Date: Tue, 09 Jun 1998 04:07:19 -0400

BREATH OF FIRE III (US)

Dragon Gene FAQ, version 0.1

by David Lemasa
dlemasa@lynx.neu.edu
David_Lemasa@yahoo.com

(c) copyright 1998, David Lemasa, all rights reserved...

*CONTENTS*

Introduction

Version Changes

The Dragon Gene System: How it Works

The Dragon Genes: Individual Descriptions

A Note On General Skills

The Dragon Gene Splicings: The List

"Hybrid Splicings"
"Unique Splicings"

Thanks, etc.


*INTRODUCTION*

After much frustration trying to find certain Dragon Gene splices
that I have subsequently found to be non-existant, I feel
compelled to exhaust every possibility, record my findings, and 
submit them (respectfully) for you.

This is my first FAQ attempt, so please, bear with me.  :)


*VERSION CHANGES*

v. 0.1  Base FAQ, majority of info added, still need more
        info on locations, certain gene effects.


*The Dragon Gene System: How it Works*

In a nutshell, your main character (Ryu, or whatever you may have 
renamed him) will find, scattered throughout the world, various 
crystals called dragon genes.  These purple crystals embody the 
essence of "The Brood" and may only be obtained by Ryu, so put
him in the lead when you see them.

These become part of your gene inventory and may be either activated
singly or in conjuction with one or two more genes, giving a 
possible maximum of 3 genes being spliced.

To access the dragon gene system, Ryu must choose "Accession" 
(seems like a misspelling of "ascension") from
list of "ATTACK" abilities under the "Abilities" catagory during 
battle.  You will then be prompted to choose between "DATA",
"PICK" or "BEST".

"DATA" is a running list of all previous splices that have occured
during battle.  "PICK" allows you to choose the particular 
splicing you want to try.  "BEST" is a list that is completely
tailored by you form the "DATA" list.  During battle, simply go 
into the "DATA" section, select a prior splicing you found to be
effective, and press the SQUARE button.  This will prompt the 
"BEST" list, where you may choose an empty slot to store that
particular splicing.

By using "PICK" you may experiment with different genes to see
their outcome, these "picks" will always go to the "DATA" list
where you may choose to save them to the "BEST" list during the
NEXT battle encounter.

Upon selecting a particular splicing duriong battle (whether 
though any of the 3 methods listed above), Ryu will begin to 
glow with a wave of power.  Upon reaching his turn, he will 
scream a battle cry and disappear in a flash of purple 
lightening.  This produces a huge purple dome of lightening,
hiding the entire party.  The dome will disappear and Ryu will 
have transformed into a particular dragon, replaceing either Ryu
or the entire party depending on the splice.  After this change,
Ryu will have anew set of attacks and skills to choose from
in battle.


*DRAGON GENES: INDIVIDUAL DESCRIPTIONS*

The following are the individual dragon genes.  Under each I will 
include the game description, a physical description, its AP cost 
its location, and any miscellaneous notes or hints about that gene.
Individual splicing results are tabulated in the next section of 
this FAQ.

Here is a layout of the dragon gene menu:

FLAME      FROST      THUNDER    SHADOW     RADIANCE    FORCE

DEFENDER   ELDRITCH   MIRACLE    GROSS      THORN       REVERSE

MUTANT     ???        TRANCE     FAILURE    FUSION      INFINITY  


*FLAME*

"Grants Flame Property"
AP Cost: 5
Description:    Reddish-Orange globe with a flame within.
Location:       Ryu automatically receives this after the battle with 
                the Unicorn Brother (Sunder and ....).
Misc:           Adds fire attack skills to the splicing.


*FROST*

"Grants Frost property"
AP Cost: 5
Description:    A cool blue globe with a revolving ice shard within.
Location:       TBA
Misc:           Adds ice/cold attack skills to the splicing.


*THUNDER*

"Grants Electric property"
AP Cost: 5
Description:	A drak blue globe with a red outline.  A lightening 
		bolt streaks within.
Location:	TBA
Misc:		Adds lightening/electric attack skills to the splicing.


