Tome of Destruction
A Tome of Destruction is an unreliable evocable book which creates a wide variety of magical effects. When read, it opens to a page with randomly colored text or code, and then causes one of the following effects to occur:
- (14%) A cloud of harmless smoke centered on you is created.
- (4%) As above, but poison.
- (5%) As above, but cold.
- (7%) You are engulfed in a fiery explosion. The Tome of Destruction may be destroyed (20% chance).
- (3%) A hostile small abomination is summoned.
- 67% You cast a random spell.
In the event a spell is cast, it is chosen by rolling 1d23 + 1d(Evocation/3):
- 2: Magic Dart
- 3: Throw Frost
- 4: Throw Flame
- 5: Mephitic Cloud
- 6: Polymorph Other
- 7: Dazzling Spray
- 8: Teleport Self
- 9: Sticky Flame (ranged)
- 10: Bolt of Inaccuracy
- 11: Bolt of Draining
- 12: Venom Bolt
- 13-18: Fireball
- 19-20: Lightning Bolt
- 21-23: Bolt of Cold
- 24-26: Bolt of Fire
- 27+: Lehudib's Crystal Spear
Spell power (used mainly to determine accuracy and damage) is equal to 5 + Evocations + 5d(Evocations), making it potentially much more powerful than rods or wands. The Tome of Destruction cannot be read while silenced, and the Blurry Vision mutation gives you a 25% chance of failure per rank. Unidentified, it displays as an "ancient heavily glowing book."
Strategy
If you are poison resistant, fire/cold resistant, can handle an abomination or two, and don't mind losing a few potions, the Tome of Destruction can provide a decent ranged attack. Of course, if you meet all those conditions, you probably have a few ranged attacks already. The only characters who might find this useful are Xom's playthings, as the mad god is very amused by any explosions or hostile abominations the book may accidentally summon.
History
The Tome of Destruction was removed in 0.16.
Prior to 0.13, the Tome of Destruction contained Cigotuvi's Degeneration in place of Dazzling Spray.