The Lair

Version 0.28: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

Most adventurers find the Lair of Beasts to be an exciting change of climate. And indeed, there is something to be said about getting gored, mauled and eaten rather than sliced, burnt or stabbed. The Lair contains the entrances to one of the Swamp or the Shoals, one of the Snake Pit or the Spider Nest, and to the Pits of Slime. The entrance to this branch can be found between levels 8 and 11 of the Dungeon. This branch is 6 levels deep.

A staircase leading to the Lair of Beasts.

The Lair of Beasts (commonly known as the Lair) is a branch of the Dungeon filled with natural beasts of all kinds and offers a comparatively easy source of experience and treasure. While the lair itself does not contain a rune, it features entrances to three themed branches, all of which contain a Rune of Zot. There is one poison-themed branch (the Snake Pit or the Spider's Nest), one water-themed branch (the Swamp or the Shoals), and the acid-themed Slime Pits. At the very bottom of the Lair, you may even find a gate to the Hells, though using it so early is almost certainly suicidal.

The staircase to the Lair is located on D:8-11 and is often surrounded by plants, fungi, or occasionally (and unfortunately) an oklob plant. There may also be multiple denizens of the Lair scattered around the entrance, like yaks, a komodo dragon, or an actual fire dragon.

Layout

The Lair is 6 levels deep. Floor layouts vary significantly, including wide open chambers with almost no cover, series of interconnected small chambers with narrow hallways between them, and open areas dotted with either small forests or ponds. The topography of the Lair is quite irregular; while narrow passages exist, often there will be few true one-tile-wide tunnels, ensuring the various pack animals have ways to swarm passersby. In any case, there will often be pools of shallow water, deep water, and occasionally lava placed throughout.

The bottom floor of the Lair is generally fairly open, but will always contain one or two end vaults that contain both an assortment of stronger monsters and a selection of treasure. These vaults may range from a secluded set of caves full of assorted worms to a forest containing a temple or perhaps several bands of spriggans. See the #Lair:6 vaults section below for what to expect from the different options.

While there are very few altars found in the Lair, those wishing to worship Jiyva can occasionally find an altar immediately outside of the Slime Pits on Lair:5 or 6.

Strategy

If you haven't done so yet, read the article on hydras.

Although the Orcish Mines are occasionally discovered first, many players choose the Lair as the first branch they explore. The Lair is a sprawling area, and much easier than the potential threat of ettins and stone giants in Orc. There is a wide variety of possible monsters to encounter, but with a few exceptions, they are easier prey than you'll find delving deeper into the dungeon (at least on the first few floors). Just keep an eye out for surprisingly deadly cane toads or the obscenely deadly hydras. As you descend deeper and deeper, you'll encounter other dangerous opponents, such as packs of blink frogs, elephants, and the dreaded herds of death yaks.

Many monsters in the Lair are venomous; poison resistance will neutralize a significant portion of the potential damage output of the branch, though this is less crucial for spellcasters or ranged fighters who usually don't let monsters get near enough to bite or sting. Beyond that, electricity resistance will help you avoid an embarrassing death by electric eel shocks, cold resistance can come in handy for the occasional rime drake on the lower floors, and corrosion resistance will help with the odd oklob plant or vault full of jellies.

As you travel deeper, keep an eye out for messages suggesting the presence of a timed portal on the floor: you can gain access to the Ice Cave, Volcano, and Gauntlet from here (although each game randomly determines which, if any, of those will be present). Having the appropriate resistance for the Volcano and Ice Cave will make them far more survivable -- Gauntlets, meanwhile, might contain anything in addition to the minotaur at the end.

You should probably clear at least the first 5 floors of the Lair before venturing into any of its sub-branches; these can contain surprisingly difficult early encounters, and may require much more training for some character builds. As for Lair:6, explore it carefully as many end vaults are surprisingly dangerous. You may also run across rare Zot traps.