*SHADOW*

"Grants Shadow property"
AP Cost: 5
Description:  	A blackish globe that gleams occaisonally.
Location:	Received after defeating the Dragon Zombie after Ryu 
		reaches adolescence (Duana Mine).
Misc:		Adds evil/darkness.poison attack skills to the splicing.


*RADIANCE*

"Grants Radiance property"
AP Cost: 5
Description:	An orange globe with a fiery yellow star within.
Location:	Also received after battle with Dragon Zombie in Duana Mine
Misc:		Adds holy attack skills to the splicing.


*FORCE*

"Grants a powerful form"
AP Cost: 8
Description:	A deep blue squared gem with a sword placed 
		diagonally, hlit at the lower left, bladepointing toward
		upper right.
Location:	TBA
Misc:		The Warrior family of splicings begin here.  Add elemental,
		include elemental powers.  Add ELDRITCH, incluse the eldritch 
		powers.  Add DEFENDER, add defensive powers.


*DEFENDER*

"Grants a defensive form"
AP Cost: 8
Description:	A green squared gem with a grey kite shield within.
Location:	TBA
Misc:		Any elemental gene, such as flame, etc., may be spliced with 
DEFENDER
		to produce a "Dragon" form reflective of that elemental PLUS defensive

		powers.  This usually means that the skill "Counter" is added...

		Counter, AP 0, "Auto counter attack when in use"

So, for example, DEFENDER + FLAME yields "Dragon" with the following
stats:

"Dragon"
AP Cost: 13
AP Maintenence
Red colored flame dragon with purple horns and green fin.

Dragon Skills:
General Dragon Powers (Dragon Breath, Snap)
FLAME Powers (Flame Breath, Flame Claw); PLUS
"Counter"


*ELDRITCH*

"Grants a magical form"
AP Cost: 8
Description:	A violet squared gem with a spiral staff-tip within.
Location:	TBA
Misc:		Any elemental gene, such as flame, etc., may be spliced with 
ELDRITCH
		to produce a "Dragon" form reflective of that elemental PLUS "magical"

		powers.  Also, the most powerful skill of that particular elemental 
will
		be added.  So, in the case of FLAME, "Inferno" is added to the list of

		Dragon skills.  

Below is a listing of all of these additional elemental 
skills...

Remember, ELDRITCH + elemental = 

(Gen. "Dragon" Skills) + (ELDRITCH skills) + Elemental (incl. most 
powerful)

ELDRITCH Powers

Remedy, AP 7, "Cures all status changes"
Restore, AP 12, "Heal heavy wounds on one target"
Vitalize, AP 20, "Heal medium wounds on all targets"

ELDRITCH + FLAME

Inferno, 10 AP, "Flame attack vs all targets"

ELDRITCH + FROST

Blizzard, 10 AP, "Frost attack vs all targets"

ELDRITCH + THUNDER

Myollnir, 10 AP, "Electric attack vs one target"

ELDRITCH + SHADOW

Death, 5 ap, "Destroy one target"

ELDRITCH + RADIANCE

Resurrect, 20 AP, Restore dead member (Tee hee, Viagra anyone???)


Also, in all other splicings (such as Behemoth, Warrior) remember that 
the ELDRITCH skills will simply be tacked onto whatever base you have
as a splice.  For example, FORCE + ELDRITCH yields "Warrior" with 
warrior
base powers AND ELDRITCH powers.  However, if an elemental is added, 
such 
as FLAME, the "third" elemental spell will also be added, i.e.

ELDRITCH + FORCE + FLAME =

ELDRITCH powers + Warrior powers + FLAME powers including Inferno.

This also applies to the Behemoth forms as well.


*MIRACLE*

"Grants a large form"
AP Cost: 16
Description:	A deep red diamond-shaped gem with a yellow arrow pointing
		to the right.
Location:	TBA
Misc:		The Behemoth family of splicings start here.  Add an elemental 
and 
		get that particular elemental's powers.  Add ELDRITCH and also add
		the effects described in the ELDRITCH section (Eldritch powers + 
		third elemental skill).  Add DEFENDER, add defensive powers.


