Emperor scorpion

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Version 0.13: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.
emperor scorpion sEmperor scorpion.png
HP 101-138
HD 14
XP 1627
Speed 10
AC 20
EV 12
Will 60
Attack1 30 (sting: poison: 28-56)
Attack2 15 (claw: plain)
Attack3 15 (claw: plain)
Resistances rPois+, rDrown,
rWater
Vulnerabilities None
Habitat Land
Intelligence Insect
Uses Uses nothing
Holiness Natural
Size Giant
Type scorpion, emperor scorpion
Flags No skeleton
The emperor scorpion is the largest arachnid known to exist. The massive barb on its tail drips with a deadly venom, and its pincers are big enough to shear you in half. Though the ordinary dungeon scorpion may be both large and dangerous, this freakish relative puts it to shame.

“Portents had occurred indicating [Titus Flavius Vespasianus'] approaching end, such as the comet which was visible for a long time and the opening of the mausoleum of Augustus of its own accord. When his physicians chided him for continuing his usual course of living during his illness and attending to all the duties that belonged to his office, he answered: ‘The emperor ought to die on his feet.’”
-Cassius Dio, _Roman History_, LXVI, xvii, 2. 222 A.D.
trans. Earnest Cary, 1925.

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


Useful Info

Emperor scorpions are extremely dangerous arthropods, capable of inflicting serious injuries and packing a dangerous poison sting. They can handle much more abuse than the average bug, and their poison resistance makes some common strategies for dealing with arthropods ineffective. Although dangerous individually, they are extremely serious threats when encountered in packs. Thankfully they're not very common, only appearing in significant numbers in the Spider's Nest, usually guarding the rune chamber.

Tips & Tricks

  • Ignite Poison deals heavy, unavoidable damage, and is one of the best ways of dealing with large groups of emperor scorpions, though any high-level attack spell that hits multiple targets should work if you have enough MP. Just stay out of melee unless you've got some heavy armour.
  • Poison resistance is almost a necessity for engaging these in melee: without it, they will be constantly inflicting more and more poison with every hit of their main attack, easily leaving you with dark red poison at the end of a fight. Poison resistance will almost entirely negate this.

History

Prior to 0.11, emperor scorpions were weaker and vulnerable to poison.