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In ADOM, when some items are used or equipped they do not become identified within the game until the PC does so by magical means; however, the player can tell what type of item they are by what happens as a result of using/equipping one.

Use-based identification[]

Potions[]

Message Item used When the message occurs
"This liquid tastes very cold." Potion of cure corruption At any time. Even when it cures (or causes) corruption, it still will not be identified.
"You feel cleaned." Potion of cure poison The PC drinks one whilst not poisoned
"Nothing happens." Blessed potion of confusion, deafness, blindness The potion attempts to remove status conditions that the PC doesn't have
"Absolutely nothing happens." Potion of uselessness
"This liquid tastes very refreshing." Potion of extra healing PC drinks the potion at full HP
"This liquid tastes very good." Potion of healing PC drinks the potion at full HP
"Completely tasteless." Cursed potion of potential -stat- Occurs if the effect of a cursed potential stat potion tries to lower the PC's potential stat, but the stat's potential is the same as the stat's current value. The player can compare these values to guess which stat this potion affects the potential of.
"This liquid tastes extremely refreshing." Potion of ultra healing PC drinks the potion at full HP
"This potion lacks any substantial effects." Potion of visibility PC drinks the potion whilst not invisible.
"You feel absolutely nothing." Potion of youth PC drinks the potion but has not been unnaturally aged.

"Quaffing down this vile liquid suddenly causes you a lot of grief!"

Oil of rust removal PC drinks the potion. (The potion is not identified if the PC dips anything in it either; it is still possible to identify oil of rust removal by material-based Identification though, since they are always white potions)
"You greatly improve your knowledge about reading and writing." Potion of literacy Your Literacy skill improves. Very strange that this does not identify the potion.
"You feel the need to scratch at your face, your skin and bash yourself!" Potion of self-mutilation PC attacks him/herself.

Wands[]

Message Item When the message occurs Other noticeable effect?
"Nothing happens" Any wand Wand is out of charges.
"For a moment you feel like someone (or something?) else..."

/"For a moment you notice a ghostly figure."
/"The -foo- seems to blur for a second."

Wand of monster creation First message if used on PC, second if used on a door/wall, third if used on an NPC.
"Your head bangs..."

/ "You hear a knocking sound."

Wand of knocking First message if used on PC, second if used otherwise. If used on an unlocked door it may be followed by the message: "The lock of the door clicks several times.". If used on a blocked door it will produce the message "The door tries to swing shut but is blocked.

". If used on a monster it will be followed by one or more messages: "Something seems to knock <monster>."

"You feel a slight headache" (PC hit by ray)

/"Your head aches!" (zapped directly on PC)

Wand of stunning Bolt hits PC, but (s)he has stun resistance. Will also not be identified if the ray doesn't hit anything (though no message occurs). Shoots a light blue ray
"SHROMMM!" Wand of stunning Ray hits something outside of the PC's line of sight Shoots a light blue ray

"ZZAAAPPPP!"

Wand of lightning or Wand of ball lightning Ray/ball hits nothing. You can still derive which wand this is, because the wand of ball lightning does not prompt for a direction and the other one does.
"You hear a rumbling sound. Nothing seems to happen." Wand of digging The ray doesn't hit any diggable ways, or is used on grass. Even when you actually dig, but the action is beyond your range of vision, the wand will not be identified. Shoots a dark gray ray
"You hear a rumbling sound. You punch a hole into the <monster>!" Wand of digging The ray hits a stone monster, but is still not identified.
"You sense nothing special." Wand of trap detection No traps in the PC's vicinity.
"The wand creaks for a split-second." Wand of door creation Wand is zapped on a monster, or other area where a door can't be generated.
None Wand of death Wand is not identified if the bolt does not hit any monsters Shoots a dark gray ray, but with no rumbling sound
"Your stomach burns slightly." (bolt hits PC)

/"Your stomach burns for some seconds." (zapped directly on PC)

Wand of poison Bolt hits PC, but (s)he has poison resistance. Wand is also not identified if the bolt does not hit any monsters Shoots a pink ray
"The whole area shakes slightly." Wand of earthquakes Wand is used in an outdoor location, or other area where earthquakes aren't allowed (e.g. Darkforge or the Pyramid).
"Nothing happens." Wand of teleportation PC zaps it at a square with no monsters on it to target.
"The wand buzzes for a short moment." Wand of trap creation The wand creates a trap on an adjacent square. The PC will only deduce that is it is a wand of trap creation if they zap it on the square they are standing on. When aimed at an open door, the door will become closed (and trapped!).
"You feel slightly stiff." Wand of paralyzation Bolt hits PC. The wand will not be identified if the ray hits an NPC either. Shoots a bright green ray

