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Crawl Bestiary

By Tonwhirler

Basic strategies, powers and evolutions for every monster.

Award

Created by

Tonwhirler
Offline

Category: Characters, Secrets

Languages: English

Posted

Updated

8 Aug, 2014 @ 7:24pm

31 Oct, 2017 @ 9:45pm

11,357	Unique Visitors
162	Current Favorites

Guide Index

Overview

Note

Evolutions

----Tier 1 Monsters----

Spider

Gnome

Slug

Rat

Skeleton

Eye

Posessed Girl

Plague Mushroom

Dark Henchman

----Tier 2 Monsters----

Black Spider

The Coven

Mini Minotaur

Small Orc

Brown Slug

Cetus

Skeleton Archer

Skeleton Gladiator

Red Eye

Haunt

----Tier 3 Monsters----

Satyr

Minotaur

Large Orc

Red Imp

Monkfish

Skeleton Mage

Blue Guardian

Fire Archer

Eyebeast

Scorpion

Sorceress

Tentacled Abomination

----Tier 4 Monsters----

Gumdrop

Tentacled Prophet

Moss Giant

Dragon

Demonic Slayer

Demon Lord

Necromancer

----Non-Player Monsters----

Ectoplasmic Blobs

Explosive Grub

Shambler

----Special Monsters----

The Taxman

----Final Bosses----

Kourok

Ghioraak

----Unencountered Monsters----

Comments

Note

***Spoiler Warning***

If it wasn't obvious by the title, this guide will spoil some, if not all, of the unlockable gods and monsters.

This guide may also give you a false idea of which monsters are better. Every monster and every player is unique, and I would advise trying all of them to decide for yourself which are your favorites. The strategies listed in this guide are my own, and you may find that another strategy works better for you.

Most of the names in this guide are by no means official. They are merely placeholder names that I gave them to tell them apart.

***This is a work in progress!***

As you can probably tell, this guide is VERY outdated. I'm in the process of updating it, and should have it up-to-date by the end of the month (Nov 2017). If you notice any errors, please mention them in the comments and I will update accordingly.

The gifs in this guide were taken from Powerhoof's Website[www.powerhoof.com].

Also check out the Crawl Wiki[crawl.wikia.com]! There's information on weapons, traps, spells, artifacts, etc. If you can help out on the wiki, it would be appreciated!

Thank you!

Evolutions

(click to expand)

----Tier 1 Monsters----

Spider

Official Youtube Video:

Basic Strategy:
Drop webs as often as possible. Either hide in or behind them so you can force the player to walk through them. Strike mostly while they are caught and slowed. If the player won't come to you, bring the webs to him.

God(s): Teok
Main attack: Bite
Special: Drop webs to slow human
Evolves into: Black Spider, The Coven

Gnome

Basic Strategy: Get the human to walk through the traps you've dropped while chasing you. They don't harm you, so use that to your advantage. Traps also make effective projectiles if you can drop them right on top of the player. Your pickaxe is weak and should be used mainly for backstabbing attacks when the human is distracted.

Gods: Teok, S'hrim
Evolves from: Base Tier
Main attack: Pickaxe
Special: Drop bear traps
Evolves into: Small Orc, Mini Minotaur

Slug

Basic Strategy: Use your evade to duck under and past the human and objects. Use the environment to your advantage. The laser has a short distance and doesn't fire very fast, so try and keep out of the way and make shots when the human is otherwise engaged. Stay alive and slowly wear the human down.

God(s): Teok, Murkan
Evolves from: Base Tier
Main attack: Laser bolt
Special: Underground evade
Evolves into: Brown Slug, Cetus

Rat

Basic Strategy: Rats are fast. Use your main attach to leap, bite and run away. The human usually can't keep up with you. Use the projectile only when you are a good distance from the human as it is hard to aim while running and it slows you down a bit.

God(s): Murkan
Evolves from: Base Tier
Main attack: Leap and bite
Special: Ice rat magic
Evolves into: Small Orc, Mini Minotaur

Skeleton

Official Youtube Video:

Basic Strategy: Try and attack the human from behind with punches. The bone toss doesn't have very good aim and is a short ranged attack, but it is useful if you are able to keep out of the human's attack range.

God(s): Murkan, S'hrim
Evolves from: Base Tier
Main attack: Punch
Special: Bone toss
Evolves into: Skeleton Archer, Skeleton Gladiator

Eye

Basic Strategy: Keep a good distance from the human and shoot. If you are cornered, use the special to make a quick getaway.

