View source for Yellow ray strategy

{{NeedsContent|What are good aftercore targets these days?}}

==Introduction==
'''Yellow rays''' (YR) refer to a family of skills and combat items that share a similar mechanic:

* Instantly kill the current enemy
* Force all of its [[Pickpocket]] eligible (but NOT Pickpocket Only) items to drop
* Apply X turns of the [[Everything Looks Yellow]] effect on the player

You cannot use any yellow ray ability while Everything Looks Yellow is active. It effectively acts as a shared cooldown for all yellow rays. This effect can be worn off normally by spending adventures, and is removed during rollover. However, it cannot be removed by any other means; [[A Relaxing Hot Tub]] or [[soft green echo eyedrop antidote]] does not remove it.

Some monsters, including [[boss|bosses]], cannot be yellow-rayed. Most yellow rays (except for the [[pulled yellow taffy]]) also cannot force drops while [[Underwater adventuring|underwater]], since most underwater items are [[Pickpocket#Pickpocket_Immunity|pickpocket-immune]].

Yellow rays are named after the [[Point at your opponent|disintegration ray]] of the [[He-Boulder]], which is the first of its kind introduced to the game.


When pickpocketing was originally implemented, all conditional drops were marked as non-pickpocketable. This, however, is no longer the case for newer content, with pickpocketability and conditionality being set for each drop separately. Because of the overlap between the two drop flags, for the longest time it was believed that Yellow Rays only affected items with no drop conditions. The actual flag that matters for Yellow Ray eligibility is no-pickpocket.

You '''can''' YR conditional drops, provided they are pickpocketable, but only if the condition is met. So you can, for example, YR an [[evil eye]] during the [[Undefile the Cyrpt Quest|Cyrpt quest]], but not after its completion.

==Sources==
Sources of yellow rays include:

