# Beam
Beams are directional effects produced by certain wands and spells.
Beams are similar to rays in that they affect a series of tiles in a specified direction over a limited range (or can be aimed at yourself). However, beams do not bounce, are not animated on screen, and in many cases will not auto-identify. Beams are halted by doors, with the exception of force bolts and wands of striking, which will destroy the door and affect the tiles behind it.
Unlike rays, most beams are not subject to to-hit rolls.  Force bolt is the single exception.
The range of a beam wand is 6 to 13 squares.[1] For each monster hit, range decreases by 3.[2] For each square objects are affected, range decreases by 1.[3] Beams don't bounce and can't be reflected.
An angry god who fails to destroy you with lighting will try again with a wide-angle disintegration beam directed at you.
The following items allow you to use beams.

Wands
Wand of cancellation
Wand of locking
Wand of make invisible
Wand of nothing (no effect)
Wand of opening
Wand of polymorph
Wand of probing
Wand of slow monster
Wand of speed monster
Wand of striking
Wand of teleportation
Wand of undead turning
Spells
Spellbook of cancellation
Spellbook of drain life
Spellbook of extra healing
Spellbook of force bolt
Spellbook of healing
Spellbook of knock
Spellbook of polymorph
Spellbook of slow monster
Spellbook of stone to flesh
Spellbook of teleport away
Spellbook of turn undead
Spellbook of wizard lock

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 Information on this page may be out of date.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.

↑ zap.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 2470: beam wand range

↑ zap.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 2717: beam hit monster

↑ zap.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 2744: beam hit object(s)