Fighting Beholders

[ASH SAYS:]

Does anyone have any tips on fighting beholders? I keep getting my *** kicked in ToLM. Are there any items that prevent disintegration? Or prevent spell effects from being dispelled. Haste works good but I usually lose one or two characters permanently then I reload the battle and play it until I win without losing anyone. Any Help?

[Cyril Darkcloud]

Welocme to IW, Ash Says! [img]graemlins/happywave.gif[/img]

Don't waste your time with magical protections. I've noticed that the beholders' attacks in IWD seem to even ignore such things as an anti-magic shell.

The best defense against instant death attacks like disintegration is to direct them elsewhere. Summon monsters and let them lead the way. While they occupy the beholder's attention hit it fast and hard with spells like flame arrow and magic missile and your most powerful missile weapons like bolts of lightning. Beholders go down reasonably quickly if they are hit fast and hard.

[ 06-19-2002, 02:46 PM: Message edited by: Cyril Darkcloud ]

[Azred]

The problem with beholder eye-stalk attacks is that they count as 10th-level spells, which allows them to punch through even Anti-Magic Shell (as Cyril notes). Generic magic resistance or Greater Shield of Lathander should provide adequate protection; however, follow Cyril's advice--summon some cannonfodder.

[marco]

what i did was use for all my melee char potions of magic blocking and (i think it is called -- the multi coloured bottle) potion of invulability(sorry about the spelling). With these two types of potions and them being administered to dwarves(natural magic resistance) i was able to take down the 3 beholders(after about 5 tries). what also helps is having your cleric cast "defensive harmony" and any other plus spells to AC/saving throws.

goodluck.

[Azred]

There is also a potion that will make it so that your saving throws are automatically successful for a certain duration. That should help against the worst of the beholder rays.

[--Twilight--]

Hello,
well, I can only advise on my BG experience, but, what I do is: pump-up the party with spells to increase saving throws, speed, and attacks, summon a big critter or two to get the fiend's attention, and then hit the beholder with every melee attack I possibly can. Their magic resistance is just too great to offer a line of attack. Furthermore, their powerful, neverending, varied magic attacks puts time on their side. Take them out post-haste!
I can't recall, off-hand, any battles where I held-off on the beholders while attacking other foes. Also, wounding them doesn't help you. Even if faced with multiple beholders, have your party gang-up on one, maybe two (with a high level party) beholders, and then move on to the next one. A long battle with beholders is one that has not gone well. They are awesome, in a twisted sort of way. As always, the single most important factor is knowing ahead of time of the coming battle.

- Twilight

[Duke Hereward]

Can't remember where I found it, but Wand of Paralysis works wonders. Get your mage to head up the party and put on auto-pause. As soon as one shows up, blast them with the wand (normally gets them before they can get an attack off) and then wade in with the rest of the boys and girls to give them a quick death.

Bingo bango.