Difference between revisions of "The Slime Pits"

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{{flavour|The amorphous realm of acids, jellies and slimes. Any trace of intelligent beings has long been dissolved. Still, there are rumours of great treasures deep down, hidden safely away in secret chambers without door or window for acid to leak in.
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{{flavour|The Slime Pits are the amorphous realm of acids, jellies and slimes. Even the walls drip with painful acid. Any trace of intelligent beings has long been dissolved. Still, there are rumours of great treasures deep down, hidden safely away in secret chambers without any entrance.
  
The Slime Pits are six levels deep and contain the slimy rune. The entry is between Lair:6 and Lair:8.
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This branch is unnaturally silent: sounds travel farther here.
}}
 
  
{{flavour|An entrance to the amorphous realm of acids, jellies and slimes.}}
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The entrance to this branch can be found between levels 4 and 5 of the Lair of Beasts.
  
[[File:Slime entry.png]]'''The Slime Pits''' are a 6-floor [[branch]] full of amorphous horrors. Four guaranteed treasure [[vault]]s, an immense amount of [[experience]], and the slimy [[rune of Zot]] await anyone able to find their way to the bottom of the Slime Pits, but its difficulty and unique challenges make it dangerous for all but the best prepared characters. Stairs to the Slime Pits can be found between levels 6 and 8 of [[the Lair]].
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This branch is 5 levels deep.
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This branch contains the slimy rune of Zot.}}
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[[File:Slime entry.png]]'''The Slime Pits''' are a 5-floor [[branch]] full of amorphous horrors. Most of this branch consists of nothing but ooze, but the final floor has a guaranteed treasure [[vault]] and the slimy [[rune of Zot]]. To retrieve the treasures, you must defeat their [[the Royal Jelly|boss]].
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Stairs to the Slime Pits can be found between [[the Lair]]: 4-5. While the entrance is found in the Lair, it is much more dangerous than the 2 other branches that can be found there ([[Swamp]], [[Shoals]], [[Snake Pit]] or [[Spider's Nest]]), and should be attempted later in the game.
  
 
==Layout==
 
==Layout==
The Slime Pits closely resemble the [[Orcish Mines]]: each floor is either a single large irregular chamber or several smaller chambers connected only by [[stairs]]. Like the Orcish Mines, you can use a [[wand of digging]] or the [[Dig]] spell to connect separate chambers together to ease travel. Bear in mind, however, that the walls of the Slime Pits are actually harmful to touch; every time you end a turn adjacent to a wall (even diagonally), you take a small amount of [[acid]] damage. Running through long, narrow hallways results in significant exposure to this damage. You can make your own 3-tile-wide hallways to be safe, but whether or not it's worth the time and wand charges is up to you.
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Superficially, the layout of the Slime Pits resembles the [[Orcish Mines]]: each floor is either a single large irregular chamber or several smaller chambers connected only by [[stairs]]. Like the Orcish Mines, you can use a [[wand of digging]] to connect separate chambers together, easing travel. Outside of Slime:5, no items generate here.
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The Slime Pits are filled with [[Wall#Slime Covered Rock|slime covered rock]], which inflict the [[corrosion]] status on adjacent players. This wears off the moment you move away from the walls.
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===Slime:5===
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Slime:5 is made out of one out of various [[vault]]s. The original vault is a singular, central chamber, but there is a small variety of posisble layouts.
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This floor always contains the boss of the Slime Pits, [[the Royal Jelly]]. Killing it will open up the translucent walls of the treasure vaults, allowing you to go inside. The walls will also disappear if you worship [[Jiyva]] and reach 6* piety - though, when worshipping Jiyva, the slimes will eat a huge portion of the loot. ([[Haste]], [[Apportation]], [[Swiftness]], etc. are recommended.)
  
 
==Useful Info==
 
==Useful Info==
Entering the Slime Pits unprepared can be an extremely costly mistake for low-level characters. Acidic monsters such as [[brown ooze]]s, [[acid blob]]s, and [[death ooze]]s can inflict immense damage and will rapidly ruin your equipment, while [[shining eye]]s will induce numerous character-ruining [[mutations]]. It is much safer to explore here after acquiring:
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The branch is home to high level jelly monsters - these are fast and can inflict immense damage. [[Acid blob]]s rapidly corrode you. [[Azure jellies]] have strong cold attacks. [[Quicksilver ooze]]s have [[antimagic]] attacks and can [[engulf]] you, and [[rockslime]]s can [[trample]] you. You'll also find [[shining eye]]s that induce numerous [[bad mutations]]. You'll also find masses of [[slime creature]]s, weak alone, but they come in large groups, and among the stronger jellies.
*A source of corrosion resistance ([[cloak of preservation]], [[amulet of resist corrosion]], various [[artifact]]s) or a full set of corrosion resistant gear (enchanted to +5 or higher, or artifact gear)
 
