Dragon Clash FAQ

What is Dragon Clash?
Dragon Clash is an online game and a new vision in strategic dragon combat! Train and customize your dragon from one of four breeds, and battle other players in quick play and player versus player matches. Engage the human menace in mission-based combat, and destroy the Slayer threat. Ally with friends to build and defend your lair, or capture the homes of your enemies in lair sieges. Expand your hoard and equip your dragon with rare armor and weapons from our diverse loot system. The choices are many. Can you become the Last Kin, the greatest of all dragons?

When will Dragon Clash be released?
Our goal is to release Dragon Clash by the end of 2009. However, we are adopting a "when it's done" mentality with the game. If we need to push into 2010 in order to complete and polish the game, we will do that. When we have firm information on dates, we will post an announcement on this website and via our newsletter.

How do I play? I can't figure out how to get into the game.
Dragon Clash is still currently in development. Once the game has been released, it will be available on this website. In the meantime, you can follow the game's development through our various preview articles, available on this website.

Do I have to pay to play Dragon Clash? Am I limited to a trial period?
Dragon Clash is free to play. All new players begin with Basic Accounts, which will allow immediate access to the game and the ability to play one dragon. There is no trial period.

Why should I upgrade to a Premium Account?
Premium Accounts gain the ability to unlock up to three additional character slots, allowing the creation of up to four dragons.

In addition, Dragon Clash game modes require Stamina. Basic Accounts are limited to a set amount of Stamina per day. Upgrading to a Premium Account removes that restriction. What this means in practical terms is that Basic Accounts will only be able to battle a few times a day. Premium Accounts will be able to battle as many times as their dragon can endure.

Finally, upgrading to or extending a Premium Account will grant you an immediate bonus in Clash Coins. These may be used in our store to unlock new breeds, Hoard Packs, customize your dragon with Traits and more.

All accounts can earn Clash Coins just by playing Dragon Clash, but Premium Accounts will earn them faster.

So I need to have a Premium Account to get all the cool equipment and dragon breeds?
No. Clash Coins can be gained by all players, just by playing Dragon Clash. Equipment, features, and dragon breeds are not exclusive to Premium Accounts. However, since Premium Accounts will generally earn Clash Coins faster, they will naturally have access to those options sooner.

How much will a Premium Account cost?
We have not announced pricing plans for Premium Accounts at this time.

Is this going to become an animated action game?
No, Dragon Clash will remain an illustrated, browser-based strategy game. Your actions and attacks will be highlighted by the vivid and exciting work of our Dragon Clash artists.

What are the system requirements? Will this run on a dial-up connection?
Dragon Clash should run on all recent internet browsers. No plug-ins will be required. Improvements to the interface and game engine should mean solid performance for players using a dial-up connection. Broadband is still recommended, but not required.

Is this related to the Shalkith Online game?
Dragon Clash will be replacing Shalkith Online and is set in the same fictional universe. The game has been rebuilt from the ground up to offer a richer play experience, more features, and a faster interface. In addition to a new combat engine, Dragon Clash will release with four dragon breeds (red, blue, silver and brown), new game modes, the ability to ally with friends, a robust loot system, and more. In addition, Dragon Clash will bring back the Bloodbath game mode, boss battles, expanded leaderboards, and the popular Milestones.

I have an account on Shalkith Online, how does this affect me?
When Dragon Clash is released, all active Shalkith Online accounts will automatically be transferred to Dragon Clash as Premium Accounts. The length of your Premium Account will match the amount of Game Days you had remaining on your Shalkith Online account. All Style Points will be regained and converted to Clash Coins, which you can immediately spend in the new Dragon Clash store.

You must have Game Days remaining to be considered an active Shalkith Online account. If your Shalkith Online account is expired, it will not be transferred.

Will my dragons be transferred along with my Shalkith Online account?
No. Dragon Clash and Shalkith dragons will not be compatible and will not be transferred. All players will need to hatch new dragons. However, transferred accounts will receive rewards based on the Lair Point total of their Shalkith Online account. The more Lair Points, the greater your rewards!

For more details on the rewards program, please review the "Paying Tribute: Player Rewards" article now available in the Previews section.

How can I learn more about Dragon Clash?
Sign-up for our mailing list to receive exclusive updates and previews of all the latest Dragon Clash developments!

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Dragon Clash Mailing List

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Dragon Clash Previews

Check back regularly. We'll be posting sneak peaks of the new Dragon Clash game modes, breeds and more. Join the Mailing List to be alerted of new Dragon Clash updates as soon as they're published!

Slumbering Titans: The Brown Dragon
This preview introduces the brown dragon, one of the four breeds announced for the Dragon Clash game. Children of the earth weave, the brown dragon is a stone titan capable of nearly limitless power. However, the breed's potential is hampered by their slothful tendencies and modest ambitions.

Read More

Whirling Dervish: The Silver Dragon
Our second preview introduces the silver dragon, one of the four breeds announced for the Dragon Clash game. Children of the air weave, the silver dragon is a whirling dervish capable of lightning fast strikes and powerful magical attacks. However their arcane prowess comes at the cost of a soft underbelly and poor tactical aptitude.

Read More

Rehatched: Making A Better Dragon
Dragon Clash builds on the strategic foundation of both the Shalkith online game and the original Shalkith: Last Kin tabletop manual. This third preview looks at some of the redesigned elements in the combat system.

Read More

Fire And Ice: Revisiting Red and Blue Dragons
Both the red and blue dragons were previously released in Shalkith Online. However, for Dragon Clash, each of those breeds was redesigned to increase their strategic options. In this article we conclude our initial breed preview series by revisiting the red and blue dragons and noting a few of the changes you can expect.

Read More

Paying Tribute: Player Rewards
Dragon Clash would not be possible without the feedback and support of our Shalkith Online players. To recognize their loyalty and achievements, we will be instituting a rewards plan for when Shalkith Online transitions to Dragon Clash later this year.

Read More

What’s In A Hoard?
In Dragon Clash, players will build their dragon’s hoard, increasing its gold pile with a rich variety of weapons, armor and artifacts that can be equipped in battle or used to strengthen lair defenses, unlock new titles, heal painful wounds, and more.

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Rehatched - Part Two: The Combat Interface
In the preview, "Rehatched: Making A Better Dragon", we discussed some of the design decisions behind elements of the combat system. Part two of our Rehatched preview offers a first look at the interface behind the combat and discusses some of the key areas players will be navigating.

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Claw To Claw - Part One
In this preview we unveil the full list of attack actions common to all dragons, as well as the breed-specific actions for the red and brown dragon breeds.

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Claw To Claw - Part Two
In part one of our Claw to Claw articles, we unveiled the full list of attacks for the red and brown dragon breeds, as well as the common attacks available to all dragons. In part two, we preview the attacks for the mercurial and sinister blue dragons, as well as the magically adept silver dragons.

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Home Sweet Home
Whether it's a fiery cavern, an underground ocean, a mud-soaked river bed, or a glittering cloud, every dragon needs a home. In Dragon Clash, players will be able to build a lair for their dragon, customizing its look and fortifying its defenses against the siege attacks by eager rivals.

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Who's The Boss?
Dragon Clash gives players the opportunity to battle some of the game's legendary dragons. Not only with these "boss" battles provide an increased challenge against dragons with unique powers, but defeating one of these titular giants will grant your dragon a milestone, additional rankings points, and a powerful loot item that is attainable only by defeating that enemy.

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Desktop Wallpapers
Click on a thumbnail below to download your selected desktop wallpaper. A new window will open, displaying the full-size image. Right-click to save that image to your computer. Once downloaded, you can choose the image as your new desktop wallpaper in your computer's display settings. Enjoy!

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Slumbering Titans: The Brown Dragon

Brown Dragon Overview
After centuries of abuse from mankind, the elemental threads that bind all life threaten to unravel forever. Gaia, the dying spirit of Earth, summons her last defenders in a desperate plea for salvation. Those defenders are the dragons, each born from the destruction wrought by the human race. Creatures of unparalleled power, dragons are bound to the elemental weaves and their war is fated to reshape the world forever.

