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This page refers to the monsters. For the starting race read orc (starting race)

An orc is a type of monster represented by a lowercase letter o. Goblins and hobgoblins are also represented by the same letter, but are not exactly orcs (though they are related).

The following orcs appear in NetHack:

Description[]

Orcs typically wear orcish armor (unless picking an item up after generated), which is of lesser quality than elven, dwarvish, or gnomish armor. Orcs ordinarily wield orcish daggers or bows and arrows, the latter of which are often poisoned. While orcs are not terribly difficult in and of themselves, having poison resistance removes any difficulty.

Orcs appear in groups, so leading them into a hallway can make the battle much easier and let you avoid being surrounded.

Wielding Sting will indicate the positions of any orcs on the current level.

Strategy[]

Alone, goblins and orcs are generally easy targets unless you happen across one with a very powerful weapon or a wand.

Even in groups, their attack power is usually not too high. However orcs are often generated armed with poison arrows, which they love using. This can make orcs very hazardous for beginning characters who do not yet have poison resistance. They can also be somewhat dangerous if there is a big horde of them blocking your routes of escape, or if you become trapped between the orcs and another more dangerous monster.

Some generic strategy can help:

  • Lure the orcs into a corridor, so never simultaneously fight more than one (or two, if they surround you).
  • Climb the staircase, wait until you heal, then return to the level to kill the remaining orcs.
  • Engrave Elbereth. Orcs respect E.

Encyclopedia entry[]

Orcs, bipeds with a humanoid appearance, are related to the
goblins, but much bigger and more dangerous. The average orc
is only moderately intelligent, has broad, muscled shoulders,
a short neck, a sloping forehead and a thick, dark fur.
Their lower eye-teeth are pointing forward, like a boar's.
Female orcs are more lightly built and bare-chested. Not
needing any clothing, they do like to dress in variegated
apparels. Suspicious by nature, orcs live in tribes or
hordes. They tend to live underground as well as above
ground (but they dislike sunlight). Orcs can use all weapons,
tools and armours that are used by men. Since they don't have
the talent to fashion these themselves, they are constantly
hunting for them. There is nothing a horde of orcs cannot
use.

[ het Boek van de Regels; Het Oog des Meesters ]

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