Shadow dragon

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shadow dragon D
HP	105-149
HD	17
XP	2067
Speed	10
AC	15
EV	10
Will	113
Attack1	20 (bite: drain experience)
Attack2	15 (claw: plain)
Attack3	15 (claw: plain)
Resistances	rC++, rPois+, rN+++, rDrown
Vulnerabilities	Holy, Dragon Slaying
Habitat	Land
Intelligence	Animal
Uses	Uses nothing
Holiness	Natural
Size	Giant
Type	dragon, shadow dragon
Flags	Cold-blooded Evil Fake spells Flees Flying See invisible Silence immune

A great shadowy dragon, radiating evil and death. Its very mouth and breath stink of the grave. “Crux sacra sit mihi lux / Non draco sit mihi dux Vade retro satana / Numquam suade mihi vana Sunt mala quae libas / Ipse venena bibas” “Let the Holy Cross be my light / Let not the dragon be my guide Step back Satan / Never tempt me with vain things What you offer me is evil / You drink the poison yourself.” -full text of initials on the Saint Benedict Medal, worn to ward off evil spririts. Inscription from 11-15th century, formally approved by pope Benedict XIV in 18th centur

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

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. They are uncommon, usually only found on Vaults:5 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.

Spells

Spell set
Slot1	Bolt of Draining (3d24)
Slot2	Bolt of Draining (3d24)
Slot3	none
Slot4	none
Slot5	Bolt of Draining (3d24)
Slot6	none

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.