Ballistomycete spore

Version 0.30: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

For a list of all plants, see list of plants.

ballistomycete spore *
HP	1-2
HD	1
XP	0
Speed	15
AC	0
EV	10
Will	∞
Attack1	1 (hit: plain)
Resistances	rPois+ rDrown rTorm
Vulnerabilities	None
Habitat	Land
Intelligence	Brainless
Uses	Uses nothing
Holiness	Plant
Size	Small
Type	fungus, ballistomycete spore
Flags	Flying Unbreathing No experience gain Conjured Peripheral

A fast, gas-filled floating spore released by a ballistomycete when it senses a threat. After seeking out its foe, the spore will explode, damaging anything caught in the blast and further confusing living creatures.

Useful Info

Ballistomycete spores are fast-moving, suicidal creatures created by ballistomycetes. On contact with a target or on death, they explode in a 3x3 area. This deals 3d(6 + Invocations skill) damage and confuses living, breathing targets. They have only 1 HP, so any successful attack will destroy them.

Ballistomycetes are never found in the dungeon proper, but can be created using Fedhas' Grow Ballistomycete ability. Spores are considered plants, so you can fire through one without harming it.

Tips & Tricks

• Confusion is a very strong effect: it prevents spellcasting, allows stabs, and greatly lowers melee to-hit. A ballistomycete colony or two can take out most early game threats on its own, and help take out later ones.
• Spores aren't mindful of what they hit. Don't be next to a spore when it explodes, or you'll take a huge chunk of damage and be confused. You can't tell them to do anything, so don't bother.

History

• Prior to 0.24, ballistomycetes could reproduce via spores. The spores left mold as they moved, and new ballistomycetes could grow on it. Also, they had an explosion radius of 2 (5x5), and its damage was fixed at 3d15.
• Prior to 0.19, ballistomycete spores were known as giant spores.
• Prior to 0.17, ballistomycete colonies could spawn naturally, instead of being exclusively created by Fedhasites.