# Let's kill a Dragon **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 23, 2015, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-kill-a-dragon/713423 "2015-02-23T16:58:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-kill-a-dragon/713423/1 "2015-02-23T16:58:43Z")
Let’s kill a Dragon. No magic. No modern technology. I submit the idea of trapping the Dragon in an enclosed space and using a Ballista, a giant crossbow, to shoot it and kill it. So how to trap it? How to avoid getting burnt by dragon fire? Any other ideas or methods??? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-kill-a-dragon/713423/2 "2015-02-23T17:23:04Z")
Dam up a river, then divert it through the dragon’s tunnel, and drown it. ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-kill-a-dragon/713423/3 "2015-02-23T17:24:38Z")
Where do you draw the line of “modern technology”? Gunpowder cannons, just to take one example, have been around for a very long time in various forms. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-kill-a-dragon/713423/4 "2015-02-23T17:28:33Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Dam up a river, then divert it through the dragon’s tunnel, and drown it. good idea. how do you build “irrignation tunnels” to the dragons lair without him noticing? > [@chrisk](#): > > Where do you draw the line of “modern technology”? Gunpowder cannons, just to take one example, have been around for a very long time in various forms. I would assume no gunpowder ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-kill-a-dragon/713423/5 "2015-02-23T17:38:07Z")
Can we use a liiiitle bit of magic? [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List\_of\_Dragonlance\_artifacts#Dragon\_Orbs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Dragonlance_artifacts#Dragon_Orbs) ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-kill-a-dragon/713423/6 "2015-02-23T17:38:49Z")
Stop believing in them. RIP, Puff. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-kill-a-dragon/713423/7 "2015-02-23T17:44:13Z")
What manner of dragon? Can it fly? Is it intelligent? Can it breathe fire? If it is only of animal intelligence, then it is no more than a dangerous animal. We’ve been killing those for thousands of years. Even if it can fly and breathe fire, it’s still no more than a dangerous animal and could probably be brought down by massed archery fire. Intelligence of human, or better, levels makes things a lot more difficult. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-kill-a-dragon/713423/8 "2015-02-23T17:45:38Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > Can we use a liiiitle bit of magic? > [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List\_of\_Dragonlance\_artifacts#Dragon\_Orbs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Dragonlance_artifacts#Dragon_Orbs) nope, no magic, just to keep to standard set of rules > [@Scumpup](#): > > What manner of dragon? Can it fly? Is it intelligent? Can it breathe fire? > If it is only of animal intelligence, then it is no more than a dangerous animal. We’ve been killing those for thousands of years. Even if it can fly and breathe fire, it’s still no more than a dangerous animal and could probably be brought down by massed archery fire. > Intelligence of human, or better, levels makes things a lot more difficult. well aren’t most dragons depicted as being intelligent? ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-kill-a-dragon/713423/9 "2015-02-23T17:52:32Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > nope, no magic, just to keep to standard set of rules > well aren’t most dragons depicted as being intelligent? In recent fantasy stories they usually are. Asian dragons are, traditionally, very intelligent but they also typically aren’t depicted as needing destroyed. In European tradition, dragons are typically just very dangerous animals and they come in several varieties. I always thought wyverns were rather goofy looking. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-kill-a-dragon/713423/10 "2015-02-23T17:53:23Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > good idea. how do you build “irrignation tunnels” to the dragons lair without him noticing? Build a “wall” across the valley just below his lair; dragon doesn’t know from architecture so he has no idea how overbuilt it is, and thinks the humans are silly for doing it because he can just fly over it (or torch it; it’s made of wood…) (it’s actually a dam). Once the water comes down and makes a new lake… ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-kill-a-dragon/713423/11 "2015-02-23T17:54:53Z")
Shove a big piece of lead in its mouth. When it breathes fire, it’ll melt the lead, which will burn through its gullet and kill the dragon. (or it’ll block its bronchi, suffocating it, depending upon your choice of authorities) Worked for Bellerophon when he killed the fire-breathing Chimaera. > **[Bellerophon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellerophon)** > > Bellerophon (/bəˈlɛrəfən/; Ancient Greek: Βελλεροφῶν) or Bellerophontes (Βελλεροφόντης)\[a\], born as Hipponous, was a hero of Greek mythology. He was "the greatest hero and slayer of monsters, alongside Cadmus and Perseus, before the days of Heracles", and his greatest feat was killing the Chimera, a monster that Homer depicted with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail: "her breath came out in terrible blasts of burning flame." > Bellerophon was also known for capturing the winged ho... ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-kill-a-dragon/713423/12 "2015-02-23T17:58:08Z")
