nethack spoiler site http://www.nethack.de/ Maintainer: Sascha Wostmann (sascha@nethack.de) ----------------------------------------------------------------- What Should I Genocide? by Kevin Hugo One common question is how to use a scroll of genocide. Opinions vary based on the player's ability, and it's important to consider what's tough to beat at the moment. Many monsters aren't a threat if you know the right strategy to avoid or kill them. Others can convey useful intrinsics, give lots of experience, or make good pets, so you may not want to genocide them. The following lists summarize the most common choices, based on the blessing of the scroll. THERE ARE MORE SPECIES LISTED THAN YOU NEED TO GENOCIDE. Note that since uncursed and cursed both prompt for one species, if you are uncertain about the scroll's blessing, then rust monster, leprechaun, or kraken are often good choices. Genocide by class (blessed scroll) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ L master lich Curses inventory items* L demilich Ditto* L lich Ditto* ; kraken Drowns you* ; electric eel Ditto, plus electric shock destroys items* ; giant eel Ditto* N nagas (8 types) Golden can curse, others often nasty T trolls (5 types) Often an annoyance D dragons (16 types) Tough opponents, but convey intrinsics*** q quadrupeds (6 types) Tough if low level V vampires (2 types) May increase number of wraiths in graveyards Z zombies (7 types) May increase number of wraiths in graveyards P black pudding Rusts and rots weapons and armor** P brown pudding Ditto (rot only)** P gray ooze Ditto (rust only)** n nymphs (3 types) If you can't kill them from a distance ' golems (8 types) An annoyance when polypiling (Also RJcU below) Genocide one species (uncursed scroll) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ h mind flayer Amnesia attack* R rust monster Rusts weapons and armor** c cockatrice If you don't have a lizard corpse*** b gelatinous cube Eats organic items (esp. bags and boxes) v energy vortex Electric shock destroys rings and wands g gremlin Sometimes steal intrinsics J jabberwock Tough opponent H minotaur Tough opponent, but carries wand of digging w purple worm Tough if low level; can kill pets U umber hulk An annoyance Reverse genocide (cursed scroll) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ W wraiths Eating corpses causes level gain & succubi, incubi Good effects can happen if Int and Cha high @ nurses Healing "attack" can raise max hit points i tengu Teleport/teleport control D gray dragons Dangerous way to get gray dragon scale mail ; kraken Only 1 hp out of water; easy experience * A must kill; it is very difficult to finish the game without genociding these species. ** The rust/rot attack can be reversed and prevented by making your items rustproof, corrosionproof, and flameproof. While confused, read a scroll of enchant weapon while wielding the weapon or enchant armor while wearing the armor. Not a problem for experienced characters. *** Adult dragon corpses provide useful intrinsics, and their scales make useful armor (especially scale mail). If wearing gloves, a cockatrice corpse can be wielded as an excellent weapon. Cockatrices are also dangerous if not wearing gloves or if you use a bite attack. With suggestions by Chuan-Tze Teo , Adrian Rowley , and Nan Wang .