Scrolls[]

Message Item When the message occurs
"You read swirling runes. Waves of magic pound into your body." Scroll of corruption removal/chaos resistance At any time. Even when it cures (or causes) corruption, it still will not be identified.
"You waste the magic of the scroll." Scroll of uncursing After being prompted to select an item player does not select anything.
"You feel an enormous loss." Scroll of great identify After being prompted to select an item player does not select anything. Strangely, a scroll of identify is identified by reading it even if the player decides not to identify anything.
"You feel a tingling sensation." Scroll of power PC reads one at full PP.
"You feel power floating through your veins for a short moment!" Scroll of power (blessed) PC reads one at full PP.
"The scroll labelled -foo- crumples to dust." Scroll of defense or protection or luck The magic of the scroll doesn't work. In the case of the scroll of luck, this occurs if the PC already has the lucky and Fate smiles intrinsics. Otherwise, the PC's armor can't be modified.
"<scroll> turns into gray ash." Scroll of increase melee accuracy or increase melee damage Either the PC's weapon was already too powerful to be enchanted. or (s)he wasn't wielding a weapon.
No message Scroll of charging Player chooses not to charge a wand.
"Nothing happens." Scroll of repair Player selects an item that is not broken. Also, not selecting any item does not identify the scroll, and does not produce any message.
"Uh oh! You feel as if you had made a serious blunder." Scroll of monster aggravation Seems to occur at any time.
"The scroll crumples to dust." Scroll of teleportation Read in a no-teleport area
"You feel as if you had lost a good friend." Scroll of familiar summoning (blessed?) Read when there is no space in the PC's vicinity to create a companion
"The runes on this scroll are totally garbled." Scroll of information Scroll is read outside of the Small Cave, where its message would otherwise hold no significance.

Food[]

Message (when eaten) Item Unidentified form
"A bitter taste." Moss of mareilon Strange herb
"Almost tasteless." Spenseweed Strange herb
"Mmmmh... juicy... tasted like mint." Morgia root Strange herb
"The herb tasted like mint." Alraunia antidote Strange herb
"The herb is really icy." Curaria mancox Strange herb
"This herb rummages in your stomach." Stomafillia Strange herb
"The herbs are refreshing." Pepper petal Strange herb
"Sweet." Bit of plain candy Bit of candy
"Annoyingly sweet." Bit of gnomish candy Bit of candy

Equip-based identification[]

Armor[]

Effect when equipped Item Unidentified form
Stays as 'shell armor' when equipped. Strange since the PC can immediately determine the stats of regular shell armor when (s)he equips it. spider shell armor shell armor

Gauntlets[]

Effect when equipped Item Unidentified form
Usually no effect on to-hit. Also, they are made of leather and will not harm Mist Elves. red/white/blue/black leather gauntlets red/white/blue/black gauntlets
Provides an intrinsic resistance (if the PC checks this with Revelation/potion of insight), usually decreases to-hit by 2. Also, they are made of iron so will harm Mist Elves. red/white/blue/black dragon hide gauntlets red/white/blue/black gauntlets

Amulets[]

Effect when equipped Item Alternative identification means
The PC feels a "burning pain" on their neck Either an amulet of order if the PC is chaotic, or an amulet of chaos if the PC is lawful. Amulets of order appear as 'marble amulets', and amulet of chaos appear as 'obsidian amulet'.
Any darkness around the PC will be illuminated Amulet of light They always appear as 'glass amulets'
PC's Mana score increases (slightly); this can be checked in the character sheet screen, using the "@" command Pendant of mana

Girdles[]

Effect when equipped Item Alternative identification means
The PC's carried weight suddenly increases girdle of weight Girdles of weight always weigh 40s
PC's carrying capacity increases very slightly girdle of greed Girdles of greed always weigh 7s

Misc.[]

Effect when equipped Item Unidentified form
An equipped 'torch' suddenly lights itself Everburning torch Torch
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