Difference between revisions of "Wand of random effects"

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{{version|018}}
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{{obsolete}}
 
{{item
 
{{item
 
  |itemtype = Wand
 
  |itemtype = Wand
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-William Youatt, _Sheep: their breeds, management, and diseases; to which is added the Mountain Shepherd's Manual_, ch. III. 1837.}}
 
-William Youatt, _Sheep: their breeds, management, and diseases; to which is added the Mountain Shepherd's Manual_, ch. III. 1837.}}
  
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A '''wand of random effects''' creates an unpredictable effect when zapped, emulating most other wands and a few other effects. Although there are far more attack wands than support wands, its usefulness in combat is questionable. Although you might wind up blasting an enemy for heavy damage, you must decide if it's worth the risk of [[haste|hasting]], [[polymorph]]ing, or rendering [[invisibility|invisible]] your opponent instead. They can hold at most 48 charges.
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{|class="wikitable" style="float:right; border:none; margin:5px;"
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{|class="wikitable" style="border:none; margin:auto; padding:0;"
 
 
! '''Wand effect''' || '''Probability'''
 
! '''Wand effect''' || '''Probability'''
 
|-
 
|-
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| [[wand of flame]] || 6.7%
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| [[wand of flame|throw flame]] ||  
 
|-
 
|-
−
| [[bolt of fire]] || 6.7%
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| [[fireball]] ||  
 
|-
 
|-
−
| [[wand of iceblast]] || 6.7%
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| [[Throw Frost|throw frost]] ||  
 
|-
 
|-
−
| [[wand of lightning]] || 6.7%
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| [[wand of iceblast|iceblast]] ||
 
|-
 
|-
−
| [[bolt of draining]] || 6.7%
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| [[bolt of draining]] ||  
 
|-
 
|-
−
| '''Total damaging wands''' || '''33.3%'''
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| [[Venom Bolt|venom bolt]] ||  
 
|-
 
|-
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| [[wand of enslavement]] || 6.7%
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| '''Total damaging effects''' || '''6/13'''
 
|-
 
|-
−
| [[wand of disintegration]] || 6.7%
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| [[wand of paralysis|paralyze]] ||  
 
|-
 
|-
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| [[wand of teleportation]] || 6.7%
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| [[confuse]] ||  
 
|-
 
|-
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| [[wand of confusion]] || 6.7%
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| [[slow]] ||  
 
|-
 
|-
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| [[wand of paralysis]] || 6.7%
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| [[malmutate]] ||
 
|-
 
|-
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| [[wand of slowing]] || 6.7%
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| '''Total harmful effects''' || '''4/13'''
 
|-
 
|-
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| '''Total MR-resistible wands''' || '''40%'''
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| [[haste]] ||  
 
|-
 
|-
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| [[wand of hasting]] || 5.6%
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| [[invisibility]] ||  
 
|-
 
|-
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| [[wand of invisibility]] || 5.6%
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| '''Total buff effects''' || '''2/13'''
 
|-
 
|-
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| '''Total buff wands''' || '''13.3%'''
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| [[teleportation]] ||  
 
|-
 
|-
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| [[wand of digging]] || 5.6%
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| '''Total neutral''' || '''1/13'''
−
|-
 
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| [[wand of polymorph]] || 5.6%
 
−
|-
 
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| '''Total neutral wands''' || '''13.3%'''
 
 
|}
 
|}
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A '''wand of random effects''' creates an unpredictable effect when zapped. There is a high probability of yielding a damaging or at least harmful effect, but its use in combat is risky. Although you might wind up blasting an enemy for heavy damage, you must decide if it's worth the risk of rendering your opponent [[invisibility|invisible]] or [[haste]]d instead. Each of the effects has an equal chance of being selected.
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Using a wand of random effects may risk [[penance]], depending on your [[god]]'s restrictions: all of the [[good god]]s punish [[draining]], [[Zin]] punishes [[malmutate|mutating]], [[Cheibriados]] punishes haste.
  