*A source of [[mutation resistance]] ([[amulet of resist mutation]], worshiping [[Zin]], playing a [[halfling]] or [[undead]] character)
 
 
 
The two most common solutions to these problems are both amulets, unfortunately, so be prepared to swap them as the situation dictates. Forgetting to do so when a shining eye appears can be extremely aggravating, especially if you're short on [[potions of cure mutation]]. While those are the only vital [[intrinsic]]s, the following also come in handy:
 
*[[Cold]] resistance for [[azure jellies]]
 
*[[Clarity]] for [[golden eye]]s
 
*An [[amulet of stasis]] or high [[magic resistance]] for [[giant eyeball]]s and [[great orbs of eyes]]
 
  
The Slime Pits contain many [[trap]]s (teleportation, shafts, Zot) that can leave you in a cul de sac or next to a searing acid wall. It's crucial, especially on Slime:6-- where controlled teleports are impossible-- that you have a reasonable [[Traps]] skill (10 to 12 is enough for most characters).
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The wide open floors and caustic walls make it impossible to effectively bottleneck opponents. Expect to be swarmed by all sorts of jellies, especially if you rush in too quickly. [[Stair dancing]] is a strong tactic.
  
The wide open floors and caustic walls make it impossible to effectively bottleneck opponents; expect to be swarmed by [[slime creature]]s and worse if you rush in too quickly. Fortunately, almost every monster here is mindless and silent, making it easy to creep forward, attract the attention of a single opponent, and lure it back a safe distance before killing it in privacy. When possible, limit yourself to quiet spells unless you feel confident about reliably nuking herds of jellies.
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Most jellies resist [[poison]], [[acid]], and nothing else - the major exceptions are [[rockslime]]s (who resist fire and electricity). Also, jellies have poor [[AC]] and [[EV]]. Low-accuracy, high-damage spells like [[Iron Shot]] or [[Starburst]] are quite effective. Note that [[Shatter]] doesn't do much against slimes (except for rockslimes).
  
Exploration of the Slime Pits will turn up very little apart from monsters and traps. There is no loot to be found outside of the boss' chambers, and only one [[unique]] is capable of spawning here ([[Dissolution]], a deadly jelly priest who should be killed as quickly as possible to avoid his [[Summon Eyeballs]] spell). There is no random food lying around, and few monsters here leave edible corpses (giant eyeballs are the safest bet, though a [[giant amoeba]] or [[eye of devastation]] will do for characters with [[poison]] resistance), so be sure to bring a food supply with you.
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==Strategy==
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''See also: [[The Royal Jelly#Strategy|The Royal Jelly]]''
  
One thing to keep in mind about the monsters you find in Slime is that few possess resistances other than poison or acid, and even fewer have any [[AC]] or [[EV]] worth mentioning. The lack of EV means that low-accuracy, high-damage spells such as [[Iron Shot]], [[Crystal Spear]], or the various bolt spells are highly effective, while the lack of AC can make spells such as [[Airstrike]] or [[Lee's Rapid Deconstruction]] (but not [[Shatter]]!) quite effective. [[Bolt of Inaccuracy]] is wonderful in Slime if you have the appropriate rod and the [[Evocations]] skill to use it.
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Slime is significantly more difficult than the other Lair branches, so unless you're doing a [[speedrun]], there's little reason to go in right away. You have the liberty to explore other branches (such as [[the Vaults]]:1-4) before entering. This branch is often done as the [[rune lock|3rd rune]], though it can also be done purely for the loot on Slime:5.
  
===Slime: 6===
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Regardless of anything, it is recommended to have some way of defeating the Royal Jelly before attempting this branch - see [[the Royal Jelly#Strategy|the Royal Jelly]] for more info. You'll also want a few resistances (see below).
The sixth and final floor of the Slime Pits is an open chamber with a large, non-corrosive stone structure in the middle made from four quarter-circle [[vault]]s. [[Teleport control]] is initially not allowed. The floor is populated with eyes and jellies like the floors above, but in the center of the structure you'll encounter the boss of the Slime Pits, [[the royal jelly]] (see its article for advice on defeating it). Once TRJ is dead, the walls of the central structure will become transparent rock, and you can either [[teleport]] in, [[dig]] through, or use [[Passwall]]. Alternatively, you can use a high-powered [[Lee's Rapid Deconstruction]] to tear down the walls before fighting the boss, but this will be noisy enough to alert everything on the floor. In any case, be aware that many of the enemies here will eat the contents of the vaults if they gain access to them, and that if you wait too long, slimes may spawn inside the vaults naturally (fortunately, the rune and any artifacts cannot be eaten).
 
