Date: Tue, 09 Jun 1998 04:07:19 -0400 BREATH OF FIRE III (US) Dragon Gene FAQ, version 0.1 by David Lemasa dlemasa@lynx.neu.edu David_Lemasa@yahoo.com (c) copyright 1998, David Lemasa, all rights reserved... *CONTENTS* Introduction Version Changes The Dragon Gene System: How it Works The Dragon Genes: Individual Descriptions A Note On General Skills The Dragon Gene Splicings: The List "Hybrid Splicings" "Unique Splicings" Thanks, etc. *INTRODUCTION* After much frustration trying to find certain Dragon Gene splices that I have subsequently found to be non-existant, I feel compelled to exhaust every possibility, record my findings, and submit them (respectfully) for you. This is my first FAQ attempt, so please, bear with me. :) *VERSION CHANGES* v. 0.1 Base FAQ, majority of info added, still need more info on locations, certain gene effects. *The Dragon Gene System: How it Works* In a nutshell, your main character (Ryu, or whatever you may have renamed him) will find, scattered throughout the world, various crystals called dragon genes. These purple crystals embody the essence of "The Brood" and may only be obtained by Ryu, so put him in the lead when you see them. These become part of your gene inventory and may be either activated singly or in conjuction with one or two more genes, giving a possible maximum of 3 genes being spliced. To access the dragon gene system, Ryu must choose "Accession" (seems like a misspelling of "ascension") from list of "ATTACK" abilities under the "Abilities" catagory during battle. You will then be prompted to choose between "DATA", "PICK" or "BEST". "DATA" is a running list of all previous splices that have occured during battle. "PICK" allows you to choose the particular splicing you want to try. "BEST" is a list that is completely tailored by you form the "DATA" list. During battle, simply go into the "DATA" section, select a prior splicing you found to be effective, and press the SQUARE button. This will prompt the "BEST" list, where you may choose an empty slot to store that particular splicing. By using "PICK" you may experiment with different genes to see their outcome, these "picks" will always go to the "DATA" list where you may choose to save them to the "BEST" list during the NEXT battle encounter. Upon selecting a particular splicing duriong battle (whether though any of the 3 methods listed above), Ryu will begin to glow with a wave of power. Upon reaching his turn, he will scream a battle cry and disappear in a flash of purple lightening. This produces a huge purple dome of lightening, hiding the entire party. The dome will disappear and Ryu will have transformed into a particular dragon, replaceing either Ryu or the entire party depending on the splice. After this change, Ryu will have anew set of attacks and skills to choose from in battle. *DRAGON GENES: INDIVIDUAL DESCRIPTIONS* The following are the individual dragon genes. Under each I will include the game description, a physical description, its AP cost its location, and any miscellaneous notes or hints about that gene. Individual splicing results are tabulated in the next section of this FAQ. Here is a layout of the dragon gene menu: FLAME FROST THUNDER SHADOW RADIANCE FORCE DEFENDER ELDRITCH MIRACLE GROSS THORN REVERSE MUTANT ??? TRANCE FAILURE FUSION INFINITY *FLAME* "Grants Flame Property" AP Cost: 5 Description: Reddish-Orange globe with a flame within. Location: Ryu automatically receives this after the battle with the Unicorn Brother (Sunder and ....). Misc: Adds fire attack skills to the splicing. *FROST* "Grants Frost property" AP Cost: 5 Description: A cool blue globe with a revolving ice shard within. Location: TBA Misc: Adds ice/cold attack skills to the splicing. *THUNDER* "Grants Electric property" AP Cost: 5 Description: A drak blue globe with a red outline. A lightening bolt streaks within. Location: TBA Misc: Adds lightening/electric attack skills to the splicing. *SHADOW* "Grants Shadow property" AP Cost: 5 Description: A blackish globe that gleams occaisonally. Location: Received after defeating the Dragon Zombie after Ryu reaches adolescence (Duana Mine). Misc: Adds evil/darkness.poison attack skills to the splicing. *RADIANCE* "Grants Radiance property" AP Cost: 5 Description: An orange globe with a fiery yellow star within. Location: Also received after battle with Dragon Zombie in Duana Mine Misc: Adds holy attack skills to the splicing. *FORCE* "Grants a powerful form" AP Cost: 8 Description: A deep blue squared gem with a sword placed diagonally, hlit at the lower left, bladepointing toward upper right. Location: TBA Misc: The Warrior family of splicings begin here. Add elemental, include elemental powers. Add ELDRITCH, incluse the eldritch powers. Add DEFENDER, add defensive powers. *DEFENDER* "Grants a defensive form" AP Cost: 8 Description: A green squared gem with a grey kite shield within. Location: TBA Misc: Any elemental gene, such as flame, etc., may be spliced with DEFENDER to produce a "Dragon" form reflective of that elemental PLUS defensive powers. This usually means that the skill "Counter" is added... Counter, AP 0, "Auto counter attack when in use" So, for example, DEFENDER + FLAME yields "Dragon" with the following stats: "Dragon" AP Cost: 13 AP Maintenence Red colored flame dragon with purple horns and green fin. Dragon Skills: General Dragon Powers (Dragon Breath, Snap) FLAME Powers (Flame Breath, Flame Claw); PLUS "Counter" *ELDRITCH* "Grants a magical form" AP Cost: 8 Description: A violet squared gem with a spiral staff-tip within. Location: TBA Misc: Any elemental gene, such as flame, etc., may be spliced with ELDRITCH to produce a "Dragon" form reflective of that elemental PLUS "magical" powers. Also, the most powerful skill of that particular elemental will be added. So, in the case of FLAME, "Inferno" is added to the list of Dragon skills. Below is a listing of all of these additional elemental skills... Remember, ELDRITCH + elemental = (Gen. "Dragon" Skills) + (ELDRITCH skills) + Elemental (incl. most powerful) ELDRITCH Powers Remedy, AP 7, "Cures all status changes" Restore, AP 12, "Heal heavy wounds on one target" Vitalize, AP 20, "Heal medium wounds on all targets" ELDRITCH + FLAME Inferno, 10 AP, "Flame attack vs all targets" ELDRITCH + FROST Blizzard, 10 AP, "Frost attack vs all targets" ELDRITCH + THUNDER Myollnir, 10 AP, "Electric attack vs one target" ELDRITCH + SHADOW Death, 5 ap, "Destroy one target" ELDRITCH + RADIANCE Resurrect, 20 AP, Restore dead member (Tee hee, Viagra anyone???) Also, in all other splicings (such as Behemoth, Warrior) remember that the ELDRITCH skills will simply be tacked onto whatever base you have as a splice. For example, FORCE + ELDRITCH yields "Warrior" with warrior base powers AND ELDRITCH powers. However, if an elemental is added, such as FLAME, the "third" elemental spell will also be added, i.e. ELDRITCH + FORCE + FLAME = ELDRITCH powers + Warrior powers + FLAME powers including Inferno. This also applies to the Behemoth forms as well. *MIRACLE* "Grants a large form" AP Cost: 16 Description: A deep red diamond-shaped gem with a yellow arrow pointing to the right. Location: TBA Misc: The Behemoth family of splicings start here. Add an elemental and get that particular elemental's powers. Add ELDRITCH and also add the effects described in the ELDRITCH section (Eldritch powers + third elemental skill). Add DEFENDER, add defensive powers. *GROSS* "Enhances abilities" AP Cost: 8 Description: A light purple diamond-shaped gem with a small yellow arrow pointing up. Location: TBA Misc: TBA *THORN* "Enhances special characteristics" AP Cost: 8 Description: A dark blue, diamond-shaped gem with a blue arrow pointing down and a yellow arrow pointing up. Location: TBA Misc: The THORN gene simply grants the "Dragon" form plus whatever elemental powers are tacked on. For example, THORN + FLAME yields.. "Dragon" AP Cost: 13 AP Maintenence Red colored flame dragon with purple horns and