Suggestions on how to KILL Firkragg the dragon?

D-Man · Post by **D-Man** » Wed Feb 21, 2001 4:13 pm

I want to kill Firkkragg the Red Dragon (without cheating) but don't want to go through 300 attempts. Any suggestions?
My party has a Paladin (lvl 16), Minsc (lvl 16), Jaheira (lvl 13), Imoen (lvl 13?) Aerie (lvl 12/12?), Anomen (lvl 10). I don't know if my party is strong enough. Any pointers on how to be a "Dragonslayer?" (I used Nalia a lot also, she's a level 15 Mage in my game.)

Pat Bou · Post by **Pat Bou** » Wed Feb 21, 2001 4:48 pm

Firkrag was my first dragon and I was average level 10-11.

My party was (at that time) :
-Undead Hunter
-Minsc
-Jaheira
-Aerie
-Yoshimo
-Nalia

Here is how I did it :
Jaheira summoned fire elementals and bears.
Nalia summoned some monsters.
Party was boosted with assortment of haste, strenght, prayer, prot from evil, draw upon holy might.
Party was placed around the dragon (all around him).
+3 weapons stand at the ready.
Conversation engaged with the beast to trigger it hostile.
Jaheira immediately cast magic resistance (this actually sets its resistance to a lower base value).
Aerie cast Breach (to remove physical protections).
Nalia cast Lower Resistance (combined with Jaheira, its resistance is now close to zero).
Summoned monsters and tanks on full attack mode.
Nalia and Aerie are following in the next rounds with more Breach (if necessary) and offensive spells (they should now go throught its magic resistance... a few magic missile and its dead).

Good Luck!!!

Minerva · Post by **Minerva** » Wed Feb 21, 2001 6:49 pm

You can always use walk out of his sight, then a few Cloudkill tactics.

It's the easiest, and I must admit, a kind of the coward way, but it is legal (not cheat).

You should check the strategy of this site. There are some good tactics there.

[This message has been edited by Minerva (edited 02-21-2001).]

KensaiRyu · Post by **KensaiRyu** » Wed Feb 21, 2001 6:55 pm

I always use feeblemind, hit the dragon with it and they just stand there, never go hostile allowing you to pommel all you want thus giving the kill to a weak party member.I know it sounds like cheating but its in the game and sometimes you have to reload alot because the dragon will save vs spells or the magic resis will get it.

KensaiRyu · Post by **KensaiRyu** » Wed Feb 21, 2001 6:56 pm

I always use feeblemind, hit the dragon with it and they just stand there, never go hostile allowing you to pommel all you want thus giving the kill to a weak party member.I know it sounds like cheating but its in the game and sometimes you have to reload alot because the dragon will save vs spells or the magic resis will get it.

TheHellion · Post by **TheHellion** » Wed Feb 21, 2001 7:53 pm

Using summoned monsters/animated dead/elementals helps a lot in tough fights like these, particularly with dragons. I kept my party a respectable distance away and let the cannon fodder absorb the brunt of Firkragg's initial attacks. It's also important to disperse your group a bit. If he tags every one of your party members with a wing buffet, it'll be over quick. Placing some of your tougher NPCs on Firkragg's flanks will help quite a bit, since the closer walls will stop you from being pushed far enough back for him attempt a breath attack. I found that having a few good archers was a great help, since they tend to have lower THAC0s, and more attacks. Spell-wise, there are two routes to try: a magic resistance/lower resistance combination, or greater malison. The effects of malison and greater malison will stack, so you can give him a severe penalty on his saving throws. It's a tough fight, but not impossible.

On a side note, what's with all these "exploitation" strategies? If you think the fight is really too tough, then you might as well go ahead and cheat. Most of said exploits skirt a very thin line between cheating and not, and the satisfaction of claiming that you won a tough fight "within the boundries of the game" hardly seems worth all the trouble. Crtl+Y is so much easier.

beaver_cheese · Post by **beaver_cheese** » Wed Feb 21, 2001 8:07 pm

As an addition to the feeblemind attempt, try casting magic resistance on your target first. When your characters cast that priest spell, it sets the target's resistance to about 20% or so, and there's no saving throw. What more, the spell won't make your target go hostile.

beaver_cheese · Post by **beaver_cheese** » Wed Feb 21, 2001 8:07 pm

As an addition to the feeblemind attempt, try casting magic resistance on your target first. When your characters cast that priest spell, it sets the target's resistance to about 20% or so, and there's no saving throw. What more, the spell won't make your target go hostile.

The fallen one · Post by **The fallen one** » Wed Feb 21, 2001 10:26 pm

Two words Vorpal Sword!

