How do I kill the Shadow Dragon ?

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Hi...
Yeah.. I know... It has been discussed a lot of times.. (I also made a search, but didn't find anything usable) - But...

How do I kill the Shadow Dragon? (in the Umar Hills quest)

I know its optional, but I thought it would be more fun if at least killed one dragon in the game

anyway, I have:
Protagonist Kensai lvl. 10 (dualled to mage at lvl. 12)
Weapons:
Flail Of Ages +3, Flame Tongue, Staff Mace.

Nalia lvl. 11
Weapons:
Cleric's staff +3, Tuigan Bow

Spells:
Breach, Chromatic Orb, Acid Arrow and the like, but no resistance lowering spells.

Mazzy at lvl. 9
Weapons: Bow & Sword of Averon (sp?)

Any suggestions and such ?

 

Get more party members would be a good start. Level up too.

 

you should pick up some extra characters (korgan, anomen, keldorn)
cast Magic Resistance on the dragon (it will lower his MR)
breach his protection or run around untill they stop working
boost your party members (haste, prayer,...) and kill him

 

My standard tactic:

Buffs on Party
Haste (everyone)
Mirror Image (Nalia only)
Stone Skin (Nalia only)
Strength of One(Mazzy only)
Draw Upon Holy Might (Protagonist only)
Kai (Protagonist only)
Shadow Door (Nalia only - sometimes)

Cast on Shadow Dragon
Cloud Kill
Breach
Melf's Acid Arrow
Lightning

.. and 30-40 seconds later everyone is dead (just not the dragon)

[edit]: I dont want to pickup more characters, I took Mazzy because I thought it would be a tough fight - and it certainly is.
Im soloing a Kensai/Mage, and as soon as my kensai is dualled and my mage is getting better im throwing Nalia out of the party.

[ August 09, 2003, 15:43: Message edited by: Sir Ai Rayzor ]

 

The shadow dragon's breath weapon drains levels, so you'll need some sort of protection against that or something that will improve your saves vs breath.

You need to have some type of resistance lowering spells against any dragon. Their MR is too high so many spells will not even phase them. Greater Malison will help out too, but I don't think Nalia is high enough level for that spell yet.

What type of arrows is Nalia or Mazzy using? If they have them, or if you can get them, use acid arrows or arrows of piercing. If you can get the bracers of archery, those will help out too (+4 to THAC0, IIRC).

Quite honestly, your party is awfully low level to be taking on this or any other dragon. The NPCs you have doesn't help much either. Any type of cleric would be very helpful. Holy Smite and Magic Resistance wreak havoc on dragons as well as offer several buffs (resist fear, protection from evil, chant, aid, etc). As a dual-classed cleric, Anomen is quite effective against dragons; Viconia is good enough for the spells, but she seriously lacks in strength; Aerie, while a whiner, serves well for both mage and cleric spells but again lacks in strength.

One final thing to consider is dropping the diffuclity for that battle, if possible.

Just some thoughts.

 

Thanks Spelladonna!

Im running off to get Anomen

 

Strange definition of "Solo"

I would chime in with the others here that your real problem here is the low level of the party, and that there is no shame in coming back later with a couple of more levels each.

If you're determined to have it out at this level, you need to buy some scrolls to cast the spells you cannot yet learn. Lower resistance at least. Greater Malison would be great, but I don't think there is anywhere to buy it until the underwater city(?). I would expect to lose some characters though, so some powers of resurection wouldn't go amiss.

 

@Black Skeleton
The MR spell trick is kinda cheesy...

@Spelladonna
Bracers of Archery gives +2 to THAC0

Hmm... and I'd suggest getting the Lower Resistences spell - if you can't find it, buy it (the merchant you help in the City Gates District has one IIRC). And Pierce Magic.

And get some good arrows for Mazzy (arrows of piercing fx) or pick up Tasheron's Bow. She can hit just about anything with that one.