{{Template:StandardRestrictedStyle/Legend}}

<!-- Sorted by availability by year (descending). Challenge paths are at the bottom. -->
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
! Yellow Ray
! Source
! {{InlineItem|Everything Looks Yellow|Duration}}
! Notes
|- {{Template:StandardRestrictedStyle|year=2025}}
| {{StackItem|Spitball}}<br>(combat item)
| {{StackItem|April Shower Thoughts shield}}<br>(off-hand)
| 100
| style="text-align: initial" |
* Purchased in [[Using your Shower Thoughts]] for 1 [[glob of wet paper]] 
* Is a [[Insta-kill|Free Kill]]
|- {{Template:StandardRestrictedStyle|year=2024}}
| {{StackItem|Blow the Yellow Candle!}}<br>(skill)
| {{StackItem|Roman Candelabra}}<br>(off-hand)
| 75
| style="text-align: initial" |
|- {{Template:StandardRestrictedStyle|year=2024}}
| {{StackItem|Ask %fn to go down in flames}}<br>(skill)
| {{StackItem|Emberiza Aureola}}<br>(familiar)
| 49
| style="text-align: initial" |
* Requires 100 familiar XP to use, but reduces familiar XP to zero
|- {{Template:StandardRestrictedStyle|year=2022}}
| {{StackItem|Spit jurassic acid}}<br>(skill)
| {{StackItem|Jurassic Parka}}<br>(shirt)
| 99
| style="text-align: initial" |
* Must be [[Adjust Your Parka|set]] to the dilophosaur mode.
* Is a [[Insta-kill|Free Kill]]
|- {{Template:StandardRestrictedStyle|year=2021}}
| {{StackItem|yellow rocket}}<br>(combat item)
| [[Underground Fireworks Shop]]<br>(Clan VIP Lounge)
| 75
| style="text-align: initial" |
* Costs 250 Meat each.
|- {{Template:StandardRestrictedStyle|year=2020}}
| {{StackItem|Unleash the Devil's Kiss}}<br>(skill)
| {{StackItem|unwrapped knock-off retro superhero cape}}<br>(back item)
| 100
| style="text-align: initial" |
* Must be [[Setup Your knock-off retro superhero cape|configured]] to Heck General with the washing instructions "Kiss Me".
|- {{Template:StandardRestrictedStyle|year=2020}}
| {{StackItem|flame orb}}<br>(combat item)
| {{StackItem|Cargo Cultist Shorts}}<br>(pants)
| 100
| style="text-align: initial" |
* Can be acquired by defeating a [[Burning Daughter]], which is summoned by using a [[sizzling desk bell]] from [[What has it got in its pocketses?|pocket]] 517
|- {{Template:StandardRestrictedStyle|year=2019}}
| {{StackItem|micronova}}<br>(combat item)
| {{StackItem|Red-Nosed Snapper}}<br>(familiar)
| 150
| style="text-align: initial" |
* Dropped by the Red-Nosed Snapper after [[Adjust Your Fish|tracking]] and defeating 11 constellations
|- {{Template:StandardRestrictedStyle|year=2019}}
| colspan="2" | {{StackItem|Eight Days a Week Pill Keeper}}<br>(accessory)
| 30
| style="text-align: initial" |
* Is primed by selecting ''Monday - Explodinall'' when choosing to [[Take your Pills]]
* After priming, the yellow ray effect is fired when '''defeating''' the next monster you fight. It will not insta-kill the monster for you; you must kill it normally for the effect to occur.
* First use of each day is free, but subsequent uses require 3 [[spleen]]
|- {{Template:StandardRestrictedStyle|year=2017}}
| {{StackItem|Disintegrate}}<br>(skill)
| {{StackItem|Spacegate emergency disintegrator}}<br>(usable item)
| 100
| style="text-align: initial" |
* The [[Spacegate emergency disintegrator]] can be bought with 5000 [[Spacegate Research]] at the [[Spacegate Fabrication Facility]] inside the [[Secret Underground Spacegate Facility]]. It is also tradable.
|- {{Template:StandardRestrictedStyle|year=2016}}
| {{StackItem|viral video}}<br>(combat item)
| {{StackItem|Intergnat}}<br>(familiar)
| 150
| style="text-align: initial" |
* Can be acquired by trading 20 {{plural|BACON}}, which are dropped by the Intergnat after combat
|- {{Template:StandardRestrictedStyle|year=2015}}
| {{StackItem|mayo lance}}<br>(combat item)
| [[The Mayo Clinic]]<br>(workshed)
| 150 - Mayo
| style="text-align: initial" |
* Can be purchased at [[The Mayo Clinic]] for 2,500 meat, once per day
* Upon use, consumes all remaining units of blood mayo