Well, sure, Cal. But first you need to catch a rabbit. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-kill-a-dragon/713423/13 "2015-02-23T17:58:56Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > What manner of dragon? Can it fly? Is it intelligent? Can it breathe fire? > If it is only of animal intelligence, then it is no more than a dangerous animal. We’ve been killing those for thousands of years. Even if it can fly and breathe fire, it’s still no more than a dangerous animal and could probably be brought down by massed archery fire. > Intelligence of human, or better, levels makes things a lot more difficult. Even without intelligence I don’t think it will be easy. Most of the large animals we have killed, we have done so by chasing it into a pit, off a cliff or into a small area in which we could surround it. Being able to fly I think is a big game changer. Also the standard mythical dragon has skin that is too tough for standard arrow fire to have much effect. Ballistas might do better, but its going to have to be a really lucky shot to hit a fast moving target. Mass Ballista fire might work but would be very expensive to set up. What’s our budget here? How does it feed? Would it work to leave a few sheep\* loaded down with saddle bags full of arsenic around its den and wait for it to chow down. - or virgin princesses ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-kill-a-dragon/713423/14 "2015-02-23T18:00:00Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > In recent fantasy stories they usually are. Asian dragons are, traditionally, very intelligent but they also typically aren’t depicted as needing destroyed. > > In European tradition, dragons are typically just very dangerous animals and they come in several varieties. I always thought wyverns were rather goofy looking. I’m assuing they can fly and breath fire and are intelligent. but no use of magic. > [@Ethilrist](#): > > Build a “wall” across the valley just below his lair; dragon doesn’t know from architecture so he has no idea how overbuilt it is, and thinks the humans are silly for doing it because he can just fly over it (or torch it; it’s made of wood…) (it’s actually a dam). Once the water comes down and makes a new lake… ok, interesting idea > [@CalMeacham](#): > > Shove a big piece of lead in its mouth. When it breathes fire, it’ll melt the lead, which will burn through its gullet and kill the dragon. (or it’ll block its bronchi, suffocating it, depending upon your choice of authorities) > Worked for Bellerophon when he killed the fire-breathing Chimaera. > [Bellerophon - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellerophon) how do you get close enough to put the lead in it’s mouth ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-kill-a-dragon/713423/15 "2015-02-23T18:01:31Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Even without intelligence I don’t think it will be easy. > Most of the large animals we have killed, we have done so by chasing it into a pit, off a cliff or into a small area in which we could surround it. Being able to fly I think is a big game changer. Also the standard mythical dragon has skin that is too tough for standard arrow fire to have much effect. Ballistas might do better, but its going to have to be a really lucky shot to hit a fast moving target. Mass Ballista fire might work but would be very expensive to set up. What’s our budget here? > How does it feed? We leave a few sheep\* with saddle bags full of arsenic around its den and wait for it to chow down. > > - or virgin sacrifices i would assume the skin is tough bit nor impenetrable ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-kill-a-dragon/713423/16 "2015-02-23T18:07:45Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > nope, no magic, just to keep to standard set of rules Can we fight in the way of our people by slowly poisoning his environment until he loses his [del]fur[/del] scales and becomes sterile? ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-kill-a-dragon/713423/17 "2015-02-23T18:11:22Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Even without intelligence I don’t think it will be easy. > Most of the large animals we have killed, we have done so by chasing it into a pit, off a cliff or into a small area in which we could surround it. Being able to fly I think is a big game changer. Also the standard mythical dragon has skin that is too tough for standard arrow fire to have much effect. Ballistas might do better, but its going to have to be a really lucky shot to hit a fast moving target. Mass Ballista fire might work but would be very expensive to set up. What’s our budget here? > How does it feed? Would it work to leave a few sheep\* loaded down with saddle bags full of arsenic around its den and wait for it to chow down. > > - or virgin princesses > [@Frodo](#): > > Can we fight in the way of our people by slowly poisoning his environment until he loses his [del]fur[/del] scales and becomes sterile? let’s assume he is impervious to poison. good idea!! but i want to kill it in a “fight” ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-kill-a-dragon/713423/18 "2015-02-23T18:32:21Z")
If he’s non-magical and he can fly, there is a limit to just how thick and impenetrable his hide can be, and his eyes aren’t armored at all. He has to get physically pretty close to use his fire breath (flame throwers are notoriously short range weapons) and closer yet to use his teeth and claws. I’m pretty confident that massed crossbow or longbow fire is going to be the best way to handle this, especially if the dragon is of human-level intelligence. He isn’t going to just sit around and scratch his scaly nutsack while we tunnel or build dams. He is, in fact, going to be carrying the battle to us and trying to maximize the damage he can do with his weapons. I expect crop burning will be a big thing on his part as it is one effective method where he can attack all of us at once. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-kill-a-dragon/713423/19 "2015-02-23T19:03:46Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > He isn’t going to just sit around and scratch his scaly nutsack while we tunnel or build dams. He is, in fact, going to be carrying the battle to us and trying to maximize the damage he can do with his weapons. agreed, but, i was interested in any/all ideas so i think a flood/dam still gets credit for creative thiking ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-kill-a-dragon/713423/20 "2015-02-23T19:20:47Z")
It was creative, but given the restrictions you have placed, it is unworkable. Building a dam big enough to accomplish the necessary flood with nothing but human and animal labor is a monumental undertaking. Something large enough might actually take years to construct with the work crews under threat of dragon attack the whole time. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-kill-a-dragon/713423.md?page=2)