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'''Confusion''' is a status condition that causes the victim to move and act randomly until it wears off. Confusion can be extremely dangerous: the victim may attack empty tiles or even allies when they attempt to fight, and may fall into deep water or lava if they attempt to move.

==Effects==
When confused,

'''All creatures:'''
*Cannot cast [[spell]]s, use [[wand]]s, or use most special abilities. (Players can use abilities that [[#Dealing with Confusion|cure confusion]].)
*Cannot read [[scroll]]s.
*Cannot use [[shields]] ([[SH]] [[stat]] set to 0).
*Move in a random direction if they try to move or melee attack. [[Ranged weapon]]s will be fired in a random direction. Behavior differs between players and monsters.
**Players move in a completely random direction.
**Monsters have a 33% chance of moving/attacking in the intended direction, else move in a random direction.<ref>{{source ref|0.30.0|mon-act.cc|1852}}</ref>
: This can cause [[allies]] to be attacked by accident. The player is warned if this is possible.

'''Players:'''
* Have trouble moving up [[stair]]s.
**Going upstairs: 50% chance of falling, losing 1 HP, and remaining on the level.
**Going downstairs: 50% chance of falling and losing 1 HP, but you make it down the stairs.
**If you are [[fly]]ing or using an [[escape hatch]], these confusion penalties don't apply.

'''Monsters:'''
* Are vulnerable to low-tier [[stab]]s. (See the [[Stabbing#Stabbing Odds|Stabbing]] article for more details)
* Cannot make [[attacks of opportunity]].
* May fall into [[deep water]] or [[lava]], instantly killing them.
* May attack themselves on accident.

==Sources==
Confusion can be inflicted by:

'''Sources that the player can inflict:'''
*[[Confusing Touch]] (blocked by [[willpower]])
*[[Cloud#Noxious fumes|Noxious fumes]], from [[Mephitic Cloud]], a [[condenser vane]], or monster's [[Noxious Cloud]] (blocked by [[poison resistance]])
*[[Alistair's Intoxication]] (blocked by poison immunity)
*[[Atropa]] darts (blocked by monster [[HD]] and poison resistance)
*[[Chaos]] weapons (2.7%) and [[chaotic]] effects (2.8%)
*[[Uskayaw]]'s Line Pass
*[[Xom]], who ignores [[clarity]]

'''Sources that only monsters can inflict'''
*The [[Confuse]] spell and [[Mass Confusion]] (blocked by [[willpower]])
*The Confuse [[attack flavour]] confuses on melee attacks.
**If it is considered a [[attack type|"spore" attack]] ([[wandering mushroom]]s, [[deathcap]]s, players in [[Fungus Form]]), it is blocked by [[unbreathing]].
**Attacks from [[tarantella]]s and [[Norris]] don't have a special resistance.
*[[Ballistomycete spore]]s can confuse valid victims on explosion (blocked by [[unbreathing]])

'''Sources that can only confuse the player:'''
*Drinking a [[potion of ambrosia]]; also greatly increases HP and MP regeneration while the confusion lasts.
*Players hit by a [[wand of charming]] or [[wand of light]], in place of their usual effects.
*"Overwhelming" [[divine retribution]] from any god, which has a 20% chance of occurring.

==Dealing with Confusion==
Ways to remove confusion include:
*[[Potion of curing]].
*[[Elyvilon]]'s Purification ability.
*[[Ru]]'s Draw Out Power ability.

===Immunity===
The following prevent most/all sources of confusion directly:
*[[Clarity]] gives immunity to all sources of confusion (except [[ambrosia]] or [[Xom]]).
*[[Zin]]'s Vitalisation ability.
*The [[obsidian axe]] ends confusion while you are mesmerized.

These are the only ways to defend from [[tarantella]]'s and [[Norris]]' confusion attacks.

==Strategy==
===Inflicting confusion===
While the [[stab]] bonus isn't as high as [[sleep]] or [[paralysis]], confusion prevents the monster from using ''any'' spells/abilities and makes them less effective at melee, so it's a powerful status. It helps that two of the main ways of inflicting confusion, [[Confusing Touch]] and [[Mephitic Cloud]], are MP efficient, granting multiple confuse attempts at the cost of 1 cast.

Avoid confusing creatures that may carry useful items near lava or deep water. Great items or [[artifact]]s that they carry may otherwise be lost forever.

===Enemy confusion===
Against the player, confusion can be dangerous, as it prevents you from using spells, scrolls, and god abilities. Thankfully, [[potions of curing]] are very common, although this wastes a turn.

In the very early game, e.g., against [[Sigmund]] or [[orc wizard]]s, confusion is very deadly if you don't have multiple curing potions.

[[Mummies]] should be particularly careful about becoming confused at the wrong time, as they lack access to most methods for removing it at will.

==History==
*Prior to [[0.23]], confused monsters didn't have a 33% chance to move normally.
*Prior to [[0.21]], confusion had its [[wands of confusion|own specialized wand type]].
*Prior to [[0.20]], it was possible to use wands while confused, though doing so would zap it in a random direction.
*Prior to [[0.19]], randart equipment could grant confusion if it spawned with [[Randart#Properties|{*confuse}]] ego.
*Prior to [[0.18]], Mass Confusion was a spell available to all players.
*Prior to [[0.17]], cleaving attacks didn't function under confusion. [[Gell's Gravitas]] was able to cause confusion, and all high-intelligence monsters were immune to drowning while confused.
*Prior to [[0.16]], confusion also came in the form of [[potions of confusion]].

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Status effects]]
[[Category:Threats]]

Confusion - Revision history

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