Systems

NetHack artifacts are unique named items with special properties (Sting, Orcrist, Excalibur, Mjollnir, etc.). Artifacts have alignment restrictions, special attack effects, and can only be generated once per game. Some artifacts are gifted by gods; others must be found or created.

NetHack monsters have a difficulty level (1-50+) that scales with stats (HP, armor class, attack damage). Higher difficulty monsters appear deeper in the dungeon. The difficulty value also determines genocide point cost and generation probability.

NetHack monsters have resistance flags (fire, cold, sleep, disintegration, poison, acid, stone) and conveyance flags (what the player gains by eating the monster's corpse). This creates a tactical eating system where consuming corpses grants resistances.