* ELY duration is 150 - 5 &times; (consumed unit of blood-mayo)
|- {{Template:StandardRestrictedStyle|year=2014}}
| {{StackItem|Open a Big Yellow Present}}<br>(skill)
| {{StackItem|Crimbo Shrub}}<br>(familiar)
| 150
| style="text-align: initial" |
* Your Crimbo Shrub must be [[box of old Crimbo decorations|decorated]] with Big Yellow-Wrapped Presents
|- {{Template:StandardRestrictedStyle|year=2013}}
| {{StackItem|Golden Light}}<br>(combat item)
| {{StackItem|Summon Smithsness}}<br>(tome)
| 150
| style="text-align: initial" |
* Can be crafted by meatpasting a [[handful of Smithereens]] with [[glittery mascara]]
|- {{Template:StandardRestrictedStyle|year=2013}}
| {{StackItem|pulled yellow taffy}}<br>(combat item)
| {{StackItem|Summon Taffy}}<br>(libram)
| 75
| style="text-align: initial" |
* Yellow ray effect works only [[Underwater adventuring|underwater]]
* Unlike other yellow rays, this will force almost all underwater items to drop
* Standard restrictions are practically meaningless, since most underwater zones are either inaccessible or impractical during a run
|- {{Template:StandardRestrictedStyle|year=2012}}
| {{StackItem|Unleash Nanites}}<br>(skill)
| {{StackItem|Nanorhino}}<br>(familiar)
| 150
| style="text-align: initial" |
* Must be used while you have 40 or more turns of the [[Nanoballsy]] effect, gained by using a Moxie class's combat skill with the Nanorhino out
|- {{Template:StandardRestrictedStyle|year=2011}}
| {{StackItem|unbearable light}}<br>(combat item)
| {{StackItem|Summon Clip Art}}<br>(tome)
| 150
| style="text-align: initial" |
|- {{Template:StandardRestrictedStyle|year=2010}}
| {{StackItem|pumpkin bomb}}<br>(combat item)
| [[A Pumpkin Patch]]<br>(garden)
| 150
| style="text-align: initial" |
* Can be crafted by meatpasting a [[pumpkin]] harvested from the Pumpkin Patch with a [[Knob Goblin firecracker]]
|- {{Template:StandardRestrictedStyle|year=2009}}
| {{StackItem|Point at your opponent}}<br>(skill)
| {{StackItem|He-Boulder}}<br>(familiar)
| 150 / 100<br>(see notes)
| style="text-align: initial" |
* Must be used while your He-Boulder's eyes are yellow
* ELY duration becomes 100 turns if the He-Boulder has [[quadroculars]] equipped
|-
| {{StackItem|yellowcake bomb}}<br>(combat item)
| [[Chemistry Class (After School)]]
| 75
| style="text-align: initial" |
* Can be acquired and used only within the [[KOLHS]] challenge path
|-
| {{StackItem|Flash Headlight}}<br>(skill)
| [[Sneaky Pete's Gate]]<br>(''as [[Avatar of Sneaky Pete]]'')
| 100
| style="text-align: initial" |
* Can be acquired and used only within the [[Avatar of Sneaky Pete]] challenge path
* Your [[motorcycle]] must have an [[Me and Cinderella Put It All Together|Ultrabright Yellow Bulb installed]]
|-
| {{StackItem|Ball Lightning}}<br>(skill)
| {{StackItem|lightning milk}}<br>(usable item)
| 100
| style="text-align: initial" |
* Can be acquired and used only within the [[Heavy Rains]] challenge path
|-
| {{StackItem|Wrath of Ra}}<br>(skill)
| [[The Book of the Undying]]
| 100
| style="text-align: initial" |
* Can be acquired and used only within the [[Actually Ed the Undying]] challenge path
|-
| {{StackItem|Unleash Cowrruption}}<br>(skill)
| {{StackItem|Tales of the West: Cow Punching}}<br>(usable item)
| 150
| style="text-align: initial" |
* Can be acquired only within the [[Avatar of West of Loathing]] challenge path, if you are the Cow Puncher class or have skill points for Cow Puncher
|-
| {{StackItem|Fondeluge}}<br>(skill)
| {{StackItem|The Cheese Wizard's Companion}}<br>(usable item)
| 50
| style="text-align: initial" |
* Can be acquired only within the [[Avatar of Shadows Over Loathing]] challenge path, if you are a Cheese Wizard
|-
| Level 3 {{StackItem|Fireball Barrage}}<br>(skill)
| [[Mushroom District Badge Shop]]
| 50
| style="text-align: initial" |
* Can be acquired and used only within the [[Path of the Plumber]] challenge path
* Acts as a Level 2 Fireball Barrage with ELY already active
|}

