Ankhegs are large, burrowing insectoid creatures that range from ten to twenty feet in length and are covered in strong chitin armor.[1][2] Strange chirping noises may be heard right before an ankheg emerges to attack. It is generally recommended that low-level parties use extreme caution in areas where they are known to thrive and fight only one or two at a time. They generally attack very quickly, with either melee or ranged attacks, both of which contain acid and are easily capable of doing ~20 damage per hit. When one is killed, it will drop some high-quality random treasure along with an Ankheg Shell. The shells may be sold for a large sum, but transporting them poses significant difficulty, as each shell weighs 100 pounds.
Gameplay[]
Combat:[]
It's risky to attack an ankheg with a character with low hit points.
Kagain at level 3 or 4 will have enough hit points to survive a hit from an ankheg. He also has good saving throws.
Ankhegs are especially vulnerable to the Wand of Sleep (usable by nearly any companion) and the mage spell Sleep. The priest spell Command is also an excellent option for disabling a single ankheg, as there is no save. However, the short duration compared to sleep means that a good amount of damage dealing capacity must be accomplished quickly to kill them before they awake.
If an ankheg is not asleep, beware its lethal ranged attack. Oil of Speed allows a melee fighter to approach quickly and having at least one backup fighter can help.
To inflict damage quickly on an ankheg:
- Boost Strength with a Potion of Frost Giant Strength or Potion of Fire Giant Strength.
- Boost thac0 and hit points with a Potion of Heroism.
- Have other party members use ranged weapons such as bows.
To protect a tank melee fighter:
- Boost Dexterity to 18 with a Potion of Agility or Gauntlets of Dexterity.
- Wear Splint Mail, or ideally Ankheg Plate Mail / Full Plate Mail.
- Wear a Large Shield.
- Boost AC and saving throws with Ring of the Princes.
- Boost AC vs missile with Senses of the Cat.
- Boost AC vs crushing with Destroyer of the Hills.
- Protection From Acid can reduce acid damage.
Shells:[]
There are two people who will buy the shells:
- The first is Taerom Fuiruim in the town of Beregost. He will offer to create a unique set of armor called Ankheg Plate Mail, which in the original game prevents any future sales of such shells to him (but not in enhanced edition).
- The other is the dwarf Fenten who is found in his house which is located within the city of Baldur's Gate.
- In the Shadows of Amn it is possible to have Cromwell, who is found in the Docks District, fashion a set of Ankheg Plate Mail for 5000
.
In any case, the party will have to haul the heavy shells to an intended destination, which is when companions with high strength can be really helpful, such as Dorn (500 lb), Minsc (320 lb), and Shar-Teel (250 lb).
To increase strength and therefore carrying capacity:
- Various potions of strength can set it to a number from 18 up to 24.
- The Violet Potion from Carnival allows one character to carry 1600 lb.
- The cleric spell Strength of One allows each character to carry 250 lb.
- A druid shapeshifting to a bear will have 18/00 strength, and 18 as a wolf.
Lastly, each character may carry 20% more than their maximum capacity and still stay mobile, albeit significantly slowed.
Locations[]
Baldur's Gate:[]
They are primarily found in cultivated areas, though they will rarely appear on the outskirts of other small settlements. As with most mobs, they spawn in numbers proportional to the strength of the party. At lower levels a party should only encounter one per spawn, while a group averaging level 5 may encounter three, and only the most advanced parties will encounter more.
- Fishing Village - six are located in the area northeast of Farmer Brun's Home and others will spawn randomly or possibly appear during attempted rest.
- There are nine in the Ankheg's Nest, and in Baldur's Gate:
Enhanced Edition (2012)
This icon indicates content from the Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition campaign., one is carrying a Ruby Ring. Attempted rest may also spawn an ankheg.
- There are nine in the Ankheg's Nest, and in
- Gullykin - potential spawn
- Valley of the Tombs - potential spawn
- Wyrm's Crossing - an ankheg found to the north of Tenya's Home carries Nester's Dagger
- Random Encounter areas during travel between maps:
Tales of the Sword Coast:[]
- Ice Island - Garan has four come to his aid within the interior maze
Siege of Dragonspear:[]
- Coast Way Forest - one may appear if rest is attempted
- Goblin Waylay - three are found in the northern area of the map
- Underground River Entrance - will spawn randomly or possibly appear during attempted rest
- Underground River
- potential spawn
- two of the (bdankheg.cre) will appear if Ferrusk becomes an enemy
Shadows of Amn:[]
- Small Teeth Pass - three are found within the area
- Windspear Hills - potential spawn and one will appear if Vaelasa becomes an enemy
- Resurrection Gorge - potential spawn during attempted rest in the interior of the gorge
Underground River - Siege of Dragonspear[]
This Ankheg is the only one of its kind and is only encountered in the Siege of Dragonspear. It is found in the southwest area of the Underground River. All stats are the same as a typical ankheg except for those differences highlighted in the infobox.
Rabid Ankheg[]
Five Rabid Ankheg's are the monsters that are encountered in the Tier 2 Battle 1 of The Black Pits. All stats are the same as a typical ankheg except for those differences highlighted in the infobox.
Corrupted Ankheg[]
A nest of six corrupted ankhegs can be found to the east of the great tree by some glowing crystals at the bottom of Resurrection Gorge during Dorn Il-Khan's quest. All stats are the same as a typical ankheg except for those differences highlighted in the infobox.
Trivia[]
- The offical website for the original game, now archived, had – in addition to some combat-related statistics – the following information about ankhegs:[1]
The size was given as 10 to 20 feet long.The ankheg is a burrowing monster usually found in forests or choice agricultural land. Because of its fondness for fresh meat, the ankheg is a threat to any creature unfortunate enough to encounter it.
The ankheg resembles an enormous many-legged worm. Its six legs end in sharp hooks suitable for burrowing and grasping, its powerful mandibles are capable of snapping a small tree in half with a single bite. A tough chitinous shell, usually brown or yellow, covers its entire body except for its soft pink belly. The ankheg has glistening, black eyes, a small mouth lined with tiny rows of chitinous teeth, and two sensitive antennae that can detect movement of man-sized creatures up to 300 feet away.
Gallery[]
External links[]
- Ankheg on the Forgotten Realms Wiki, a wiki for the Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting Forgotten Realms.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Baldur's Gate - Monsters | Wayback Machine
- ↑ Monstrous Manual