*GROSS*

"Enhances abilities"
AP Cost: 8
Description:	A light purple diamond-shaped gem with a small yellow arrow

		pointing up.
Location:	TBA
Misc:		TBA


*THORN*

"Enhances special characteristics"
AP Cost: 8
Description:	A dark blue, diamond-shaped gem with a blue arrow pointing 
down
		and a yellow arrow pointing up.
Location:	TBA
Misc:		The THORN gene simply grants the "Dragon" form plus whatever 
elemental 
		powers are tacked on.  For example, THORN + FLAME yields..

"Dragon"
AP Cost: 13
AP Maintenence
Red colored flame dragon with purple horns and green fin.

Dragon Skills:
General Dragon Powers (Dragon Breath, Snap)
Flame Breath, AP 0, "Flame; damage altered by HP"
Flame Claw, AP 0, "Flame attack vs. one target"

All elementals follow in kind.  So, FROST wuld produce the
"Frost breath" and "Frost Claw" skills.  The exeptions to this, 
of course, lie with the SHADOW and RADIANCE genes.  Here are
skills respective to them..

THORN + SHADOW

Skills:
Shadow Breath, AP 0, "Death vs all targets"
Chlorine, AP 0, "Attack; poisons target"

THORN + RADIANCE

Divine Breath, "Holy; damage altered by HP"
Shining Claw, AP 0, "Holy attack vs one target"


*REVERSE*

"Reverses abilities and properties"
AP Cost: 3
Description:	A turquoise, diamond-shaped gem with a blue "double arrow"
		(<--->).
Location:	TBA
Misc:		TBA


*MUTANT*

"Causes random change"
AP Cost: 3
Description:	A brownish, diamond-shaped gem with a very small arrow 
		pointing to a tilde-like line.
Location:	TBA		
Misc:		TBA


*???*

"Mystery effect...???"
AP Cost: 8
Description:	A clear globe containing a yellow/orange question mark 
		within.
Location:	TBA
Misc:		TBA


*TRANCE*

"Mystery effect...???"
AP Cost: 8
Description:	A green, teardrop-shaped gem with a fiery eye within.
Location:	TBA
Misc:		TBA


*FAILURE*

"Unknown"
AP Cost: 1
Description:	A deep blue, teardrop-shaped gem with a pluple circle
		within.
Location:	TBA
Misc:		TBA


*FUSION*

"Combines power with allies'"
AP Cost: 16
Description:	A green, oval-shaped gem with a pair of connected stick 
		figures within.
Location:
Misc:		When spliced (alone) it yields a dragon/ally combo
		creature.  Ususally will target a form reflective of
		the most powerful ally other than Ryu in the party.
		Fusion does not work with Garr, i.e. no "Garr"
		hybrid.  See below for Hybrid stats.


*INFINITY*

"Unleashes full power of the Brood"
AP Cost: 40
Description:	A deep blue globe with switling "comets" within.
Location:	Given after defeating the Dragon Elder in 
		Dragonier.
Misc:		Gives extremely powerful "Kaiser" form, which is basically
		a golden Ryu.  However, spliced alone the Kaiser is 
		uncontrollable (berserk) and will kill both enemies
		and allies.  Add "FAILURE" to the splice and he's now 
		controllable.



*A NOTE ON GENERAL SKILLS*

There are certain Dragon Skills that are achieved in all splicings'
within certan splicing types.  For example, all "Whelp" forms will share

certain powers, as will all "Dragon and "Behemoth" types.  Below is a 
listing of the base powers of each type.  Please note that when splicing 

another gene type, an elemental, perhaps, there are powers that will
be granted on top of the base powers (obviously)...

