Dragon - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: /* notdNetHack */ update

2026-06-20T10:54:03Z

‎notdNetHack: update

Umbire the Phantom: /* Encyclopedia entry */ leftover

2026-05-27T02:23:11Z

‎Encyclopedia entry: leftover

Umbire the Phantom: /* Elemental affinities */ paren

2026-05-27T02:22:39Z

‎Elemental affinities: paren

Umbire the Phantom: start integrating gold dragon stuff - more work to do before we tick up the ol' version number

2026-05-27T02:21:21Z

start integrating gold dragon stuff - more work to do before we tick up the ol' version number

Umbire the Phantom: potholes

2026-05-18T22:40:31Z

potholes

Tomsod: /* As pets */ easy trick to give them an amulet of reflection

2026-05-16T18:51:39Z

‎As pets: easy trick to give them an amulet of reflection

Umbire the Phantom: touch-ups

2025-07-29T06:44:52Z

touch-ups

Umbire the Phantom: /* notdNetHack */ copyedity

2025-03-27T21:54:40Z

‎notdNetHack: copyedity

Umbire the Phantom: /* EvilHack */ link main artice

2025-03-27T21:54:11Z

‎EvilHack: link main artice

Umbire the Phantom: /* Generation */ dragon HP

2025-03-27T21:17:58Z

‎Generation: dragon HP

@@ Line 310: / Line 310: @@
 ===notdNetHack===
-[[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]] retain the monsters added to the monster class in dNetHack and the changes made to those monsters, and also add two unique dragons:
+[[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]] retain the monsters added to the monster class in dNetHack and the changes made to those monsters, and also add two unique dragons, one of which is [[Deferred and defunct features (dNetHack)|defunct]]:
-* {{red|D}} [[Eden]]
+* {{brightcyan|D}} [[Eden]]
-* {{brightcyan|D}} [[Fafnir]]
+* Defunct monster:
 ===EvilHack===

@@ Line 337: / Line 337: @@
 ==Encyclopedia entry==
-{{encyclopedia|<poem>
+{{encyclopedia|
 In the West the dragon was the natural enemy of man.  Although preferring to live in bleak and desolate regions, whenever it was seen among men it left in its wake a trail of destruction and disease.  Yet any attempt to slay this beast was a perilous undertaking.  For the dragon's assailant had to contend not only with clouds of sulphurous fumes pouring from its fire breathing nostrils, but also with the thrashings of its tail, the most deadly part of its serpent-like body.
 {{right-align|[ Mythical Beasts by Deirdre Headon (The Leprechaun Library) ]}}

@@ Line 169: / Line 169: @@
 |-
 |Red
-|[[Fire (element)|fire]] 6d6
+|[[Fire (element)|fire]] (6d6)
 |[[fire resistance]]
 |[[fire resistance]], [[infravision]]