God(s): S'hrim
Evolves from: Base Tier
Main attack: Blue Bolt
Special: Speedy Flying Escape (Flies forwards)
Evolves into: Red Eye

Posessed Girl

Primary: Use pink flame as a flail
Special: Open a small healing rift
Evolves into: The Coven

Plague Mushroom

Basic Strategy: Create as many clones as possible, let them take the damage rather than you. Try and get the player to lose track of you and fight your clones.

Primary: Slide away and leave a slowing ooze
Special: Create an AI clone
Evolves into: Red Monkfish

Dark Henchman

Primary: Stab with spear
Special: Throw spear
Evolves into: Haunt

----Tier 2 Monsters----

Black Spider

Basic Strategy: Same as the regular spider, but your attacks are stronger now.

God(s): Teok
Vitae Cost: 10
Evolves from: Spider
Main attack: Bite
Special: Drop webs to slow human
Evolves into: Satyr

The Coven

Official Youtube video:

Basic Strategy: If you can transform the human into a frog, they won't be able to attack and will have much less health for a while. While this is charging, use the main attack to whittle down the human's health.

God(s): Teok
Vitae Cost: 9
Evolves from: Spider
Main attack: Pink bolt
Special: Green magic that turns human into a weak frog
Evolves into: Satyr

Mini Minotaur

Basic Strategy: Keep your distance and shoot, use your charge to run into and past the human when he gets too close.

God(s): Teok, Murkan, S'hrim
Vitae Cost: 10
Evolves from: Gnome, Rat
Main attack: Arrow
Special: Charge
Evolves to: Minotaur, Red Imp

Small Orc

Basic Strategy: The bombs are proximity or time detonated. Stand nearby the bombs that you drop and throw daggers at the human. If the human comes to attack, the bomb will go off.

God(s): Teok, S'hrim, Murkan
Vitae Cost: 10
Evolves from: Rat, Gnome
Main attack: Throw daggers
Special: Bomb
Evolves into: Large Orc, Red Imp

Brown Slug

Basic Strategy: Similar to the regular slug, but now your evasion creates a wall of four spikes. Run underneath the player whenever possible, they will be hit by this wall. Also, this wall can be used to hide behind and make the human walk through or around it to attack.

God(s): Teok, Murkan
Vitae Cost: 15
Evolves from: Slug
Main attack: Laser
Special: Underground evasion, creates spikes
Evolves into: Monkfish

Cetus

Basic Strategy: The chomp is strong, but slow. Use the sludge to damage the player while you try and get a bite in.

God(s): Teok, Murkan
Vitae Cost: 5
Evolves from: Slug
Main attack: Chomp
Special: Brown Sludge
Evolves into: Monkfish

Skeleton Archer

Basic Strategy: The arrows have a long range, so keep a good distance from the player as you fire. The area attack has a very short range, but is useful if the player is close especially if the player is not attacking you.

God(s): Murkan, S'hrim
Vitae Cost: 10
Evolves from: Skeleton
Main attack: Shoot arrow
Special: Area attack
Evolves into: Skeleton Mage, Fire Archer

Skeleton Gladiator

Basic Strategy: Attack the human with short run-by attacks or just face them head-on. Use your shield to block any damage.

God(s): Murkan, S'hrim
Vitae Cost: 10
Evolves from: Skeleton
Main attack: Slash
Special: Shield
Evolves into: Skeleton Mage, Blue Guardian

Red Eye

Basic Strategy: The rapid-fire attack is very powerful and has a small knockback. It will stay aimed in whatever direction you are facing when you start the attack, so make sure you don't leave your back exposed. Keep out of range and use your main attack until the special is charged, then barrage the human.

God(s): S'hrim
Vitae Cost: 18
Evolves from: Eye
Main attack: Blue Bolt
Special: Rapid fire
Evolves into: Eyebeast

Haunt

Basic Strategy: As a ranged monster, your best bet is to stay far away using your dash, and pelt the hero from a distance.

Primary: Throw green magic
Secondary: Dash away

----Tier 3 Monsters----

Satyr

Yellow

Basic Strategy: Drop as many turrets as possible and keep in their line of fire while you shoot the human yourself.

God(s): Teok
Vitae Cost: 14
Evolves from: The Coven, Black Spider
Main attack: Shoot dart
Special: Drop turret (shoots in the direction it is placed)
Evolves into: Gumdrop

Green

Basic Strategy: The tribal shields will block all damage if the human hits it at all, so keep behind them while you shoot the human.

God(s): Teok
Vitae Cost:13
Evolves from: The Coven, Black Spider
Main attack: Shoot Dart (chance of poison)
Special: Drop tribal shield
Evolves into: Gumdrop

Minotaur

Basic Strategy: The charge is best if you can corner the human and run them up against a wall. Use your axe to attack them head on.