"Whelp"

Whelp Breath, AP 0, "Breath;damage altered by HP"
Blind, AP 0, "Attack; induces blindness"

"Dragon"

Dragon Breath, AP 0, "Breath;damage altered by HP"
Snap, AP 0, "Attack vs one target; lowers Def"

"Warrior"

Gambit, AP 0, "Critical damage if enemy is hit"
Aura, AP 20, "Holy attack vs. one target; PwrX2"
Focus, AP 0, "Raise Pwr when used; max. X2"

"Behemoth"

MeteorStrike, AP 0, "Comet; damage altered by HP"
Blitz, AP 0, "Attack vs. all; user's HP halved"
Charge, AP 0, "Damage altered based on Def"

These are the four base dragon types.  



*DRAGON GENE SPLICINGS: THE LIST*

The following is a list of all viable splicings (i.e. no repeats 
or "useless" splices).

In this, I will include the genes involved, the name of the resulting
dragon, the AP cost, the AP cost per round, the skills/attacks, and a
description of the dragon.


*Individual Splicings*

FLAME

"Whelp"
AP Cost: 5
AP Cost per Turn: 3
Fiery-orange colored young dragon, flame powers

Dragon Skills:
Whelp Breath, AP 0, "Breath, damage altered by HP"
Blind, AP 0, "Attack, induces blindness"
Flame Breath, AP 0, "Flame; damage altered by HP"
Flame Claw, AP 0, "Flame attack vs. one target"
Restore Form, Ap 0, (self-explanatory)


FROST

"Whelp"
AP Cost: 5
AP Cost per Turn: 3
Turquoise colored young dragon, frost powers.

Dragon Skills:
Whelp Breath, AP 0, "Breath, damage altered by HP"
Blind, AP 0, "Attack, induces blindness"
Frost Breath, AP 0, "Frost; damage altered by HP"
Frost Claw, AP 0, "Frost attack vs. one target"
Restore Form, Ap 0, (self-explanatory)


THUNDER

"Whelp"
AP Cost: 5
AP Cost per Turn: 3
Deep-blue colored young dragon, electric powers.

Dragon Skills:
Whelp Breath, AP 0, "Breath, damage altered by HP"
Blind, AP 0, "Attack, induces blindness"
ThundrBreath, AP 0, "Electric; damage altered by HP"
Thunder Claw, AP 0, "Electric attack vs. one target"
Restore Form, Ap 0, (self-explanatory)


SHADOW

"Whelp"
AP Cost: 5
AP Cost per Turn: 3
Blackish-purple colored young dragon, shadow powers.

Dragon Skills:
Whelp Breath, AP 0, "Breath, damage altered by HP"
Blind, AP 0, "Attack, induces blindness"
ShadowBreath, AP 0, "Death vs. all targets"
Chlorine, AP 0, "Attack, poisons target"
Restore Form, Ap 0, (self-explanatory)


RADIANCE

"Whelp"
AP Cost: 5
AP Cost per Turn: 3
Silver colored young dragon, radiance powers.

Dragon Skills:
Whelp Breath, AP 0, "Breath, damage altered by HP"
Blind, AP 0, "Attack, induces blindness"
DivineBreath, AP 0, "Holy; damage altered by HP"
Shining Claw, AP 0, Holy attack vs. one target"
Restore Form, Ap 0, (self-explanatory)


FORCE

"Warrior"
AP Cost: 8
AP Cost per Turn: 4
Red, hybrid humanoid dragon.  Orange hair and green pants.
Has grey wings and red tail.  Stands upright.

Dragon Skills
Gambit, AP 0, "Critical damage if enemy is hit"
Aura, AP 20, "Holy attack vs. one target; PwrX2"
Focus, AP 0, "Raise Pwr when used; max. X2"
Restore Form, Ap 0, (self-explanatory)


DEFENDER

"Whelp" 
AP Cost: 8
AP Cost per Turn: 4
Green colored young dragon, general & defense powers.

Dragon Skills:
Whelp Breath, AP 0, "Breath, damage altered by HP"
Blind, AP 0, "Attack, induces blindness"
Counter, AP 0, "Auto counter-attack when in use"
Restore Form, Ap 0, (self-explanatory)


ELDRITCH

"Whelp"
AP Cost: 8
AP Cost per Turn: 4
Green colored young dragon, general & healing powers.