@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 * Adult dragons
 ** {{monsymlink|gray dragon}}
 ** {{monsymlink|silver dragon}}
 ** {{monsymlink|red dragon}}
@@ Line 40: / Line 41: @@
 * [[Baby dragon]]s
 ** {{monsymlink|baby gray dragon}}
 ** {{monsymlink|baby silver dragon}}
 ** {{monsymlink|baby red dragon}}
@@ Line 54: / Line 56: @@
 ** {{monsymlink|shimmering dragon}}
 ** {{monsymlink|baby shimmering dragon}}
 ==Common characteristics==
@@ Line 135: / Line 135: @@
 |[[disintegration]]
 |[[disintegration resistance]]
-|[[disintegration resistance]]
+|[[disintegration resistance]], [[drain resistance]]
 |[[disintegration resistance]]
 |-
@@ Line 141: / Line 141: @@
 |[[lightning]]
 |[[shock resistance]]
 |[[shock resistance]]
-|[[shock resistance]]
+|-
 |-
 |Gray
@@ Line 153: / Line 159: @@
 |[[poison]]
 |[[poison resistance]]
-|[[poison resistance]]
+|[[poison resistance]], [[immunity to sickness]]
 |[[poison resistance]] ([[poisonous]] to eat)
 |-
@@ Line 159: / Line 165: @@
 |[[sleep]] (4d25 turns)
 |[[sleep resistance]]
-|[[sleep resistance]]
+|[[sleep resistance]], [[free action]]
 |[[sleep resistance]]
 |-
@@ Line 165: / Line 171: @@
 |[[Fire (element)|fire]] 6d6
 |[[fire resistance]]
-|[[fire resistance]]
+|[[fire resistance]], [[infravision]]
 |[[fire resistance]]
 |-
@@ Line 177: / Line 183: @@
 |[[cold]]
 |[[cold resistance]]
-|[[cold resistance]]
+|[[cold resistance]], [[slow digestion]]
 |[[cold resistance]]
 |-
 |Yellow
 |[[acid]]
-|[[acid resistance]] and [[petrification resistance]]
+|[[acid resistance]], [[stoning resistance]]
-|[[acid resistance]]
+|[[acid resistance]], [[stoning resistance]]
-|[[acidic]], immediately aborts [[stoning]]
+|[[acidic]] and immediately cures [[stoning]], temporary [[acid resistance]] or [[stoning resistance]]
 |}
 ==Deferred dragons==
-The shimmering dragon, whose scales grant [[Displacement (property)displacement]], appears in the code along with its baby form, but is commented out by default&mdash;monster displacement has [[deferred features|not yet been implemented]] in vanilla ''NetHack''.
+The shimmering dragon, whose scales grant [[Displacement (property)|displacement]], appears in the code along with its baby form, but is commented out by default. As [[displacer beast]]s have been successfully added to ''NetHack'', monster displacement is at least possible&mdash;the [[Devteam]] has stated that shimmering dragons and their scales would require a different implementation from them.
 ==Strategy==
@@ Line 217: / Line 219: @@
 ==History==
-The standard [[Dragon (monster)|dragon monster]] first appears in Hack 1.21 and Hack for PDP-11, which are based on [[Jay Fenlason's Hack]], and is included in the initial bestiary for [[Hack 1.0]]. This early dragon does not have a specific color, but it breathes fire, and a '''dead dragon''' is [[poisonous]] to eat and always confers fire resistance, making it an "ancestor" to the modern red dragon. A dead dragon is the only way to get intrinsic fire resistance in ''Hack'', so it is quite likely that the player will not have the resistance before encountering one, and reflection is not yet available; dragons can also use their breath attack in melee ''on top'' of their normal melee attacks, making them significantly more dangerous than in later versions.
+The standard [[Dragon (monster)|dragon monster]] first appears in Hack 1.21 and Hack for PDP-11, which are based on [[Jay Fenlason's Hack]], and is included in the initial bestiary for [[Hack 1.0]]. This early dragon does not have a specific color, but it breathes fire, and a '''dead dragon''' is [[poisonous]] to eat and always confers fire resistance, making it an "ancestor" to the modern red dragon. A dead dragon is the only way to get intrinsic fire resistance in ''Hack'', so it is quite likely that the player will not have the resistance before encountering one, and reflection is not yet available; dragons can also use their breath attack in melee ''on top'' of their normal melee attacks, making them significantly more dangerous.
-[[NetHack 2.3e]] introduces all of the modern dragon types and their associated breath weapons, except for silver&mdash;the monsters are not yet distinguished from each other, as every dragon's corpse is referred to as a "dead dragon" regardless of type, and eating the corpse always grants fire resistance. Black dragon breath causes [[instadeath]], and there is no reflection, disintegration resistance or [[amulet of life saving]], making genocide tempting; this is counterbalanced with fire resistance being necessary to traverse [[Hell]], and there is no means of genociding only black dragons.
+[[NetHack 2.3e]] introduces all of the modern dragon types and their associated breath weapons, except for silver: the monsters are not yet distinguished from each other, as every dragon's corpse is referred to as a "dead dragon" regardless of type, and eating the corpse always grants fire resistance. Black dragon breath causes [[instadeath]], and there is no reflection, disintegration resistance or [[amulet of life saving]], making genocide of dragons tempting&mdash;this is counterbalanced with fire resistance being necessary to traverse [[Hell]], and there is no means of genociding ''only'' black dragons.
-[[NetHack 3.0.0]] introduces baby dragons, distinguishes the dragons and their corpses by type and color, and also introduces dragon scale mail; from this version to [[NetHack 3.0.10]], dragon scale mail is obtained by polymorphing a dragon corpse. Reflection is introduced in this version, and black dragon breath is toned down a bit; the distinctions between dragons also makes it possible for a hero to genocide only black dragons.
+[[NetHack 3.0.0]] introduces baby dragons, distinguishes the dragons and their corpses by type and color, and also introduces dragon scale mail: from this version to [[NetHack 3.0.10]], dragon scale mail is obtained by polymorphing a dragon corpse. Reflection is introduced in this version, and black dragon breath is toned down a bit&mdash;the distinctions between dragons also makes it possible for a hero to genocide only black dragons.
-[[NetHack 3.1.0]] introduces dragon scales as a death drop and the current method of obtaining dragon scale mail. This version also adds the [[Quest]]s, and with them the Chromatic Dragon and Ixoth. Hell is replaced by [[Gehennom]] in this version, and fire resistance is no longer necessary to enter, though it is still heavily recommended.
+[[NetHack 3.1.0]] introduces dragon scales as a death drop and establishes the current method of obtaining dragon scale mail. This version also adds the [[Quest]]s and with them the quest nemeses, including Chromatic Dragon and Ixoth. Hell is replaced by [[Gehennom]] in this version, and fire resistance is no longer necessary to enter, though it is still heavily recommended.
 [[NetHack 3.3.0]] adds the silver dragon along with its corresponding baby form and scales from [[SLASH 6]], which is a [[NetHack 3.1.3]] variant.
 ==Origin==
@@ Line 336: / Line 340: @@
 In the West the dragon was the natural enemy of man.  Although preferring to live in bleak and desolate regions, whenever it was seen among men it left in its wake a trail of destruction and disease.  Yet any attempt to slay this beast was a perilous undertaking.  For the dragon's assailant had to contend not only with clouds of sulphurous fumes pouring from its fire breathing nostrils, but also with the thrashings of its tail, the most deadly part of its serpent-like body.
 {{right-align|[ Mythical Beasts by Deirdre Headon (The Leprechaun Library) ]}}
 "One whom the dragons will speak with," he said, "that is a dragonlord, or at least that is the center of the matter.  It's not a trick of mastering the dragons, as most people think. Dragons have no masters.  The question is always the same, with a dragon:  will he talk to you or will he eat you?  If you can count upon his doing the former, and not doing the latter, why then you're a dragonlord."
-{{right-align|[ The Tombs of Atuan, by Ursula K. Le Guin ]}}
+|[ The Tombs of Atuan, by Ursula K. Le Guin ]
-</poem>}}
+}}
 ==References==