God(s): Teok, S'hrim, Murkan
Vitae Cost: 10
Evolves from: Mini Minotaur
Main attack: Axe
Special: Charge
Evolves into: Moss Giant, Dragon

Large Orc

Basic Strategy: This monster is about as close as you can get to playing a basic human without being a human. Slash and dodge the human in a similar manner to how you play the human.

God(s): Teok, S'hrim, Murkan
Vitae Cost: 15
Evolves from: Small Orc
Main attack: Axe
Special: Dodge Roll
Evolves into: Moss Giant, Dragon

Red Imp

Basic Strategy: Surround yourself with lava and pull the human into it. You don't have a direct attack, so make sure you keep your distance.

God(s): Teok, S'hrim, Murkan
Vitae Cost: 13
Evolves from: Small Orc, Minotaur
Main attack: Wind pull
Special: Lava
Evolves into: Moss Giant, Dragon

Monkfish

Red

Basic Strategy: Don't try and attack head-on. Run and lure the human into your goo. The rune is hard to aim and has a short range, but if the human is attacking you it might help get them away. It is also useful if the human is not chasing you.

God(s): Teok, Murkan
Vitae Cost: 15
Evolves from: Brown Slug, Cetus
Main attack: Toxic Pink Goo
Special: Fire rune
Evolves into: Tentacled Prophet

Blue

Basic Strategy: Run and drop ice until the human is slowed. Hit them with the ice rune while they are slowed. The ice doesn't do damage.

God(s): Teok, Murkan
Vitae Cost: 14
Evolves from: Brown Slug, Cetus
Main attack:Coat the ground with slowing ice
Special: Ice Rune
Evolves into: Tentacled Prophet

Skeleton Mage

Basic Strategy: Drop goo as often as possible. Hide in or behind the toxic goo and shoot bolts at the player.

God(s): Murkan, S'hrim
Vitae Cost: 15
Evolves from: Skeleton Archer, Skeleton Gladiator
Main attack: Black bolts
Special: Drop toxic black goo
Evolves into: Demonic Slayer

Blue Guardian

Basic Strategy: The main attack is slow, but strong. The amount of health you have will allow you to fight head-on.The special will throw the axe a medium distance before it boomerangs back into your hand. Use it to hit the human when they're not attacking you.

God(s): Murkan, S'hrim
Vitae Cost: 20
Evolves from: Skeleton Gladiator
Main attack: Axe
Special: Throw axe
Evolves into: Demonic Slayer

Fire Archer

Basic Strategy: Use the same strategy as the skeleton archer, but be aware that the two fire arrows don't fire straight, but at an angle about 45 degrees apart. It's risky, but if you shoot the fire arrows from a very short distance, both can potentially hit at once.

God(s):
Vitae Cost:10
Evolves From: Skeleton Archer
Main Attack: Arrow
Special: Two Flaming arrows
Evolves into: Demonic Slayer

Eyebeast

Basic Strategy: The laser beam will stay aiming whatever direction you face when you fire. The chomp is slow, but if it lands it will turn the human insane for the time they are in the room. Keep a bit of distance and use both of your attacks to destroy the human.

God(s): S'hrim
Vitae Cost: 50
Evolves from: Red Eye
Main attack: Laser beam
Special: Chomp (turns human insane)
Evolves into: Maximum Tier
Note: When killed, has a chance to drop its eye. The eye can be picked up by the player and will continuously fire the beholder's bolts for a short time.

Scorpion

Main Attack: Sting
Special: Fire damaging sticky yellow goo

Sorceress

I haven't unlocked this one yet, but what I do know is that the the sorceress has an energy beam attack.

Tentacled Abomination

Basic Strategy: The abomination is fast. It's bite stuns the hero for a short time, but takes a moment to be available again. Get in, bite the player, get out.

Primary: Stunning chomp
Special: Dash away.

----Tier 4 Monsters----

Gumdrop

Basic Strategy: Shoot blobs all over and avoid getting hit. Use the mask teleport to dodge the human.

God(s): Teok
Vitae Cost: 40
Evolves from: Satyr
Main attack: Throw red blobs that fire a yellow laser in both vertical directions
Special: Teleport backwards and drop your mask
Evolves into: Maximum Tier

Tentacled Prophet

Blue

Basic Strategy: Teleporting will allow you to move anywhere in the room before reappearing. The human can see where you are teleporting to, but it's very fast and good for getting behind or away from the human.

God(s): Teok, Murkan
Vitae Cost: 50
Evolves from: Monkfish
Main attack: Tentacle flash
Special: Controlled Teleport
Evolves into: Maximum Tier

Green

Basic Strategy: The tentacle wall is large, and will take up most of the room if aimed right. Hide behind this wall and attack when the human gets close.