Dragon Skills:
Whelp Breath, AP 0, "Breath, damage altered by HP"
Blind, AP 0, "Attack, induces blindness"
Remedy, AP 7, "Cures all status changes"
Restore, AP 12, "Heal heavy wounds on one target"
Vitalize, AP 20, "Heal medium wounds on all targets"
Restore Form, Ap 0, (self-explanatory)


MIRACLE

"Behemoth"
AP Cost: 16
AP Cost per Turn: 8
Enormous, round, four-horned, steam breathing green dragon.
Yellow underbelly and large lower teeth, barbed tail.
Replaces entire party.
 
Dragon Skills:
MeteorStrike, AP 0, "Comet; damage altered by HP"
Blitz, AP 0, "Attack vs. all; user's HP halved"
Charge, AP 0, "Damage altered based on Def"
Restore Form, Ap 0, (self-explanatory)


GROSS / THORN / ??? / TRANCE

"Whelp"
AP Cost: 8
AP Cost per Turn: 4
Green colored young dragon, general powers.

Dragon Skills:
Whelp Breath, AP 0, "Breath, damage altered by HP"
Blind, AP 0, "Attack, induces blindness"
Restore Form, Ap 0, (self-explanatory)


REVERSE

"Whelp"
AP Cost: 3
AP Cost per Turn: 2
Green colored young dragon, general powers.

Dragon Skills:
Whelp Breath, AP 0, "Breath, damage altered by HP"
Blind, AP 0, "Attack, induces blindness"
Restore Form, Ap 0, (self-explanatory)


MUTANT

"Whelp"
AP Cost: 3
AP Cost per Turn: 2
Random colored young dragon, general & random
elemental powers.

Dragon Skills:
Whelp Breath, AP 0, "Breath, damage altered by HP"
Blind, AP 0, "Attack, induces blindness"
**Any powers as respective to the "type" of whelp
  Ryu morphs into (random).
Restore Form, Ap 0, (self-explanatory)


FAILURE

"Whelp"
AP Cost: 1
AP Cost per Turn: 1
Green colored young dragon, general powers.
Lower HP than with other whelp splicings, HP stays same,
doesn't increase.

Dragon Skills:
Whelp Breath, AP 0, "Breath, damage altered by HP"
Blind, AP 0, "Attack, induces blindness"
Restore Form, Ap 0, (self-explanatory)


FUSION

"Hybrid"
AP Cost: 16
AP Cost per Turn: 8
Appearence & skills vary depending upon character fused with 
from party...(see below)


INFINITY

"Kaiser"
AP Cost: 40
AP Maintenence:
Golden version of Ryu, uncontrollable, i.e. "berzerk" state,
tends to attack party members as well as enemies.

Dragon Skills:
In this state, Ryu will only use his standard sword attack for
HUGE damage.  However, your other party members will almost always 
be killed by him.

NB:  Add the Failure Gene to this and he's controllable. 


*Multiple Splicings* 

Below is a listing of both Hybrid splices and the Unique splices.


*Hybrid Splicings*

Hybrid Nina Dragon

White, bird-like creature with purple feather tips and reptilian tail
(Cockatrice?).

Dragon Skills:

Typhoon, AP 7, "Wind attack vs. all targets"
Lightening, AP 7, "Electric attack vs. all targets"
Inferno, AP 10, "Flame attack vs. all targets"
Blizzard, AP 10, "Frost attack vs. all targets"
Temptation, AP 0, "Causes confusion; abilities down"

NB:  	Think of Temptation as an all around status killer,
	like Confusion, Blunt, Weaken and Slow all together
	with a higher success rate.


Hybrid Rei Dragon

Winged, horned tiger form with a thick tail.

Dragon Skills:

Shadowwalk, AP 8, "Warp attack; critical blow"
Dragon Breath, AP 0, "Breath; damage altered by HP"
Tempest, AP 0, "Wind; damage altered by HP"

NB:	Shadowwalk does insane damage.


