Warlock's mirror: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 04:04, 17 July 2026

Version 0.34: This article is up to date for the latest stable release of Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup.

A handheld array of hexagonal mirrors, synthesized from a truly exotic substance and polished to a blinding sheen. A skilled user will find that it can reflect almost anything, even spells that pierce through lesser materials and hexes with no physical manifestation at all.

the +3 warlock's mirror

+3 buckler

Reflection ego
Can also reflect piercing attacks, enchantments, never-missing attacks, and Spectral Cloud.

Mechanics

For piercing attacks, such as javelins and bolt spells, the chance to block is determined by SH, like any attack you can block normally.

For enchantments and never-missing attacks^[1], the chance to block is equal to 2*SH / (2*SH + 20).^[2] All sources of SH count. This equates to 37.5% at 6 SH, reaches 50% at 10 SH, 66% at 20 SH, and gradually increases further from there.

It cannot block smite-targeted attacks, explosions like Fireball, or most other sorts of AOE effects.

Desirability

The warlock's mirror^[3] is a fairly useful shield, especially in places with many piercing attacks (such as javelins in the Shoals) or enchantments. Even if the enemy is immune to their own attacks, the omnireflect is useful - it lets you block otherwise unblockable effects.

However, this shield is still a buckler. Stronger characters or those with lots of Shields skill might prefer a tower shield or a highly enchanted kite shield, which are more effective against attacks you can block normally. But for those who would use a buckler anyway, there are few better options.

The mirror can block Malmutate, so it can be a strong(er) choice in places where malmutation is common.

History

Prior to 0.25, the warlock's mirror only had a 2*SH / (2*SH + 40) chance to reflect never-missing effects, and couldn't reflect piercing physical projectiles like javelins.
The warlock's mirror was introduced in 0.18.

References

↑ beam.cc:3444 (0.32.1)
↑ beam.cc:7690 (0.32.1)
Note that 'internal' SH is twice as high as your actual SH score.
↑ art-data.txt:1516 (0.32.1)

[1] .cc:3444 (0.32.1)

[2] .cc:7690 (0.32.1)
Note that 'internal' SH is twice as high as your actual SH score.

[3] rt-data.txt:1516 (0.32.1)

[1]

[2]

[3]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{version030}}
+{{version034}}
 {{flavour|A handheld array of hexagonal mirrors, synthesized from a truly exotic substance and polished to a blinding sheen. A skilled user will find that it can reflect almost anything, even spells that pierce through lesser materials and hexes with no physical manifestation at all.}}
-[[File:warlock.png]] '''''the +3 warlock's mirror {reflect}'''''
+[[File:warlock.png]] '''''the +3 warlock's mirror'''''
 +3 [[buckler]]
 [[Reflection]] ego<br>
-Can also reflect [[piercing]] attacks and enchantments
+Can also reflect [[piercing]] attacks, enchantments, never-missing attacks, and [[Spectral Cloud]].
 __NOTOC__
 ==Mechanics==
-The chance to reflect normally unblockable effects is <code>2*SH / (2*SH + 40)</code>.
+For piercing attacks, such as [[javelin]]s and [[bolt spell]]s, the chance to block is determined by [[SH]], like any attack you can block normally.
-This equates to around 24% at 6 [[SH]], reaches 50% at 20 SH, and gradually increases further from there.
+For enchantments and never-missing attacks<ref>{{source ref|0.32.1|beam.cc|3444}}</ref>, the chance to block is equal to <code>2*SH / (2*SH + 20)</code>.<ref>{{source ref|0.32.1|beam.cc|7690}}<br>Note that 'internal' SH is twice as high as your actual SH score.</ref> All sources of SH count. This equates to 37.5% at 6 [[SH]], reaches 50% at 10 SH, 66% at 20 SH, and gradually increases further from there.
+It cannot block [[smite-targeted]] attacks, explosions like [[Fireball]], or most other sorts of AOE effects.
 ==Desirability==
-The '''warlock's mirror'''<ref>{{source ref|0.30.0|art-data.txt|1520}}</ref> is a fairly useful shield, especially in places with many piercing attacks (such as [[javelin]]s in the [[Shoals]]). Even if the enemy is immune to their own effect, normally unblockable effects are blocked, and a piercing attack may hit a less fortunate monster behind. All sources of SH are welcome, as they still contribute to the shield's effects.
+The '''warlock's mirror'''<ref>{{source ref|0.32.1|art-data.txt|1516}}</ref> is a fairly useful shield, especially in places with many piercing attacks (such as [[javelin]]s in [[the Shoals]]) or enchantments. Even if the enemy is immune to their own attacks, the omnireflect is useful - it lets you block otherwise unblockable effects.
-However, this shield is still a buckler. Heavier characters or those with lots of Shields skill might prefer a [[tower shield]] or a highly enchanted [[kite shield]], which are more effective against normally blockable attacks. But for those who would use a buckler anyway, there are few better options.
+However, this shield is still a buckler. Stronger characters or those with lots of Shields skill might prefer a [[tower shield]] or a highly enchanted [[kite shield]], which are more effective against attacks you can block normally. But for those who would use a buckler anyway, there are few better options.
-[[Ogre]]s and [[Troll]]s are too large for a buckler, while [[Felid]]s are unable to use any shield.
+The mirror can block [[Malmutate]], so it can be a strong(er) choice in places where malmutation is common.
 ==History==
-*Prior to [[0.25]], the warlock's mirror could not reflect piercing physical projectiles like [[javelin]]s.
+*Prior to [[0.25]], the warlock's mirror only had a <code>2*SH / (2*SH + 40)</code> chance to reflect never-missing effects, and couldn't reflect piercing physical projectiles like [[javelin]]s.
 *The warlock's mirror was introduced in [[0.18]].