Black dragon - Revision history

Tomsod: /* Generation */ death drop disintegration note probably doesn't apply here

2025-10-22T12:51:07Z

‎Generation: death drop disintegration note probably doesn't apply here

Umbire the Phantom: /* dNetHack */ betterer

2025-01-14T01:41:22Z

‎dNetHack: betterer

Umbire the Phantom: /* dNetHack */ copyedit

2025-01-14T01:37:07Z

‎dNetHack: copyedit

Umbire the Phantom: /* Generation */ throne room

2025-01-04T08:21:17Z

‎Generation: throne room

Umbire the Phantom: /* EvilHack */ word choice

2025-01-04T06:44:26Z

‎EvilHack: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: /* Strategy */ moved stuff from disint article here

2025-01-04T06:39:06Z

‎Strategy: moved stuff from disint article here

Umbire the Phantom: /* EvilHack */ word choice + potholes

2024-10-08T08:34:07Z

‎EvilHack: word choice + potholes

Furey: /* Strategy */ linkify rebound

2024-06-18T00:30:47Z

‎Strategy: linkify rebound

Umbire the Phantom: un randomization

2024-05-30T22:59:05Z

un randomization

Umbire the Phantom: note knockback

2024-05-30T21:29:25Z

note knockback

@@ Line 35: / Line 35: @@
 Black dragons may appear among the hostile {{white|D}} generated in [[throne room]]s at dungeon levels 15 and below, and can also appear among the monsters randomly generated by either [[sitting]] on a [[throne]] or [[looting]] it while the hero is [[confused]] and carrying gold (provided there is no [[chest]] on the level).{{refsrc|src/mkroom.c|741|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/sit.c|205|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
-Black dragons have a {{frac|3}} chance of dropping a set of uncursed +0 black dragon scales upon death unless [[disintegrated]], and the chance is reduced to {{frac|20}} if the dragon was [[revived]].
+Black dragons have a {{frac|3}} chance of dropping a set of uncursed +0 black dragon scales upon death, and the chance is reduced to {{frac|20}} if the dragon was [[revived]].
 ==Strategy==

@@ Line 74: / Line 74: @@
 ===dNetHack===
-In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]], and [[notnotdNetHack]], black dragons have their difficulty slightly raised to 21, their effective AC is boosted to -4, and their attacks are made stronger, with an additional 4d10 tailslap attack that they will use once every global turn. Black dragons also gain [[drain resistance]] both intrinsically and from their scales, and their breath attack is the only one to not ignore ordinary reflection, instead disenchanting armor by an amount equal to the damage roll&mdash;armor in these variants is automatically destroyed upon reaching a low enough negative enchantment.
+In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]], and [[notnotdNetHack]], black dragons have their difficulty slightly raised to 21, their effective AC is boosted to -4, and their attacks are made stronger, with an additional 4d10 tailslap attack that they will use once every global turn. Black dragons also gain [[drain resistance]] both intrinsically and from their scales, and their breath attack is the only one to not ignore ordinary reflection&mdash;instead, disintegration rays are capable of destroying terrain and features such as walls and [[solid rock]], and disenchants armor that it hits by an amount equal to the damage roll, automatically destroying any armor with a low enough negative enchantment (which is standard for armor in these variants).
 Black dragons may appear among the court of a [[Throne room#dNetHack|throne room]] ruled by an [[orc of the ages of stars]].

@@ Line 74: / Line 74: @@
 ===dNetHack===
-In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]], and [[notnotdNetHack]], black dragons have their difficulty slightly raised to 21, their effective AC is boosted to -4, and their attacks are made stronger, with an additional 4d10 tailslap attack that they will use once every global turn. Black dragons also gain [[drain resistance]] both intrinsically and from their scales, and their breath attack is the only one to not ignore ordinary reflection, instead disenchanting armor by an amount equal to the damage roll; armor in dNetHack and its variants is destroyed upon reaching a low enough negative enchantment.
+In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]], and [[notnotdNetHack]], black dragons have their difficulty slightly raised to 21, their effective AC is boosted to -4, and their attacks are made stronger, with an additional 4d10 tailslap attack that they will use once every global turn. Black dragons also gain [[drain resistance]] both intrinsically and from their scales, and their breath attack is the only one to not ignore ordinary reflection, instead disenchanting armor by an amount equal to the damage roll&mdash;armor in these variants is automatically destroyed upon reaching a low enough negative enchantment.
 Black dragons may appear among the court of a [[Throne room#dNetHack|throne room]] ruled by an [[orc of the ages of stars]].