@@ Line 190: / Line 190: @@
 ==Deferred dragons==
-The shimmering dragon, whose scales grant [[displacement]], appears in the code along with its baby form, but is commented out by default - monster displacement has [[deferred features|not yet been implemented]] in vanilla ''NetHack''.
+The shimmering dragon, whose scales grant [[Displacement (property)displacement]], appears in the code along with its baby form, but is commented out by default&mdash;monster displacement has [[deferred features|not yet been implemented]] in vanilla ''NetHack''.
 {{upcoming|3.7.0|Displacer beasts have been successfully added to the latest in-development version, indicating that monster displacement is at least possible, though the [[Devteam]] has stated that shimmering dragons and their scales would require a different implementation from them.}}
@@ Line 297: / Line 297: @@
 [[FIQHack]] dragons are significantly faster (speed 20 instead of 9), and their claw attacks are 1d8 instead of 1d4. In addition, they have special AI that allows them to use their breath weapon in melee range, and they will try to move more intelligently in general: they will keep you in their line of fire when possible, or move out of that line when they can't use their breath, and will flee to preserve survival.
-FIQHack also includes the deferred shimmering dragons from vanilla, which have innate [[displacement]] and stunning breath, and whose scales confer displacement when worn.
+FIQHack also includes the deferred shimmering dragons from vanilla, which have innate [[Displacement (property)|displacement]] and stunning breath, and whose scales confer displacement when worn.
 Dragon breaths operate as [[Wands Balance Patch|skilled ray-type wands]]: there is a chance per breath attack that it will bypass reflection.  Disintegration breath never does this.

