# Talk:Pyrolisk
As a pet
I think pyrolisks make bad pets, and the corresponding section should be curtailed.

Assasinating friendlies is an advantage all pets enjoy, and there are more effective choices.
If the hero can't kill something, a pyrolisk won't help either. So the strategy advice reduces to "lock it up always", which really means "dump your pet pyrolisk".
Factual error: Their gazes does miss, you just don't get a message. Wiz-test it with a peaceful elf lord and a stethoscope.
Bad loot is a moot point because the only scrolls monsters ever get are teleport and create monster, and potions are mostly healing ones. Don'c onfuse this with death drops - they are created only after the player himself kills the monster.
Your magic whistle is a very effective weapon with 4-7 archons, balrogs, master mind flayers, jabberwocks, vampires etc attached. Blowing it kills any early/mid-game enemy before it can scratch you. Due to its weak gaze attack, a pet pyrolisk dilutes the squad and makes it unrealiable.
Factual error: they never attack your quest leader or peacefuls unless confused or conflicted.
Pyrolisks still obey the usual XP levels rules for attacking monsters. For example, they aren't exotic enough to gaze on the Wizard of Yendor. See Pacifist#High_level_monsters why you would bother.
In the end, it boils down to:

A pet pyrolisk has the unique advantage that its gaze attack will not provoke counterattack or wake up sleeping monsters. Since its d12 damage is insignificant, any good general-purpose pet is better.
If nobody speaks up, I'll update the article.--Tjr

I'll make that edit voluntarily for now.  If I'm absolutely wrong, I expect to be corrected. --FJH 06:15, 2 January 2011 (UTC)
I'm sorry for the tone - I was angry for unrelated reasons last night.
If you use conflict or wraith corpses, does a pet pyrolisk make a viable (pacifist) strategy for Master Kaen, Ashikaga_Takauji, or other tough nemeses? --Tjr 13:45, 2 January 2011 (UTC)

Conflict would risk the "never be counterattacked" benefit a pyrolisk possesses.  I can see no problem with wraith corpses; the more, the merrier.
I haven't played samurai in a while but I can see where it might be uniquely useful against the Tsurugi of Muramasa: move your pet pyrolisk away from the up stair, monopolize the up stairs with a boulder fort, and alert Ashikaga from a distance somehow, drawing him into visual range of your pet.  It sounds effective but at the same time very inefficient.  --FJH 16:55, 3 January 2011 (UTC)
Conflict does not risk the "never be counterattacked" benefit as long as the quest nemesis is meditating, and it stays meditating despite the gaze attack. --Tjr 03:20, 6 January 2011 (UTC)