Mimic (Dungeons & Dragons)
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This D&D-related article or section describes an aspect of Dungeons & Dragons in a primarily in-universe style. Please rewrite this article or section to explain the fiction more clearly and provide non-fictional perspective. |
Dungeons & Dragons creature | |
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Mimic | |
Alignment | |
Type | Aberration |
Source books | |
First appearance | |
Image | Wizards.com image |
Stats | OGL stats |
A mimic is a shapechanging aberration in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.
[edit] Description
A mimic will often take the form of a treasure chest or a seemingly valuable object (a cabinet, a vase, and so forth) to lure unsuspecting adventurers into its grasp. Mimics exude a paralytic venom that stuns or slows down targets that are struck by its attacks.
[edit] Mimics in other games and media
In the NetHack computer game, a mimic is very similar to the D&D creature it is based on.
In many Computer role playing games (CRPGs), a mimic resembled a treasure chest and would attack you when you tried to open it. A noteworthy fact is that not all of these are shapeshifters. For example, the Ragnarok Online version of the monster has the shape of a treasure chest and is also called Mimic, but despite this, it has no shapeshifting abilities.
In the Ultima series of computer games, a mimic resembled a treasure chest and shot poison at victims from a distance.
In the Dungeon Siege series, Mimics started appearing in the second chapter. These used death magic, and were known for their high damage and good treasure dropped. In the game Nox, mimics would resemble treasure chests as well. If one attempts to open one, the creature will turn into an enormous insect and lash its claws at you, doing high damage. Normally, players could identify mimics by looking at the circle if the cursor is held on a potential mimic (normal chests would have blue circle, mimics would have a red one). It is often debated whether this was intentional or a glitch.
In the Nintendo DS games Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow and Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin, one would find blue treasure chests that upon drawing near to or attacking (by soul or sword either one), would leap in the air on a frog's legs and reveal that the only "treasure" they held were long teeth. They did moderate damage, provided meager experience and had no itemdrops. The Dragon Quest mimic is similar to this, minus the frog legs. Stronger versions are capable of many spells.
The Dark Chronicle series also has a mimic enemy, which is a chest that sprouts arms and a toothy maw when disturbed. There are also "King Mimics", which are significantly larger and stronger. Mimics often drop keys, and common items dependent on the dungeon they appear in.
Mimics also appeared in the Seiken Densetsu series games, though they were usually called Mimic Boxes or in some cases Kaiser boxes (for the blue color-swapped and more powerful version) instead of simply Mimics. This may have been to distinguish from Mimic (or the mistakenly named Mime, erroneous since they do not make silent motions but repeat actions), the character class, as it sometimes shows up in other Squaresoft games, like Final Fantasy Tactics or Final Fantasy V.
In the 2005 RPG Fate, there is a Mimic with the description of the Dungeons and Dragons creature.
The Metroid series has included enemies which disguise themselves as health and missile upgrades before attacking. They do little (no more than any other enemy) damage and usually have a real item nearby.
In Ancient Domains of Mystery a mimic is depicted with random item symbol in any random color which may already give the creature's true nature away. When the player attacks it or stands next to it, it will depict itself as an "m" (the game's symbol for generic monsters) instead. One can still attack a mimic via ranged means, such as magic and archery.
Mimics are also found in the game Rogue Galaxy, where they appear as normal treasure chests. Mimic chests usually open slowly, and when they do open, they will surprise your party leaving them unable to attack for a short period of time.
In Dragon Quest VIII, mimics are also represented by a treasure chest, and they are very difficult to defeat if your party is at a low level. They usually deal a lot of damage, and can also instantly K.O. your party.
Grandia III has a couple of mimics that can be found in the Melc Ruins and Surmania castle. They are level 40 to 47 beasts and can deal a lot of damage. They also have a magic attack called Erebos that can instantly K.O. a party member and Kamikaze, an attack extremely dangerous, which makes the mimic self-destruct and possibly kill your entire party.
In Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts, mimics are treasure chests that begin hopping when approached by a player. A tiny dragon/lizard looking creature then peeks out of the treasure chest and flies into the direction of the player.
In Trickster Online, Mimics can be found in Relics Field 2 - Hand of Giant, Relics Field 3 - Monkey Statues, and Relics Field 4 - Altar of Round. They are level 61 monsters who are have Physical resistance and a weakness to Light.
[edit] References
This article or section includes a list of references or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. You can improve this article by introducing more precise citations. |
- Cook, David, et al. Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (TSR, 1989).
- Greenwood, Ed. "The Ecology of the Mimic." Dragon #75 (TSR, 1983).
- A look Back at Mimics. D&D Alumni. Wizards of the Coast (2006-09-27). Retrieved on 2007-04-16.