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:51, 16 May 2026
Line 210:		Line 210:

	While baby dragons lack scales and intrinsic resistances, heroes can still use tame baby dragons to obtain scales and/or resistances by raising them to adulthood, then killing them (e.g. indirectly via [[conflict]], or else by rendering them non-tame through [[pet abuse]]) for their scales and intrinsics.		While baby dragons lack scales and intrinsic resistances, heroes can still use tame baby dragons to obtain scales and/or resistances by raising them to adulthood, then killing them (e.g. indirectly via [[conflict]], or else by rendering them non-tame through [[pet abuse]]) for their scales and intrinsics.
		+
		+	A [[humanoid]] pet wearing dragon scales or mail will always turn into the corresponding adult dragon when polymorphing (the scales are consumed in the process). This can be useful if you want the resulting pet to wear an [[amulet]], as it's not removed during the transformation, unlike armor.

	===Intrinsics and food sources===		===Intrinsics and food sources===

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
   |frequency=1
   |genocidable=Yes
-  |attacks=Breath ''(see article)'', bite 3d8 physical, claw 1d4 physical, claw 1d4 physical
+  |attacks=[[Breath]] ''(see article)'', [[bite]] 3d8 [[Physical damage|physical]], [[Claw attack|claw]] 1d4 physical, claw 1d4 physical
   |weight=4500
   |nutr=1500
@@ Line 55: / Line 55: @@
 ** {{monsymlink|baby shimmering dragon}}
-{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|[[Gold dragon]]s and [[baby gold dragon]]s are introduced - they emit light and breathe [[Fire (element)|fire]].}}
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|[[Gold dragon (3.7.0)|Gold dragons]] and [[Baby gold dragon (3.7.0)|baby gold dragons]] are introduced&mdash;they emit light, and adult gold dragons breathe [[Fire (element)|fire]].}}
 ==Common characteristics==
@@ Line 83: / Line 83: @@
   |frequency=0
   |genocidable=Yes
-  |attacks=Bite 2d6
+  |attacks=[[Bite]] 2d6 [[Physical damage|physical]]
   |weight=1500
   |nutr=500
@@ Line 108: / Line 108: @@
 * Four dragons are generated around the [[moat]] of [[Fort Ludios]], with one random dragon placed at each cardinal direction.
-* Many dragons appear on the [[Healer quest]] - five random dragons are generated for the home, locate and goal levels, and four random dragons are generated in the filler levels between them.
+* Many dragons appear on the [[Healer quest]]&mdash;five random dragons are generated on the home, locate and goal levels, and four random dragons are generated  on the filler levels between them.
-* Four dragons are generated in the [[Castle]], with two random dragons occupying each of the alcoves between the storerooms.
+* Four dragons are generated in the [[Castle]], consisting of two random dragons occupying each of the alcoves between the storerooms.
-* Three random are generated on the [[Astral Plane]].
+* Three random dragons are generated on the [[Astral Plane]].
 Dragons will always leave a [[corpse]] if killed in a way that leaves them intact (i.e. by any method other than [[disintegration]]), and adult dragons have a {{frac|3}} chance of also dropping a set of their uncursed +0 scales, which is reduced to {{frac|20}} if the dragon was [[revived]]{{refsrc|src/mon.c|325|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}&mdash;if a dragon is turned to stone, the scales can also be retrieved from their [[statue]] with the same probability.
@@ Line 127: / Line 127: @@
 {| class="prettytable striped"
 !Dragon
-!Breath ''(4d6 unless otherwise noted)''
+!Breath damage ''(4d6 unless otherwise noted)''
 !Intrinsics
 !Scale properties
@@ Line 154: / Line 154: @@
 |[[poison resistance]]
 |[[poison resistance]]
-|[[poison resistance]] (poisonous to eat)
+|[[poison resistance]] ([[poisonous]] to eat)
 |-
 |Orange
@@ Line 200: / Line 200: @@
 Baby dragons are generally pushovers for the point they are encountered at, unless a hero is weak or unlucky. Adult dragons will use their breath weapons only at range, i.e. more than one square from the hero, and heroes that get within melee distance can avoid the breath attacks, but will have to contend with their strong bite and subsequent claw attacks. Hero without magic resistance or reflection to avoid or nullify breath weapons may prefer this option, and good AC is always worthwhile in any case. For heroes that opt to use Dragonbane, the reflection it grants when wielded is perfect for dealing with the adults' breath attacks, and also makes it an ideal aid when farming for scales.
-Those looking to make dragon scale mail may opt to use a [[cursed]] [[scroll of genocide]] to generate dragons of their desired color, which is best done in conjunction with an engraved [[Elbereth]] or [[scroll of scare monster]] - this is best done in a small room to reduce the odds of breath attacks occurring.
+Those looking to make dragon scale mail may opt to use a [[cursed]] [[scroll of genocide]] to generate dragons of their desired color, which is best done in conjunction with an engraved [[Elbereth]] or [[scroll of scare monster]]&mdash;this is best done in a small room to reduce the odds of breath attacks occurring.
 ===As pets===
@@ Line 328: / Line 328: @@
 ** {{red|D}} [[Alduin]]
-The golden dragon's scales give [[sickness resistance]], while the stone dragon's scales give [[stoning resistance]], and the [[Dragon Lord]] drops the [[artifact]] [[Scales of the Dragon Lord]] on death.
+The golden dragon's scales grant [[sickness resistance]], while the stone dragon's scales grant [[stoning resistance]], and the [[Dragon Lord]] drops the [[artifact]] [[Scales of the Dragon Lord]] on death.
 ==Encyclopedia entry==

