Shadow dragon scales: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 20:28, 14 February 2026

Version 0.32: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

Name	Shadow dragon scales
Size to wear	Any
Armour Class	11
Encumbrance rating	15
Maximum Enchantment	+11
Grants	Stealth++++
Time to Wear	5

The scales of a great umbral dragon. It is heavier than most dragon-scale armours, but despite this, blends in so well with the shadows as to provide a substantial benefit to the wearer's stealth.

Shadow dragon scales are a moderately heavy suit of armour. They offer more AC than plate armour, but oddly enough, boosts the wearer's stealth.

This item has a 33% chance to generate when you slay a shadow dragon.

Desirability

Most characters who wouldn't mind the casting or EV penalties from encumbrance also won't mind being unstealthy. So by the time shadow dragons are common, these characters often have better alternatives. Plate armour can be found (and enchanted) much earlier; storm and golden dragon scales are found at around the same time, and have more useful properties for melee brutes. At the very least, this armour is better than plain +0 plate armour, so melee brutes will prefer this if found early enough.

Stabbers may appreciate these scales, as a heavy option that won't hinder stealth. While many stabbers rely on Dodging and/or spells, it can be an interesting option for those 1. with high strength and/or Armour skill and 2. who don't care about casting high-level spells. E.g. if a hexer wants to switch to Long Blades melee for the late-game, these scales can be a highly protective choice.

Note that the normal encumbrance stealth penalty still applies, so for stealth purposes, this armour is similar to a robe with Stlth+.

History

Prior to 0.29, shadow dragon scales only provided 10 AC.
Shadow dragon scales were known as shadow dragon armour before 0.19. They were created by using a scroll of enchant armour on a shadow dragon hide.
Shadow dragon armour was added in 0.16.

Shadow dragon scales	Image
Mundane
Artefact

Armour
Body Armour	Leather armour • Ring mail • Scale mail • Chain mail • Plate armour • Crystal plate armour Robe • Animal skin • Troll leather armour • Steam dragon scales • Acid dragon scales • Swamp dragon scales • Quicksilver dragon scales • Fire dragon scales • Ice dragon scales Pearl dragon scales • Shadow dragon scales • Storm dragon scales • Golden dragon scales
Miscellaneous	Hat • Helmet • Cloak • Scarf • Gloves • Boots • Barding
Shields	Buckler • Kite shield • Tower shield • Orb

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{version015}}
+{{version032}}
 {{armour
-  |name        = Shadow dragon armour
+  |name        = Shadow dragon scales
-  |cost        =
+  |cost        = ?
- |weight      =
+  |AC          = 11
-  |AC          = 10
+  |EV          = 15
-  |EV          = -15
+  |maxenc      = +11
- |SV          =
-  |maxenc      = +10
   |size        = Any
   |grants      = Stealth++++
- |weartime    = ?
- |acquirement =
- |GDR         = 39%
 }}
-{{flavour|?}}
+{{flavour|The scales of a great umbral dragon. It is heavier than most dragon-scale armours, but despite this, blends in so well with the shadows as to provide a substantial benefit to the wearer's stealth.}}
-'''Shadow dragon armour''' is a fairly heavy suit of armour, providing defensive stats identical to those of [[storm dragon armour]]. As such, it makes [[spellcasting]] and [[evasion]] significantly more difficult, but oddly enough, it actually provides a boost to its wearer's [[stealth]].
+'''Shadow dragon scales''' are a moderately heavy suit of armour. They offer more AC than [[plate armour]], but oddly enough, boosts the wearer's [[stealth]].
-You can make your own suit of this armour by using a [[scroll of enchant armour]] on a [[shadow dragon hide]].
+This item has a 33% chance to generate when you slay a [[shadow dragon]].
 ==Desirability==
-Depending on your character's build, shadow dragon armour may be a useful option. Characters which focus on [[stabbing]] unaware opponents will get excellent results from this gear, aiding in their stealth attempts and helping keep them alivewhen the attempt fails. The penalty to EV and spell success rate are significant, however, and the lack of a resistance might leave you feeling naked when facing certain foes. Even so, if you have all your necessary resistances covered in other equipment slots, shadow dragon armour is an interesting option for characters that never intend to cast particularly high-level spells.
+Most characters who wouldn't mind the casting or EV penalties from encumbrance also won't mind being unstealthy. So by the time shadow dragons are common, these characters often have better alternatives. [[Plate armour]] can be found (and [[enchant]]ed) much earlier; [[storm dragon scales|storm]] and [[golden dragon scales]] are found at around the same time, and have more useful properties for melee brutes. At the very least, this armour is better than plain +0 plate armour, so melee brutes will prefer this if found early enough.
+[[Stab]]bers may appreciate these scales, as a heavy option that won't hinder stealth. While many stabbers rely on Dodging and/or spells, it can be an interesting option for those 1. with high strength and/or Armour skill and 2. who don't care about casting high-level spells. E.g. if a hexer wants to switch to [[Long Blades]] melee for the late-game, these scales can be a highly protective choice.
+Note that the normal [[Encumbrance rating#Stealth penalty|encumbrance stealth penalty]] still applies, so for stealth purposes, this armour is similar to a [[robe]] with Stlth+.
+==History==
+*Prior to [[0.29]], shadow dragon scales only provided 10 AC.
+*Shadow dragon scales were known as shadow dragon armour before 0.19. They were created by using a [[scroll of enchant armour]] on a [[shadow dragon hide]].
+*Shadow dragon armour was added in [[0.16]].
 {| class="prettytable" style="border:none; margin:auto; padding:0; text-align: center"
-! || Image
+! Shadow dragon scales || Image
 |-
-| '''[[Shadow dragon hide|Hide]]''' || [[File:Shadow dragon hide.png]]
+| '''Mundane''' || [[File:Shadow dragon armour.png]]
 |-
-| '''Armour''' || [[File:Shadow dragon armour.png]]
+| '''Artefact''' || [[File:Shadow dragon armour artefact.png]]
 |}
-==History==
-Shadow dragon armour will be added in [[0.16]].
 {{armours}}
 [[Category:Body armour]]
-[[Category:Dragon armour]]
+[[Category:Dragon scales]]