This preview introduces the brown dragon, one of the four breeds announced for the Dragon Clash game. Children of the earth weave, the brown dragon is a stone titan capable of nearly limitless power. However, the breed's potential is hampered by their slothful tendencies and modest ambitions.

When given the choice, many brown dragons prefer to bathe in the sun and dream, rather than engage their kin in battle. This behavior makes the breed natural targets of both ambitious dragons and human Slayer units, and many brown dragons fall without a fight. One dying brown dragon is quoted as saying, "Death is much less noisy."

Despite this, the breed is also the most feared. Like a rolling boulder, the brown dragon is an unstoppable force of destruction if given time to awaken, and canyons are filled with the sun-bleached bones of dragon challengers once flush with overconfidence. When it comes to brown dragons, a favorite Slayer saying is, "Kill 'em fast or save your ass."

Squat and bulbous, the brown dragon is the smallest of the four breeds and also the most atypical. Their thick, round faces and wingless bodies are covered in a variety of stone plates and rocky outcroppings. This, combined with their inability to fly, has led many human scholars to mistakenly label them as dinosaurs or giants, rather than true dragons.

Although they age slowly, the brown dragon actually physically matures very rapidly, often by the time it reaches Young Serpent age. It is at this stage when another breed oddity becomes apparent. Whereas the physical bodies of other dragon breeds slowly break apart into their elemental essences, the brown dragon actually maintains and enhances its physical mass by consuming the rock and earth around it.

The earth it eats is assimilated into the natural body of the brown dragon, giving it a unique appearance. Brown dragons that consume large amounts of rock may find their bodies covered in craggy scales, tall outcroppings, or even gemstone horns. Those that eat less could find their scales melding together until they appear similar to smooth marble statues. While particularly slothful browns may find small trees and clumps of moss growing over them. By the time it reaches Elder Wyrm age, a brown dragon can resemble a walking mountain.

Playing A Brown Dragon
Brown dragons can be a challenging, but rewarding breed to master. Although they have some of the most powerful attacks in the game, speed is their greatest foe. The breed is not only physically slow, but they're also slower to age. In the Dragon Clash development system, which will be looked at in a future preview, this means that the brown will be more physically mature than their kin, but it will also take the breed longer to gain access to the higher tiered, more powerful attacks.

In addition, brown dragons begin every combat in "slumber". While in this vulnerable state, all of their breed-specific attacks will be costly to use. This can be a significant disadvantage and will often put brown dragon players on the defensive early.

So, why play a brown dragon? As previously noted, the breed has some of the most damaging melee and spell attacks in the game. While they may be slow to awaken, if a brown survives the "slumber" stage of combat, all of their breed-specific attacks will be improved, suddenly putting them at a significant advantage. Some attacks may do more damage, some may be cheaper to use, while others may have unique effects.

Attack Preview
While the full set of attacks for each breed will be revealed in a later preview, here's a sneak peak at the brown dragon's breath weapon attack.

Spew Boulder
Type: Breath
Affinity: Body
Damage: Critical
Speed: Very Slow
Special: While in a "slumber" state, attempting this attack will damage your dragon. While in an "awakened" state, an opponent damaged by this attack is affected by Slow.

Although the brown dragon has no natural breath weapon, it is capable of using its own body to create a powerful ranged attack. By tearing off and eating the pieces of stone, trees, or packed earth accumulated onto its thick frame, brown dragons can shape a boulder-like projectile and spit it at an opponent. Awakened dragons are even capable of coating the boulder in a thick tar regurgitated from its belly. This attack has been affectionately called, "Yummy Rock Surprise".

Avatar Preview
The following is an avatar set preview for a male brown dragon, created by artist Liv Hathaway. Avatars represent a dragon in-game, and evolve as that dragon ages. These images cover the Hatchling and Childe aging stages for this avatar set.

Liv had this to say about her work in realizing her vision of the brown dragon...

Since the brown dragon 'matures' very quickly, I had the early opportunity to evolve the craggy formations that will point the way for this set. Whereas other avatar sets may highlight the serene aspects of the breed, I wanted to capture the other side of the brown spectrum. This is the type of brown who is not going to just roll over and snooze on a challenger. You may also notice that he's starting to grow crystals and mineral formations. His saw-like teeth even bear a resemblance to sapphires. As this dragon ages, those outcroppings will grow and become more numerous, in the end making him less a walking ecosystem and more a ten-ton stone titan.

Contact Us
We want to hear from you! Use the "Contact" link at the top of the page to send us your questions, comments, or simply let us know what you're eager to see previewed. We'll pick the best to highlight in future preview articles.

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Whirling Dervish: The Silver Dragon

Silver Dragon Overview
Our second preview introduces the silver dragon, one of the four breeds announced for the Dragon Clash game. Children of the air weave; the silver dragon is a whirling dervish capable of lightning fast strikes and powerful magical attacks. However their arcane prowess comes at the cost of a soft underbelly and poor tactical aptitude.

Often considered the most merciful of the dragon breeds, the silver dragon typically shuns physical conflict, preferring to influence world events and fluster enemies from afar. Rumors of human alliances with silver dragons abound, further feeding into the dragon-belief that the breed is weak and unfit to rule.

This foolhardy notion has led human and dragon alike to underestimate the will and cunning of the silver dragon, and whatever the breed lacks in savagery, it makes up for with an unrivaled speed. While other dragons find satisfaction in personally rending an opponent with claws and teeth, the silver dragon is perfectly content darting back and forth at the edge of conflict, shaping the battle to its benefit while buffeting a rival into submission with stinging winds and lightning.

Given that the silver dragon is not overly physical, it is perhaps ironic that the breed is also the largest of the dragons. Its long, coiling body is covered in a thick layer of soft fur and thin silvery scales that are spongy to the touch. Males possess thin, spiral horns of pearl. Their faces are distinctively feline, highlighted by a thick lion's mane of silver and black fur. Females are more wolf-like in appearance, with soft feather-like hair draping down their bodies from behind curled ram-horns.

Like their brown kin, the silver dragon does not have natural wings, instead using their coiled body and feathered tail to float and glide through the air with effortless grace. As they age, it is not uncommon for the breed to braid their fur or beards with beads and colorful feathers. The more battle-hardened silvers may even use the remains of human war machines as trinkets, braiding crushed jet wings or the remains of crumpled smoke stacks into the fur of their bodies.

Playing A Silver Dragon
Silver dragons have the most spell attacks of the four breeds and should be appealing to players who enjoy picking their opponents apart with a variety of ranged magic. However, perhaps the most fearsome quality is the pure speed potential of the breed. The silver dragon’s incredible speed advantage often allows controlling players to act first, but more importantly it gives them more combat dice to allot to attacking or defending. This puts silver dragon players in control of the ebb and flow of battle and often puts opponents in a reactionary state.

That speed advantage is essential to avoiding direct confrontation, as one of the silver dragon’s major weaknesses is a dangerously low resistance to physical and critical damage. Should a silver get caught in close claw-to-claw combat, its soft body is unlikely to withstand more than a few strikes from a well trained adversary. In addition, the silver dragon’s magical attacks, while varied, tend to do less damage than the brutal melee strikes of other breeds.

Attack Preview
While the full set of attacks for each breed will be revealed in a later preview, here's a sneak peak at one of the silver dragon's magical attacks.

Wind Strike
Type:Spell
Affinity: Magic
Damage: Physical
Speed: Medium
Special: On hit, attacker can choose to knock opponent back one range.

Using its magical aptitude, a silver dragon can summon the winds and focus the swirling chaos into a focused burst of air. The resulting strike not only delivers a painful clubbing blow, but it can also send a threatening opponent reeling out of range.

Avatar Preview
The following is an avatar set preview for a male silver dragon, created by artist Emily Mei. Avatars represent a dragon in-game, and evolve as that dragon ages. These images cover the Hatchling and Childe aging stages for this avatar set.

Emily had this to say about her work in realizing her vision of the silver dragon...