green fin. Dragon Skills: General Dragon Powers (Dragon Breath, Snap) Flame Breath, AP 0, "Flame; damage altered by HP" Flame Claw, AP 0, "Flame attack vs. one target" All elementals follow in kind. So, FROST wuld produce the "Frost breath" and "Frost Claw" skills. The exeptions to this, of course, lie with the SHADOW and RADIANCE genes. Here are skills respective to them.. THORN + SHADOW Skills: Shadow Breath, AP 0, "Death vs all targets" Chlorine, AP 0, "Attack; poisons target" THORN + RADIANCE Divine Breath, "Holy; damage altered by HP" Shining Claw, AP 0, "Holy attack vs one target" *REVERSE* "Reverses abilities and properties" AP Cost: 3 Description: A turquoise, diamond-shaped gem with a blue "double arrow" (<--->). Location: TBA Misc: TBA *MUTANT* "Causes random change" AP Cost: 3 Description: A brownish, diamond-shaped gem with a very small arrow pointing to a tilde-like line. Location: TBA Misc: TBA *???* "Mystery effect...???" AP Cost: 8 Description: A clear globe containing a yellow/orange question mark within. Location: TBA Misc: TBA *TRANCE* "Mystery effect...???" AP Cost: 8 Description: A green, teardrop-shaped gem with a fiery eye within. Location: TBA Misc: TBA *FAILURE* "Unknown" AP Cost: 1 Description: A deep blue, teardrop-shaped gem with a pluple circle within. Location: TBA Misc: TBA *FUSION* "Combines power with allies'" AP Cost: 16 Description: A green, oval-shaped gem with a pair of connected stick figures within. Location: Misc: When spliced (alone) it yields a dragon/ally combo creature. Ususally will target a form reflective of the most powerful ally other than Ryu in the party. Fusion does not work with Garr, i.e. no "Garr" hybrid. See below for Hybrid stats. *INFINITY* "Unleashes full power of the Brood" AP Cost: 40 Description: A deep blue globe with switling "comets" within. Location: Given after defeating the Dragon Elder in Dragonier. Misc: Gives extremely powerful "Kaiser" form, which is basically a golden Ryu. However, spliced alone the Kaiser is uncontrollable (berserk) and will kill both enemies and allies. Add "FAILURE" to the splice and he's now controllable. *A NOTE ON GENERAL SKILLS* There are certain Dragon Skills that are achieved in all splicings' within certan splicing types. For example, all "Whelp" forms will share certain powers, as will all "Dragon and "Behemoth" types. Below is a listing of the base powers of each type. Please note that when splicing another gene type, an elemental, perhaps, there are powers that will be granted on top of the base powers (obviously)... "Whelp" Whelp Breath, AP 0, "Breath;damage altered by HP" Blind, AP 0, "Attack; induces blindness" "Dragon" Dragon Breath, AP 0, "Breath;damage altered by HP" Snap, AP 0, "Attack vs one target; lowers Def" "Warrior" Gambit, AP 0, "Critical damage if enemy is hit" Aura, AP 20, "Holy attack vs. one target; PwrX2" Focus, AP 0, "Raise Pwr when used; max. X2" "Behemoth" MeteorStrike, AP 0, "Comet; damage altered by HP" Blitz, AP 0, "Attack vs. all; user's HP halved" Charge, AP 0, "Damage altered based on Def" These are the four base dragon types. *DRAGON GENE SPLICINGS: THE LIST* The following is a list of all viable splicings (i.e. no repeats or "useless" splices). In this, I will include the genes involved, the name of the resulting dragon, the AP cost, the AP cost per round, the skills/attacks, and a description of the dragon. *Individual Splicings* FLAME "Whelp" AP Cost: 5 AP Cost per Turn: 3 Fiery-orange colored young dragon, flame powers Dragon Skills: Whelp Breath, AP 0, "Breath, damage altered by HP" Blind, AP 0, "Attack, induces blindness" Flame Breath, AP 0, "Flame; damage altered by HP" Flame Claw, AP 0, "Flame attack vs. one target" Restore Form, Ap 0, (self-explanatory) FROST "Whelp" AP Cost: 5 AP Cost per Turn: 3 Turquoise colored young dragon, frost powers. Dragon Skills: Whelp Breath, AP 0, "Breath, damage altered by HP" Blind, AP 0, "Attack, induces blindness" Frost Breath, AP 0, "Frost; damage altered by