Abilities

You can view your abilities by hitting C or by clicking the Self button.

Unlike Powers and Skills, abilities are passive (active all the time) without needing an initiation by the player. They are generally known to 'fill the gaps' or 'fulfill a player's needs' throughout the game.

Wearing the helm of knowledge and/or blessing a knowledge scroll significantly boosts chances to learn Identification, Telepathy, and Swimming next.

Ability	Best Acquisition	Alternative Acquisitions(and Restrictions)	Description
Acute senses	eat orange powder urn (10% chance)	wear a ring of third sight	You can see invisible monsters.
Identification	read a knowledge scroll	n/a	Identifies items and qualities regardless of delusion or pale mosses.
Levitation	read a scroll of knowledge	polymorph into a flying creature	Keeps you slightly aloft, avoiding most traps and obstacles.
Music	drink an alchemist potion		Endlessly use wooden flutes and controllably use a glass ocarina.
Sixth sense	eat a dead anssk		Grows a nerve group parallel to the optic one. Gives limited "sight" If blinded.
Swimming	read a scroll of knowledge		You won't drown in water, can acquire drown items and enter Mimer's Well.
Telepathy	read a scroll of knowledge	polymorph into a zardon (adds Psionics)	You can sense and locate monsters. Use look command(l) for a monster's name.
Throwing skills	Landing a hit with related weapon		Practicing with each type of throwing/shooting weapon increases accuracy and power. See the Weapons page for exact values.
Weaponmaster	read a scroll of knowledge	reach viking level 9 or polymorph into a swordsman	Grants a chance for a second attack per round. Grants +5 damage to all weapon attacks. Grants additional +10 damage to the sai and katana. Grants a chance to "wound" attacked enemies for 21-35 bonus damage.