===Similar disintegration actions===
The following actions cause all pickpocketable items to drop, but do not inflict Everything Looks Yellow.

<!-- Sorted by availability by year (descending). Challenge paths are at the bottom. -->
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
! Action
! Source
! Notes
|- {{Template:StandardRestrictedStyle|year=2025}}
| {{StackItem|Mixed berry jelly}}<br>(spleen item)
| {{StackItem|Möbius ring}}
| style="text-align: initial" |
* Acquired by choosing "Teach hippies to make jams and jellies" in [[Time is a Möbius Strip]] choice adventure, after having previously chosen "Plant some trees and harvest them in the future." 
* Forces all items to drop from the next enemy you defeat after consuming. Costs 1 [[spleen]]. 
|- {{Template:StandardRestrictedStyle|year=2025}}
| {{StackItem|Northern Explosion}}<br>(skill)
| {{StackItem|April Shower Thoughts shield}}
| style="text-align: initial" |
* Equipping the shield modifies the skill, turning it into a disintegration.
* Only disintegrates once per day.
|- {{Template:StandardRestrictedStyle|year=2021}}
| {{StackItem|Shocking Lick}}<br>(skill)
|  {{InlineItem|battery (9-Volt)}}<br>{{InlineItem|battery (lantern)}}<br>{{InlineItem|battery (car)}}
| style="text-align: initial" |
* 1 use of the [[Shocking Lick]] skill is granted for each [[battery (9-Volt)]], [[battery (lantern)]] or [[battery (car)]] used
* The skill is not granted if the batteries' effects are obtained through any other means
* Is a [[Insta-kill|Free Kill]]
|- {{Template:StandardRestrictedStyle|year=2021}}
| {{StackItem|Feel Envy}}<br>(skill)
| {{InlineItem|Emotionally Chipped}}<br>(passive skill)
| style="text-align: initial" |
* Does not [[Insta-kill]]; you must still win the fight after casting the skill for the effect to occur
* Usable 3 times per day
|- {{Template:StandardRestrictedStyle|year=2019}}
| {{StackItem|Use the Force, %playername!}}<br>(skill)
| {{StackItem|Fourth of May Cosplay Saber}}<br>(weapon)
| style="text-align: initial" |
* Takes you to [[Using the Force]], where you can choose to force all non-conditional items to drop and end the combat without spending an adventure
* This works like a free runaway, not a combat victory, so conditional items will never drop
* Unlike most of the mechanics on this page, [[Using the Force]] needs the item to not have a condition and doesn't care about its pickpocket availability.
|- {{Template:StandardRestrictedStyle|year=2017}}
| {{StackItem|Asdon Martin: Missile Launcher}}<br>(skill)
| [[Asdon Martin]]<br>(workshed)
| style="text-align: initial" |
* Costs 100 fuel and can be used once per day
* Is a [[Insta-kill|Free Kill]]
|- {{Template:StandardRestrictedStyle|year=2017}}
| {{StackItem|Spooky Jellied}}<br>(effect)
| {{InlineItem|spooky jelly}}<br>{{InlineItem|toast with spooky jelly}}
| style="text-align: initial" |
* Consuming a [[spooky jelly]] or [[toast with spooky jelly]] grants [[Spooky Jellied]] as well as a flag that forces all items to drop from the next enemy you defeat
* Obtaining the [[Spooky Jellied]] effect by any other means does not grant the item drop effect
|}

==Strategy==
Planning out your run's YRs in advance can save you a lot of hassle and heartache later on. If you have the resources to generate two YRs per day, one plan is to YR something at the start of each day and at the end of each day, letting rollover clear [[Everything Looks Yellow]] for you. Depending on your [[special challenge path|path]], it may be difficult to generate 150 turns on day 1, so be wary.

If you haven't planned a YR "route", ask yourself this question before each YR: "Am I going to hit any YR targets in the next 150 turns that are more valuable than this one?"

==Most Effective==
Disintegrating these monsters will usually provide the most bang for your YR buck. Monsters are very roughly listed in the order you'd encounter them during a run.