Silver dragon males are feline rather than lupine, so I chose the lion as a reference for this avatar set. The lion’s coloring allowed for good, flat lighting without the distractions of many markings. Also, since the adult silver dragon will eventually sport a mane, a lion face was the best reference in terms of consistency and accuracy. I've borrowed some light markings from one of my favorite breeds of cat, the Siamese. I doubt they'll last into the adult years, but they add some accents to these earlier stages. These Siamese markings are similar to how a lion cub sports spots when they're young, but disappear after they get older.

As the silver dragon grows older, it loses some of his kittenish cuteness. His snout elongates, and his head grows a bit larger. At this point, he can probably support his (still disproportionately large) ears a little better, and so they're no longer quite as floppy. I wanted to depict the silver dragon’s discovery and increasing control over his lightning breath, but still keep a bit of the childish uncertainty. Right now, he's just testing out his breath weapon, trying to keep his newly healed whiskers from getting burnt again. His eyes are scrunched and he's scowling a bit in his concentration.

Q&A
Thank you for your feedback and questions regarding Dragon Clash and the first preview, Slumbering Titans: The Brown Dragon. We’ve picked a couple of the questions sent to us to include in this preview.

Q: In the Dragon Clash FAQ, you mention equipment. What is equipment going to be?

A: One of the new features in Dragon Clash is our loot and equipment system. Your dragon will now be able to find and equip various loot items, which may provide additional bonuses. So, for example, your dragon may discover a bone helm during a lair attack, which adds a bonus to Plague damage to all Melee attacks. Not only will it be added to that dragon’s personal hoard, your dragon will then be able to equip that bone helm into battle. More information on this system will be in a future preview.

Q: What sort of Skills/Spells/Gifts/... will appear? All the same ones we've come to know and love with a new twist and/or brand new ones, complete with the "new car smell”?

A: I don’t know about the “new car smell”, most of those were eaten by hungry browns. Dragon Clash will include all of the red and blue dragon attacks, gifts, and styles from the Shalkith Online game. However, many will be revised or heavily tweaked to accommodate the new game systems, breed balance, and the updates to the combat engine. The silver and brown dragons will have their own unique sets of attacks. New gifts and styles will also be rolling out as content updates shortly after Dragon Clash launches.

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Rehatched: Making A Better Dragon

Note: This preview is primarily geared towards veteran players of the Shalkith online game. If you find elements of this preview confusing, don't fret! Dragon Clash will have an extensive help section and tutorial adventure to teach you everything you need to know.

Dragon Clash builds on the strategic foundation of both the Shalkith online game and the original Shalkith: Last Kin tabletop manual. This third preview looks at some of the redesigned elements in the combat system.

The combat system of the original Shalkith online game provided a rich variety of strategic elements, but also carried the limitations of being rooted in its tabletop origins. While considering ways to improve the combat engine for Dragon Clash, several points of emphasis were identified.

Issue 1: The Shalkith combat engine contained too many phases, resulting in a repetitive interface and preventing a viable player versus player experience.

In Dragon Clash, we’ve reworked the interface from the ground up to provide a faster and more intuitive experience. These interface changes and game modes, such as player versus player combat, will be the focus of a future preview. However, looking at the combat structure itself, the Shalkith combat engine had eight interactive phases.

Random Events (Player)
Random Events (Opponent)
Initiative and First Movement Phase
Final Movement Phase
Round 1 - Choose Attack or Defense; Select Dice
Round 1 Result
Round 2 - Choose Attack or Defense; Select Dice
Round 2 Result

In most cases, Dragon Clash will cut these phases to just two.

Choose Range; Choose Attack; Select Dice
Results

How is this possible? Several of the strictly informational phases, such as random events and round results, are being integrated into an interactive and expanded combat log. Players will no longer be forced to click through these results, but can instead choose to review and expand them at their leisure. This will become clearer once the interface preview is released in the coming months.

Issue 2: The round-based combat was a wait-and-react system that slowed play and created too many predictable scenarios.

In the original Shalkith game, the round system allowed players to see what the opponent was thinking. Strategy was often limited to chaining specific strategic combinations of attacks or reacting to and breaking the opponent’s combinations. While this did allow for a certain enjoyable chess-like strategy, it also led to stagnant game play in many circumstances.

As noted above, Dragon Clash has dropped rounds entirely. The experience is still a turn-based strategy game, but now players choose and act in the same turn. You don’t get to see what your opponent is thinking, how many dice they may be rolling, or where he is moving. This creates several exciting strategic opportunities, and makes for more unpredictable and dynamic game play.

To accomplish this, the existing red and blue dragon attacks have been redesigned to take advantage of the new strategic layers, while the new silver and brown dragon attacks have been built into the system from the start. In addition, some functional aspects of the overall combat system have been reworked.

For example, the “A-E” range system has been consolidated into a more intuitive “Melee/ Ranged/Safe” range system. Finally, to weave it all together, new game play mechanics such as Attack Speed and Resistances are being introduced.

Here’s an example of how one turn may flow.

In the Shalkith game:

Nalia rolls for initiative (5) and adds her dragon’s Speed attribute (16) for a total of 21. Corlock does the same, rolling (5) and adding his Speed attribute (14) for a total of 19. Nalia wins initiative due to her higher Speed, acting first and moving last.

Corlock wants to try an Absolute Rend attack and doesn’t move, since he needs to be in the same range as Nalia to execute the attack.

Nalia wants to use a Berserker Rage buff and moves from range “A” to “C”, to take advantage of the safe range and likely prevent Corlock from attacking.

Nalia executes her Berserker Rage spell safely, buffing her dragon.

Corlock is out of range and can’t execute Absolute Rend. He can choose to Burst and use a lesser attack, but ultimately chooses to conserve Essence and just wait to try again next turn.

Ultimately not much happened that turn. Nalia began setting up a combo from relative safety with a passive buff while Corlock had to waste his turn or react and perform a different attack to hopefully disrupt Nalia.

In Dragon Clash:

Nalia wants to try Berserker Rage, a Very Slow buff with defensive damage potential. She would prefer to stay out of combat range, so chooses “Safe” range. At the same time, Corlock wants to try Absolute Rend, a Medium speed attack. He knows he has to be in melee range to execute the attack, so he chooses “Melee”.

Using the same combination of random initiative roll and Speed attribute modifier, Nalia has a total of 21 versus Corlock’s 19. However, in Dragon Clash, Nalia’s chosen attack has a Very Slow modifier, while Corlock’s attack has a relatively faster Medium modifier. This puts Corlock over the top. Results are tabulated and may be displayed as:

“Nalia banks hard in the air, using her momentum to whirl away. Corlock roars and spins, closing the distance with a few powerful strokes of his wings.”

“Corlock launches himself at Nalia in a flurry of rending claws! Nalia deflects the blows and roars in defiance.”

“Nalia grabs Corlock around the throat and grins. Nalia bursts into a berserker rage! Corlock is engulfed in blistering fire!”

In this scenario, Dragon Clash’s new mechanics allowed two things to happen. Corlock’s faster attack speed allowed him to close the range gap, even though he technically was slower. He still missed his attack, in this example, but he was allowed to attempt it. In addition, Nalia’s “buff” proved to have a little more bite and actually damaged Corlock. Veteran Shalkith players will notice that this is a new twist on the red dragon attack. We’ll take a closer look at Berserker Rage in our next preview.

Unfortunately for Nalia, Corlock has a high Fire Resistance, minimizing his damage. Resistance? Ah, yes, this leads to the final point of emphasis.

Issue 3: The scaling damage system was confusing and lacked strategic depth.

In Shalkith, damage was determined by a variable roll based on your rank, the individual attack’s damage rating, and any linked attacks or attributes. That roll was then modified by the opponent’s related attribute. This formula proved both too basic on the strategic level and the presentation ultimately confused too many players.

In Dragon Clash, the basic damage formula remains intact, but the in-combat interface will now clearly let players know how much damage they can anticipate delivering. No more charts and no more guesswork.

In addition, Dragon Clash will expand the damage system by introducing damage types and related resistances. Previously all damage, regardless of origin, was treated the same. Damage from fire attacks was ultimately no different than a claw attack. Now attacks can deliver damage in either Physical, Arcane, Critical, Fire, Ice, Lightning, Plague, Poison, Madness, or Oblivion categories.