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:54, 27 March 2025
Line 310:		Line 310:

	===EvilHack===		===EvilHack===
		+	{{main\|Dragon (EvilHack)}}
	[[EvilHack]] dragons have been significantly enhanced – they spawn with much more hit points (especially in the End Game), can [[engulf]] and [[digest]] creatures smaller than them, and their scales each have some form of a secondary passive attack (which is passed on to the scales and any mail made out of them).		[[EvilHack]] dragons have been significantly enhanced – they spawn with much more hit points (especially in the End Game), can [[engulf]] and [[digest]] creatures smaller than them, and their scales each have some form of a secondary passive attack (which is passed on to the scales and any mail made out of them).

@@ Line 102: / Line 102: @@
 Adult dragons are often randomly generated around the midway depths of the dungeon. They may appear among the hostile monsters 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}} Several colors of adult dragon can be created by the [[summon nasties]] [[monster spell]].
-Where most monsters roll (ML)d8 for their HP (with ML being the [[Monster level|monster's level]]), an adult dragon instead rolls (ML)d4 and adds 4 times its monster level to that result, e.g., a level 15 dragon will always have at least 75 HP. Dragons generated in the [[End Game]] use a flat 8*(ML), and so will always have the maximum amount of HP possible for their level, e.g. the level 15 dragon from before would always have 120 HP if generated on the [[Elemental Planes]] or [[Astral Plane]].{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|969|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
+Where most monsters roll (ML)d8 for their HP (with ML being the [[Monster level|monster's level]]), an adult dragon instead rolls different dice depending on if they generate in the [[End Game]] or not:{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|1002|nethack=3.6.7}} normally, an adult dragon rolls (ML)d4 and adds 4 times its monster level to that result, e.g., a level 15 dragon will always have at least 75 HP. Adult dragons generated in the [[End Game]] use a flat 8*(ML), and so will always have the maximum amount of HP possible for their level, e.g. the level 15 dragon from before would always have 120 HP if generated on the [[Elemental Planes]] or [[Astral Plane]]. An adult dragon subjected to level drain loses 4-8 HP.{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|969|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
 In addition to random generation, adult dragons are generated on level creation for the following areas: