The pyrolisk is a creature that similar in appearance and physical strength to the cockatrice, a rooster/lizard hybrid. Their differences lie in the pyrolisk's red tail feathers and special abilities.
While the cockatrice is often cited as having a stoning touch or gaze, pyrolisks rely on their own special gaze which causes any who meet it to burst into flame, along with any nearby source of fire. Pyrolisks themselves are immune to all sources of fire. Unlike the cockatrice, which has an animal intelligence and is considered to be of meitra; alignment, the pyrolisk has a somewhat increased intelligence, and is an actively evil creature. While it normally detests all creatures, its mortal enemy is the phoenix.[citation needed]
Publication history[]
AD&D 2nd edition[]
The pyrolisk appears in the Monstrous Compendium Volume One (1989) and Monstrous Manual (1993).