Ghost moth

Useful Info

Ghost moths are speedy, invisible monsters with a mana-draining gaze and surprisingly hurtful melee attacks. If you can't see invisible, you'll "feel you are being watched by something" whenever a ghost moth tries to drain your MP. They can be found in the Spider's Nest (particularly in Spider:4), rarely in the Realm of Zot, and in a special "eye of draining" Pandemonium rune vault.

A ghost moth's gaze causes you to lose 0-19 MP, weighted towards the average. Since moths cast Draining Gaze on 50% of their actions,<ref>Template:Source ref
Monsters cast spells, if valid, at a X/200 chance.</ref> and as the gaze takes up no time, they can rapidly drain your MP.

Tips & Tricks

• The loss of MP is very fast. Even if you're not a spellcaster, be wary that some god abilities require MP to invoke.
• Ghost moths are a good reason to keep a source of see invisible around. When fighting an invisible enemy you can't see - even if you detect their location - you get harsh penalties to accuracy, EV, and SH. If you receive the message "You feel you are being watched by something," swap to a source of see invisible immediately. Keep in mind they fly faster than most characters run, so escaping without items is not an option.
• Ghost moths themselves cannot see invisible. If you are invisible, ghost moths can't drain your MP.
• If you're a caster, the following can work (depending on the character):
  • Damage-over-time effects. Freezing Cloud, despite their cold resistance, can kill if the moth spends enough time in the cloud. Sticky Flame is usually too weak to kill in 1 cast, but it does negate their invisibility.
  • Ally users typically have a way to deal with ghost moths. Summoners can use Summon Cactus Giant, which, despite lacking SInv, can deal lots of damage through spines - just get the giant to stand in the way of the moth. Forgecraft users can use Forge Blazeheart Golem in a similar way, while Hoarfrost Cannonade can SInv and deal significant chip damage. For Necromancers, Death Channel's spectres can see invisible, and can be easily accessed if you worship Kiku.
  • Failing that, evocables are good MP-less ways of dealing damage. Even at 0 Evocations, using 4 charges of a lightning rod will take a huge chunk of the moth's HP. With good Evocations training, a condenser vane, tin of tremorstones, or attack wands can kill / finish off a moth.
• Ghost moths make for great Yredelemnul souls. When Draining Gaze hits a monster, it inflicts antimagic, which is brutally effective against spellcasters.

History

• Prior to 0.33, ghost moths' melee attacks inflicted stat drain.
• Prior to 0.31, ghost moths would heal themselves when draining MP.
• Prior 0.28, ghost moths' melee attacks could inflict strong poison, making stat drain less likely.
• Prior to 0.16, ghost moths could drain for 5-17 MP.

References

<references/>