The Death Ray is one of twelve different magical energy eye ray capabilities that are created and used by the Beholder and other similar aberrations. It is a common and frequently projected attack ray released by most types of beholders encountered during adventuring.
Gameplay[]
The beholder selects a enemy creature that is in range and then releases a ray at the targeted creature, which speeds unerringly to strike it. Assuming the eye ray wasn't blocked/deflected or bounced/reflected, the target creature is allowed a Saving throw versus Death to resist it. A creature that succeeds with its saving throw will not be killed. If the save isn't successful, then the following effects occur:
- A sound effect is audibled.
- The victim's sprite has a lighting effect rendered on it.
- The victim's sprite shows a brief fade from color effect.
- A Slay effect kills the target.
This Death Ray is subject to Magic resistance, which can potentially block it.
A Spell protections type defense that has a capacity to absorb the ray's internal 7 Power level can deflect/turn it — for example, with a Minor Spell Deflection, Shield of the Archons, or Spell Turning.
A Spell Immunity: Alteration will block this eye ray.
The Shield of Balduran can reflect the eye ray.
The Cloak of Mirroring blocks this ray, as it is of the offensive damage type, and in the original game it actually reflects it back at the beholder.
A creature that is protected against the Slay effect, such as with an active Death Ward or similar will not be killed. Boosting save values by various means is also another effective countermeasure.
Notes[]
It is possible the Death Ray was miscategorized as an Alteration spell instead of a Necromancy spell, however, this is the current state of affairs for this spell as of BG2EE v2.6.6.