Stalker

Trunk-only: This article pertains to a feature of Crawl which is being tested. It will likely change before the next release, and may even be removed entirely.

Stalkers transform their bodies with talismans to better deceive and debilitate their enemies. Eventually they can even transform potions into sprays of harmful clouds.

Stalkers are stabbing specialists, well-versed in Shapeshifting.

Preferred Species

Human, Merfolk, Kobold, Spriggan, Demonspawn, and Gale Centaur are the recommended species if you pick a Stalker Background.

Racial restrictions

Poltergeist, Mummy, and Revenant are forbidden from becoming Stalkers, as they cannot use talismans to transform themselves

Starting Equipment

Some species may receive different items based on their unique restrictions.

• +1 dagger
• Gecko talisman
• Mist talisman
• 3 Potion of attraction
• 3 Centipede bauble

Starting Skills and Stats

These are adjusted by your species' aptitudes.

• Fighting: 2
• Dodging: 1
• Stealth: 3
• Shapeshifting: 3
• Short Blades: 2

Choosing Stalker adds 3 to your starting Strength, and 9 to your starting Dexterity.

Strategy

Gecko talisman provides a balanced, reusable alternative to the Potion of invisibility found on the Enchanter background. This is primarily defensive, popping off to taunt and distract your enemies while pushing you away from them; but also opens up the opportunity to end a fight quickly with low-tier stabs. Depending on how durable your tail is compared to the enemies attacking it, debate each time if it is worth finishing the fight rather than retreating. Regardless of your choice, you'll want to explore to regrow your tail before the next serious fight.

Getting into Mist talisman should be done as soon as possible, and an early Amulet of wildshape can be a godsend for this. Use Potion of mist early and often in any fight that looks troublesome, twice per fight if need be - you will generate more quickly enough. This is your bread and butter, but you can also consider blind identifying potions before fights to prepare vapour clouds. Mist potions in particular can be very useful in the presence of constrictors (such as the Snake Pit), as it will make you insubstantial. Use this ability against early Bombardier beetles or later Manticores as well.

In between your two talisman forms, consider using Centipede bauble to get a real leg up on dangerous fights with multiple enemies. This will provide you with a strong, reaching weapon that can poison, paralyse, and slow for 20-40 attacks before becoming a powerful ally for the following fight or two. This will retain its usefulness even in timed portals as late as the S-branches.

Skill investment

In the early game, players have to decide whether to invest skill points into a weapon skill, Shapeshifting itself, Stealth, or Fighting.

• Shapeshifting: Centipede bauble is only usable after you reach Shapeshifting skill level 4, so it's recommended to prioritize this early.
• Weapons: Weapons of a strong brand, such as short bladess and whips of either venom or electrocution, are very strong early, generally better than unarmed. The lower investment weapons can be switched to (at least for the early game), and if a good enough weapon for the medium term is found, it may be worth investing in. Prioritize short blades for stabbing.
• Stealth vs Fighting and Defenses: This character can take additional stealth optionally, unlike most stabbers. Although you will rely on stealth early, once you have Mist Form online, your primary stabbing method can just as easily be low-tier combat stabs on demand. Take into consideration your god choice, what armour you find, and your personal preferences to determine if you really need more stealth or would prefer to become a brawler with some crowd control from Mist Form.

History

• In 0.35, stalkers will be re-introduced, this time as a Shapeshifting-based background.
• Stalkers were removed in 0.12.
• Prior to 0.8, Stalkers had Poison Magic instead of Transmutations.