This is the official black magic spoiler for version 1.4 of Martin's Dungeon Bash.
Several types of monster in Martin's Infinite Dungeon have the power to use black magic against the player character. This allows them to blast the character with magical energy (possibly without needing to be on a roguespace cardinal), to teleport around the dungeon level (possibly summoning other monsters at the same time), and to afflict the player with various unpleasant conditions.
Some wielders of black magic can cast bolts of lightning or necromantic energy at you. These attacks can only be launched along a roguespace cardinal direction.
Most wielders of black magic have special spells to enhance their melee prowess. These are:
Certain powerful wielders of black magic can engulf you in unholy energies without requiring alignment along a roguespace cardinal direction. These attacks are less damaging than the energy bolts, but much easier for the monsters to use against you. The Smite spells are:
Curses are vile enchantments that temporarily weaken your character. There are three curses:
Curses are very dangerous, but are strictly temporary. You can temporarily protect yourself from curses, and cure any curses afflicting you, by reading a protection scroll. As with Smites, the caster of a curse does not have to align himself along a cardinal direction in order to cast it at you.
Many wielders of black magic can teleport around the dungeon level. There are three teleportation spells:
There are two kinds of lich: "ordinary" liches and master liches.
Liches, represented by a grey 'L', can cast the leadfoot and armourmelt curses, can strike you in melee with staves charged with necromantic energy, and can fire bolts of necromantic energy at you along the roguespace cardinals.
Master liches, represented by a purple 'L', can cast any of the curses and teleportation spells, and can also cast the necromantic smite spell. In melee, they use either Staff of Striking or Chilling Touch.
There are two kinds of wizard: "ordinary" wizards and archmages.
Wizards, represented by a dark blue 'w', can cast Teleport Escape, Teleport Assault, and Lightning Bolt, and use Staff of Striking in melee.
Archmages, represented by a light blue 'w', can cast the same spells as wizards, and also have the power to cast Teleport and Summon.
The mighty demon lords known as "defilers", represented by light green '&', can cast any of the curses, and may also cast Column of Fire on the player. They cannot cast teleport spells. Defilers who come to the earthly plane are prideful foes, who disdain the use of teleportation magic and the aid of their lesser kin; unlike demons, defilers do not summon infernal allies when engaged in melee.
Defilers' spells have the greatest reach of any of the users of black magic. Once you enter defiler territory, carrying a source of fire resistance is essential.