Hybrid Momo Dragon

Four leged suit of armor, with a plumed smoke-stack helmet 
and a spiked ball tail.

Dragon Skills:

Speed, AP 2, "Raise one target's Agil"
Protect, AP 2, "Raise one target's Def"
Might, AP 4, "Raise one target's Pwr"
Restore, AP 12, "Heal heavy wounds on one target"
Remedy, AP 7, "Cures all status changes"
Combustion, AP 0, Flame & Wind attack vs all targets"

NB:	Combustion shoots a nuclear bomb from the 
	smoke-stack mortar.  It hits, there's a brief
	delay, and the a huge elliptical flare causing huge damage.


Hybrid Peco Dragon

Giant purple Peco with spiked tail and orange tuft of hair.

Dragon Skills:

Dream Breath, AP 3, "Induce sleep on all targets"
Venom Breath, AP 3, "Poisons all targets"
Dragon Breath, AP 0, "Breath; damage altered by HP"
Geo Breath, AP 0, "Earth; damage altered by HP"


*Unique Splicings*


WILDFIRE

MIRACLE + THORN + REVERSE (27 AP)

Golden Whelp form.  Extremely quick, very low HP, very high 
reprisal rate.

Dragon Skills:

Whelp Breath, AP 0, "Breath; damage altered by HP"
Charge, AP 0, "Damage altered based on Def"


TRYGON

FLAME + FROST + THUNDER (15 AP)

Golden Dragon form.  Triple elemental.

Dragon Skills:

All Breaths (Flame, Frost, Thundr, Dragon) & Snap.


MYRMIDON

FORCE + TRANCE (16 AP)

Golden Warrior form.  High reprisal rate.

Dragon Skills:

Gambit, AP 0, "Critical damage if enemy is hit"
Aura, AP 20, "Holy attack vs one target; PwrX2"
Flame Strike, AP 1, "Flame attack vs one target"
Thudr Strike, AP 4, "Electric attack, paralyzes"
Frost Strike, AP 4, "Frost attack, induces sleep" 
Wind Strike, AP 1, "Wind attack vs one target"
Holy Strike, AP 2, "Holy attack vs one target"
Aura Breath, AP 0, "Holy; damage altered by HP"


MAMMOTH

MIRACLE + ??? (24 AP)

Golden Behemoth form.  Extremely high HP (2000+)

Dragon Skills:

Giant Growth, AP 0, "Attack vs multiple targets
Meteor Strike, AP 0, "Comet; damage altered by HP"


PYGMY

MUTANT + ??? (11 AP)

Larval dragon form (like a horned worm).  Tiny.  Purple.

Dragon Skills:

Dragon Breath and Snap
Magma Breath, AP 0, "Flame; damage altered by HP"


TIAMAT

TRANCE + SHADOW (13 AP)

Coiled snake with flaming purple horns.  Lighter purple body
with spikes down spinal area.  Finned tail.

Dragon Skills:

Doom Breath, AP 0, "Neutral; damage altered by HP"
Shadow Breath, AP 0, "Death vs all targets"
Venom Breath, AP 3, "Poison all targets"


KAISER  (Controllable)

INFINITY + FAILURE (41 AP)

Golden Ryu form, i.e. he really doesn't change.
High reprisal rate.  Berserk if spliced alone w/out FAILURE.

Dragon Skills:

Kaiser Breath, AP 0, "Neutral, damage altered by HP"
Bonebreak, AP 0, "Attack; usable at fixed intervals"
Howling, AP 0, "Attack; induces confusion"



*THANKS & ETC.*


Thanks to....


CAPCOM, for making this great game.

SONY, for allowing this extremely wonderful, old-school 2D
masterpiece to exist among the 3D trash that we endure everyday.

Henry LaPierre, fellow Baystater and FAQ writer extraordinaire, for 
his "educational" feedback in this, my first foray into FAQ authoring.



...........