Dragon Help

Berethor · Post by **Berethor** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 11:59 am

I made it to that Firkraag dragon but i cud only get him to barley injured so cud anyone tell me how to beat him

Yeah about my party i am a lvl 13 assassin, i have minsc, aerie, jaheira, haer' dalis, and edwin who i will probably exchange for keldorn.yeah i have some ras +2 longsword and that shadow armor from mae var. minsc has that talking sword, jaheira has some spiky red club, aerie has a martial staff, edwin has a air staff or somethin, and haer dalis has his weapons.

plz help me beat the dragon by givin me strategy

Ravager · Post by **Ravager** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 12:12 pm

For that particular dragon, lots of fire protection is useful (due it's fiery breath).
Resist Fear is essential, otherwise your characters might fall victim to the dragon's aura of fear.

Getting the dragon to attack someone with a stoneskin spell active may help to absorb some of the dragon's damage dealing ability.

The Haste spell is also very useful.

Berethor · Post by **Berethor** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 12:15 pm

The spells are helpful, but do boots of speed count as haste?

and I did manage to damage it, but just barely, I had like 5 bears helping me

Ravager · Post by **Ravager** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 12:18 pm

Yes, boots of speed give you most of the effects of a permanent haste spell. But that only applies to the charcter wearing the boots. Summoned allies aren't too useful unless protected against the dragon's breath.

The best time to attack a dragon is after you exit the Underdark, Chapter 6.

+3 and better weapons are most useful when attacking.

Berethor · Post by **Berethor** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 12:24 pm

Aerie has one of those, so does edwin, i have plus 2 and plus 3, jaheira has plus 3, haer dalis doesnt have plus, and i dont know what the talking sword is.

and animals are sometimes useful, i beat reyac gethras with them cus some guys are protected from weapons, but thats off topic

Ravager · Post by **Ravager** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 12:29 pm

The talking sword, Lilarcor is either +2 or +3. I'm not saying summoned creatures are useless, just that dragons inflict major damage especially with their breath weapons. Proper protection (as close to 100% as poss) is essential. The summoned creatures should help especially when they aren't being attacked directly.

Haer' Dalis weapons' are magical. Both are +2 I believe, unless you have other weapons currently equipped.

Berethor · Post by **Berethor** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 12:35 pm

Well here are the weapons I have:

-Flametounge
-Ras + 2
-Ajatha the Drinker
-Blade of Roses

I will be getting the dragon slayer soon cuz i am an assassin. I use only long swords and i only use 1 at a time using 2 raises THACO which is not good so i just use poison weapon so which one should I use

Rhûn · Post by **Rhûn** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 1:40 pm

Its not that hard, I done it with a party around lvl 11 predominantly. Including
Myself - elven ranger [sword/shield style]
Valygar [dual wield celestrial fury + corthala family blade]
Viconia [mace +2]
Keldorn [hallowed redeemer]
Nalia [arbane's sword]
Edwin [neb's nasty cutter]

Conjured 4 or 5 monster, hasted and protected my party from evil, then charged Firkraag with my three fighters and monsters. Nalia lowered Firkraag's resistance, Edwin fired off magic missles many times (Nalia followed suit) and Keldorn cast True Sight and Firkraag was dead in around 15 seconds or so, but Viconia got smitten to the ground and had to be resurrected after.

Berethor · Post by **Berethor** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 1:54 pm

so who do you think i shoud use right not i have

Myself[single long sword style]
Minsc[lilracor]
Jaheira[blackblood/sheild]
Aerie[martial staff]
edwin[that air staff you get in the planar prison]
haer' dalis[his 2 weapons]

Ravager · Post by **Ravager** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 2:19 pm

I would recruit Korgan. More melee ability would be useful. Though he won't bond well with Aerie, so don't keep them together for long. Maybe swap those two. Though Edwin and Minsc certainly won't work together in the long-term either.