This not only allows us to mix and match attacks with varying damage types (for example, Spell attacks could theoretically do Physical damage), but increases the customization options and strategic analysis per dragon. One dragon may be highly resistant to Ice damage, but have a weakness to Critical damage.

In the above example, Corlock is highly resistant to Berserker Rage’s damage type (Fire) and the results may display something like:

“Nalia grabs Corlock around the throat and grins. Nalia bursts into a berserker rage! Corlock is engulfed in blistering fire!”

“Corlock lets the fire wash over him, basking in the heat as the flames disperse harmlessly around him!”

This preview is a glimpse into some of the exciting improvements and added depth being built into the Dragon Clash combat system. While elements may seem complex, we think once you experience it and get your hands on the new interface, you’ll find it easy to pick up and ultimately more fun to play.

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Fire And Ice: Revisiting Red and Blue Dragons

Both the red and blue dragons were previously released in Shalkith Online. However, for Dragon Clash, each of those breeds was redesigned to increase their strategic options. In this article we conclude our initial breed preview series by revisiting the red and blue dragons and noting a few of the changes you can expect.

Red Dragon Overview
The red dragons are children of fire, feeding off rage and savagery. Although they possess a powerful breath weapon, their greatest strength lies in claw-to-claw combat where red dragons can often use their strength and ferocity to overwhelm and smother opponents.

However, the red dragon is particularly weak in magical combat, where the breed's blind rage makes them susceptible to spell attacks. While the red dragon does possess some dangerous magical spells, they are not as adept in weaving the arcane into a sustained attack.

The breed is one of the larger dragon races, nearly three hundred feet in length. Thick and muscled, they have large, raised snouts and heavy brows. Males possess thick bull horns, while the females are marked by an array of jagged spikes.

Older red dragons mark their faces with ornamental piercings of volcanic rock, charred human metals, or the bones from fallen prey. Their tails slope to a single sharp point, rimmed with magma. Immense bat-shaped wings smolder and shed ash as the red dragon swoops across the sky.

Playing A Red Dragon
Red dragons possess brutal melee attacks, and their superior strength and high speed offer the breed a fairly straightforward path to victory. A red dragon's best plan is often to get in close where they can use their rage and ferocious combinations to tear an opponent to shreds.

However, the breed will often be at a disadvantage against more magically-inclined opponents, where the red dragon is inferior in both intellect and spell defense. Red dragon players will need to carefully balance their attack combinations with selective spell use in order to counter these threats or develop a strong deterrent in the breed's potentially game-ending (but exhausting) breath weapon.

Attack Preview
While the full set of attacks for each breed will be revealed in a later preview, here's a sneak peak at one of the red dragon's revised attacks.

Berserker Rage
Type:Spell
Affinity: Immolation
Damage: Fire (melee range only)
Speed: Very Slow
Special: Adds Critical damage to all attacks. May create Heal aura around attacker. Lowers attacker's Guard attribute.

On occasion, a red dragon can become so infuriated that it flies into a berserk rage, barely containing the raw might of elemental fire bursting within its charred flesh. While enraged, the dragon tosses aside caution and tactics in favor of raw, and often deadly, damage capacity.

Shalkith Online veterans will notice several new additions to the Dragon Clash version of this action. Previously, Berserker Rage was merely a passive damage buff and often the first step of a powerful combination. This latest version of Berserker Rage keeps the damage buff aspect and gives it some additional teeth.

Not only will this "buff" now damage opponents caught in Melee range with the red dragon (think of it as a short-burst Immolation attack), but it also has the potential to create a Heal aura, restoring the red dragon's Life attribute over time.

Immolation is another of the red dragon's spell attacks, and you will notice that Berserker Rage now has an affinity with that action. This means that your rating in Immolation will add to your rating in Berserker Rage, which is important in achieving the highest ranks of mastery over the spell.

The power of Berserker Rage is offset by the slow curve of advancement, a very slow attack speed, and a potentially crippling penalty to the Guard attribute, as the red dragon abandons all caution for pure offensive potential.

Blue Dragon Overview
Raised from the water element, blue dragons are renowned as a deceptive and sinister breed. Combining balanced attacks, counters, and an array of spells, this breed delights in mocking an opponent.

The blue dragon's primary weakness is their preference to toy with an opponent rather than defeating them quickly. This can often backfire when an opponent is able to resist the blue dragon's mocking taunts and carefully laid plans, leaving the blue dragon vulnerable. Blue dragon attacks do less damage than other breeds and often require strategic combinations to achieve victory.

Stretching just over two hundred and eighty feet, the blue dragons are the most colorful of the dragon breeds. Although considered "blue", the breed's scales often possess very vivid blends and highlights, ranging from purple to lime in color.

Their lush manes of seaweed trail down serpentine necks, while broad whale-fin wings stretch from their lithe backs. Males possess seaweed tendrils that droop from their chins and snouts, and are marked by small coral or ice horns. Female blue dragons are entirely hornless, but are characterized by the webbed flaps that grow alongside their faces. A shell-encrusted tail splits into a forked fin at the tip.

Playing A Blue Dragon
Blue dragons will appeal to players who enjoy stringing combinations and slowly picking an opponent apart. The breed combines a solid array of skill and spell attacks, allowing players flexibility in their builds. In addition, blue dragons have the most counters and a unique Trap attack type to help react to a variety of situations.

However, many of the blue dragon attacks play off of each other and require careful planning and expert use of combinations. While other breeds may be able to specialize in one style of attack, blue dragon players will find that they must master the art of being the "Jack of all Trades" and be ready to change plans quickly when plans go awry.

In addition, with no real strength to fall back on, blue dragon players will have to be adept at predicting an opponent's attack and finding weaknesses to exploit with an array of attacks and counters.

Attack Preview
While the full set of attacks for each breed will be revealed in a later preview, here's a sneak peak at one of the blue dragon's revised attacks.

Constrict
Type:Skill
Affinity: Age, Body
Damage: Critical, Poison*
Speed: Trap
Special: While the opponent is affected by Constrict, neither the attacker or opponent can change Range. The opponent misses their next turn while they attempt to break free. While opponent is affected by Constrict, additional Constrict attacks will add bonus Poison damage and extend the Constrict effect.

With a cunning and sinister patience, a blue dragon can lie in wait until a rival moves in to attack. Once that opponent swoops into a vulnerable range, the blue dragon springs into action and wraps its lithe body around the victim, slowly strangling it with coiled muscles and poison secreted from the dragon's scales. While its prey flails about amusingly, the blue can use the delicious opportunity to freely attack and mock its secured victim, or perhaps just test it for flavor before exhaustion forces the blue to release the rival.

While at first glance this attack may not seem that different from the current incarnation on Shalkith Online, there are some subtle differences. First, the attacking dragon is now required to perform another successful Constrict attack to extend the effect duration. Previously, the attacker needed to maintain the effect by spending Essence. The benefit of keeping a Constrict going is that these follow-up attacks not only continue to restrict the opponent, but also now deal bonus Poison damage.

Additionally, this attack has a "Trap" attack speed. Traps are unique to blue dragons and require that the blue dragon always act last in the turn. The upside is that traps automatically have a Very Fast attack speed, which helps the blue dragon get in the correct Range to spring the attack.

Trap actions often have a cheaper Essence cost or increased damage potential. However, if the Trap action can't be performed or is missed for any reason the full Essence cost is still lost.

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Paying Tribute: Player Rewards

Dragon Clash would not be possible without the feedback and support of our Shalkith Online players. To recognize their loyalty and achievements, we will be instituting a rewards program for when Shalkith Online transitions to Dragon Clash later this year.

To be eligible for these Dragon Clash rewards you must have an active Shalkith Online account at the time Dragon Clash launches. This means you must have Game Days remaining on your Shalkith Online account.

Recently we announced that all Game Days on Shalkith Online accounts would be paused, retroactive to February 26, 2009. This means that Game Days will no longer be deducted from your Shalkith Online accounts, and if you currently have Game Days remaining, your account will be considered active when Dragon Clash launches later this year.

