Amulet of Yendor - Definition and Overview

In several computer games, the Amulet of Yendor ("Rodney" spelled backwards) is the object the player needs to retrieve from the bottom of the dungeon in order to win. It first appeared in Rogue; later Hack, Magebane and NetHack also featured it, but with the added condition that it must be brought to the "Astral Plane" and sacrificed for the player to ascend (win).

The name probably alludes to the Witch of Endor, a biblical character who owned a talisman with magical powers.

Appearance in NetHack

In early versions of NetHack, the Amulet was guarded by the Wizard of Yendor, who has the annoying habit of coming back from the dead. Since version 3.1, however, the Amulet is held by the high priest of Moloch, and the player must obtain three special items to enter Moloch's Sanctum. These items are: the Book of the Dead (guarded by the Wizard); the Candelabrum of Invocation (guarded by Vlad the Impaler); and the Bell of Opening (guarded by the player's Quest nemesis). Having the amulet makes the game behave differently, for example monsters are generated as if the player were at the deepest dungeon level.