Shadow dragon

For a list of all dragons, see list of dragons.

shadow dragon D [[File:{{{tile_name}}}.png|32px]]
HP	85 - 170
HD	17
XP	4674
Speed	10
AC	15
EV	10
Will	113
Attack1	20 (bite: drain experience)
Attack2	15 (claw: plain)
Attack3	15 (claw: plain)
Resistances	rC+, rPois+
Vulnerabilities	Dragon Slaying, Holy
Habitat	land
Intelligence	Animal
Uses	Uses nothing
Holiness	Natural
Size	Huge
Type	dragon, shadow dragon
Flags	Spellcaster Flying See invisible Evil Cold-blooded

A great shadowy shape, radiating evil and death.

Useful Info

Shadow dragons are powerful dragonkind whose breath and bite attacks inflict draining. Unprepared characters who survive encounters with them often end up less experienced, in spite of their excellent XP value, and survival is not guaranteed. They are uncommon, usually only found on Vaults:8 or in certain late-game vaults, but naturally occurring shadow dragons can be found in the deepest Dungeons and the Realm of Zot.

Unlike some dragons, butchering it produces no special hide; doing so only produces rot-inducing chunks which most characters will want to avoid touching.

Tips & Tricks

• Each rank of life protection you have will reduce the effect of their draining by a third, providing complete immunity with three ranks. If you have good reason to suspect a shadow dragon is coming (Vaults:8 is almost a guarantee), it's not a bad idea to come packing rings of life protection, an amulet of warding, or other rN+ sources. Undead characters need not worry.
  • Failing that, high evasion, Repel Missiles, or Deflect Missiles will allow you to dodge many of their breath attacks, although not infallibly. In any case, kill them as quickly as possible to limit their opportunities to drain you.
• Although they aren't undead, they have the standard undead cold resistance and immunity to negative energy. Fortunately, they are also evil and thus vulnerable to Cleansing Flame (but not weapons of holy wrath).
• Shadow dragons flee with surprisingly high remaining HP. If you want to avoid having to face them repeatedly, bring some means of dealing heavy damage at range. Powerful ranged weapons or high level Conjurations can get the job done, as can the lower level spell Airstrike which takes advantage of the fact that they fly. Alternatively you can try to corner them, but that often requires turns spent maneuvering around the beast during which you'll be taking breath attacks.