View source for Hit dice

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''"HD" redirects here. For the obsolete player race, see [[Hill Dwarf]]''

'''Hit dice''' ('''HD''') is roughly equivalent to a monster's [[experience level]]; it is ''not'' the same as [[hit points]]. 

==Useful Info==
Each monster has a set HD value. It has an effect on the following:

*Monster accuracy. Melee [[to-hit]] equals <code>18 + HD * 1.5</code>, or <code>18 + HD * 2.5</code> with the [[Fighter flag]]. Beam to-hit is <code>12 * HD</code>.
*Monster [[spell power]]. The more HD, the stronger the spell. The exact effect depends on the spell in question.
**The effectiveness of certain items, like [[wand]]s and the [[pain brand]], are also affected by HD.
*Some [[attack flavour]]s are modified by HD. For example, the "cold" attack flavour deals more damage if the attacker has more HD.
*Certain player effects, like [[Dazzling Flash]], [[Mephitic Cloud]], and [[atropa]] / [[datura]] [[dart]]s, check the target's HD directly. The way HD is checked depends on the effect itself.

Maximum HP and [[willpower]] are also determined by HD in an indirect way. Monsters have a predefined HP/will value based on their type, independent from their HD (e.g. [[hydra]]s and [[cacodemon]]s both have 13 HD, but different HP and will values). However, lowering HD lowers a monster's HP/will, while increasing HD has the opposite effect.

Some examples: [[hobgoblin]]s and most other D:1 monsters have 1 HD, [[ogre (monster)|ogre]]s have 5, [[ancient lich]]es have 27. [[Cerebov]] only has 21, despite its fearsome spells. The highest-HD monsters are [[orb of fire|orbs of fire]], at 30: this is why they deal so much damage with their spells.

===Modifying===
The player can temporarily reduce monsters' HD by [[draining]] them (weapons of [[draining (brand)|draining]], certain other [[negative energy]]-based attacks), or by [[Malmutate|malmutating]] them (such as from [[Irradiate]]). 

For [[Summonings]] spells, you can increase HD of your [[summon]]s by increasing [[spell power]].

[[Category:Game mechanics]]