# Spellbook of magic mapping

spellbook of  +   magic mapping   

Appearance

random

Abundance

1.83%

Base price

500 zm

Weight

50

Turns to read

35

Ink to write

25–49

Spell type

divination

Level

5

Power cost

25 Pw

Direction

non-directional  

Equivalent

scroll of magic mapping

Special for

archaeologist

In NetHack, a spellbook of magic mapping allows you to learn the spell of magic mapping. It is the special spell for archeologists.

Contents

1 Effects
2 Strategy
3 History
4 References

Effects
The spell reveals the entire map (although it does not fully reveal the contents of rooms), the same as an uncursed scroll of magic mapping; all of the level's walls and corridors, as well as all staircases on the level are shown. Secret passages are revealed, but secret doors are not.[1]
The spell will also reveal the current location of the magic portal on the Plane of Water if the player has formally located it before using confused gold detection or a crystal ball.

Strategy
It is most popular for making it easier to traverse Gehennom's vast mazes. Although useful on its own, it becomes even more useful when combined with any one of the following spells:

Detect monsters allows players to head directly for, or avoid, certain enemies.
Detect unseen reveals traps on the level, making traversing it even less dangerous.
Detect treasure and Detect food add another layer of detail to the level overview.
Teleportation and teleport control in tandem with this spell notably allows players to traverse whole levels in seconds (provided the floor allows it) by zipping to the exit stair almost instantaneously, or else quickly covering points of interest.
The spell is also useful on the ascension run to save time if the player has fallen past levels through holes or trapdoors.

History
The ability to reveal the portal on the Plane of Water was added in 3.6.1.

References

↑ read.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 1092

This page may need to be updated for the current version of NetHack.
It may contain text specific to NetHack 3.6.4. Information on this page may be out of date.
Editors: After reviewing this page and making necessary edits, please change the {{nethack-364}} tag to the current version's tag or {{noversion}} as appropriate.