The Salamander has an immunity to lava; this allows them to wade through streams of lava that would prove a painful obstacle to your other minions, making them moderately good scouts (particularly in possession). This, coupled with their moderate combat abilities, fiery spells, and their love of training, makes them a fair addition to a Keeper's dungeon. However, they are ill-suited to research and manufacturing.[2]
Elite[]
Salamander left, Furnace right.
The Elite Salamander, Furnace, has black stripes along his back. Furnace's benefits:
Again, Salamander left, Furnace right.
+50% more health.
Trains slightly faster.
+50% higher pay.
+50% higher Possession mana cost.
Tips[]
They are a 'Jack of many trades, master of... well... being an all rounder." And swimming in lava. Low maintenance, low-to-mid end capability, unique cuties.
The Salamander is not immune to fire-based enemy attacks.
Salamanders can walk through lava and move faster in lava than they are on land or water. Use them as possession scouts in the infernal rivers of your underworld.
If you build your dungeon on lava islands, this creature doesn't need to traverse its bridges. (Like the Firefly, Giant, and Fairy)
Rushing a foe on a lava level is also easier with this creature.
Salamanders can be carried longer than other creatures without getting angry.
They may shoot projectiles from the safety of being submerged in lava where melee attacks cannot reach it, like the Fairy flying above it. And they may manage to kill their targets with ranged attacks before needing to walk onto land.
Bugs[]
The Salamander's vision was originally tinged blue
In the GOG version of the game, the Salamander's possessed screen coloration effect is missing.
Trivia[]
Cute and likeable.
The Giant is the only other creature to possess this ability of walking through lava.
The Salamander is the only creature in the game to have a tail. And it is even visible when electrocuted.
The Mentor describes Salamanders as hot-blooded,[3] but the manual describes them as cold-blooded.[2] As a reptile, they would be the latter, which explains why they like to sleep near lava.[2]
In real life, there exists such a thing as a Fire Salamander (Salamandra salamandra) and a Chinese Fire Belly Newt (Cynops orientalis), but none look or behave like this. However, the creature also has mythical roots. The standard lore of the salamander as a creature enduring fire and extinguishing it was known by the Ancient Greeks, as far back as the 4th century BCE.
Early Salamanders
Salamanders in Dungeon Keeper 2 were originally much more seen as "green" at least as the fanbase retroactively decyphers their initial appearance visible in an early 1998 promotional trailer (although that trailer has orange Salamanders too). This green appearance is what corresponds to the "gray" icon. A more gray body with a greenish spine, perhaps a slightly more bluish head. (Could make a fine addition one day as some additional variant next to the base and Elite appearances, possibly representing a female...)
Salamander panel icon (gray)
Together with the pre-release green appearance and the Elite appearance, the Salamander and the Mistress are the only two creatures to have three variants on the same model. (The four appearances of the Black Knight were seemingly on two different models.)
Salamanders are in some ways[clarification needed] similar to the Demon Spawn in Dungeon Keeper. Especially the greenish gray old skins.
At some point during development, the idea might have been that lava supposedly was to amplify Salamanders' combat abilities. (Scott Udell 1998 Strategy Plus, Inc.) Although loosely interpreted, it actually does up to this day.
Gallery[]
Unofficial restorational artist's modding rendition of what early Salamanders could have looked like with modern graphics.