If your Shalkith Online account expired before February 26, you can purchase more Game Days from our Shalkith Online store to restore your account to active standing. This can be done any time before Dragon Clash launches.

If you don’t currently have a Shalkith Online account, you can create one at shalkith.com and purchase Game Days from our store.

Eligible players will earn Dragon Clash rewards based on their Shalkith Online account’s Lair Points score. Rewards are cumulative, so get out there and battle!

Please note that all listed rewards are still tentative. This list may change prior to being finalized before the launch of Dragon Clash.

All Eligible Accounts

Your Shalkith Online account will be transferred to Dragon Clash as a Premium Account. Your Premium Account duration equals the remaining Game Days from your Shalkith Online account.
Style Points purchased for Shalkith Online are regained and converted to Clash Coins for Dragon Clash. Conversion rate to be determined at a later date.
Your Dragon Clash account may receive unique achievements based on your Shalkith Online milestones.

Eligible Accounts With A Minimum of 50 Lair Points
Your account will receive a free Hoard Pack from The Black Crown base set, which is red dragon themed.

Eligible Accounts With A Minimum of 100 Lair Points
Your account will unlock and receive a free Hoard Pack from ONE of the following sets:

The Tainted Pearl
The Shimmering Breeze
The Foul Valley

These are the themed sets for blue, silver, and brown dragons (respectively).

Eligible Accounts With A Minimum of 200 Lair Points
Your account will earn your choice of a dragon egg from either The Black Crown set or the set you chose to unlock above.

Essentially this allows you to either:

Hatch a new red dragon or rehatch your existing red dragon, if you chose The Black Crown set
Hatch a dragon of a different breed, depending on what set you chose to unlock

Eligible Accounts With A Minimum of 400 Lair Points
Your account begins with a bonus to your Gold Pile. Buy your dragon some equipment, acquire another dragon egg, or save for that rare artifact!

Eligible Account Rated As Top Lair
Your account receives the unique “Crown of Shalkith” equipment piece!

Eligible Accounts With A Minimum Of One “Elite” Ranked Dragon

You will get to customize a unique loot item of “uncommon” rarity named after your dragon. If you have more than one “Elite” ranked dragon, you must choose which to name it after.
That Elite dragon’s name is reserved in Dragon Clash and can only be used by you

Rewards FAQ

What are Clash Coins?
Clash Coins are used to unlock Dragon Clash features for use on your account or a specific dragon. Sample features include Traits, Hoard Packs, new dragon breeds, expanded lairs, and more.

All players can earn Clash Coins for free, just by playing Dragon Clash. However, you can also opt to purchase Clash Coins, which will automatically upgrade your account to the Premium level or extend the duration of your existing Premium Account.

What are the advantages of a Premium Account?
Dragon Clash game modes require Action Points. Basic Accounts are limited to a set amount of Action Points per day. Upgrading to a Premium Account removes that restriction. What this means in practical terms is that Basic Accounts will only be able to battle a few times a day. Premium Accounts will be able to battle as many times as their dragon can endure.

In addition, upgrading to or extending a Premium Account will grant you an immediate bonus in Clash Coins. These may be used in our store to unlock new breeds, Hoard Packs, customize your dragon with Traits and more.

All accounts can earn Clash Coins just by playing Dragon Clash, but Premium Accounts will earn them faster.

What are Hoard Packs?
Players uncover various pieces of equipment, artifacts, or even dragon eggs from any sets they’ve unlocked, just by playing Dragon Clash.

Hoard packs can be bought with Clash Coins and contain a random assortment of equipment, artifacts and dragon eggs in one package. This allows for quicker collecting. You can purchase as many Hoard Packs as you’d like.

If you purchase a Hoard Pack from a previously unlocked set, you add the entire set to your game world, meaning all your dragons may then naturally discover the items through playing the game.

For example: If you want to play a silver dragon you will first need to use your Clash Coins to purchase at least one Hoard Pack from the silver dragon set, The Shimmering Breeze. This will add the set to your game world, and allow you to then acquire silver dragon eggs in-game or randomly in your Hoard Packs.

Not every Hoard Pack contains a dragon egg! You will need to find them around the game world, acquire one with gold from your Gold Pile, or randomly discover one in a Hoard Pack.

What is my Gold Pile?
Your Gold Pile is increased by your successes in Dragon Clash and can be used to purchase specific items, such as dragon eggs or rare artifacts, from any unlocked set. Selling your extra equipment, artifacts, or dragon eggs will add gold to your Pile. Unlike Clash Coins, your Gold Pile is in-game currency, meaning it can be stolen by rival dragons in lair raids or through battle!

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What’s In A Hoard?

Mounds of gold, jeweled chests, ancient relics – the hoard is synonymous with dragon legend, promising endless rewards for those foolhardy enough to face a dragon or infiltrate the depths of its lair. In Dragon Clash, players will build their dragon’s hoard, increasing its gold pile with a rich variety of weapons, armor and artifacts that can be equipped in battle or used to strengthen lair defenses, unlock new titles, heal painful wounds, and more.

A player’s hoard consists of two basic treasure types: the Gold Pile and Loot. The Gold Pile is an in-game currency that can rapidly increase or decrease as players battle each other, raid lairs, and barter for new Loot items. The size of a dragon’s Gold Pile will contribute to a lair’s overall value, which is important for building lair improvements, but may also be used to barter for new Loot.

Loot items consist of weapons, armor and artifacts, and range from common to legendary rarity. Weapons and armor offer a variety of bonuses and penalties that players can use to tailor their dragons for a desired strategy. Every dragon may wear up to four Loot items on their head, body, legs, and tail.

Artifacts are typically usable items that perform a range of functions, from unlocking additional titles, improving your lair, recruiting new allies, and more. Artifacts also include dragon eggs, which may be used to hatch new dragons or rehatch (i.e. re-spec) a current dragon.

Loot items can be discovered, recovered, or bartered for. The quickest way of accumulating new Loot items is to spend your account’s Clash Coins to purchase new Hoard Packs, which include 15 random Loot items from the pack’s related set.

However, players can also recover Loot items as victory rewards. With every win, a player’s dragon is awarded a random Loot item from any of their unlocked sets. Those Loot items can be saved in the dragon’s Hoard or sold to increase the Gold Pile. Unlike the Gold Pile, Loot items can’t be stolen in lair raids.

Finally, if a player desires a specific Loot item for their dragon, they can choose to immediately barter for it by sacrificing the required amount of coins from their Gold Pile. This is a valuable option for players looking to snag a new dragon egg, complete their collection, or address a critical need in their lair or dragon build.

All Dragon Clash players begin with The Black Crown base set unlocked. This immediately introduces 100 Loot items into the game world. Unlocking additional sets with your Clash Coins can increase the pool of possible Loot items to over 400 items.

For this preview we are unveiling the entire list of Loot items from The Black Crown set. Except for the three items highlighted above, the stats and descriptions for these Loot items will remain hidden in our lair until Dragon Clash launches.