TonyMontana1638 · Post by **TonyMontana1638** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 2:28 pm

the best way I found to beat guys like the dragons is to chip away at them with spellcasters. You need at least 3 meelee fighters on the dragon at all times with all the animals and stuff you can get. The other three characters need to all be mages and one who can cast priest spells (like aerie). Magic missile from a powerful mage (after any magic defenses are taken down, but dragons dont usually use them) is really the best way to go, as it oddly works better than most high level direct damaging spells. Use the priest and animals to keep the fighters alive (especially your main character), using all the resurrection spells and stuff. You need a ton of fire resistance spells and fear resistance spells. Make sure more than one character can cast dispel magic, as that and magic missile are your best bets. Just keep chipping away, doing your best to keep everyone alive and hell go down evetually.

TonyMontana1638 · Post by **TonyMontana1638** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 2:31 pm

Oh and Id drop haer dalis in favor of a better fighter as you need jaheira for the dispels and priest magic, she isnt much of a fighter anyway. Three tanks, three caster is the best way to go in that game.

Berethor · Post by **Berethor** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 2:58 pm

Problems:
Edwin just left me because he is evil and my rep is 20. What do you think Korgan will do. Now I cant get him and I dont want that weak nalia. What do I do?

Ravager · Post by **Ravager** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 3:12 pm

You could either go on a commoner killing spree, each reduces rep. by 5 (probably more from 20), or recruit good and neutral characters like Keldorn.

VonDondu · Post by **VonDondu** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 5:04 pm

Can Jaheira cast Insect Plague? That might help if it will prevent Firkraag from casting spells.

To avoid the breath weapon, keep your party members separated instead of bunched together. If I remember correctly, I think that also helps against the wing buffet. Keep your party members who have low hit points out of the way and let them cast their spells from a distance. If Firkraag targets one party member, have that party member run across the room so that Firkraag will have to chase him or her while the rest of your party inflicts damage to him. Cast Lower Resistance, Greater Malison, and Doom (check Minsc's spellbook) and dispel his magic protection before you try to attack him with spells. Magic Missile is surprisingly effective if you lower his magic resistance. Let Haer'Dalis buff himself up to the max with Stoneskin, Mirror Image, a potion of Fire Resistance, a potion of Haste, and Tenser's Transformation, etc. if they're available. Firkraag is immune to backstab, so don't waste your time trying to do that.

Lorgath · Post by **Lorgath** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 5:22 pm

I'm on my way down to fight Firkraag myself. I've played the game through a couple of times before (and made many, many experiment characters that I got bored of before the end of Irenicus' dungeon), but I've never managed to kill him, or that Shadow Dragon in the Umar Hills. I'm also leaving the de'Arnise keep untill last, before I go off to Spellhold - I want to watch trolls explode. Heres my party:

Ramkai - L9 Kensai/L12 Mage armed with Dak'kon's Zerth Blade and Kachio's Wakizashi +3 and wearing the Robe of Vecna (all hail the bonus merchants mod). His spells are mostly "buff" spells.

Minsc and Boo - L12 Ranger armed with Wyvern's tail +2 and Ardulia's Fall +1 (I've been guiding him down the dual weilding path. Eventually I'm thinking Crom Fayr - another thing I've never got around to making - with the Flail of Ages)

Keldorn - L10 Inquisitor, swinging Lilarcor the most annoying sword ever.

Jaheira - L10 Fighter/L12 Druid, with Arla's Dragonbane +3. She's got as many healing spells as I could squeeze into her.

Yoshimo - L16 Bounty Hunter, packing the Tugian Short Bow +1 and then the Short Sword of Backstabbing +3

Jan - L11 Illusionist/L11 Thief with his own stuff and Arbane's Sword +2. His spell selection makes him the artillery piece.

Think they can take Firkaag?

From fighting dragons previously (with varying amounts of success) I can suggest these tactics to use - First, cast every buff spell that your party has, then make your theif (thieves) invisible. If you can manage to get an artillery mage so that the dragon is just out of his/her line of sight, then you should fire every area effect spell you can muster that way, starting with the strongest. Now, send in the invisible theif and get them around the back so they can backstab. After their attack, get them out as fast as possible while distracting the dragon with front line fighters/summoned cannon fodder. Also, throw a couple of breach/peirce magic spells at the dragon, so you can use your spells to full(ish) effect. Keep lots of haste spells/potions spare so that you can also keep your party hasted - running rings around a dragon so you can pull back and guzzle healing potions is helpful.