Garcia · Post by **Garcia** » Thu Feb 22, 2001 2:19 am

I always use wizard's eye. he can unsummon it but rearly do so. he can see the eye and will launch a full scale attack on it laving you all the time in the world to "do your thing"

Stoner Cold · Post by **Stoner Cold** » Thu Feb 22, 2001 3:07 am

i havent tried this and i dont know if it will work, but; use a nishruu, maybe? firkraag has (almost) no physical attacks, they are all magic. nishruus are only harmed by physical attacks and are healed by magic. i havent tried this, tho.

------------------
And thats the bottom line, 'cos Stoner Cold said so!

Radek · Post by **Radek** » Thu Feb 22, 2001 3:38 am

Here is my experience:
1. Nishruu - will be killed immediately. I have tried.
2. Wizard Eye - for some reason, the dragon is SOMETIMES almost unable to kill it for unknown reason. On the other hand, the Wizard Eye will be OFTEN killed immediately or, worse, the Wizard Eye will be swept to some unknown location: you will be unable to find it and you will be unable to summon another Wizard Eye ("You can have only one explorer!!!!").
3. Summoning monsters - Firkraag attacks in fire, this leaves you with a small choice. Efreeti - bad experience, Fire Elementals - not tested, may help. One important note here: you must NOT summon demons or other monsters that are not under your control. A Pit Fiend will be swept away and then he will stay there without taking any action - because he will not see any enemies. You cannot make the Pit Fiend to return to the dragon.
4. Casting spells - my experience is full of casting failures. Do not forget that the dragon is hasted and has bags of attacks. Do not try Remove Magic and similar spells. The dragon is level 24.
5. The Silver Sword - good weapon, if you are in ch. 6., the sword does not suffice.
What to suggest? Feeblemind method (described elsewhere on these pages). If the Feeblemind method is below your dignity then try to summon monsters. The monsters will be killed immediately but sometimes (not too often), the dragon will be unable to kill the monster quickly. This is your time. Attack while the dragon is trying to kill the monster.

Slyweasel · Post by **Slyweasel** » Thu Feb 22, 2001 3:57 am

1.Summoned some monsters.
2.Immediately cast magic resistance .
3.Magic missles.Magic missles.Magic missles.
4.Summoned some more monsters.
5.Magic missles.Magic missles.Magic missles.
6.Summoned some more monsters.
7.Magic missles.Magic missles.Magic missles.
8.Keep repeating...

One dead dragon

Rail · Post by **Rail** » Thu Feb 22, 2001 3:57 am

Rather than using the feeblemind or cloudkill methods, just turn your difficulty level down a bit, and try again. You'll have much more fun than killing it without a fight.

However, if you're frustrated at reloading, those methods are very stress relieving.

Rail · Post by **Rail** » Thu Feb 22, 2001 3:59 am

I find magic missiles and arrows are very effective.

Also, prep with a few cleric spells, such as prot. from fire.

Garcia · Post by **Garcia** » Thu Feb 22, 2001 4:31 am

Originally posted by Radek:
Here is my experience:

2. Wizard Eye - for some reason, the dragon is SOMETIMES almost unable to kill it for unknown reason. On the other hand, the Wizard Eye will be OFTEN killed immediately or, worse, the Wizard Eye will be swept to some unknown location: you will be unable to find it and you will be unable to summon another Wizard Eye ("You can have only one explorer!!!!").

he can't kill it but he can unsummon it twice. If you place it up against the wall in the north-east corner his wingflapping will do him no good it will just stay there leaving you to your evil work.

rapier · Post by **rapier** » Thu Feb 22, 2001 7:26 am

To kill Firkraag with Cloudkill you need A LOT of Cloudkills! I had a wand and 5 spells, and he just kept casting Heal, so I ended up killing him the hard way...

Minerva · Post by **Minerva** » Thu Feb 22, 2001 11:41 am

Originally posted by rapier:
To kill Firkraag with Cloudkill you need A LOT of Cloudkills! I had a wand and 5 spells, and he just kept casting Heal, so I ended up killing him the hard way...

I killed with just 3 Cloudkills... Just cast them at the more or less same time (not wait till the one wares off).

I don't really bother how I kill him. I tried other ways, then thought I had enough.

tigerone · Post by **tigerone** » Thu Feb 22, 2001 11:50 am

I always find that at least 2 lower resistances, then 2 greater malisons, then whatever spell afterwards does the trick. Feeblemind, ray of enfeeblement, finger of death, nature's beauty, slay living (maybe) etc. It's cool to get the last spell using a ranger/cleric...

Hazim ibn Gorion · Post by **Hazim ibn Gorion** » Thu Feb 22, 2001 2:13 pm

Not that I want to encourage such a cheesy technique, but in reference to rapier's comment about the dragon casting Heal...the problem is that you're letting each cloudkill run out before casting the next one. The trick is to disrupt his heal casting. Heal has a pretty long casting speed, so if you send in a cloudkill as soon as you hear him start incanting the spell, chances are very good that his heal will be disrupted. Also remember that the wand of cloudkill is much faster than the actual spell, so you might want to use your memorized spells first and then use the wand to disrupt his heal spell