The Black Crown: Loot Items

Cracked Red Egg
Scaly Red Egg
Crunchy Car Cereal
Charred Scalemail
Chipped-Ruby Bracer
Chipped-Ruby Breastplate
Crushed-Car Gauntlets
Dented Petroleum Tanker
Dragon-Bone Splinter
Dragon-Claw Snout Guard
Dragon-Tooth Choker
Dragon-Tooth Tassels
Ember Shroud
Ember Spiral
Ember-Tipped Nails
Horned Pauldrons
Inferno Vambrace
Jagged Blades
Mangled Pipes
Melded Dragon Horns
Melted Hub Caps
Nice Cardboard Box
Oil Drum Clip
Rubber Tubing
Ruby Stud
Runed Nose Ring
Rusted-Nail Claws
Salt-Crusted Rings
Scrap-Metal Jaw
Scrap-Metal Plates
Scrap-Metal Rings
Scrap-Metal Tasset
Smoke Vambrace
Smoldering Gorget
Smoldering Pauldrons
Smoldering Snout Guard
Steam Shroud
Tire Anklets
Title Stone: the Angry
Title Stone: the Foul
Title Stone: the Hunter
Title Stone: the Shield
Title Stone: the Warrior
Bribe: Giant Ruby
Flame Wisp
Gaia's Tear
Barbed-Wire Choker
Bulldozer Plates
Cast-Iron Rings
Chain Headdress
Charred Skull
Charred Staples
Cracked Jet Canopy
Crane Flail
Dragon-Bone Brigandine
Dragon-Bone Spur
Dragon-Claw Necklace
Gasoline Tank Amulet
Gold-Tipped Claws
Horned Shield
Inferno Breastplate
Jet-Wing Fin
Lair: Ember Paste
Lair: Sacrificial Pyre
Ruby Crown
Runed Spiral
Runed-Scale Necklace
Smoke Rings
Smoke-Stack Lances
Steam Crown
Lair: Flame Canon
Siege Rune: Comet
125mm Gun Stud
Bone Helm
Car Door Plates
Charred Thigh Plates
Dragon-Claw Clasp
Dragon-Eye Circlet
Dragon-Tooth Chin Spikes
Ember-Crusted Snout Guard
Horned Mantle
Human Pendant
Inferno Helm
Mounted Circular Saws
Ruby Rings
Runed-Skull Pauldrons
Shingle Breastplate
Skeleton Greaves
Smoke Circlet
Steam Bracer
Tank Tread Necklace
Unstable Jet Engine
U-Turn Pendant
Agony Thorns
Ceremonial Horn
Combustion Gauntlets
Crusher Mandibles
Flood Light Medallion
Nuclear Missile
Yanthas' Nose Ring

Q&A
Thank you for your feedback and questions regarding Dragon Clash. Dragon eggs have become a popular topic of our recent fan-submitted comments/questions. Below we shed a little more light on how dragon eggs function in the Dragon Clash game.

Q: How will dragon eggs work in Dragon Clash?

A: All new players begin with The Black Crown set unlocked and choose one of two red dragon eggs. Additional red dragon eggs may be recovered in-game as random victory rewards, discovered in Hoard Packs, or bartered for using your Gold Pile.

If you want a blue, silver, or brown dragon, you will first need to unlock the associated set by using your Clash Coins to purchase one Hoard Pack from that set. Once that is done, you will have all the same options for the new eggs as the original red dragon eggs. You may recover them as random victory rewards, discover them in your Hoard Packs, or simply barter for one using your Gold Pile.

Dragon eggs can be used to hatch one new dragon of the associated breed or used to rehatch any existing dragon. The latter option is useful if you want to try a new build or strategy, but don't want to start with a brand new dragon.

Clash Coins can be accumulated for free, just by playing Dragon Clash, or purchased in bulk from our store.

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Rehatched - Part Two: The Combat Interface

In the preview, "Rehatched: Making A Better Dragon", we discussed some of the design decisions behind elements of the combat system. Part two of our Rehatched preview offers a first look at the interface behind the combat and discusses some of the key areas players will be navigating.

The screenshot above is a first look at the new Dragon Clash interface. Combat revolves around turns, where players will make three important decisions: Range, Dice and Actions. These areas are clearly marked and organized on the left-side of the screen and utilize a variety of tool tips and buttons to make the experience very intuitive.

The above screenshot illustrates an example of the Dragon Clash tool tip system. This player has rolled over the “Claw” button in the CHOOSE ACTION section. By doing this, the game dynamically generates a tool tip based on your dragon’s rating in that Action, so you can make an informed decision in the arc of your overall battle strategy. That information displays quickly and without refreshing your browser page. The Dragon Clash interface never interrupts your play session, helping you to stay in the flow of battle.

While you are inputting your selections for the turn, your opponent is also deliberating on his choices. Once both players have confirmed their decisions, the Dragon Clash game determines the outcome of the turn, displays the results using our exciting and vibrant artwork, and gets you right back into the action.

All the results are kept in our dynamically updated Combat Log, which refreshes at the start of each turn. The combat log includes a wealth of information, including action-packed descriptions of each attack, die roll results, and the option to expand the Log information for a closer look at the Actions used. Any icon in the Combat Log can be clicked to view a larger image and detailed description of the Action or game term.

In addition to the Combat Log, players can review their profiles and a scouting report of their opponent at any time, by simply clicking on the name tab for the desired dragon. As with the rest of the interface, the profiles are dynamically generated and updated, loading quickly and without interrupting the game flow. In this way, players can easily review and factor elements such as their current stats, effects, equipped items, and allies into their overall strategic decisions.

Dragon Clash is a game that requires no plug-ins or downloads, and is playable in any modern browser, using the latest web technologies to offer an interface that is fast, informative, and intuitive to use.

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Claw To Claw - Part One

Dragon Clash invites players to engage in ferocious and strategic combat, using a wide variety of exciting attacks. In this preview we unveil the full list of attack actions common to all dragons, as well as the breed-specific actions for the red and brown dragon breeds. While simply training these attacks is essential to your dragon’s development, knowing when and how best to use each action during combat can provide a distinct advantage over your opponent.

Common Actions:
These attacks are common to all breeds and can be used by any dragon.

Claw Attack
The attacker uses his sharp claw to slash into an opponent and tear the rival’s vital organs. This is the most basic attack action available to a dragon.

Tail Bash
Using its heavy tail, the attacker bludgeons an opponent with one thunderous strike. The action can be exhausting for the attacker, as the tail tends to be extremely heavy. However, the painful damage and potentially stunning blow makes the attack well worth the physical strain.

Aura Dart
By controlling its own magical aura, an attacker can shape a piercing dart of arcane energy and guide it towards an opponent. Once manifested, this dart appears as a gooey finger stretching towards the rival dragon's mind. Especially adept dragons can even split the dart, creating a damaging bombardment of arcane might.

Though the dart is easy to shape, molding it requires the attacker to sacrifice a piece of its own aura, leaving its resistance weakened for a short time.

Burst
Crafty dragons use their natural ability to roll and bank during battle to swoop away or surge towards an opponent in a sudden burst of movement. While the execution of a burst can be tiring, the increase in mobility can be just the advantage a dragon needs to gain a desired range or retake the initiative in battle.

Heal
By tapping into its essence, a dragon may call upon Gaia’s life force to heal the damage it has suffered during battle. Care should be taken when healing, as the process is extremely slow and may leave the dragon vulnerable to attack.

Defend
Through meditation, a dragon can enter a defensive trance that enhances its link to Gaia and increases its defensive awareness for a short period.

Red Dragon Actions:
All of the red dragon attacks from the original Shalkith Online game will return in Dragon Clash. However, each attack has been redesigned and enhanced for Dragon Clash’s new game systems.

Flame Tongue
The red dragon’s tongue is naturally coated with molten lava and fiery embers. Using this as an effective combat tool, the red dragon can bite an opponent and lick the wound. Although damage is often minimal, the searing gash can be very debilitating and even prevent an opponent from attacking entirely.

Double Slash
Using expert balance and blistering speed, the red dragon can attempt to utilize both of its front claws in a slashing and tearing attack. The resulting carnage is so bloody that the attacker may enter a savage state, blind rage temporarily enhancing the ability to strike and increasing the attack speed of subsequent attacks.

Molten Horns
The red dragon’s wide head is covered in large horns and spikes, which the dragon can ignite in searing flames. By bashing its head into an opponent, a red dragon not only pierces deep wounds into an opponent’s body, but can also send scalding fire into the bloodstream that prevents the gash from closing and causes agonizing damage.

Jaw Snap
Skilled dragons can turn an enemy's strike against them, swooping out of the way just enough to throw a rival dragon off-balance. The resulting opening can be a golden opportunity for a quick bite to the jugular or a tender underbelly. Older dragons with a fully developed jaw are especially dangerous, as they can potentially hamstring an opponent and reduce its defensive capability.

Fire Breath
This is the legendary attack of the red dragon. By condensing the fires that swirl within its flame sac, the red dragon can spew a potentially lethal blend of fire and lava at an opponent. Once it connects, the fire engulfs the victim’s entire body, bathing it in searing heat and a column of lapping flames.