Monsters

Common Monsters

Y Yak	Y Death yak	Y Dream sheep	Y Elephant	Y Catoblepas
h Polar bear	h Black bear	S Water moccasin	S Black mamba	B Boulder beetle
w Torpor snail	D Hydra	F Cane toad	F Blink frog	k Rime drake
D Steam dragon	S Electric eel	k Lindwurm

Monsters native to a lair branch may reside at its entrance; merfolk for the Shoals, redbacks for the Spider's Nest, etc.
There are also many man-made vaults with monsters inside (ex. a Hive filled with killer bees and a queen bee).

Uniques

x Erica	e Fannar	w Gastronok	g Grum
@ Harold	@ Joseph	@ Josephine	@ Kirke
@ Maggie	o Nergalle	c Nessos	F Prince Ribbit
@ Rupert	T Snorg	K Sonja	o Urug

Lair:6 vaults

The last level of the Lair is more difficult than the previous levels. It always includes at least one of these vaults -- either one large vault, or two small vaults.

Large lair end vaults

• minmay_lair_end_enchanted_forest: A forest populated by various wild beasts as well as several spriggans, some spriggan riders, and a few boggarts.
• due_jungle_book: A temple in the middle of a jungle. This vault contains a spectral anaconda with necromancer and dire elephant buddies.
• evil_forest: A forest with a temple guarded by a wizard, who can occasionally have very dangerous spells like Paralyze, Lehudib's Crystal Spear, or Banishment. Past the wizard is a room containing a gateway to the Vestibule of Hell guarded by several demons. Entering the gate at this point is a fast way to die -- at least wait until you're ready for the Depths.
• minmay_lair_end_frog_pond: A large pond containing many frogs, vampire mosquitoes, some electric eels, and a few tyrant leeches.
• evilmike_catoblepas_cave: A series of caves full of yaks, death yaks, and catoblepae signified by the presence of petrified plants and statues around the entrance.
• grunt_lair_end_beastmaster: A deep troll shaman has tamed some beasts including a catoblepas, a pack of death yaks, and one the following: hydra, lindwurm or dire elephant.
• gammafunk_lair_ancient_temple: An open stone structure that has been flooded. Contains an assortment of aquatic monsters, some mythological beasts, and a merfolk avatar.
• cheibrodos_lair_end_hotspot: A miniature volcano full of fiery monsters. The central chamber contains a fire dragon and its hoard.

Small lair end vaults

• wormcave: A cave full of tyrant leeches, torpor snails, hornets, and lindwurms. There's also a single fire or ice dragon guarding a room full of piles of gold, but that fight is optional (don't open the runed door if you aren't ready to face it).
• hangedman_lair_caniforms_friends: An assortment of hound- and bear-type monsters. Expect fire damage from hell hounds, electricity damage from raiju, and heavy physical damage from angry polar bears.
• guppyfry_lair_end_dragon: A grove of trees surrounded by a small lake. Full of lizards and lesser dragons, with one proper dragon in the center.
• hangedman_lair_in_review (S): A series of ruined rooms. This vault is a review of the Lair's monster set: you'll be seeing a variety of different monsters found in the Lair, plus a few more dangerous creatures like manticores.
• hangedman_lair_tendril_chambers: A circular area cut into several wedge-shaped sections full of fast, often venomous monsters (wyverns, black mambas, cane toads, etc.). One or two of the wedges lead to a central chamber that in turn leads to a stone room that contains the treasure and a more dangerous assortment of monsters like wolf spiders, redbacks, and a guardian serpent.

History

• In 0.29, Lair will have 5 floors.
• Prior to 0.19, Lair had 8 levels.
• Fire drakes were replaced by rime drakes in 0.18, trapdoor spiders, brain worms were removed.
• Ravens, giant mites, boring beetles and goliath beetles were removed in 0.17.
• Prior to 0.14 the Lair's entrance was located on D:8-13.
• Prior to 0.9, a scroll of magic mapping would reveal the secret rooms of the temple on Lair:8.
• The dragon-themed and deep troll shaman ending vaults on the eighth floor were added in 0.12.