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 Hostile black dragons can be generated by the [[summon nasties]] [[monster spell]]. Characters and monsters that [[polymorph]] while wearing [[black dragon scales]] or [[black dragon scale mail]] will turn into black dragons.
-Black dragons may appear among the hostile {{white|D}} generated in [[throne room]]s at dungeon levels 15 and below, and can also appear among the monsters randomly generated by [[looting]] a [[throne]] while [[confused]] and carrying gold (provided there is no [[chest]] on the level).{{refsrc|src/mkroom.c|741|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
+Black dragons may appear among the hostile {{white|D}} generated in [[throne room]]s at dungeon levels 15 and below, and can also appear among the monsters randomly generated by either [[sitting]] on a [[throne]] or [[looting]] it while the hero is [[confused]] and carrying gold (provided there is no [[chest]] on the level).{{refsrc|src/mkroom.c|741|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/sit.c|205|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
 Black dragons have a {{frac|3}} chance of dropping a set of uncursed +0 black dragon scales upon death unless [[disintegrated]], and the chance is reduced to {{frac|20}} if the dragon was [[revived]].

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 ===EvilHack===
-In [[EvilHack]], black dragons are buffed similarly to GruntHack: their attacks are made stronger as in GruntHack and reordered, including the addition of the digestion attack. Black dragons and their scales are also given the ability to passively disintegrate monsters attacking them in melee, with a small chance of disintegrating weapons used to hit them as well; this also applies to heroes attacking while being digested. Most artifacts have the standard {{frac|19|20}} chance of resisting the black dragon's passive effects; [[Dragonbane]] and [[The Hand of Vecna (EvilHack)|The Hand of Vecna]] are completely immune to this effect, as are the [[Sword of Annihilation]], the [[Armor of Retribution]], black dragon scales, and black [[dragon-scaled armor]] due to their disintegration resistance.
+In [[EvilHack]], black dragons are buffed similarly to GruntHack: their attacks are made stronger as in GruntHack and reordered, including the addition of the digestion attack. Black dragons and their scales are also given the ability to passively disintegrate monsters attacking them in melee, with a small chance of disintegrating weapons used to hit them as well&mdash;this also applies to heroes attacking while being digested. [[Dragonbane (EvilHack)|Dragonbane]], [[The Hand of Vecna (EvilHack)|The Hand of Vecna]] and any items that grant disintegration resistance are completely immune to this effect, and most other artifacts have the standard {{frac|19|20}} chance of resisting the black dragon's passive effects.
-Black dragons in EvilHack are incredibly dangerous to deal with for most heroes: the existing danger of their breath weapon is compounded by their passive's effects, which are best circumvented by using disposable weapons and projectiles or wands and spells in order to dispatch them while at melee range. Fortunately, black dragons do not have any additional resistances, and weapons that are poisoned or have the venom [[object property]] can still quickly bring them down; [[force-fight]]ing via {{kbd|F}} can be used to suppress additional attacks such as the Monk's kicks and the shield bash from attaining Skilled level in shields. Reflection still prevents instant death from their breath attack, though the target still takes significant damage without enough disintegration resistance.
+Black dragons in EvilHack are incredibly dangerous to deal with for most heroes: the existing danger of their breath weapon is compounded by their passive's effects, which are best circumvented by using disposable weapons and projectiles or wands and spells in order to dispatch them while at melee range. Fortunately, black dragons do not have any additional resistances compared to ''NetHack'', and weapons that are poisoned or have the venom [[object property]] can still quickly bring them down; [[force-fight]]ing via {{kbd|F}} can be used to suppress additional attacks such as the Monk's kicks and the shield bash from attaining Skilled level in shields.
-Black dragons are also no longer the sole source of intrinsic disintegration resistance, and are still one of the best sources by far with their meat granting {{frac|2}} (+50%) [[Partial intrinsic|additional disintegration resistance]]&mdash;50% intrinsic disintegration resistance is the minimum required to avoid instadeath from their breath attack or passive attack and prevent the destruction of worn shields and armor, though a hero will still take significant damage.
+Black dragons are no longer the sole source of intrinsic disintegration resistance, though they are still one of the best sources by far, with their meat granting {{frac|2}} (+50%) [[Partial intrinsic|additional disintegration resistance]]&mdash;50% intrinsic disintegration resistance is the minimum required to avoid instadeath from their breath attack or passive attack and prevent the destruction of worn shields and armor, though a hero will still take significant damage. Reflection no longer completely blocks the effects of rays, so while the property still prevents instant death from the black dragon's breath weapon, the target will still takes significant damage if they lack enough disintegration resistance.
 ==Encyclopedia entry==

