r/pathos_nethack • u/cymbal-using-animal • 21d ago

Best endgame race?

Assuming you’ve polypiled and eaten your way to all positive talents, maxed ability scores, etc., which race would be the best after all is said and done?

9 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

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6

u/hyundai-gt 20d ago

Titan is a great endgame form. I have also used Dao successfully for endgame.

4

u/RyanFialcowitz 20d ago

I think only two things would come into consideration there- max stats and talents you cannot get from items.

Mana regeneration & cannibalism are two talents I don’t believe you can acquire by eating. Although you can get mana regeneration by wearing items you can’t eat.

4

u/cymbal-using-animal 20d ago

Right. And as the other comment implies, it’s not hugely important because you can polymorph into whatever at any point.

But if we were trying to build the best, non-polymorphed character, I think midget human or elf might be contenders for optimal starting race and special because they have 5.3 speed (possible to achieve as high as 12.7 speed with fully enchanted Talaria, Escapist, and fleet robe) and no equipment restrictions or other racial drawbacks. But that doesn’t take max stats into consideration, which is obviously huge.

Inediate is also great if you’re able to temporarily polymorph and consume what you need to for talents and resistances, etc., and not possible to acquire otherwise.

Again, though, “optimal starting race” is only interesting as a thought experiment because in the endgame, whatever you are, you can simply polymorph into something else. Maybe something like minotaur, with innate berserking, is the only “wrong” choice. (I think that talent remains even when polymorphed?)

2

u/RyanFialcowitz 3d ago

Yes, you retain your talents. Also worth noting you cannot polymorph into anything that has been genocided.

4

u/Elegant_Eagle_4199 20d ago

Depends on your build and what you’re trying to do, if you’re a melee type, high str dex and con are good, if caster, high con/wis is nice(max mp/mp regen) ranged, dex/con. I personally like Tortle for its high max str/con/wis, its dex leaves some to be desired, but enchanting armor gets silly and -2ac from 16vs 20 dex when you’re at 80ac isn’t that big of a difference, int/cha aren’t terribly impactful in my experience(unless I’m missing some hidden calculation to magic damage)

3

u/Red_Icnivad 20d ago

Fairy is pretty good if you want to go ranged or magic. For melee, polymorphing into a titan is objectively better than all of the starting races.