{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"
|-
! Monster !! Purpose !! Notes
|-
| '''[[beanbat]]'''
| [[sonar-in-a-biscuit]] (10% drop), [[enchanted bean]]
| Better than YRing in [[Guano Junction]] because you need the bean as well.
|-
| '''[[Knob Goblin Harem Girl]]'''
| [[Knob Goblin Harem Girl Disguise]] (20% drop each)
| If you're not taking the [[Knob Goblin Elite Guard Captain|KGE lucky adventure]].
|-
| '''[[banshee librarian]]'''
| [[killing jar]] (10% drop)
| Gives +15% exploration for the Desert/Oasis part of the [[Quest_for_the_Holy_MacGuffin#Pyramid_quest_.28A_Pyramid_Scheme.29|level 11 quest]]. 
|-
| '''[[The Hippy Camp|hippies]]'''
| [[Filthy Hippy Disguise]] (5% drop each)
| For [[Advanced Cocktailcrafting|drink mixers]] and makes it easier to get an outfit for [[Mysterious Island Quest|the war]]. If you intend to farm it without a YR, wait until the [[The_Hippy_Camp#Non-combat_Adventures|level 9 noncombats]] if possible.
|-
| '''[[mountain man]]'''
| 2 each of [[asbestos ore]], [[chrome ore]], [[linoleum ore]] (10% drop)
| For [[Mt. McLargeHuge Quest|level 8]]. A good target that lets you use [[pocket wish|wishes]] or [[combat lover's locket|lockets]] and yellow rays to save clovers and headaches.
|-
| '''[[bearpig topiary animal]], [[elephant (meatcar?) topiary animal]] or [[spider (duck?) topiary animal]]
| [[rusty hedge trimmers]] (15% drop)
| To advance the [[Twin Peak]] portion of the [[Orc Chasm Quest|level 9]] quest.
|-
| '''[[Burly Sidekick]]'''
| [[Mohawk wig]] (10% drop)
| For use in [[Yeah, You're for Me, Punk Rock Giant|the Top Floor]] to complete the level 10 quest.
|-
| '''[[Quiet Healer]]'''
| [[amulet of extreme plot significance]] (10% drop)
| For use in [[You Don't Mess Around with Gym|the Castle Basement]] to continue in the level 10 quest. You probably won't be able to YR both the Healer and the Sidekick on the same day, so consider [[On the Trail|sniffing]] the Healer instead (since she also drops [[soft green echo eyedrop antidote|SGEEAs]]), or do the [[The Penultimate Fantasy Airship|Airship]] over two days to get two YRs.
|-
| '''[[Blackberry bush]]'''
| [[blackberry]] (20% drop)
| Makes [[blackberry galoshes]] in the non-combat. Saves a couple of turns if you have nothing better to YR.
|-
| '''[[pygmy janitor]]'''
| [[book of matches]] (20% drop)
| Allows purchase of items from [[The Hidden Tavern]]: [[Bowl of Scorpions]] to banish drunks, [[Cursed Punch]] as a fallback in case you don't encounter three [[pygmy shaman]]s in time, and [[Fog Murderer]] as a potential nightcap.
|-
| '''[[Tomb rat king]]'''<br>'''(SEE NOTES)'''
| multiple [[tomb ratchet|tomb ratchets]] (20% drop)
| [[Tomb rat king]] is a boss, so insta-kills don't work on him, which includes all yellow rays and most similar effects. [[Mixed berry jelly]] is an example of something that works. 
|-
| '''[[Orcish Frat House (Verge of War)|War Frat]] or [[The Hippy Camp (Verge of War)|War Hippy]] or [[War Frat 151st Infantryman]]'''
| [[Frat Warrior Fatigues]] or [[War Hippy Fatigues]] (10% drop or lower)
| For [[Mysterious_Island_Quest#Starting_the_War|starting the war]]. The 151st Infantryman is accessible through [[Calculate the Universe|Numberology]], accessible on day 1 if you have the tools, which makes this option significantly more valuable.
|-
| '''[[Exterminate the Filthworm Infestation|filthworms]]'''
| [[filthworm hatchling scent gland|hatchling gland]], [[filthworm drone scent gland|drone gland]], [[filthworm royal guard scent gland|royal gland]] (10% drop each)
| Can also be forced with [[Pickpocketing]] (especially [[peppermint crook]]s and [[Hugs and Kisses!|"hugpocketing"]]), [[A_Heist!|burglarizing]], or [[Perpetrate Mild Evil]].
|}

==Honorable Mentions==
Might not save as many turns as the monsters above, but still worth a mention.