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 ==Strategy==
-Taking on a black dragon is an especially perilous endeavor, as a character has very few options to protect against their breath weapon: in terms of obtainable properties, the primary recourse is either [[reflection]] or disintegration resistance, and the latter is most easily obtained by either eating black dragon meat or wearing its scales. If not reflected or resisted, the disintegration breath affects the target's armor in the order of priority listed below:{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3678|nethack=3.6.7|comment=default case for <code>ZT_DEATH</code> is used for disintegration breath}}{{refsrc|zap.c|3820|nethack=3.6.7}}
+{{main|Disintegration}}
-# Any worn [[shield]].
+Peculiarly, this often means that heroes who survive their first encounters with black dragons (if not the very first) and gain disintegration resistance can easily survive disintegration for the rest of that game unless the property is lost, though this still comes with a few stipulations: the corpse is still a lot for even the hungriest hero to wolf down without being interrupted or risking [[choking]], and there is still the danger of [[pet]]s being reduced to ash; [[pacifist]]s in particular will want a source of reflection for pets or a means of [[cancellation]] to nullify their breath attack.
-This makes the black dragon incredibly dangerous to engage while within its line-of-fire, especially in hallways and unlit areas such as [[Fort Ludios]], and the [[rebound]] can still disintegrate targets if their gear saved them from a direct hit. For characters without reflection, significant care is required during combat: the breath weapon can be avoided either by trying to lure the dragon close, or else using (very) fast [[speed]] in order to close the gap while avoiding its line of fire as much as possible. Thankfully, black dragons lack any other resistances, and can be brought down with [[poison]], [[wand]]s or [[spell]]s among other options - a [[wand of cancellation]] can nullify their breath attack if the character is able to zap them from a safe spot.
+A hero looking to face down a black dragon ''without'' reflection will need stellar [[AC]], along with a shield, armor that fills all the torso slots, and a means of detecting the black dragon beforehand; [[monster detection]] and intrinsic [[telepathy]] are among the best methods in this scenario. The hero will have to avoid lining up directly with the dragon by any means necessary until they can reach melee range, and should use a means of immobilizing the black dragon such as [[sleep]] or [[paralysis]] before engaging them directly to prevent them from fleeing at low health (which risks them disintegrating you as they flee). A source of (very) fast [[speed]] can be used to close the gap between a hero and a black dragon, and its lack of resistances and relatively low [[Magic resistance (monster)|MR score]] to fell it with [[poison]], [[wand]]s or [[potion]]s among other options.
-Peculiarly, this often means that characters who survive the first few counters with black dragons (if not the very first) have a means of surviving disintegration for the rest of that game unless the property is lost, though this still comes with a few stipulations: the corpse is still a lot for even the hungriest character to wolf down without being interrupted or risking [[choking]] in the process, and resistant characters may still want to keep non-reflecting [[pet]]s from being reduced to ash. [[Pacifist]]s in particular will want a source of reflection for pets or a means of cancellation to nullify their breath attack, and may even consider [[genocide]] to remove the threat altogether.
+Some heroes keep pet black dragons around as a means to cleave their way through groups of hostile monsters or else wipe out especially powerful single targets, though alongside the drawbacks of dragon pets this also typically means losing most of the loot from killing monsters this way(with [[artifact]]s resisting disintegration {{frac|2}} of the time). Similarly, heroes not observing [[polyselfless]] conduct can use a black dragon polymorph to evaporate particularly troublesome foes: [[Monk]]s in particular may consider doing so against [[Master Kaen]] to eliminate him from outside his attack range, and [[Samurai]] can use the form to kill [[Ashikaga Takauji]] without risk of death by bisection. Disintegrating a quest nemesis will not destroy the [[quest artifact]] or the [[Bell of Opening]].
-{{upcoming|3.7.0|Black dragons gain [[drain resistance]] from their scales, which in theory represents a potential wrinkle for characters with [[Stormbringer]] as their main weapon - in practice, most such characters will have no shortage of offensive choices to use against one instead. Black dragons and other large enough monsters can also inflict knockback with their melee attacks, making them exceedingly dangerous to fight near [[pool]]s or [[lava]] and capable of forcing characters back into breath weapon range.
+{{upcoming|3.7.0|Black dragons gain [[drain resistance]] from their scales, which in theory represents a potential wrinkle for heroes using [[Stormbringer]] as their main weapon: in practice, there is generally no shortage of offensive choices to use against one instead. Black dragons and other large enough monsters can also inflict knockback with their melee attacks, making them exceedingly dangerous to fight near [[pool]]s or [[lava]] and capable of forcing heroes back into breath weapon range.
-Black dragons are also more desirable targets for characters with disintegration resistance or reflection: monsters can gain intrinsics from corpses, and spare black dragon corpses can be used to give valuable pets a defense for future encounters with them. Black dragon scales are the only non-artifact source of drain resistance, which is valuable to many roles - for example, Healers with black dragon scale mail can prevent the [[Cyclops]] from repeatedly draining their [[experience level]]s with [[The Staff of Aesculapius]].}}
+Black dragons are also more desirable targets for characters with disintegration resistance or reflection: monsters can gain intrinsics from corpses, and spare black dragon corpses can be used to give valuable pets a defense for future encounters with them. Black dragon scales are the only non-artifact source of drain resistance, which is valuable to many roles - for example, Healers with black dragon scale mail can prevent the [[Cyclops]] from repeatedly draining their [[experience level]]s with [[The Staff of Aesculapius]].
-===As a pet===
+Heroes [[riding]] on black dragon steeds can use #monster to employ their disintegration breath, making them a slightly more attractive mount option.}}
 ==History==

