Bestiary

This page refers to creatures that appear on the Bestiary Section of a Pawn's Status Information. For a comprehensive list of creatures that may be encountered refer to the Enemies or Dark Arisen: Enemies pages.

Overview
A pawn's catalog of creature knowledge is its Bestiary knowledge. Increasing knowlegde increases the rating for each foe from none to one, two and finally three starts of knowlegde.

The acquisition of Bestiary knowledge increases the range of tactically useful actions a pawn may use in battle. Pawns lacking bestiary knowledge will not be able to use specific tactics, and may choose deletious tactics against a specific foe :
 * For example a pawn may known that Cyclops are weak to Lightning and use appropiate spells.
 * In another example a pawn may not know that a Snow Harpy is weak to fire but strong to ice, and use the lesser enchantment randomly, rather than always using a spell such as Fire Boon.

Additionally Bestiary knowledge also interacts with the pawn's inclination - specifically a Utilitarian inclination requires good knowledge so that the pawn knows what tactics to use to help its allies.

Pawns can gain knowledge of beasts either by traveling with their own Arisen or assisting Arisen in other realms. To gain knowledge, pawns must witness and acknowledge the Arisen or other pawns performing certain actions against an enemy. Some examples include :
 * Exploiting weak spots
 * Using the correct element against an enemy
 * Being aware of certain moves the enemy will make, and being able to counter them.

Knowledge can also be granted from the Arisen to all in their party using Strategy Scrolls.

Pawn chatter in battle is generated by Bestiary knowledge and its purpose is twofold:
 * 1) The pawn is reciting tactics known to be effective on that particular enemy (eg "'Tis weak to fire!")
 * 2) Calling instructions to other pawns. (eg "Grab hold of its leg!")

Utilitarian pawns will typically conform their next action in accordance with a pawn's tactic call, as their bestiary knowledge and equipped skills permit. Using three Utilitarian-prime pawns with 100% Bestiary knowledge and secondary inclinations that compliment rather than mirror each other makes a team that moves smoothly and effectively through its enemies like a hot knife. Other inclinations may or may not - depending on the priority other inclinations give to other actons.

Some creatures lack a bestiary - this includes harmless Fauna, and lesser creatures such as Giant Rats and Spiders.

Bestiary
Enemies are placed into loose classes of creatures. In many cases, performing an action on or defeating one member of the class of creature will result in Knowledge being gained for all or some of the other creatures in that class. Refer to individual Strategy Scrolls for information about techniques that apply to a class of creature.

Dark Arisen introduced new enemies but no new strategy scrolls. However, if a technique for an existing Strategy Scroll applies to a new creature, then Knowledge will be gained for the new creature as well. For example Wolf Strategy Vol. 1 teaches techniques for both Wargs and Garm as well as common Wolves.


 * Note - Creatures in italics are found in Dark Arisen only.

Tips

 * The first star is always the easiest to earn, as you get it from learning one tactic either from a scroll or from observation. The second star is earned when a number of tactics specific to each beast are learned. The third star is earned when all tactics for a beast have been learned and kill counts for individual enemies are satisfied.


 * Some tactics are shared among enemies in the same family.
 * For example, the use of magic against the Lion's head for Chimera and Gorechimera is known. Other tactics may be specific to that enemy. Using the above example, you get Bestiary knowledge on a Gorechimera by using fire to keep the Snake's tail from growing back after it is cut off. The Snake doesn't grow back on a regular Chimera, so this tactic is specific to the Gorechimera version. Knowing this can sometimes help figure out what to do to complete that Bestiary three-star set.


 * If all three lesser Dragon types are at 2 stars, you're likely looking for something that would apply to them all like shooting the mouth while they breathe fire, where if only Wyvern is 2 star and drake and wyrm are 3 star, the tactic you're looking for is specific to Wyverns and wouldn't apply to the others (shooting a Wyvern's wings while it flies to ground it; the others will hover but don't fly around like the Wyvern).


 * Pay close attention to what your pawns are saying when fighting enemies. They will often tell you what enemy weaknesses are, even if they don't yet have the star for that tactic. This is one of the two purposes of pawn chatter in battle.


 * Having pawns with extensive knowledge in your party can help. At higher levels, unequipping a pawn's weapon can prolong fights; it's pretty hard to get bestiary knowledge in a fight that's over before it starts.


 * Using a well rounded party helps. You'll never get the bestiary knowledge for perfect blocking a Wolf's lunge with a party of four Sorcerers; hiring a Fighter with 100% bestiary knowledge of the enemy you're seeking will help your party learn that tactic. You will never get Griffin knowledge for weighing the creature down by climbing on it if the party members are small girls, since they do not weigh enough to perform that feat.


 * For elements, it's easy to get a set of weapons that cover all of the elements, which makes it easier than having to switch to Sorcerer/Mage to cast spells or use affinities. Non-casters can also use the spell jewels available from Mathias.
 * Upgrading Rusted weapons to three stars will give them the ability to inflict Torpor and Poison. Gold weapons reinforced to three stars apply Silence. This is an easy way to cover a few debilitations, even as a melee vocation. You can also use debilitation Jewels sold by Mathias if that's easier than changing vocations.
 * Some easily missed or overlooked tactics:
 * Wolves have to be doused by water (good luck hitting a moving wolf with a flask of water) but there's a bestiary scroll for this. If you can't locate the bestiary scroll for this tactic, a Wolf spawns at night in the Witchwood's river near the entrance, which will be wet. It will proceed to dry itself.
 * Skeletons can be damaged by Anodyne, but they need to be lured through the glowing cloud.
 * Hydra/Archydra have to be coaxed into lowering a head by staggering it (arrows work, but single-shot arrows from the right trigger, not Five/Tenfold), then an Explosive Barrel must be thrown into the mouth, then shoot or hit the bulge in the neck to detonate the barrel.
 * Cursed Dragon : the Rotten Food flag can be the hardest to trigger. One reliable tactic may be to :
 * Pack food items in various state on the Arisen (fresh & moldy vegetables, fresh & sour meat)
 * Find a Cursed Dragon
 * Attack the Cursed Dragon; try to not damaging it too much
 * Wait for it to fly (unequip bows from pawns if they knock the dragon from the air)
 * Grab the pawn that is missing knowledge
 * Put the perishable items on him
 * Wait for the Cursed Dragon's breath attack with the pawn on your shoulders
 * Get hit by the attack => Pawn should express the knowledge gain immediatly
 * The Seneschal : some flags are hard to trigger. A good way to ensure the unlock of the flags is to drag out the fight as long as possible (2 stars can be obtained during the first fight).  To achieve that, load up curatives and equip Holy resistant clothing and armor before jumping into the Wakestone portal.