{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"
|-
! Monster !! Purpose !! Notes
|-
| '''[[blur]]'''
| [[drum machine]] (30% drop)
| For the Desert/Oasis part of the [[Quest_for_the_Holy_MacGuffin#Pyramid_quest_.28A_Pyramid_Scheme.29|level 11 quest]]. Wormriding is not always required, and 234% item drop is often achievable by [[An Oasis]].
|-
| '''[[swarm of scarab beatles]]'''
| [[mojo filter]] (10% drop)
| In case your strategy requires additional spleen usage in a given day.
|-
| '''[[Bob Racecar]]/[[Racecar Bob]]'''
| [[stunt nuts]] (30% drop)
| For [[Quest_for_the_Holy_MacGuffin#The_Palindome_.28Never_Odd_Or_Even.29|level 11]]. Listed as an honorable mention because 234% item drop is often achievable by [[The Palindome]].
|-
| '''[[mad wino]]'''
| [[Psychotic Train wine]] (10% drop)
| One of the best nightcaps available in run. The [[pie man was not meant to eat|pie]] (another 10% drop) can also be used as [[Asdon Martin]] fuel.
|}

==Aftercore==
This page is tailored for ascension, but forcing all of a monster's item to drop is useful outside of ascension as well. Note that some items held by tempting aftercore targets, like the [[giant sandworm]] ([[spice melange]]) or the [[scary pirate]], are not pickpocketable, and thus will not be forced by a yellow ray.

{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"
|-
! Monster !! Purpose !! Notes
|-
| '''[[Mer-kin researcher]]'''
| [[Mer-kin darkbook]]
| Drops an untradeable skill-granting item that provides one of the words for the [[Mer-kin dreadscroll]], as well as [[Mer-kin healscroll|two]] [[Mer-kin killscroll|more]] word-providing items.<br /><br />''Note'': As an underwater target, these drops can only be forced with [[pulled yellow taffy]].
|-
| '''[[unholy diver]]'''
| [[rusty broken diving helmet]], [[rusty porthole]], [[rusty rivet]]
| All relatively low-rate drops. Over half the items necessary to construct a [[rusty diving helmet]].<br /><br />''Note'': As an underwater target, these drops can only be forced with [[pulled yellow taffy]].
|}

==Notes==
*If you just need to kill a tough non-boss monster and don't necessarily need its drops, consider an [[insta-kill]] effect (such as [[Handsome Devil]]), or a large plus damage effect (such as [[Song of Sauce]] or [[Pisces in the Skyces]] from [[tobiko marble soda]]) to avoid [[Everything Looks Yellow]].
*The [[pulled yellow taffy]] is believed to operate differently from other YR sources, because it can force some item drops that other YR sources do not force.
**There is an unproven theory that the pulled yellow taffy acts as a large +item modifier instead of a traditional YR. This needs more spading.
**For certain drops from certain monsters, if a traditional YR does not work on them, the taffy still might. This can be achieved by [[copying]] the monster with either an [[Obtuse Angel]] or [[Reanimated Reanimator]], starting the countdown, then adventuring underwater when the copy window is active and using the taffy when the wandering copy shows up.
**[[Conditional Drops]] with unsatisfied conditions will still not drop, even for taffy.

{{Ascension Strategy}}

[[Category:Strategy]]
[[Category:Ascension Strategy]]