"Dragon's teeth" is the nickname Alliance marines have given to the huge spikes that geth use to turn human corpses – and unfortunate living victims – into husks. Their function resembles ancient methods of execution by impalement. The name comes from Greek mythology, specifically Jason and the Argonauts; when a field was sowed with the teeth of a dragon, each tooth sprang up as a soldier.
Dragon's teeth are comprised of a tripod-like support and a metal spike that retracts when not in use. It is speculated that this retraction could serve as a trap, activating to impale anyone who approaches the tripod, as dragon's teeth are often found in use where there have been no geth to operate them.
The devices convert the muscle, organs, and water content of a corpse into cybernetic parts – possibly recovering a miniscule amount of nutrients – then reanimate the body with an electrical charge, turning it into a simple-minded husk that attacks anyone who gets close enough. Releasing the new husk also retracts the spike back into the tripod, ready for re-use.
The technology behind the dragon's teeth is a mystery. It doesn't resemble any other geth technology and deploying the spikes seems to be a lot of effort for a minimal result, though their psychological effect on soldiers is undeniable.
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“This mission just got a lot more complicated.” — Spoilers for Mass Effect follow. |
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Mass Effect[]
Dragon's teeth have been found in systems far removed from geth space. Shepard also found a cache of dragon's teeth that had been buried on Trebin with no hint of who put them there or when.
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“The chances of surviving are… slim.” — Spoilers for Mass Effect 2 follow. |
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Mass Effect 2[]
The geth are clearly stated to have gained their dragon's teeth from the Reapers. Dragon's teeth are also found aboard a Derelict Reaper.
While husks are used by the Collectors, who are working for the Reapers, it is noted that no dragon's teeth are ever seen in the hands of the Collectors or at any of the colonies they have attacked with the aid of husks. It is also noted that the husks being used by the Collectors are more advanced compared to those seen on Eden Prime and the Collectors are also using several husk variants, although how these issues relate to dragon's teeth remains unknown.
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“There won't be an Earth left to save...” — Spoilers for Mass Effect 3 follow. |
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Mass Effect 3[]
Data recovered from the Sanctuary husk experiments explain that husk conversion is accelerated by the amount of adrenaline (or the cross-species equivalent) in the subject. Adrenaline is used as the delivery medium for nanites in the conversion process. The more adrenaline the victim has when the conversion process begins, the faster and more efficient it becomes. Therefore, the shock generated from the victim's impaling would cause an increase to the amount of adrenaline in their system.