HP" Frost Claw, AP 0, "Frost attack vs. one target" Restore Form, Ap 0, (self-explanatory) THUNDER "Whelp" AP Cost: 5 AP Cost per Turn: 3 Deep-blue colored young dragon, electric powers. Dragon Skills: Whelp Breath, AP 0, "Breath, damage altered by HP" Blind, AP 0, "Attack, induces blindness" ThundrBreath, AP 0, "Electric; damage altered by HP" Thunder Claw, AP 0, "Electric attack vs. one target" Restore Form, Ap 0, (self-explanatory) SHADOW "Whelp" AP Cost: 5 AP Cost per Turn: 3 Blackish-purple colored young dragon, shadow powers. Dragon Skills: Whelp Breath, AP 0, "Breath, damage altered by HP" Blind, AP 0, "Attack, induces blindness" ShadowBreath, AP 0, "Death vs. all targets" Chlorine, AP 0, "Attack, poisons target" Restore Form, Ap 0, (self-explanatory) RADIANCE "Whelp" AP Cost: 5 AP Cost per Turn: 3 Silver colored young dragon, radiance powers. Dragon Skills: Whelp Breath, AP 0, "Breath, damage altered by HP" Blind, AP 0, "Attack, induces blindness" DivineBreath, AP 0, "Holy; damage altered by HP" Shining Claw, AP 0, Holy attack vs. one target" Restore Form, Ap 0, (self-explanatory) FORCE "Warrior" AP Cost: 8 AP Cost per Turn: 4 Red, hybrid humanoid dragon. Orange hair and green pants. Has grey wings and red tail. Stands upright. Dragon Skills Gambit, AP 0, "Critical damage if enemy is hit" Aura, AP 20, "Holy attack vs. one target; PwrX2" Focus, AP 0, "Raise Pwr when used; max. X2" Restore Form, Ap 0, (self-explanatory) DEFENDER "Whelp" AP Cost: 8 AP Cost per Turn: 4 Green colored young dragon, general & defense powers. Dragon Skills: Whelp Breath, AP 0, "Breath, damage altered by HP" Blind, AP 0, "Attack, induces blindness" Counter, AP 0, "Auto counter-attack when in use" Restore Form, Ap 0, (self-explanatory) ELDRITCH "Whelp" AP Cost: 8 AP Cost per Turn: 4 Green colored young dragon, general & healing powers. Dragon Skills: Whelp Breath, AP 0, "Breath, damage altered by HP" Blind, AP 0, "Attack, induces blindness" Remedy, AP 7, "Cures all status changes" Restore, AP 12, "Heal heavy wounds on one target" Vitalize, AP 20, "Heal medium wounds on all targets" Restore Form, Ap 0, (self-explanatory) MIRACLE "Behemoth" AP Cost: 16 AP Cost per Turn: 8 Enormous, round, four-horned, steam breathing green dragon. Yellow underbelly and large lower teeth, barbed tail. Replaces entire party. Dragon Skills: MeteorStrike, AP 0, "Comet; damage altered by HP" Blitz, AP 0, "Attack vs. all; user's HP halved" Charge, AP 0, "Damage altered based on Def" Restore Form, Ap 0, (self-explanatory) GROSS / THORN / ??? / TRANCE "Whelp" AP Cost: 8 AP Cost per Turn: 4 Green colored young dragon, general powers. Dragon Skills: Whelp Breath, AP 0, "Breath, damage altered by HP" Blind, AP 0, "Attack, induces blindness" Restore Form, Ap 0, (self-explanatory) REVERSE "Whelp" AP Cost: 3 AP Cost per Turn: 2 Green colored young dragon, general powers. Dragon Skills: Whelp Breath, AP 0, "Breath, damage altered by HP" Blind, AP 0, "Attack, induces blindness" Restore Form, Ap 0, (self-explanatory) MUTANT "Whelp" AP Cost: 3 AP Cost per Turn: 2 Random colored young dragon, general & random elemental powers. Dragon Skills: Whelp Breath, AP 0, "Breath, damage altered by HP" Blind, AP 0, "Attack, induces blindness" **Any powers as respective to the "type" of whelp Ryu morphs into (random). Restore Form, Ap 0, (self-explanatory) FAILURE "Whelp" AP Cost: 1 AP Cost per Turn: 1 Green colored young dragon, general powers. Lower HP than with other whelp splicings, HP stays same, doesn't increase. Dragon Skills: Whelp Breath, AP 0, "Breath, damage altered by HP" Blind, AP 0, "Attack, induces blindness" Restore Form, Ap 0, (self-explanatory) FUSION "Hybrid" AP Cost: 16 AP Cost per Turn: 8 Appearence & skills vary depending upon character fused with from party...