# Half spell damage
Half spell damage is an extrinsic property which halves any damage taken from spells, as well as halving certain other effects.
This property is conferred by carrying the Orb of Detection, the Platinum Yendorian Express Card, the Orb of Fate or the Eye of the Aethiopica. Carrying more than one of these objects does not further affect spell damage.

Contents

1 Description

1.1 Affected monster spells

1.1.1 Monsters affected

1.2 Exceptions

2 Variants

2.1 SLASH'EM

3 See also
4 References

Description
Half spell damage reduces any damage inflicted from spells by 50%.

A user has suggested improving this page or section as follows:
"Also appears to affect damage from wands zapped by monsters? (see zhitu)"

Affected monster spells
Main article: Monster spells
The following monster spells are affected by half spell damage:

Spell

Spell type

Min. level

Effect

Psi bolt

Magical

1

Halves damage.[1] Stacks with magic resistance to quarter damage.[2]

Stun

Magical

4

Halves duration.[3] However, this is trivial with a unicorn horn.

Drain strength

Magical

7

Halves reduction.[4] However, magic resistance negates.[5]

Curse items

Magical

11

Halves number of items affected from 1d6 to 1d3.[6] Stacks with magic resistance, to only 1d2.[6]

Open wounds

Clerical

1

Halves damage.[1] Stacks with magic resistance to quarter damage.[7]

Confuse

Clerical

3

Halves duration.[8] However, this is trivial with a unicorn horn.

Paralyze

Clerical

5

Halves duration.[9] However, magic resistance or free action reduces to 1 turn instead.[10]

Blind

Clerical

6

Halves duration.[11] However, this is trivial with a unicorn horn or the Eyes of the Overworld.

Lightning

Clerical

12

Halves damage.[12] However, shock resistance negates.[13]

Fire pillar

Clerical

13

Halves damage.[14] However, fire resistance negates.[15]

Cold

Asmodeus only

Halves damage.[1] However, cold resistance negates.[16]

Psychic blast

Mind flayer, master mind flayer

Halves damage.[17]

If the player has all resistances (including magic resistance) and a noncursed unicorn horn, the only spells usefully affected by half spell damage are psi bolt, open wounds, curse items, and mind flayers' psychic blasts.

Monsters affected
The following monsters can cast spells, some of which are affected by half spell damage as detailed above:

Monster

Base level

Spell type

Notes

k&nbsp;kobold shaman

2

Magical

o&nbsp;orc shaman

3

Magical

G&nbsp;gnomish wizard

3

Magical

W&nbsp;barrow wight

3

Magical

@&nbsp;guide

5

Magical

@&nbsp;abbot

5

Clerical

@&nbsp;acolyte

5

Clerical

@&nbsp;apprentice

5

Magical

h&nbsp;mind flayer

9

Psychic blast

N&nbsp;golden naga

10

Magical

&amp;&nbsp;nalfeshnee

11

Magical

L&nbsp;lich

11

Magical

@&nbsp;aligned priest

12

Clerical

h&nbsp;master mind flayer

13

Psychic blast

L&nbsp;demilich

14

Magical

@&nbsp;Dark One

15

Magical

D&nbsp;Ixoth

15

Magical

&amp;&nbsp;Minion of Huhetotl

16

Magical

@&nbsp;Thoth Amon

16

Magical

D&nbsp;Chromatic Dragon

16

Magical

&amp;&nbsp;Nalzok

16

Magical

A&nbsp;ki-rin

16

Magical

H&nbsp;titan

16

Magical

L&nbsp;master lich

17

Magical

A&nbsp;Archon

19

Magical

@&nbsp;Neferet the Green

20

Magical

L&nbsp;arch-lich

25

Magical

@&nbsp;Grand Master

25

Clerical

@&nbsp;high priest

25

Clerical

@&nbsp;Arch Priest

25

Clerical

@&nbsp;Master Kaen

25

Clerical

@&nbsp;Wizard of Yendor

30

Magical

&amp;&nbsp;Orcus

30

Magical

&amp;&nbsp;Dispater

36

Magical

&amp;&nbsp;Asmodeus

49

Has a unique magical cold attack.

&amp;&nbsp;Demogorgon

50

Magical

Exceptions
The following sources of damage, though they may be considered spells, are not affected by half spell damage:

The magic missile attack from angels, Yeenoghu, gray dragons and the Chromatic Dragon.
The Oracle's passive magic missile attack.[18]
The geyser monster spell, which is considered physical damage.[19]
Any spells cast or wands zapped by the player.[20][21]
Variants
SLASH'EM
In SLASH'EM, the Yeoman quest artifact, the Crown of Saint Edward, also confers half spell damage.

See also
Half physical damage
References

↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 mcastu.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 264: Half spell damage initially applies to all spells; this matters for spells which don't do their own damage calculations

↑ mcastu.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 456

↑ mcastu.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 434

↑ mcastu.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 408

↑ mcastu.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 402

↑ 6.0 6.1 sit.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 337

↑ mcastu.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 641

↑ mcastu.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 621

↑ mcastu.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 608

↑ mcastu.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 599

↑ mcastu.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 592

↑ mcastu.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 525

↑ mcastu.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 518

↑ mcastu.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 504

↑ mcastu.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 499

↑ mcastu.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 281

↑ monmove.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 427

↑ uhitm.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 2228

↑ mcastu.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 495

↑ zap.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 3185

↑ zap.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 3265

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