Cerberus

**Family:** Cerberus
**Crystal:** **Fire**
**Weak to:**
**Notorious Monster**
**Title Granted:** Cerberus Muzzler (Mount Zhayolm)

**Notes:**

* Spawns behind the Gates of Halvung (opened with a Cast Metal Plate) at (I-8). Respawn time is 48 to 72 hours after death. During this period, spawn chances occur in one hour intervals.
* Uses 20' massive damage AoE move called **Gates of Hades** at the last 25% of it's life. About 1/3 of his TP moves will be this and can be stunned.
* Resistant to Elemental Magic, but susceptible to melee damage and Avatars.
* Always drops 1 Cerberus Meat, 2 Cerberus Claws and 1 Cerberus Hide.
* Barfira is reported to significantly reduce Magma Hoplon spikes damage.
* 200+ ice resist and Barparalyzra are reported to prevent paralysis from Ululation.
* All TP attacks except Lava Spit seem to be stunnable.

**Special attacks:**

* **Lava Spit** - AoE Fire damage.
* **Sulfuric Breath** - Single target Fire damage.
* **Ululation** - AoE Paralyze.
* **Magma Hoplon** - Stoneskin plus potent Blaze Spikes effect.
* **Scorching Slash** - Powerful Backwards Cone Attack (Only used when hate is pulled from behind.)
* **Gates of Hades** - Exceptionally powerful AoE Fire damage and potent Burn effect (40 HP /tick). Can only be used when HP is 25% and under.

* Gates of Hades should be stunned using the Stun spell. Blue Mage's Head Butt and bash effects, like Shield Bash, will not work.

**Strategy Notes:**

* Should be tanked from the front as Scorching Lash can potentially one-shot tanks with missing shadows.
* Attacks fast due to Triple Attack. Taking turns with Elemental Seal + Slow or Slow II is useful for helping tanks keep shadows.
* Mages resting should do so outside of 20' to dodge Paralyze from Ululation and reduce extra casts of Paralyna.
* Recommended 3 Stunners MINIMUM. More is safer.
* At 25% Cerberus will begin to use Gates of Hades when it gets TP. The cast time is long enough to stun fairly easily, however lag from competing linkshells or even your own alliance can easily allow Gates of Hades to go off even if your stun appears in log window to go through. It is especially dangerous because Cerberus can use a second Gates of Hades immediately after you stun its first.
* Being hit with Gates of Hades will usually kill 4-18 people in your alliance depending on luck and resists. Being hit twice in a row will wipe your alliance. In the event of getting hit with Gates of Hades you should focus immediately on healing tanks and calling out which stunners are still alive. Stunners should focus entirely on stunning and nothing else when it is their turn.

## Historical Background

In Greek mythology, Cerberus was a three-headed monster dog that had a snake for a tail. Some accounts give Cerberus 50 or 100 heads. Cerberus guarded the gates at the entrance of the Underworld for Hades, lord of the underworld. Cerberus was positioned on the far side of the River Acheron (river of woe), the river Charon would ferry the dead across for the fee of 1 obolus. Cerberus’ role was to keep the dead in the underworld and the living out of the underworld. Thus, Cerberus can be considered the first depiction of a “hell-hound”.

Hercules’ 12th (and final) labor was to capture Cerberus. Hercules was able to wrestle Cerberus and capture it. While Cerberus was considered an imposing guard dog that remained ever vigilant and let no one pass who shouldn’t, Orpheus used music to make Cerberus fall asleep, Hermes used water from the River Lethe to also make Cerberus fall asleep, and Psyche made Cerberus fall asleep using spiked honeycakes.

Cerberus was the offspring of the monsters Typhon and Echidna. Its siblings were Chimera, Orthrus (a 2-headed monster dog), Hydra, Ladon, Ethon, the Nemean Lion, and the Sphinx. Cerberus is the English rendering of the Greek Kerberos which means “demon of the pit”.

This unearthly three-headed beast prowls the tunnels of Halvung. **Cerberus** was discovered buried in igneous rock during a construction project. The beast went on a rampage until the mercenary captain Gurfurlur managed to tame him. Although Cerberus is faithful to his master, one of his heads is continually afflicted with a craving, which puts the beast in a constant foul mood. In his endless rage, Cerberus spews toxic flames without cease or concern for surroundings, resulting in many hapless tragedies. It is for this reason that even the menacing Troll mercenaries are said to cover their ears and shiver in fear when the jarring roar of Cerberus echoes through the tunnels.