(see below) INFINITY "Kaiser" AP Cost: 40 AP Maintenence: Golden version of Ryu, uncontrollable, i.e. "berzerk" state, tends to attack party members as well as enemies. Dragon Skills: In this state, Ryu will only use his standard sword attack for HUGE damage. However, your other party members will almost always be killed by him. NB: Add the Failure Gene to this and he's controllable. *Multiple Splicings* Below is a listing of both Hybrid splices and the Unique splices. *Hybrid Splicings* Hybrid Nina Dragon White, bird-like creature with purple feather tips and reptilian tail (Cockatrice?). Dragon Skills: Typhoon, AP 7, "Wind attack vs. all targets" Lightening, AP 7, "Electric attack vs. all targets" Inferno, AP 10, "Flame attack vs. all targets" Blizzard, AP 10, "Frost attack vs. all targets" Temptation, AP 0, "Causes confusion; abilities down" NB: Think of Temptation as an all around status killer, like Confusion, Blunt, Weaken and Slow all together with a higher success rate. Hybrid Rei Dragon Winged, horned tiger form with a thick tail. Dragon Skills: Shadowwalk, AP 8, "Warp attack; critical blow" Dragon Breath, AP 0, "Breath; damage altered by HP" Tempest, AP 0, "Wind; damage altered by HP" NB: Shadowwalk does insane damage. Hybrid Momo Dragon Four leged suit of armor, with a plumed smoke-stack helmet and a spiked ball tail. Dragon Skills: Speed, AP 2, "Raise one target's Agil" Protect, AP 2, "Raise one target's Def" Might, AP 4, "Raise one target's Pwr" Restore, AP 12, "Heal heavy wounds on one target" Remedy, AP 7, "Cures all status changes" Combustion, AP 0, Flame & Wind attack vs all targets" NB: Combustion shoots a nuclear bomb from the smoke-stack mortar. It hits, there's a brief delay, and the a huge elliptical flare causing huge damage. Hybrid Peco Dragon Giant purple Peco with spiked tail and orange tuft of hair. Dragon Skills: Dream Breath, AP 3, "Induce sleep on all targets" Venom Breath, AP 3, "Poisons all targets" Dragon Breath, AP 0, "Breath; damage altered by HP" Geo Breath, AP 0, "Earth; damage altered by HP" *Unique Splicings* WILDFIRE MIRACLE + THORN + REVERSE (27 AP) Golden Whelp form. Extremely quick, very low HP, very high reprisal rate. Dragon Skills: Whelp Breath, AP 0, "Breath; damage altered by HP" Charge, AP 0, "Damage altered based on Def" TRYGON FLAME + FROST + THUNDER (15 AP) Golden Dragon form. Triple elemental. Dragon Skills: All Breaths (Flame, Frost, Thundr, Dragon) & Snap. MYRMIDON FORCE + TRANCE (16 AP) Golden Warrior form. High reprisal rate. Dragon Skills: Gambit, AP 0, "Critical damage if enemy is hit" Aura, AP 20, "Holy attack vs one target; PwrX2" Flame Strike, AP 1, "Flame attack vs one target" Thudr Strike, AP 4, "Electric attack, paralyzes" Frost Strike, AP 4, "Frost attack, induces sleep" Wind Strike, AP 1, "Wind attack vs one target" Holy Strike, AP 2, "Holy attack vs one target" Aura Breath, AP 0, "Holy; damage altered by HP" MAMMOTH MIRACLE + ??? (24 AP) Golden Behemoth form. Extremely high HP (2000+) Dragon Skills: Giant Growth, AP 0, "Attack vs multiple targets Meteor Strike, AP 0, "Comet; damage altered by HP" PYGMY MUTANT + ??? (11 AP) Larval dragon form (like a horned worm). Tiny. Purple. Dragon Skills: Dragon Breath and Snap Magma Breath, AP 0, "Flame; damage altered by HP" TIAMAT TRANCE + SHADOW (13 AP) Coiled snake with flaming purple horns. Lighter purple body with spikes down spinal area. Finned tail. Dragon Skills: Doom Breath, AP 0, "Neutral; damage altered by HP" Shadow Breath, AP 0, "Death vs all targets" Venom Breath, AP 3, "Poison all targets" KAISER (Controllable) INFINITY + FAILURE (41 AP) Golden Ryu form, i.e. he really doesn't change. High reprisal rate. Berserk if spliced alone w/out FAILURE. Dragon Skills: Kaiser Breath, AP 0, "Neutral, damage altered by HP" Bonebreak, AP 0, "Attack; usable at fixed intervals" Howling, AP 0, "Attack; induces confusion" *THANKS & ETC.* Thanks to.... CAPCOM, for making this great game. SONY, for allowing this extremely wonderful, old-school 2D masterpiece to exist among the 3D trash that we endure everyday. Henry LaPierre, fellow Baystater and FAQ writer extraordinaire, for his "educational" feedback in this, my first foray into FAQ authoring. ...........