Stendhal/bestiary: Difference between revisions

''NOTE: For the item of the same name see https://stendhalgame.org/item/book/bestiary.html.''

There are so many kinds of creature in Stendhal that it is beyond the scope of this page to list them all, but if you want to read more or learn about a specific creature, the best place to go is the [http://stendhalgame.org/creature/ main server website].

From within the game you can ask the NPC '''<npc>Starkad</npc>''' about any kind of creature. He walks around [[Semos#Southern_Semos_Plains|Semos Plains South]] and gives you information including their respawn likelihood, drops, locations, level and your suitability to fight it.

This page gives a general introduction to the many kinds of creature found. In general the [[LevelTables|level]] of a creature can be seen by right clicking and doing ''Look''. This gives an indication of how strong it is, and at what level a player would be able to defeat it.

The creatures in Stendhal have different behaviors depending on what kind of creature they are.

The first type of creature that players meet in the game are <creature>rat|rats</creature>. These are an example of a cowardly creature, as they run away when you attack them.

====Non aggressive====

Deer are a completely non aggressive creature and do not start attacks on players. Like rats they are also cowardly, and if attacked they run away.

=== Attack types===

====Melee====

Melee is normal hand-weapon to hand-weapon combat. The attacker needs to be next to (or diagonal to) the target, to make hits.

====Archers====

The very strongest creature in game is the <creature>dark archangel</creature>, she is an example of an archer creature. She attacks from a distance with a bow and arrow, attacking more effectively when further from the player (while still within range). You don't have to face her to find an archer, though, another example is the <creature>archer elf</creature>.

====Defence against magical weapons====

Some [[Stendhal_Items#Weapons|weapons]] are marked with an attack type like "fire", "ice", "dark" or "light". On many creatures this makes no difference but some are particularly susceptible or resistant to specific types. For example, the <creature>ice elemental</creature> has 500% resistance to ice attacks, but only 50% resistance to fire attacks. That means, when attacking it with an ice weapon the actual damage caused will only be 1/5 of the normal value, whereas with a fire weapon the caused damage will double.

==== Attacking with magical forces====

Magical creatures can attack with "dark", "light", "fire" or "ice" attacks. Some types of armor will protect you better against these attacks. For example, an <creature>ice elemental</creature> performs ice attacks. With an <item>ice armor</item> you will better resist these. On the other hand, the <item>ice armor</item> will be worse against opponents that perform fire attacks.

===Strategies===

====Attack weakest====

Tactical creatures such as dragons and high ranking soldiers, attack the weakest enemy rather than simply defending themself against the first player who attacked them. For example, take care near a <creature>green dragon</creature> as it will switch attack if a weaker prey comes along.

====Dual attack====

Most creatures who fight with melee attack can't do anything if they can't reach the attacker, which means they are useless against an archer for example, who can stay away and avoid being hit. But dragons for example can breathe fire as well as hit with the claws and tail, so they can use a fire attack from a distance if the player is not touching but within range. The <creature>black giant</creature> is another example.