Shadow Form

Version 0.30: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

Transforms you into a swirling mass of dark shadows. While in this form, you are permanently invisible and are immune to poison, draining, torment, and hostile enchantments. All incoming damage will be halved, and you will bleed smoke on any incoming attack. However, your ability to deal damage in melee and with ranged attacks will be halved, your spellcasting power will be greatly hampered, and your skills will be further drained when taking damage. Invocations skill increases the duration of the transformation.

Shadow Form is a transformation which turns you into an immaterial shadow being. This is an entirely defensive form, greatly increasing your ability to survive dangerous situations, though at significant cost to your offensive capabilities.

Shadow Form is only available through worshiping Dithmenos, costs 9 MP, 10-15 piety, and lightly drains you when activated.

Useful Info

Shadow Form does the following:

Combat

• 50% reduction to all damage
• Invisibility
• ×50% melee damage
• Two negative spell power enhancements

Resistances

• Poison immunity
• Immunity to external sources of draining
• Torment immunity
• Will∞ (immune to hostile enchantments)
• Immunity to petrification
• Immunity to backlighting (Corona, Meteoran aura, halos, glow from high magic contamination)

Other

• You bleed smoke when taking damage
• Taking damage inflicts further, unavoidable drain

Shadow Form does not meld any equipment and does not fly. Despite its similarity to the undead, Shadow Form is not vulnerable to holy or holy wrath. It uses the same size and movement speed as your base species.

Strategy

Shadow Form is clearly meant as an escape tool. The combination of invisibility and bleeding smoke clouds allows you to shake off ranged attackers and unintelligent melee enemies. Should you be chased by something that can see invisible and keep up with you, increasing your speed with Swiftness or a potion of haste, or simply teleporting away, is recommended.

It's also perfect for ninja'ing runes. You can break into a rune vault, grab the rune via Apportation, and teleport or translocate away. The 50% damage reduction is very significant, even before considering the immunity. However, you'll almost certainly wind up with heavy draining once you're in the clear. And, if you haven't cleared the rest of the floor, your getaway might not be as safe as you'd hoped.

As a general combat buff, Shadow Form is very costly, and usually counter productive. It inflicts heavy drain, costs a lot of piety, and reduces your offensive capabilities. But, it does have a niche. Dedicated stabber can take advantage of the invis-stabs. The infinite willpower can block hex effects from uniques and other monsters. Can also be used for poison resistance in a pinch, though there are better sources.

If you aren't flying, watch out for water, which will reveal your position to monsters.

Shadow Form

History

• In 0.29, Shadow Form was made immune to backlighting.