Hellion

Useful Info

Hellions are dangerous tier-2 demons that blast you with smite-targeted damnation, dealing moderate damage no matter your AC or resistances. They are found in Pandemonium and the Hells, and can be summoned by many spellcasting monsters through the Summon Greater Demon spell.

Tips & Tricks

• On their own, hellions aren't dangerous to an extended character. The problem is when you combine damnation with torment. Damnation never misses, ignores AC, and hellions can fire 2 bursts per turn. This is an issue after you've had your HP cut in half a couple of times. It's also a problem when you have 12 of them shooting at once.
• They are relatively fragile and have few resistances. Melee characters can use javelins, a wand of iceblast / roots, or The Shining One's Cleansing Flame to take them out. Casters can just hit them with a preferred spell.
• Keep in mind what does and doesn't work against hellions:
  • Hellions can't see invisible, so a potion of invisibility greatly reduces the chance to take damnation.
  • Silence does not prevent demonic spellcasting.
  • Hellions have moderate willpower, so status wands can work, and a scroll of fear can scare them off with some reliability.
  • Hellions are generally unwilling to blast allies with high HD (that aren't immune to damnation). If you're standing next to a pandemonium lord, it's very unlikely for you to be blasted.
• If you have a friendly hellion serving you, be careful not to stand next to its target. It will make no attempt to preserve you if you walk into its damnation blast zone.

History

• Prior to 0.19, hellions were resistant to fire, rF+++, and vulnerable to cold and water.