Is it safe to search for a portal out as an Abyssal Knight?

[ZoFy]

In my AK experience, i've never been punished for trying to look for a portal but i definitely had to escape from a starcursed mass with an invocation. Now i'm playing a FeAK which escaped the Abyss on turn 1 (didn't want to ruin my streak at all costs) and suffered from the lack of piety early on. So i'd like to know the answer to my question in retrospect: is it possible to die to an abyssal monster at XL 1 as soon as you see it?

[4Hooves2Appendages]

Yes, it is definitely possible. There are plenty of enemies in the abyss that have ranged attacks which can be instantly lethal. In my own experience trying the abyss challenge it's quite rare for a SpAK to be instantly murdered. Should be similar for FeAK. Still, for a streak I wouldn't risk it.

[ajon]

Yeah it can be possible depending on what it is. Normal play I always search for a way out. For a streak, just use the piety and be safe.

[Airwolf]

I think I've gotten an AK start killed by Wretched Star's IMB on the same turn it entered LOS.

Also, Escape Abyss has like 6% fail initially.

Leaving immediately is probably best if you're working on a streak. Otherwise, I guess that searching for an exit and Escaping at the first sign of danger probably has less than a 10% chance to die.

[rchandra]

I'd say significantly less than 10%, since there's a portal near the start. Sometimes walls and abyss shifting make it hard to find.

[Cheibrodos]

If you enjoy fun and playing crawl it is optimal to exit immediately and save yourself the trouble of crabwalking through the abyss sifting through hand axes and piles of stones, even if you miss a little piety

[HANFGEIST]

I have died looting the Abyss several hundred times, but I think it was worth it for the few times I got to kill a Eye of draining (makes you level 3 immediately) or finding a good magical item or some extra gold and scrolls. That is all loot you would not otherwise get and you can still use your ability to bail out. I think I read somewhere though that the treasure of the Abyss level when you start there is the same as on Dungeon level 1.

[infinitevox]

I've come across a couple randarts as a xxAK from looting, and have always been able to invoc out of there when I see trouble in LoS, so I personally think its pretty darn safe as long as you don't get cocky.

[ZoFy]

My intention never was looting the Abyss but just saving some piety. My original question got answered and, even though i'd like to make it impossible for a level 1 AK to die in one turn, the game tells you to use the invocation to get out right at start of the game. So it's not like the player isn't warned.