 
==Tips & Tricks==
 
==Tips & Tricks==
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*Using a wand of random effects may risk [[penance]], depending on your [[god]]'s restrictions: all of the [[good god]]s punish [[draining]], [[Zin]] punishes [[polymorph]]ing, [[Cheibriados]] punishes [[haste]], and [[Dithmenos]] punishes fire.
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*Train [[Evocations]] to boost the power of your wand.
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*Out of [[wands of digging]]? A wand of random effects might eventually create a digging effect, if you have enough charges. Just be careful where you stand, as it might decide to duplicate a [[wand of lightning]] or [[wand of iceblast]] instead.
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*Be strategic when using the wand. Plan the encounter so that you can use the wand at the farthest possible distance, giving you multiple shots on target; even if one shot is beneficial to the target, the next 3 might be sufficient to finish it off.  If the monster is susceptible and you have a [[net]] or the ability  to [[paralyze]], [[petrify]], [[confusion|confuse]], or [[slow]], use that first to give you even more opportunities for a kill shot.
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*Have an escape route planned in case the target does become invisible or hasted. Keep in mind that the invisibility/haste effect is temporary: retreating and returning after the buff wears off is always an option.
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*Using the wand against an adjacent monster is almost never a good idea, given that the fireball and iceblast effects will greatly harm you as well. For the same reason, always be aware of any potentially adjacent invisible creatures (eg, a newly invisible [[orc wizard]]).
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*If you are playing conservatively and have charges to burn, aim at an unoccupied square adjacent to the monster, and not the monster itself. You will have a 15% chance of (only) fireball or iceblast, and an 85% chance of no effect.
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
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Some wand effects were removed in [[0.18]], though the wand of random effects kept a few of the removed ones. As a result the chance to deal direct damage with a wand of random effects dropped by about 11%.
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*The wand of random effects was replaced with the [[piece from Xom's chessboard]] in [[0.27]].
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*In [[0.21]], [[malmutate]] was added to the random effects to discourage using the wand as a source of [[haste]] and [[invisibility]] in the late game.
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*It was completely reworked in [[0.20]] to the present list of effects, minus malmutate.
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*Prior to [[0.19]], wands of random effects could produce digging and disintegration.
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*Some wands were removed in [[0.18]], though the wand of random effects kept a few of the removed ones. As a result the chance to deal direct damage with a wand of random effects dropped by about 11%.
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*Prior to [[0.14]], gods would forgive the player for disliked effects produced by evoking an already identified wand of random effects.
  
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Prior to [[0.14]], gods would forgive the player for disliked effects produced by evoking an already identified wand of random effects.
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{{wands}}

Revision as of 11:21, 22 March 2022

Obsolete: This article refers to an aspect of the game which has been removed. It is retained for historical reference only.
Type Wand
Name Wand of random effects
Icon Wand of random effects.png
A magical device which can produce a variety of effects.

“[The principle of selection] is the magician’s wand, by means of which he may summon into life whatever form and mould he pleases.”

-William Youatt, _Sheep: their breeds, management, and diseases; to which is added the Mountain Shepherd's Manual_, ch. III. 1837.

Wand effect Probability
throw flame
fireball
throw frost
iceblast
bolt of draining
venom bolt
Total damaging effects 6/13
paralyze
confuse
slow
malmutate
Total harmful effects 4/13
haste
invisibility
Total buff effects 2/13
teleportation
Total neutral 1/13

A wand of random effects creates an unpredictable effect when zapped. There is a high probability of yielding a damaging or at least harmful effect, but its use in combat is risky. Although you might wind up blasting an enemy for heavy damage, you must decide if it's worth the risk of rendering your opponent invisible or hasted instead. Each of the effects has an equal chance of being selected.

Using a wand of random effects may risk penance, depending on your god's restrictions: all of the good gods punish draining, Zin punishes mutating, Cheibriados punishes haste.

Tips & Tricks

  • Train Evocations to boost the power of your wand.
  • Be strategic when using the wand. Plan the encounter so that you can use the wand at the farthest possible distance, giving you multiple shots on target; even if one shot is beneficial to the target, the next 3 might be sufficient to finish it off. If the monster is susceptible and you have a net or the ability to paralyze, petrify, confuse, or slow, use that first to give you even more opportunities for a kill shot.
  • Have an escape route planned in case the target does become invisible or hasted. Keep in mind that the invisibility/haste effect is temporary: retreating and returning after the buff wears off is always an option.
  • Using the wand against an adjacent monster is almost never a good idea, given that the fireball and iceblast effects will greatly harm you as well. For the same reason, always be aware of any potentially adjacent invisible creatures (eg, a newly invisible orc wizard).
  • If you are playing conservatively and have charges to burn, aim at an unoccupied square adjacent to the monster, and not the monster itself. You will have a 15% chance of (only) fireball or iceblast, and an 85% chance of no effect.

History

  • The wand of random effects was replaced with the piece from Xom's chessboard in 0.27.
  • In 0.21, malmutate was added to the random effects to discourage using the wand as a source of haste and invisibility in the late game.
  • It was completely reworked in 0.20 to the present list of effects, minus malmutate.
  • Prior to 0.19, wands of random effects could produce digging and disintegration.
  • Some wands were removed in 0.18, though the wand of random effects kept a few of the removed ones. As a result the chance to deal direct damage with a wand of random effects dropped by about 11%.
  • Prior to 0.14, gods would forgive the player for disliked effects produced by evoking an already identified wand of random effects.
Wands
Acid / Light / Quicksilver • Iceblast / Roots • Charming / Paralysis
Digging • Flame • Mindburst • Polymorph
Retrieved from "http://crawl.chaosforge.org/index.php?title=Wand_of_random_effects&oldid=59306"