Difference between revisions of "Boulder beetle"

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(Tips & Tricks: This just happened in my latest run. Hilarity was had by all (except the beetles).)
m (Tips & Tricks: typo)
 
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{{monster
+
{{version030}}
|name=boulder beetle
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{{list of | arthropods}}
|glyph={{LightGrey|B}}
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{{monster info}}
|tile=[[File:Boulder beetle.png]]
 
|flags={{No skeleton flag}}
 
|resistances=None
 
|vulnerabilities={{Poison vulnerability}}
 
|max_chunks=16
 
|meat={{Poisonous corpse}}
 
|xp=62
 
|holiness={{Natural}}
 
|magic_resistance=36
 
|hp_range=33 - 64
 
|avg_hp=48
 
|armour_class=20
 
|evasion=2
 
|habitat=land
 
|speed=3
 
|size={{Big}}
 
|item_use={{Uses nothing}}
 
|attack1=45 ({{Bite type}}: {{Plain flavour}})
 
|attack2=
 
|attack3=
 
|attack4=
 
|hit_dice=9
 
|base_hp=3
 
|extra_hp=5
 
|fixed_hp=0
 
|intelligence={{Insect intelligence}}
 
|genus=giant beetle
 
|species=boulder beetle
 
}}
 
{{Flavour|A huge grey beetle with an almost impenetrable rocky carapace.}}
 
  
 
==Useful Info==
 
==Useful Info==
'''Boulder beetles''' are the most massive beetles in the game, using their brutal melee attacks and decent [[AC]] whenever a player lets them get into melee. When encountered at range, they occasionally roll into a ball and rush you; this raises their speed from 6 to 14, makes them unable to change direction until they strike something, and deals 3d20 physical damage if they ram into you. They also use this ability to escape from combat when heavily wounded. This attack cannot be dodged with [[ev]]asion, but you can block it with a [[shield]] (and send it going the other way with a shield of [[reflection]]!). Boulder beetles can be found in the mid-to-late [[Dungeon]], as well as in the deeper parts of [[the Lair]].
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'''Boulder beetles''' are among the most massive bugs in the game, using their brutal melee attacks and decent [[AC]] whenever a player lets them get into melee. This is made easier with their rolling ability, which doubles their speed and damage for a short time. They need a tile of space in order to roll, but they can also leap away from their prey to set up the opportunity.
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Boulder beetles can be found in the mid-to-late [[Dungeon]], as well as in all parts of [[the Lair]].
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{{monster spells}}
  
 
==Tips & Tricks==
 
==Tips & Tricks==
*A rolling boulder beetle is subject to inertia, and will continue to roll even if put to [[sleep]], [[confuse]]d, or [[petrified]].
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*Be cautious around boulder beetles; any moment when they're not adjacent to you is a moment they could suddenly gain a huge burst of speed and power.
*Fast characters will have a much easier time with boulder beetles; you can easily kite them before or after they start rolling. Other characters should be cautious when facing them, particularly in long hallways where stepping aside just isn't an option.
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*Their rolling attack is essentially a double-strength regular attack and follows many of the same rules. Characters with a decent [[sh]]ield or [[ev]]asion stand a chance of avoiding the attack outright, while characters relying on their armour to protect them will have a harder time of it. Placing an ally (such as [[summon]]s, [[Hepliaklqana]]'s ancestor, or even [[Fulminant Prism]]) in the path of their rolling charge will safely unleash the attack, and stop the roll.
*They've got vulnerability to [[poison]], making it easy to bypass their AC and take them out if you have access to [[Poison Magic]] or other poison sources. They've also got weak [[magic resistance]] and wimpy [[HD]], so [[Hexes]] or even disabling [[wand]]s can stop them fairly easily.
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*Boulder beetles are vulnerable to [[poison]], so [[Poison Magic]] or even poisoned [[dart]]s work well. Due to their tendency to blink away, a [[scroll of poison]] is ''very'' effective. [[Curare]] is also great, since it slows them down.
*If you manage to get two boulder beetles to roll into each other, they will both take damage and be confused afterwards, giving you a window of opportunity to beat up on them or run away. Just be sure to step clear in time to avoid getting crushed between them.
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*They've also got weak [[willpower]] and only moderate [[HD]], so [[Hexes]] or disabling [[wand]]s can stop them fairly easily.
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*If you find one in the Dungeon, remember that boulder beetles can't open [[door]]s, and won't knock them over when rolling.
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
Prior to [[0.11]], boulder beetles could not roll at you.
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*Prior to [[0.30]], boulder beetles dealt 32 damage (64 when rolling).
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*Prior to [[0.28]], incapacitating a boulder beetle did not stop them from rolling.
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*Boulder beetles returned in [[0.26]] with a new rolling mechanic.
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*Boulder beetles were removed in [[0.19]]. They were slower than average, and their rolling was subject to inertia (similar to an [[orb of destruction]], they would keep rolling in a straight line until they hit something).
 +
*Prior to [[0.11]], boulder beetles could not roll at you.

Latest revision as of 16:10, 26 August 2023

Version 0.30: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

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

boulder beetle BBoulder beetle.png
HP 50-102
HD 12
XP 971
Speed 10
AC 20
EV 2
Will 40
Attack1 27 (bite: plain)


Resistances None
Vulnerabilities Poison
Habitat Land
Intelligence Animal
Uses Uses nothing
Holiness Natural
Size Large
Type boulder beetle, boulder beetle
Flags No skeleton
Web immune
A huge grey beetle with an almost impenetrable rocky carapace. When at some distance from its foe, a boulder beetle is capable of rolling at high speed, attempting to crash into its target for heavy damage.

Useful Info

Boulder beetles are among the most massive bugs in the game, using their brutal melee attacks and decent AC whenever a player lets them get into melee. This is made easier with their rolling ability, which doubles their speed and damage for a short time. They need a tile of space in order to roll, but they can also leap away from their prey to set up the opportunity.

Boulder beetles can be found in the mid-to-late Dungeon, as well as in all parts of the Lair.

Spells

Spell set I
Slot1 Roll (2d27) Natural flag
Slot2 Blink Away Natural flag

Tips & Tricks

  • Be cautious around boulder beetles; any moment when they're not adjacent to you is a moment they could suddenly gain a huge burst of speed and power.
  • Their rolling attack is essentially a double-strength regular attack and follows many of the same rules. Characters with a decent shield or evasion stand a chance of avoiding the attack outright, while characters relying on their armour to protect them will have a harder time of it. Placing an ally (such as summons, Hepliaklqana's ancestor, or even Fulminant Prism) in the path of their rolling charge will safely unleash the attack, and stop the roll.
  • Boulder beetles are vulnerable to poison, so Poison Magic or even poisoned darts work well. Due to their tendency to blink away, a scroll of poison is very effective. Curare is also great, since it slows them down.
  • They've also got weak willpower and only moderate HD, so Hexes or disabling wands can stop them fairly easily.
  • If you find one in the Dungeon, remember that boulder beetles can't open doors, and won't knock them over when rolling.

History

  • Prior to 0.30, boulder beetles dealt 32 damage (64 when rolling).
  • Prior to 0.28, incapacitating a boulder beetle did not stop them from rolling.
  • Boulder beetles returned in 0.26 with a new rolling mechanic.
  • Boulder beetles were removed in 0.19. They were slower than average, and their rolling was subject to inertia (similar to an orb of destruction, they would keep rolling in a straight line until they hit something).
  • Prior to 0.11, boulder beetles could not roll at you.