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 # [[Instadeath|The victim]] in question.
-This makes the black dragon incredibly dangerous to engage while within its line-of-fire, especially in hallways and unlit areas such as [[Fort Ludios]], and the rebound can still disintegrate targets if their gear saved them from a direct hit. For characters without reflection, significant care is required during combat: the breath weapon can be avoided either by trying to lure the dragon close, or else using (very) fast [[speed]] in order to close the gap while avoiding its line of fire as much as possible. Thankfully, black dragons lack any other resistances, and can be brought down with [[poison]], [[wand]]s or [[spell]]s among other options - a [[wand of cancellation]] can nullify their breath attack if the character is able to zap them from a safe spot.
+This makes the black dragon incredibly dangerous to engage while within its line-of-fire, especially in hallways and unlit areas such as [[Fort Ludios]], and the [[rebound]] can still disintegrate targets if their gear saved them from a direct hit. For characters without reflection, significant care is required during combat: the breath weapon can be avoided either by trying to lure the dragon close, or else using (very) fast [[speed]] in order to close the gap while avoiding its line of fire as much as possible. Thankfully, black dragons lack any other resistances, and can be brought down with [[poison]], [[wand]]s or [[spell]]s among other options - a [[wand of cancellation]] can nullify their breath attack if the character is able to zap them from a safe spot.
 Peculiarly, this often means that characters who survive the first few counters with black dragons (if not the very first) have a means of surviving disintegration for the rest of that game unless the property is lost, though this still comes with a few stipulations: the corpse is still a lot for even the hungriest character to wolf down without being interrupted or risking [[choking]] in the process, and resistant characters may still want to keep non-reflecting [[pet]]s from being reduced to ash. [[Pacifist]]s in particular will want a source of reflection for pets or a means of cancellation to nullify their breath attack, and may even consider [[genocide]] to remove the threat altogether.

@@ Line 79: / Line 79: @@
 ===UnNetHack===
-In [[UnNetHack]] and [[DynaHack]], all dragons have their breath weapons, resistances, and names randomized each game, allowing any non-[[Chromatic dragon (UnNetHack)|chromatic dragon]] to appear as black - the default type of dragon associated with the black dragon is the sirrush.
+In [[UnNetHack]] and [[DynaHack]], all dragons have their breath weapons, resistances, and names randomized each game, allowing any non-[[Chromatic dragon (UnNetHack)|chromatic dragon]] to appear as black - the default '''disintegration dragon''' is the sirrush.
 ===dNetHack===