Tail Blaze
As the red dragon ages, the tip of its tail becomes charred and blackened, the red scales blistering and flaking off as flames race up and down the length. The fiery tail’s color normally shifts from a blinding white flame to a dull red, but as the red dragon channels more of its essence into the tail’s heat, the color shifts to a dazzling blue-white. The resulting blaze is so potent, that a successful attack can damage a rival’s body, making it more susceptible to further injury from fire.

Immolation
When the red dragon is suitably enraged, it excretes molten fire from its scales. Using arcane magic, the red can envelop its body in this fire and propel it outwards as waves of searing flame. Anything caught in the torrent will find itself encased in a seemingly endless bubble of fiery pain.

While fueling its rage, it is easy for the red dragon to call on more essence then its body can handle. In such cases, the attacker’s own fire can overwhelm and eat away at its scales and life force. While many gladly accept this sacrifice, more than one has left behind a smoldering carcass due to arrogance and carelessness.

Ember Wings
As the red dragon matures, its wings become clouds of scorching embers and wisps of fiery mist. Capable of riding the hot streams in the air’s current, the dragon is able to propel itself into the air and use its arcane influence to guide the hot embers of its wings, engulfing an opponent in a hellish rain of fire.

Absolute Rend
The greatest of red dragons have the ferocity to attempt a full four-claw slashing attack. This is accomplished by hovering slightly over an opponent and using all four claws in a blinding flurry of barely controlled rage and power. Few opponents can withstand the brutality of this attack, but those that do may find themselves eviscerated and unable to stop the blood loss for the remainder of combat.

Berserker Rage
A red dragon can become so infuriated that it flies into a berserk rage, barely containing the raw might of elemental fire bursting within its charred flesh. As the dragon explodes into a fiery inferno, any opponent caught in the blast will suffer searing damage from the intense heat. Especially powerful red dragons can even use the fires to cauterize gashes suffered in battle. While berserk, the red dragon tosses aside caution and tactics in favor of raw, and often deadly, damage capacity.

Brown Dragon Actions:
Brown Dragons are new to Dragon Clash, premiering with a variety of punishing melee attacks and extremely powerful spell attacks. Their ability to “awaken” during combat offers the breed a unique new mechanic that enhances all of its attack options and can dramatically change the course of a battle.

Granite Fists
By consuming the earth around it, the brown dragon can add to its own mass and strengthen its claws. The brown dragon's fists double in size and increase in density and strength, becoming massive instruments of destruction. The resulting attack has been likened to having a boulder dropped on one's head, an analogy that isn't far from the truth.

Stone Quills
As the brown dragon matures, mounds of sharp stone and earth accumulate on its powerful body. The brown dragon can manipulate these rocky outcroppings, countering an opponent’s attack with sudden splinters of sharp stone. Adept brown dragons can even cause the rocky splinters to explode from its body like quills, striking opponents from a distance.

Spew Boulder
Although the brown dragon has no natural breath weapon, it is capable of using its own body to create a powerful ranged attack. By tearing off and eating the pieces of stone, trees, or packed earth accumulated onto its thick frame, brown dragons can shape a boulder-like projectile and spit it at an opponent. Awakened dragons are capable of coating the boulder in a thick tar regurgitated from its belly. This attack has been affectionately called, "Yummy Rock Surprise".

Putty Scales
When combined with its arcane power, a brown can change the consistency of its own scales, making them as soft and supple as putty. The scales look perfectly normal, but are able to absorb incredible amounts of damage. This allows the brown dragon to continue its meal or midday nap without interruption.

Particularly repulsive brown dragons are capable of changing their scales into glutinous cesspools that can weaken an opponent’s resistance to disease.

Geyser of Earth
The brown dragon lacks the natural ability to fly. However, using its arcane influence, a brown dragon can summon massive columns of earth and stone to erupt beneath its feet, launching it into the air and allowing it to bound from explosion to explosion. In addition to giving the brown dragon a violent mode of transportation, these explosive geysers of earth can be used to shower an enemy with a painful barrage of stone and noxious gas.

Meld
Mature brown dragons learn to meld the surrounding stone to their bodies in beneficial ways. One of the most common uses of this ability is to quickly heal injuries suffered in battle, simply by eating the surrounding stone, but the melding process can also increase a brown’s ability to awaken in combat. Unfortunately for a brown dragon’s opponent, melding also causes the release of noxious gasses that can rapidly cause disease and plague.

Leaping Slam
Using “Geysers of Earth”, a brown dragon is able to propel itself at an opponent, quickly closing the distance before catching and slamming the opponent into the ground. The more momentum the brown dragon can gain from its leap, the greater the impact. Awakened dragons have been known to leap massive distances in battle, leaving no safe havens for its opponent.

Entangle
Using its arcane influence, the brown dragon can entrap a target in thick, thorny branches, creeping moss, and hardened clay until the opponent is enveloped and petrified within the earthen crust. Powerful brown dragons are even capable of summoning poisonous vines to subdue their rivals.

Spore Cloud
In addition to stone and packed earth, a variety of moss and exotic plant life grows from an elder brown dragon’s scales. Using its earthen magic, a brown dragon can stimulate the plant life, forcing it to release noxious spores into the distant air. An opponent caught in the cloud will begin to convulse, making it harder to defend themselves. Especially potent spores can even shrivel an opponent’s body with disease.

Call of Gaia
Both beautiful and deadly, dragons of all breeds have come to fear this dirge. The brown dragon is capable of calling to Gaia, the very essence of life, with a mournful song. Any who hear it can become overwhelmed with grief and remorse, spiraling into an unending madness that consumes them. The call from an awakened dragon is even more dangerous, as the song is capable of causing the very spirit of Gaia to rise up and obliterate an opponent from within - eating away at limbs, organs, and skin until only a shaft of perfect light remains.

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Claw To Claw - Part Two

In part one of our Claw to Claw articles, we unveiled the full list of attacks for the red and brown dragon breeds, as well as the common attacks available to all dragons. In part two, we preview the attacks for the mercurial and sinister blue dragons, as well as the magically adept silver dragons.

Blue Dragon Actions:
As with the red dragons, all of the blue dragon attacks from the original Shalkith Online game will return in Dragon Clash. However, each attack has been redesigned and enhanced for Dragon Clash’s new game systems.

Taunt
Using magic to enhance its stinging tongue, the blue dragon can hurl venomous words at an opponent. The mocking taunts burrow into the heart and mind of the target, clouding its judgment and sending it into a maddened frenzy. While trapped in the visions, the target dragon can only focus on reaching and tearing apart the blue dragon. The madness caused by the taunting can be so overwhelming that some dragons have been known to injure themselves in frustration and unchecked rage when they fail to silence the voices.

Constrict
With a cunning and sinister patience, a blue dragon can lie in wait until a rival moves in to attack. Once that opponent swoops into a vulnerable range, the blue dragon springs into action and wraps its lithe body around the victim, slowly strangling it with coiled muscles and poison secreted from the dragon's scales. While its prey flails about amusingly, the blue can use the delicious opportunity to freely attack and mock its secured victim, or perhaps just test it for flavor before exhaustion forces the blue to release the rival.

Bitter Chomp
Known for their devious nature and deliberate attacks, some blue dragons are adept at luring an opponent into striking range before darting in to sink their fangs into the target's scaly flesh. The blue dragon’s oversized fangs have the ability to secrete an icy and foul smelling acid. Although this acid has the potential to cause troubling damage, the more dangerous effect is the poison's ability to numb a dragon's senses and chill the spirit, cutting it off from the pure Essence.

Frost Breath
Blue dragons possess a water sac beneath the jaw, which draws from the natural moisture laden in their bodies. The moisture condenses and cools rapidly, until it is becomes a churning mass of frosty mist. When a blue dragon inhales, the moisture in the air mixes with this mist and becomes a blistering cold capable of encasing an enemy instantly in sharp ice and debilitating frost.

Tail Slash
The blue dragon’s tail is covered in shells and barnacles that have been worn to a lethal edge. When the blue dragon slashes a tail into an opponent, those shells act like razor wire, tearing flesh and slathering poisonous secretions over the wounds. Especially insidious blues have learned to carve their initials or mocking symbols into the hide of an opponent caught in the grip of a taunt, infuriating them further.

