as of 23:55, 30 November 2022 by Hordes (talk | contribs) (History: commit 557434e)
Jump to: navigation, search
Version 0.29: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.
Static discharge.png Static Discharge
Level 2
School1 Air
School2 Conjuration
Source(s) Book of Storms
Casting noise 3
Spell noise 0
Power Cap 100
Range 1
Flags Area
Releases electrical charges against those next to the caster. These may arc to other adjacent creatures, or back to the caster, before eventually grounding out. It deals reduced damage when arcing to the caster, and bypasses any armour the target may have.
Spell Details
Damage Formula 3 + 1d(3 + pow/8)
Max Damage 3 + 1d(15.5)
Max Power 100
Range 1 (but can jump to monsters adjacent to the victim)
Targeting Self
To-hit
Special Ignores AC
Reduced damage to player

Static Discharge is a level 2 Conjurations/Air Magic spell which releases charges of electricity at one or more targets adjacent to the caster. It then has a chance based on spellpower to arc to another target adjacent to the victim, losing power as it does so. This can result in it arcing back to the caster, dealing reduced self damage.

It does not affect electricity-resistant targets; any arcs aimed at resistant creatures will immediately ground out.

The Arc Blade uses a particularly high-powered version of this spell for its special effect.

Strategy

Static Discharge is most helpful against crowds of monsters, as such crowds allow for multiple arcs to bounce through them, but its ability to bypass AC and EV also lets it see use against single monsters with high defenses (such as orc warriors or killer bees), or simply as a good attacking spell - more than a level 2 spell would suggest.

Exercise caution when using this spell against crowds, however -- much like axes, having more targets means you'll also be taking more attacks. But unlike axes, Static Discharge can hit monsters behind the target.

History

  • In 0.30, Static Discharge's damage will be reduced to 3 + 1d(3 + pow/12), and its power cap will be 50. Also, rElec monsters will be affected by and won't ground out this spell.
  • Prior to 0.29, this spell dealt 2 + 1d(5 + Power/10 + (1d(Power)-1)/10) damage.
  • Prior to 0.27, this spell was a level 3 spell.
  • Prior to 0.26, insubstantial wisps could cast this spell.
  • Prior to 0.13, this spell would deal less damage to levitating or flying targets.
  • Prior to 0.9, Static Discharge was a level 4 spell.