God(s): Teok, Murkan
Vitae Cost: 40
Evolves from: Monkfish
Main attack: Tentacle flash
Special: Tentacle wall
Evolves into: Maximum Tier

Moss Giant

Basic Strategy: Rocks have a short range and can be difficult to aim, but do a large amount of damage.Use the stun as often as possible. It also has a short range, but the human will be stunned and unable to attack for a while. Use this time to crush them with rocks.

God(s): Teok, S'hrim, Murkan
Vitae Cost: 50
Evolves from: Minotaur, Large Orc, Red Imp
Main attack: Toss rock
Special: Stomp ground and stun player
Evolves into: Maximum Tier

Dragon

Basic Strategy: Keep away and shoot fireballs until your fire breath is charged. Try and corner the human The fire breath will stay aimed in the direction you fire in, but does a massive amount of damage if the human is hit and caught in it.

God(s): Teok, S'hrim, Murkan
Vitae Cost: 50
Evolves from: Minotaur, Large Orc, Red Imp
Main attack: Fireball Projectile
Special: Fire breath radial attack with a small knockback
Evolves into: Maximum Tier

Demonic Slayer

Basic Strategy: The Slayer has a deceptively large amount of health; since it's large and the main attack is a slow melee, that health can deplete quickly if you're not careful. Don't stand in front of the human and spam the main attack, but rather use a hit-and-run and/or backstabbing method to deal damage and not let the human hit you as much. The black arm wall also deals a fair amount of damage, use it as a defense.

God(s): Murkan, S'hrim
Vitae Cost: 50
Evolves from: Blue Guardian, Skeleton Mage, Fire Archer
Main attack: Slash
Special: Two black arms reach from the deep
Evolves into: Maximum Tier

Demon Lord

Evolves from: Scorpion
Main attack: 2-part combo. First press jumps into the air and flies at a low height, second press does a slam attack
Special: Grab and slam

Necromancer

Primary: Shoot goo that heals monsters and damages the hero
Special: Raise an AI shambler from the dead (See below)

----Non-Player Monsters----

Ectoplasmic Blobs

Basic Strategy: Blobs are good for getting last hits on the human while you are a ghost or for trapping the human in a room full of good traps. They are very weak; a group of three is about the equivalent of one basic monster in difficulty. Don't waste them in empty rooms unless you are bored.

Found: As a Ghost, collect the brown blobs until a blob of your color is following your ghost. Drop them using special. Can have up to 3 active at once.
Main attack: Run into player
Special: Shoot three blobs on one line

Explosive Grub

Found: Battling Kourok
Main attack: Run into player
Special: Explode
Damages Kourok on impact

Shambler

Found: Summoned by the necromancer
Attack: Smack the player

----Special Monsters----

The Taxman

Basic Strategy: Drop taxes all over the place, and while the human is alarmed by the contents, hit them with red tape.

Found: In rare statue
Main attack: Drop taxes which stuns player
Special: Red tape laser beam

----Final Bosses----

Kourok

Basic Strategy:
In general, try and keep the human from getting to the explosive grubs that drop. They are the main way of defeating Kourok.

As the head, if the mouth is open, the human can fire one into kourok's mouth and deal a large amount of damage. Either fire right at the grubs, or between the grubs and the human. If the human is trapped in a bubble, fire at where the human is floating.

As the left arm, try and catch the human in one of the bubbles. They bounce off of the environment a bit and will stay in place for a moment after they stop floating. Fire as quickly and as accurately as you can.

As the right arm, try and cover the floor with sludge, particularly around where the human is. There is a bit of timing involved in getting the right distance, but you should get the hang of it.

Head: Laser (Kourok opens his mouth while firing)
Left arm: Bubbles
Right arm: Pink Sludge

Ghioraak

Ghioraak is a hydra with three heads, the left head breathes fire, the middle head shoots ice and the right head shoots a toxic slime. All three players have control of the direction that the hydra moves, making it difficult if they don't cooperate.

After a certain amount of damage has been dealt to the hydra, one of the heads will fall off and move separately from the rest of the body. Each head has less health than the body, but they also have more mobility.

A healing mage is introduced in the antichamber to the battle. He shows up in the arena and will periodically drop health for the hero.

----Unencountered Monsters----

These are monsters which, to my knowledge, are not in the game as of now. They were hinted at on powerhoof's blog in the week leading up to release.

50 Comments

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Uksshikosagfk 24 Jun, 2024 @ 6:43pm

Pretty useful, could use an update since at least five of the unencountered monsters have been released (My favorite is the chicken faced one), evolution paths have also changed.