Wednesday, 23 June 2021 22:00

Dark Alliance: 10 Things You Need To Know About Drizzt

Written by Sid Natividad
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Drow are often evil in Dungeons & Dragons lore, but Drizzt is an exception. Here's what fans of the Dark Alliance games should know about him.

He might be another pale-haired male fantasy character with an edgy past and disposition, but Drizzt Do'Urden from the Forgotten Realms/Dungeons & Dragons lore is one of the more legendary ones as far as his trope goes. He was first introduced in the D&D canon by award-winning author R.A. Salvatore, and has since become popular enough to star in his own video game series called the Dark Alliance series.

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There have been two in this series already with a third on the way now: Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance. If fans and newcomers alike are looking to play that exciting title, then it's high time to steel themselves for some Drizzt facts so they don't get blown away by the character after seeing him in action.

10 He's A Drow Exile

The Drow, or dark elves, are one of the most notorious races in Forgotten Realms lore due to their predilection for slavery. Sunlight hurts them, so they live underground and their societies promote cutthroat dealings and treachery. Drizzt did well to distance himself from that sort of heritage.

Drizzt has since abandoned his home city underground and is no longer living with his Drow friends and family. Thus, he's considered by his kin as a bounty. Many of them even line up to take his head for supposedly betraying Lolth, their goddess.

9 Initially, He Was No Different Than Other Drow

Drizzt wasn't always the conflicted Drow outlier, subtly compassionate about other races. Due to his upbringing, he was more or less the same as other Drow. This means that at one point, he was xenophobic, antisocial, and treacherous.

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He was swayed from his race's destructive ways by an adventuring companion named Catti-brie. A human ranger, she taught Drizzt cultural sensitivity and even tolerance. Needless to say, she opened up Drizzt's horizons and even acted as his moral or even emotional compass.

8 His Alignment Is Chaotic Good

Thanks to constant exposure to surface cultures and other races, including his companions, Drizzt became mostly a force for good. Much of his legendary exploits involve saving people and even sparing enemies who belong to reasonably "good" races in D&D.

Hence, Drizzt's official designation in the D&D moral alignment chart is Chaotic Good. These characters represent a perfect combination of altruism and individualism. Drizzt's history of wrestling against his Drow nature and the morals imparted onto him by Cattie-brie makes him a rebel in more ways than one, though his good side always prevails.

7 He Has Mithral Chain Mail & Magical Weapons

Of course, Drizzt wouldn't be much of a legendary D&D hero if he didn't have the best gear for his class and playstyle. That's why has some mouth-wateringly shiny gear. His armor is a Mithral Chainmail, which is one of the best in the tabletop game. It was bestowed to him by an esteemed armorer from Mithral Hall.

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Meanwhile, his go-to weapons are two scimitars. The first is Icingdeath, which as expected, has some inherent frost abilities. The other is Twinkle, which glows whenever enemies are nearby. With those two blades, Drizzt becomes a whirling dervish of death. He also has a penchant for flipping his weapons to show off.

6 He's A Level 16 Ranger In D&D

As for Drizzt's official D&D class, that would be the ranger. He's a melee ranger, for that matter, and prefers up close and personal yet often stealthy approaches. He does sometimes use Cattie-brie's magical bow and also his ranger companion animal Guenhwyvar, a giant astral panther.

In D&D video games and sessions incorporating the tabletop ruleset, Drizzt is listed as level 16. That means he's a fully-fledged realm hero that's only four more levels shy of godhood (as level 20 is considered D&D's max level).

5 He Appears In Other Baldur's Gate Games

Speaking of Drizzt in other D&D games, he's an integral part of the lore throughout the universe. His books also reveal so much about the Forgotten Realms that other titles can't omit him. Apart from Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance and its sequel, Drizzt is also present in the Baldur's Gate CRPG and its sequel as well.

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In both of the old Baldur's Gate games, Drizzt appears as an interactive and "killable" character. Players can thus take his weapons and gear after killing him. It's a tough fight, however, as his party members are with him.

4 He Stands At 5'4" (162 cm)

For some, this might come as a shock, since Drizzt is a figuratively large figure in the Forgotten Realms lore. However, his height is only a little higher than that of a typical dwarf in D&D.

Drizzt's height does give him some form of advantage, however, as it allows him to be discreet and sneaky. He also only weighs in at around 60 kg. or 130 lbs., making his style quite well-suited being a to ranger or rogue.

3 His Natural Enemies Are Orcs & Goblins

While Drizzt has riven above and beyond his inherently "evil" Drow race, that doesn't mean he's generous with his compassion against races that are similarly wicked. For example, orcs and goblins are two of his most hated enemies.

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It's mostly goblins and hobgoblins that make Drizzt rage, but since Cattie-brie has developed a prejudice against orcs, those also became one of his most targeted enemies. Needless to say, Drizzt has killed countless goblins and orcs throughout his adventures, assuming they're not innocent.

2 He Can Summon A Globe Of Magical Darkness

Drizzt, despite mostly relying on instinct and fighting skills as a ranger, isn't devoid of magical ability. Being a Drow, he has a natural magical spell that allows him to throw or cast a limited globe of magical darkness anywhere. Both he, his allies, and his enemies can't see whilst inside this magical darkness. Thankfully, Drizzt doesn't need his eyes to dice his opponents.

Drizzt saves this tactic for dealing with the most dangerous opponents as it gives him a massive advantage. Accurately enough, this tactic is also available for use in the D&D 5e's tabletop version, particularly for the warlock class.

1 He's The Leader Of the Companions Of The Hall

At least half of Drizzt's legend and feats wouldn't have been possible if not for his trusty D&D party, the Companions of the Hall. This party comprises him, the aforementioned Cattie-brie (who became his wife), a dwarven king named Bruenor Battlehammer, a barbarian named Wulfgar, and halfling Regis.

Drizzt somewhat functions as the leader of the group along with Bruenor, depending on where the wind takes them. All of them, except poor Regis, are available as playable characters in Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance.

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