If you want to take the Shadow Dragon on without the spells mentioned above I suggest you memorise all the direct damage spells you can: Magic Arrow, Melf's Acid Arrow, Flame Arrow etc. - even though the dragon has high resistances they still hit once and a while (I'd say about 20-30% succes).

And then just buff up your kensai: Haste, Draw Upon Holy Might (or strength potions), Protection from Evil, Defensive Harmony and maybe Death Ward (like Spelladonna said: you need a cleric). Have Mazzy use her special ability Invoke Courage.

Cast Breach to take out its defences, pummel away with your kensai - and make sure that there's at least one character toe to toe with the dragon all the time (can be hard though, with only one fighter) because then it won't use its level draining breath (oh, and it's actually possible to run away before the dragon breath hits).

But it's going to be a tough fight. Why not leave the dragon be for now and - since you are soloing - come back later on and kill it on your own! And you have to kill all the (evil?) dragons in the game - dragon fights are great fun.

[ August 06, 2003, 17:35: Message edited by: Victor Eremita ]

 

Sounds like a good idea...

Yeah well.. to me its "Solo with help from a few friends" and again its "solo" not "suicide"...

 

Not sure if this helps, but every time I read the battle message that says that the shadow dragon uses it's breath, all I did was to order a retreat and no one will be Lv-drained(maybe because of it's limited range? Will only work on shadow dragon, not the other dragons).

All wise ideas had been given.... nothing much for me to add.

 

Lots and lots of healing potions, prayer and bless type spells, haste, and spell protection spells.

 

It sounds like you are indeed a bit under stocked equipment wise, so perhaps going back and getting proper things like the spells mentioned above and potions would be a good idea.

 

If you're soloing(as you probably are) then Stoneskin, Mirror Image, some sort of level-drain protection and just hack and slash. The dragon is certaninly pathetic

 

@ Daephon

I already have those spells
but the level-drain protection?

if it (and it probably is) in an item, where can I get it ?

 

Protection from level drain (spoilers):
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1. Amulet of Power (gift from Aran Linvail) - but you won't be able to use it untill you dual class.
2. Mace of Disruption +2 (forged be Cromwell from the Mace of Disruption* +1 and Illithium** Ore)
3. Negative Plain Protection spell - short duration though...

*Bodhi's Lair
** Part of the temple quest (Sir Sarles)

 

Might be hard to get when he is soloing a Kensai/Mage, since it's a cleric spell...

 

This is kind of offtopic, but please don't dualclass you kensai at level 12. He gets no real bonusses at level twelve.
At level 9 he gets -1 speed and +1 kai.
At level 10 he gets +1 to hit and to damage.
At level 11 and 12 he gets NOTHING special.
At level 13 he gets -1 speed and +1 kai, to hit and damage.

And about fighting the dragon now:
Forget it, ain't gonna happen. First of all, the dragon would be hard for a full size party of your level. Second of all, you don't have a cleric, this means you will get level drained, feared and all other kinds of nasty stuff. Maybe if you get Anomen, it will become doable, but not right now. It will still be very hard though; you're only level 10.

 

@Daephon
Well, he's not actually soloing alone

If I understand correctly he does not mind talking a few compadres along for the dragon fight - Anomen has been mentioned (though I seriously doubt that his ego needs a succesful dragon fight...)

And furthermore I just thought I'd give all options (did I miss some?)

 

@ Victor Eremita

How do I get the Amulet of Power?

IIRC Aran Linvail is the officer in the Docks District, with whom you solve the skinner murders? (which I already solved).

 

SPOILERS
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Aran Linvail is the leader of the Shadow Thieves. After paying the 15000 gp to Gaylen he sets up a meeting with Aran who gives you the amulet + other stuff as compensation for the gold. The amulet is easiest to get if you side with the Shadow Thieves... hopes this doesn't spoil to much but you asked.

NB! The Amulet of Power cannot be worn by warriors - you'll have to dual first...

[ August 09, 2003, 20:21: Message edited by: Victor Eremita ]