Shambling mangrove

Useful Info

Shambling mangroves are massive forest guardians: large and powerful, but slow. Along with their brutal melee attacks, they have a smite-targeted constriction ability. Shambling mangroves can be found in the Swamp.

Some shambling mangroves are generated with a few hornets inside them, which will be released automatically once the mangrove is reduced below 50% HP. These creatures count as normal monsters for experience purposes and are not replenished. These hornets consider the shambling mangrove their band leader; even if you kite them away, the insects will regroup back to the mangrove. If you worship Fedhas, the hornets will also be neutral towards you.

Tips & Tricks

• Grasping Roots will prevent you from moving or going upstairs until you break the constriction. In addition, it gives scrolls of blinking a chance to fail. This can make bad situations into lethal ones.
  • To avoid the effects of Grasping Roots, you can fly over deep water or lava. Just don't have your flight run out.
• If you lack poison resistance, killing or disabling the hornets should be a major priority. Even if you have rPois, they still have a 1/18 chance to paralyse you on hit. With poison immunity, however, they are trivial.

History

• Prior to 0.28, shambling mangroves (and all plants) had rN+++.
• Prior to 0.23, shambling mangroves' Grasping Roots ability inflicted a special 'grasping roots' status (-EV, +0.3 move delay, prevents flight) instead of constriction.
• Prior to the removal of wasps in 0.19, shambling mangroves could release wasps.
• Prior to raven removal in 0.17, shambling mangroves could also release ravens.
• Shambling mangroves were added in 0.14. During the shambling mangrove's development, it was originally known as a treant and was found in the Enchanted Forest, an experimental branch that never made it into a stable release.