# Spellbook of charm monster

spellbook of  +   charm monster   

Appearance

random

Abundance

2.03%

Base price

300 zm

Weight

50

Turns to read

6

Ink to write

15–29

Spell type

enchantment

Level

3

Power cost

15 Pw

Direction

non-directional  

Equivalent

scroll of taming

Special for

tourist

The spellbook of charm monster allows you to learn the charm monster spell. It is the special spell for Tourists.

Casting effects
This spell has the basic effect of an uncursed scroll of taming, turning adjacent monsters into pets. Monsters have a chance of resisting it, depending on their magic resistance.[1] Covetous or human monsters will be pacified instead,[2] as are demons unless you are a demon yourself;[3] the Wizard of Yendor, Medusa and the quest nemesis cannot be pacified or tamed.[4] The taming effect will also pacify any angry shopkeepers it affects, even if they would normally resist.[5]
There is no functional difference between different skill levels.

The following information pertains to an upcoming version (NetHack 3.7.0). If this version is now released, please verify that it is still accurate, then update the page to incorporate this information.

Charm monster is now a level 5 spell.
Strategy
Charm monster is one of the most useful spells NetHack has to offer. Its most obvious use is to acquire pets. Some very powerful monsters, including minotaurs and mastodons, will never resist it as they have no MR; some NetHack monsters have such a high level and MR that you may be unable to pacify them at all, e.g. arch-liches.
Charm monster is useful for any role which can gain skill in enchantment spells, or can gain enough levels to cast it easily even when unskilled; Tourists in particular will have a good chance of being able to cast it. However, it is also quite useful as an emergency spell, particularly in the earlier stages of the game where few monsters have appreciable magic resistance - it is much better to have that soldier ant become your pet than your killer.

References

↑ read.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 641

↑ dog.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 806

↑ dog.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 807

↑ dog.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 752

↑ read.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 640

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 Information on this page may be out of date.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.