Difference between revisions of "Yellow dragon"

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Yellow 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}}
 
Yellow 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}}
  
The fourth variant of [[Medusa's Island]] has a yellow dragon generated asleep behind [[Medusa]]'s dwelling, with a nest of 1-3 baby yellow dragon [[egg]]s and up to two live baby yellow dragons.  
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The fourth variant of [[Medusa's Island]] has a yellow dragon generated asleep behind [[Medusa]]'s dwelling, with a nest of 1-3 baby yellow dragon [[egg]]s and up to two sleeping baby yellow dragons.  
  
 
Yellow dragons have a {{frac|3}} chance of dropping a set of uncursed +0 yellow dragon scales upon death unless [[disintegrated]], and the chance is reduced to {{frac|20}} if the dragon was [[revived]].
 
Yellow dragons have a {{frac|3}} chance of dropping a set of uncursed +0 yellow dragon scales upon death unless [[disintegrated]], and the chance is reduced to {{frac|20}} if the dragon was [[revived]].

Revision as of 10:44, 27 June 2024

A yellow dragon, D, is a type of monster that appears in NetHack. It is an adult dragon associated with the element of acid. Like all dragons, yellow dragons are strong, carnivorous, oviparous, thick-skinned, can see invisible, and are capable of flight - they will also seek out gold, gems and magical items to pick up.

Yellow dragons have an acid breath weapon, a strong bite attack, and two claw attacks. Yellow dragons possess acid resistance and stoning resistance.

Yellow dragons are acidic to eat, but eating a yellow dragon corpse or tin cures stoning.

Generation

Randomly generated yellow dragons are always created hostile. A baby yellow dragon can grow up into a yellow dragon.

Hostile yellow dragons can be generated by the summon nasties monster spell. Characters and monsters that polymorph while wearing yellow dragon scales or yellow dragon scale mail will turn into yellow dragons.

Yellow dragons may appear among the hostile D generated in throne rooms 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).[1]

The fourth variant of Medusa's Island has a yellow dragon generated asleep behind Medusa's dwelling, with a nest of 1-3 baby yellow dragon eggs and up to two sleeping baby yellow dragons.

Yellow dragons have a 13 chance of dropping a set of uncursed +0 yellow dragon scales upon death unless disintegrated, and the chance is reduced to 120 if the dragon was revived.

Strategy

The yellow dragon's acid blasts can ruin metal armor and weapons unless they are corrodeproofed, making it dangerous to be caught down line-of-sight from one (though not to the same extent as other dragons like the black dragon). Its breath weapon can be deflected with reflection, but for characters lacking reflection it has the fewest means of direct resistance available - even the black dragon's disintegration has a form of resistance that can be gained intrinsically, albeit only by eating either its meat or that of the poisonous Chromatic Dragon. Conversely, acid resistance cannot be gained intrinsically except by polyself into an acidic monster, and is only granted extrinsically via yellow dragon scales, yellow dragon scale mail, or an alchemy smock.

While not desired to nearly the same extent as gray dragon scales or silver dragon scales, yellow dragons are sometimes worth seeking out for their scales to give a humanoid pet resistance against dangerous acid passives, especially if they have multiple attacks (e.g. a mind flayer). Yellow dragons themselves are solid choices for stoning-resistant pets, as they are among the strongest acidic monsters in the game.

History

The yellow dragon first appears in NetHack 2.3e.

From NetHack 3.0.0 to NetHack 3.0.10, including variants based on those versions, polymorphing an orange dragon corpse produces regular dragon scale mail. NetHack 3.1.0 introduces the current method of obtaining orange dragon scale mail.

The map of Medusa's island with the guaranteed yellow dragon and her offspring is introduced in NetHack 3.6.0.

Origin

The yellow dragon encountered on Medusa's Island may be based off the Amphisbaena, who is said to have been created along with various other serpents from the blood dripping out of Medusa's severed head.

Variants

Many variants alter the yellow dragon and other dragons to make them more varied and/or threatening.

SLASH'EM

Main article: Dragon (SLASH'EM)

As with most other dragons in SLASH'EM, the yellow dragon's stats are improved: their base level is raised to 18, their difficulty is raised to 25, their frequency is raised to 3, their AC is boosted to -4, their bite and claw attacks are stronger, and they hit as a +3 weapon.

Yellow dragons can appear in dragon lairs and the Wyrm Caves.

NetHack brass

In NetHack brass, the yellow dragon's speed is raised to 12, and its breath weapon deals 12d12 damage.

GruntHack

In GruntHack, the yellow dragon's difficulty is slightly lowered to 19, their bite and claw attacks are stronger, and they are given an additional 2d10 engulfing attack that can digest targets.

UnNetHack

In UnNetHack and DynaHack, all dragons have their breath weapons, resistances, and names randomized each game, allowing any non-chromatic dragon to appear as yellow - the default acid dragon is the guivre.

Encyclopedia entry

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.

[ 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."

[ The Tombs of Atuan, by Ursula K. Le Guin ]

References