Body of Water
Summoning the element of water surging through its body and scales, the blue dragon can transform its mass into powerful, swirling liquid. The blue dragon retains its shape, but its composition ebbs and flows, allowing the dragon to surge in for an attack, absorb the impact of a spell, or shift around an opponent’s vicious strike.

Whirlpool Eyes
Blue dragons can manipulate their eyes to appear like swirling whirlpools of water and mist. Combined with the rhythmic beating of curved, whale-fin wings, the blue dragon can confuse and disorient opponents. While trapped in this hypnotic state, the victim quickly descends into madness, and powerful blue dragons have been known to force the opponent to attack its own body with a simple suggestion or taunt.

Ocean Embrace
Summoning the element of water, the attacking dragon can create liquid in an opponent's lungs. The process is slow and takes time to manifest, but the result can drown an opponent in their own saliva. The victim typically froths heavily about the jaw and emits an amusing, panicked gurgle as they die in slow agony.

Ice Blood
By the time a blue dragon reaches Wyrm age, its blood has become a churning blue-white mass of blistering ice. When an opponent strikes, some crafty blues allow themselves to be hit, drawing their opponent in to the wound so that the blue’s ice blood can shower the rival and envelop their limbs. Once touched, the icy blood surges across the flesh, encasing all it touches in a white film of frozen tissue and inescapable agony.

Drain Life
Summoning arcane magic, a blue dragon can drain the water from an opponent’s body and add it to its own. The touch of the life-enriched water merges with the blue dragon, mending its physical wounds and mental scars. The streams of water that are forced from the victim’s disintegrating limbs are rumored to wail as if they were fragments of a dying soul.

Silver Dragon Actions:
Silver Dragons are new to Dragon Clash, featuring a wide array of spell attacks and blistering melee strikes that allow the breed to control range and influence battles from afar.

Wind Strike
Using its magical aptitude, a silver dragon can summon the winds and focus the swirling chaos into a short burst of air. The resulting strike not only delivers a painful clubbing blow, but it can also send a threatening opponent reeling out of range.

Storm Wings
By influencing the winds, a silver dragon can summon wings of dark storm clouds to form around its body. The misty wings help propel the dragon along gusty currents of air at a dizzying pace. Particularly powerful silver dragons are able to summon clouds that still crackle with lightning, scorching any opponent foolish enough to get caught in the swirling storm.

Lightning Breath
Combining arcane power and the element of air, the silver dragon can manipulate its breath, enhancing a tornado-like force with pure electricity. The combination can stop an opponent in its tracks, engulfing them in a constantly shifting, agonizing column of singing electricity that weakens the will and leaves them vulnerable to further damage.

Whirling Tornado
Masked by the swirling winds, a silver dragon can utilize its superior speed to spin around an opponent and deliver a flurry of quick strikes with its claws, before disappearing into the safety of the clouds.

Redirect
Silver dragons are masters of the arcane, able to see and quickly identify the weaves of their opponent’s spells. Using this ability, the silver dragon can twist a spell as it is being cast, reflecting it back at the caster. Adept silver dragons can even modify the spell, changing its very properties to punish the caster’s weaknesses.

Corrupt Aura
Powerful silver dragons have gained such a mastery over magic that they can control and corrupt an opponent’s aura, turning it black until it physically poisons the victim. While poisoned, the opponent is extremely vulnerable to a variety of damage.

Maddening Winds
Like a creeping mist, a silver dragon can surround itself in dense smoke and dark storm clouds, enveloping the battlefield and the opponent. While trapped within the darkness, the victim’s mind is unwound with manipulative incantations until the very mist appear like an endless sea of gnashing teeth. The madness can cause such fear, that some opponents will attempt to fly to safety rather than engage the silver dragon further.

Pacify
Using arcane magic, a silver dragon can counter an opponent’s melee attack with a pacifying touch, turning the opponent’s own aggression against them. While pacified, the victim’s link to Gaia will cause agonizing damage if used. Powerful silver dragons are even able to force the opponent to heal the caster.

Lightning Blast
Capable of charging the air with stinging electricity, a silver dragon can create and direct arcing bolts of lightning, which blast from its finger tips and surge endlessly through an opponent.

Silence
Using its mastery over the air currents, a silver dragon can direct powerful gusts of wind to disrupt the flow of sound and prevent a target from speaking for the duration of the spell. Particularly powerful dragons can even bind an opponent’s jaw, painfully stitching the lips together with threads of air.

Q&A
Thank you for your feedback and questions regarding Dragon Clash. We’ve picked a selection of questions sent to us to include in this preview.

Q: Why did you change the old turn system present in Shalkith Online? Yes, it took longer, but it was better.

A: Dragon Clash is still very much a turn-based strategy game. Players do not act in realtime. However, instead of each player acting in separate turns, using a sort of read and react system, all decisions and results are generated in the same turn. We believe this leads to more exciting and unpredictable matches, while still maintaining a strong strategic foundation.

Q: How much will new avatars cost? Will there be different genders?

A: In Dragon Clash, avatar sets (male and female) are represented as different eggs that you can discover or barter for in-game. To add different eggs to your game world, so that they may be discovered, you can unlock the related sets with Clash Coins. Clash Coins can be won, for free, just by playing Dragon Clash. However, players can optionally choose to purchase Clash Coins, which will enable them to unlock features, such as new sets, faster. We have not announced pricing for any items at this time.

Q: How many dragons can I create per account?

A: Basic Accounts will be able to create one dragon. Premium Accounts will be able to spend their Clash Coins to unlock up to three additional slots for new dragons. We may increase that limit in the future.

Q: Can Dragons have babies?

A: New dragons are created from the elemental weaves of Gaia, the spirit of Earth. To date, no dragon has developed the ability to breed its own offspring.

Q: What is the release date? I need to play this now!

A: Get ready for some developer-speak: "When it's done". Development continues and we're still aiming for a 2009 release, but we have no further announcements at this time. Stay tuned!

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Home Sweet Home

Whether it's a fiery cavern, an underground ocean, a mud-soaked river bed, or a glittering cloud, every dragon needs a home. In Dragon Clash, players will be able to build a lair for their dragon, customizing its look and fortifying its defenses against the siege attacks of greedy rivals.

About Lairs
When a dragon achieves a certain level of legend and notoriety, they are able to carve out a niche of the world and make it their own. These lairs not only serve as a symbol of the dragon's power, but can attract human followers and lesser dragons.

Owning a lair is attractive for several reasons. For players looking to rise on the Dragon Clash leaderboards, lairs grant a significant boost in rankings points. The most powerful players will often possess highly developed lairs and may even have several captured lairs to add to their renown.

Within the game itself, lairs provide key benefits. Normally when a dragon ages, it suffers a temporary hibernation penalty in battle, as the dragon slumbers and sheds its skin for several levels. However, a dragon that possesses a lair will need to hibernate for only a fraction of the time, allowing it to return to peak form more quickly.

In addition, all gold that a dragon accumulates in its lifetime is vulnerable and a welcome target for rival dragons looking to increase their hoard. Lairs provide some level of defense for your gold pile, requiring a rival to first successfully siege your lair.

Finally, even a basic lair can attract lesser dragons to serve as temporary allies in battle or help guard your lair against sieges.

Building Your Lair
As your dragon gains power and legend, human followers will be attracted to its lair, eager to worship your beast. Using these followers, your dragon can increase your lair's fortifications and strengthen the offensive and defensive capabilities of those guarding against sieges. With every improvement, your dragon's lair will grow and evolve visually.

Lair Sieges
As your dragon ages, you may seek to expand its hold over the world. By capturing the lairs of your lesser rivals, you can both weaken your enemies and greatly increase your own legend and gold pile. However, you will also need to be mindful of your own lair, as enemies may see your growing gold pile as all the incentive they need for a coordinated attack on your holdings.

Lair sieges are a game action, available to dragons who achieve sufficient level and legend. Sieges pit your dragon against a lair's array of guardians and defenses. If you survive, you may damage your opponent's lair and steal some of his gold pile. Damage the lair enough, and you can even take it over - enslaving your opponent's worshippers and significantly increasing your dragon's legend.

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