  
Alternatively, you can avoid all of this conflict by worshiping [[Jiyva]], the [[god]] of slimes. Doing so will render all monsters in the Slime Pits neutral to you, and at high enough piety, the vaults turn to transparent rock.
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===Useful Traits===
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It's much safer to explore here after acquiring:
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*[[Corrosion resistance]] ([[ring of resist corrosion]], [[acid dragon scales]], etc.)
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*High [[willpower]], to prevent getting [[confused]] by [[golden eye]]s and [[great orbs of eyes]].
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*[[Cold]] resistance, for azure jellies.
  
 
==Monsters==
 
==Monsters==
 
{| class="prettytable" style="border:none; margin:0; padding:0;"
 
{| class="prettytable" style="border:none; margin:0; padding:0;"
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| {{monsterlink|Golden eye}} || {{monsterlink|Shining eye}} || {{monsterlink|Eye of devastation}} || {{monsterlink|Glass eye}}
 
|-
 
|-
| {{monsterlink|Giant eyeball}} || {{monsterlink|Shining eye}} || {{monsterlink|Ooze}} || {{monsterlink|Slime creature}} || {{monsterlink|Death ooze}}
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| {{monsterlink|Glowing orange brain}} || {{monsterlink|Great orb of eyes}} || {{monsterlink|Jelly}} || {{monsterlink|Slime creature}}
|-
 
| {{monsterlink|Golden eye}} || {{monsterlink|Eye of devastation}} || {{monsterlink|Jelly}} || {{monsterlink|Giant amoeba}} || {{monsterlink|Azure jelly}}
 
 
|-
 
|-
| {{monsterlink|Eye of draining}} || {{monsterlink|Great orb of eyes}} || {{monsterlink|Brown ooze}} || {{monsterlink|Pulsating lump}} || {{monsterlink|Acid blob}}
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| {{monsterlink|Quicksilver ooze}} || {{monsterlink|Azure jelly}} || {{monsterlink|Acid blob}} || {{monsterlink|Rockslime}}
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
===Uniques===
 
===Uniques===
 
{| class="prettytable" style="border:none; margin:0; padding:0;"
 
{| class="prettytable" style="border:none; margin:0; padding:0;"
|-
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| {{monsterlink|Dissolution}}
| {{monsterlink|Dissolution}} || {{monsterlink|The royal jelly}}
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| {{monsterlink|Donald}}
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| {{monsterlink|The Royal Jelly}}
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
Prior to [[0.7]], the Slime Pits walls did not inflict acid damage.
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*In [[0.31]], new Slime:5 [[vaults|layouts]] were introduced. Many don't have the corridors of the original Slime:5 vault, making certain strategies against [[the Royal Jelly]] more difficult.
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*Prior to [[0.30]], the slime covered walls would inflict acid damage, rather than just corroding you.
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*Prior to [[0.27]], you could find [[death ooze]]s and [[eyes of draining]], instead of [[rockslime]]s and [[quicksilver ooze]]s.
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*Prior to [[0.19]], the Slime Pits had six floors. Some jelly creatures were capable of eating items on the floor. Also, killing the Royal Jelly turned walls into translucent rock, so the player needed some way to get in.
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*Prior to [[0.18]], there were an amulet of resist mutation, and an amulet of resist corrosion that were both useful for exploring Slime Pits. The later was changed into a ring.
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*Prior to [[0.17]], Slime:6 prevented [[Teleport control]].
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*In [[0.13]], [[spiny worm]]s could be found here. They were removed in [[0.14]].
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*Prior to [[0.7]], the walls of the Slime Pits did not inflict acid damage.
  
[[Category:Dungeon_Branches]]
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{{branches}}

Latest revision as of 22:32, 15 February 2024

Version 0.31: This article is up to date for the latest stable release of Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup.
The Slime Pits are the amorphous realm of acids, jellies and slimes. Even the walls drip with painful acid. Any trace of intelligent beings has long been dissolved. Still, there are rumours of great treasures deep down, hidden safely away in secret chambers without any entrance.

This branch is unnaturally silent: sounds travel farther here.

The entrance to this branch can be found between levels 4 and 5 of the Lair of Beasts.

This branch is 5 levels deep.

This branch contains the slimy rune of Zot.

Slime entry.pngThe Slime Pits are a 5-floor branch full of amorphous horrors. Most of this branch consists of nothing but ooze, but the final floor has a guaranteed treasure vault and the slimy rune of Zot. To retrieve the treasures, you must defeat their boss.

Stairs to the Slime Pits can be found between the Lair: 4-5. While the entrance is found in the Lair, it is much more dangerous than the 2 other branches that can be found there (Swamp, Shoals, Snake Pit or Spider's Nest), and should be attempted later in the game.

