Polyphemus

Version 0.12: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

Polyphemus C
HP	150
HD	16
XP	2335
Speed	10
AC	10
EV	3
Will	64
Attack1	50 (hit: plain)
Attack2	35 (hit: plain)
Resistances	rDrown
Vulnerabilities	None
Habitat	Land
Intelligence	Normal
Uses	Starting equipment Open doors
Holiness	Natural
Size	Giant
Type	giant, cyclops
Flags	Speaks Unique Warm-blooded

A cyclops shepherd, he is very protective of his charges, whom he watches with an undying fervor through his single massive eye. “...as soon as he had got through with all his work, he clutched up two more of my men, and began eating them for his morning’s meal. Presently, with the utmost ease, he rolled the stone away from the door and drove out his sheep, but he at once put it back again—as easily as though he were merely clapping the lid on to a quiver full of arrows.” -Homer, _The Odyssey_, Book IX. trans. Samuel Butler, 1900

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

Useful Info

Polyphemus is a unique cyclops who has somehow managed to tame a pack of death yaks and catoblepases. He prefers to pelt you with large rocks while you deal with his herd before moving in to attack you in melee. He can often be found in the upper floors of the Shoals, but does not generate in every game.

Location

• The Shoals

Tips & Tricks

• The main danger comes from his herd. Polyphemus himself is significantly more dangerous than a normal cyclops (on par with an ettin or stone giant), but he can usually be kited safely.
• The deep water of the Shoals can work to your advantage if you're capable of attacking at range. His herd may be trapped on one island as you blast them and their shepherd from another.
• If you do have to deal with him and his herd up close, be careful not to let them surround you out in the open. Use stair dancing to limit the number of opponents able to attack you at once.
• If you choose to flee Polyphemus and his herd, don't mash buttons. A catoblepas' petrification breath can prove extremely deadly here if it allows them to surround you or, even worse, turns you to stone as you're flying above deep water.

Trivia

Polyphemus is a reference to the shepherd cyclops who tried to kill Odysseus in the Odyssey.

History

Prior to 0.12, Polyphemus only had death yaks in his herd and was significantly weaker.