# Scroll of charging

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Name

charging

Appearance

random

Base price

300 zm

Weight

5

Ink to write

8–15

Monster use

Will not be used by monsters.

A scroll of charging can be used to charge wands, tools, or rings, or to increase your own magical energy.

Contents

1 Effects

1.1 Charging functionality

1.1.1 Wands
1.1.2 Tools
1.1.3 Rings

2 Messages
3 Strategy
4 UnNetHack
5 References

Effects
The scroll of charging, when read, prompts the player to choose an item to which a number of uses (or "charges") will be recharged. Blessed scrolls have a higher probability than uncursed scrolls to restore more charges on the item (and thus a higher chance to restore the maximum number of charges). Cursed scrolls will instead set the number of charges on the item to zero and increment the charge counter by 1.
If read while confused, a noncursed scroll will instead increase your energy to the maximum, unless your energy is already at maximum, in which case your maximum energy will increase by 5-20 points.  If the scroll is cursed, it will instead reduce your current energy to 0.

Charging functionality
Main article: Charging
Wands
Blessed scrolls will always restore maximum charges to a previously uncharged wand of wishing,[1] and will always restore any given directional wand to at least 4 charges or any nondirectional wand other than wishing to 11 charges.[1][2] Specifically, a target charge count is determined; this is a random number between the maximum charge count and 4 charges fewer than that[1] (4 to 8 for directional wands; 11 to 15 for nondirection wands other than wishing[2]). Uncursed scrolls do the same, but adjust the target charge count to a random number from 1 to the original charge count.[3] The wand then is adjusted to that target charge count if it had fewer charges previously.[4] Otherwise, one charge is added.[5] Wands can only be recharged a certain number of times before the wand explodes, dealing damage to you.

Tools
Except for a magic marker, which can only be recharged once, all tools can be charged an unlimited number of times, with varying amounts of charges recharged depending on the item.

Rings
All rings that have a numeric bonus on them, such as the ring of adornment, can have their enchantment modified by the scroll of charging. A blessed scroll will increase the enchantment between 1–3 points, an uncursed scroll will increase it by one, and a cursed scroll will decrease it by 1–2 points. Rings have a chance of being destroyed if the enchantment is too high or too low:

Current enchantment

≤ −1

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

≥ 7

Chance of destruction

0%

0%

14%

29%

43%

57%

71%

86%

100%

Messages
These messages are specific to the scroll of charging; for messages related to the act of charging, see the charging article.

This is a charging scroll.
You read a scroll of any beatitude.
You feel charged up!
You read a noncursed scroll, while confused.
You feel discharged.
You read a cursed scroll, while confused.
You have a feeling of loss.
You tried to charge an item that cannot be charged. No effect.
Strategy
Because of the scroll's function, two or three blessed scrolls of charging are often the best first wish to make from a wand of wishing, to use when its initial charges run out. Or, if you have already identified the scroll of charging and you own some blessed paper, it may be better to wish for a magic marker and write the scroll yourself.
The ring-charging property of the scroll can be somewhat useful, but typically the player will be interested in rings more suited to an ascension kit. The scroll is often better kept for charging valuable wands and magic markers.
Reading the scroll while confused is useful for wishless or artifact-wishless spellcasters, especially when their power is being drained by the Amulet of Yendor. Spellcasters who are able to obtain the Mitre of Holiness or the Eye of the Aethiopica might not need the confused charging effect quite as often. 

UnNetHack
In UnNetHack, a blessed scroll of charging will (in addition to charging the item) also reveal the number of charges and the charge counter.

References

↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 read.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 257

↑ 2.0 2.1 read.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 255

↑ read.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 258

↑ read.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 260

↑ read.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 261

This page may need to be updated for the current version of NetHack.
It may contain text specific to NetHack 3.4.3. Information on this page may be out of date.
Editors: After reviewing this page and making necessary edits, please change the {{nethack-343}} tag to the current version's tag or {{noversion}} as appropriate.