Layout

Superficially, the layout of the Slime Pits resembles the Orcish Mines: each floor is either a single large irregular chamber or several smaller chambers connected only by stairs. Like the Orcish Mines, you can use a wand of digging to connect separate chambers together, easing travel. Outside of Slime:5, no items generate here.

The Slime Pits are filled with slime covered rock, which inflict the corrosion status on adjacent players. This wears off the moment you move away from the walls.

Slime:5

Slime:5 is made out of one out of various vaults. The original vault is a singular, central chamber, but there is a small variety of posisble layouts.

This floor always contains the boss of the Slime Pits, the Royal Jelly. Killing it will open up the translucent walls of the treasure vaults, allowing you to go inside. The walls will also disappear if you worship Jiyva and reach 6* piety - though, when worshipping Jiyva, the slimes will eat a huge portion of the loot. (Haste, Apportation, Swiftness, etc. are recommended.)

Useful Info

The branch is home to high level jelly monsters - these are fast and can inflict immense damage. Acid blobs rapidly corrode you. Azure jellies have strong cold attacks. Quicksilver oozes have antimagic attacks and can engulf you, and rockslimes can trample you. You'll also find shining eyes that induce numerous bad mutations. You'll also find masses of slime creatures, weak alone, but they come in large groups, and among the stronger jellies.

The wide open floors and caustic walls make it impossible to effectively bottleneck opponents. Expect to be swarmed by all sorts of jellies, especially if you rush in too quickly. Stair dancing is a strong tactic.

Most jellies resist poison, acid, and nothing else - the major exceptions are rockslimes (who resist fire and electricity). Also, jellies have poor AC and EV. Low-accuracy, high-damage spells like Iron Shot or Starburst are quite effective. Note that Shatter doesn't do much against slimes (except for rockslimes).

Strategy

See also: The Royal Jelly

Slime is significantly more difficult than the other Lair branches, so unless you're doing a speedrun, there's little reason to go in right away. You have the liberty to explore other branches (such as the Vaults:1-4) before entering. This branch is often done as the 3rd rune, though it can also be done purely for the loot on Slime:5.

Regardless of anything, it is recommended to have some way of defeating the Royal Jelly before attempting this branch - see the Royal Jelly for more info. You'll also want a few resistances (see below).

Useful Traits

It's much safer to explore here after acquiring:

Monsters

G Golden eye.png Golden eye G Shining eye.png Shining eye G Eye of devastation.png Eye of devastation G Glass eye.png Glass eye
G Glowing orange brain.png Glowing orange brain G Great orb of eyes.png Great orb of eyes J Jelly.png Jelly J Slime creature.png Slime creature
J Quicksilver ooze.png Quicksilver ooze J Azure jelly.png Azure jelly J Acid blob.png Acid blob J Rockslime.png Rockslime

Uniques

J Dissolution.png Dissolution @ Donald.png Donald J The Royal Jelly.png The Royal Jelly

History

  • In 0.31, new Slime:5 layouts were introduced. Many don't have the corridors of the original Slime:5 vault, making certain strategies against the Royal Jelly more difficult.
  • Prior to 0.30, the slime covered walls would inflict acid damage, rather than just corroding you.
  • Prior to 0.27, you could find death oozes and eyes of draining, instead of rockslimes and quicksilver oozes.
  • Prior to 0.19, the Slime Pits had six floors. Some jelly creatures were capable of eating items on the floor. Also, killing the Royal Jelly turned walls into translucent rock, so the player needed some way to get in.
  • Prior to 0.18, there were an amulet of resist mutation, and an amulet of resist corrosion that were both useful for exploring Slime Pits. The later was changed into a ring.
  • Prior to 0.17, Slime:6 prevented Teleport control.
  • In 0.13, spiny worms could be found here. They were removed in 0.14.
  • Prior to 0.7, the walls of the Slime Pits did not inflict acid damage.
Dungeon branches
Dungeon exit.png The DungeonTemple entry.png The TempleDepths entry.png The DepthsZot entry.png Realm of Zot
Lair entry.png The Lair ( Spider entry.png Spider's NestSnake entry.png Snake PitSwamp entry.png The SwampShoals entry.png The ShoalsSlime entry.png Slime Pits)
Orc entry.png Orcish Mines ( Elf entry.png Elven Halls) • Vaults entry.png The Vaults ( Crypt entry.png The CryptTomb entry.png The Tomb)
Abyss entry.png The AbyssPandemonium entry.png PandemoniumHell entry.png Hell ( Cocytus entry.png CocytusDis entry.pngDisGehenna entry.png GehennaTartarus entry.png Tartarus)
See also: Portal