When I beat the shadow dragon, I only had Ramkai, Jan and a miraculously unhurt Yoshimo left - but I'd messed up the battle preparation spells and summoning at the start and angered Mr Dragon.

I hope I've been of some help with my monologue!

foot · Post by **foot** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 5:37 pm

The reason you only got him down to barely injured is because he casts stoneskin and protection from magic weapons. You need to cast Breach on him when he casts one of these, and then your fighters will be able to chop him up. Then follow the others' advice of Lower Resistance followed by damage spells like Magic Missiles and Fire Arrow.

Also, be sure to cast Protection from Fire on all the fighters, and if Aerie or Jaheira already has Chaotic Commands, cast that on them too, as well as Resist Fear.

That should take care of the big lizard.

TonyMontana1638 · Post by **TonyMontana1638** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 7:00 pm

In response to Lorgath's party you definitely need more magic. You have a pretty solid party because I tend to favor fighters over mages, but you definitely need better than jan. Go pick up Edwin, aerie or maybe Imoen/Nalia in exchange for jan (i always thought he sucked) because you need more magic missile and breach-esque spells. In fact Id drop Jan and Yoshimo for now (go ahead and pick them up afterwards if you really want, but this party im prescribing can deal with pretty much anything and there will be harder fights than firkraag) and go with aerie and Imoen (if shes around) or nalia if she isnt (but get imoen later because thieving skills diminish in importance as the game progresses and imoen is a very solid caster). Use minsc and keldorn to go toe-to-toe and absorb damage along with any summoned pets. Switch your character and jaheira in and out of toe to toe and support (one gets hurt bad, or you need an extra heal/dispel from jaheira or more spell damage from your guy) so you always have three meleeing and three casting. Use aerie and the other mage (Imoen, Nalia, Edwin) to keep his magic defenses down and pepper him with magic missile (i dont think flame arrow works as I believe hes immune to fire) and other direct damage. Use Aerie and Jaheira to summon stuff and dispell magic effect on your melee guys and continue switching your guy and jaheria out. Eventually youll wear him down enough and finish him.

If your really against switching jan out then dont he may be good enough, but you need a dominant spell caster here and i dont think he's good enough (you dont need thieving ability for this fight, just pure power) and yoshimo is ok, but just make sure you have the 3 fighter 3 mage/priest in effect. I've played the game enough (beat it twice) to know all the strategies of party use and stuff, and the 3 and 3 style works best.

I also would like to commend you on your main character as thats an interesting combination, i may have to try that sometime.

fable · Post by **fable** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 7:06 pm

or maybe Imoen/Nalia in exchange for jan (i always thought he sucked)

I take respectful exception to this.

Jan is the best thief in the game, bar none. He takes longer developing into a very fine mage, but he definitely gets there. I would suggest having a pure mage or a mage/cleric as a second character, and leaving Jan in the party for his thieving capabillities and as a second string mage.

TonyMontana1638 · Post by **TonyMontana1638** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 7:25 pm

Hey that may be a very good idea I just never used thieving skills much when I played. This was just my opinion, and my switching out ideas applied specifically for the Firkraag battle. I never found thieving abiliteis terribly useful in the game except getting locks and stuff open and prefer my aforementioned 3 and 3 tactic, when i think a pure mage would be much your useful to cast magic missiles and such and take down shields than a decent mage who can also backstab. If you really like the backstabbing stuff then leave yoshimo or jan in the party but, PLEASE hear me hear, i truly believe you need at least one more good mage. You could just switch one out and come back and get him afterwards if you want but two guys who can backstab is overkill in my book. Magic is essential for beating harder guys like firkraag and the guys towards the end of the game and I wholeheartedly believe you need it more than thief skills. One solid thief is ok, but I implore you to get another mage. Anyway just my take, do whatever you'd like.