Difference between revisions of "Shadow Form"

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{{flavour|This invocation turns 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 is halved, and you will bleed smoke on any incoming attack. However, your ability to deal damage in melee will be halved, your spellcasting power will be greatly hampered, and your skills will be further drained when taking damage.}}
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{{flavour|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.
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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]], and costs 9 [[MP]], 10-15 [[piety]], and lightly [[draining|drains]] you when activated (about 0.3 skill levels).
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'''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.  
  
===Pros===
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Shadow Form is only available through worshiping [[Dithmenos]], costs 9 [[MP]], 10-15 [[piety]], and lightly [[draining|drains]] you when activated.
*[[Invisibility]] without [[magical contamination]]
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*Immunity to [[poison]]
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==Useful Info==
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Shadow Form does the following:
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'''Combat'''
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*[[Invisibility]]
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*×50% damage to [[weapon]]s (including [[Unarmed Combat]])
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*Two negative [[spell power]] enhancements
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*50% reduction to all damage taken
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'''Resistances'''
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*[[Poison resistance|Poison immunity]]
 
*Immunity to external sources of [[draining]]
 
*Immunity to external sources of [[draining]]
*Immunity to [[torment]]
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*[[Torment]] immunity
*Immunity to [[magic resistance|hostile enchantments]]
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*Will∞ (immune to hostile enchantments)
*Immunity to [[rot]]
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*Immunity to [[petrification]]
*50% damage reduction
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*Immunity to [[Corona|backlighting]] (e.g. [[Corona]] or glow from high [[magic contamination]])
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'''Other'''
 
*You [[scroll of fog|bleed smoke]] when taking damage
 
*You [[scroll of fog|bleed smoke]] when taking damage
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*Taking damage inflicts further, unavoidable [[drain]]ing
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*[[Stealth]] score multiplied by 2
  
===Cons===
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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.
*Your attacks do 50% less damage
 
*Two negative [[spell power]] enhancements (equivalent to wielding a [[lantern of shadows]])
 
*Taking damage also inflicts further unavoidable drain
 
  
===NOTE===
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Even the [[undead]] can use Shadow Form.
Shadow Form does not make you [[undead]] or [[evil]] for its duration.
 
  
 
==Strategy==
 
==Strategy==
Shadow Form is very costly and counterproductive for use as a general combat buff. First and foremost, it cripples your physical and magical offensive capabilities; unless you're playing a [[stab]]ber capable of inflicting massive damage through invisi-stabs, you'll be wasting a lot of time in long, drawn-out battles. On top of that, even the minimized damage you'll take will be aggravating as your drain levels pile higher and higher. Use Shadow Form in the specific situations it excels at.
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Shadow Form is clearly meant as an escape tool. The combination of [[invisibility]] and bleeding [[scroll of fog|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 [[teleport]]ing away, is recommended.
  
The combination of [[invisibility]] and bleeding [[scroll of fog|smoke clouds]] allows you to shake off many ranged attackers or unintelligent melee enemies, especially if you have better than average movement speed. Should you be chased by something that can [[see invisible]] and keep up with you, increasing your speed with [[Swiftness]] or [[Haste]], or simply [[teleport]]ing away, is recommended instead.
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It's also perfect for ninja'ing runes. You can break into a rune vault, grab the rune via [[Apportation]], and teleport or [[Translocations|translocate]] away. The 50% damage reduction is very significant, even before considering the resistances. 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.
  
Shadow Form is excellent for surviving several turns of high damage output, making it perfect for [[teleport control|controlled teleporting]] into a rune vault, [[Apportation]] grabbing the rune, and teleporting back out without dealing with any of the actual guards. The 50% damage reduction effectively doubles your durability and healing effects even before you consider the various immunities you gain, though you'll almost certainly wind up with heavy draining to clear up 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.
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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 [[stab]]bers can take advantage of the invis-stabs. The infinite [[willpower]] can be used to block hex effects, whether from [[unique]]s or standard monsters. Could also be used for poison resistance in a pinch, though there are usually better sources.
  
Finally, Shadow Form's immunities to certain threats makes it an excellent buff when faced with particular battles, in spite of the combat penalties. Many dangerous [[unique]]s have devastating attacks that must overcome your magic resistance, and many end-game opponents are capable of rapidly weakening you with [[torment]]; these threats are entirely disabled while in Shadow Form. [[Poison]] is rarely so threatening as to merit use of Shadow Form, but if you lack rPois and find yourself face to face with an enemy capable of casting [[Poison Arrow]], or think you're about to spend many turns stuck in a poison [[cloud]], it will reduce the damage you take drastically. When forced to deal with sources of [[miasma]], Shadow Form can be very helpful, as it's much less costly to cure some light draining than to repair significant amounts of [[rot]].
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===Tips & Tricks===
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*If you aren't flying, watch out for [[water]], which will reveal your position to monsters.
  
While Shadow Form's benefits are very similar to those of being [[undead]], Shadow Form does not actually make you undead. As such, it does not make you vulnerable to [[holy wrath]] weapons or [[Dispel Undead]].
 
  
 
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==History==
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*Shadow Form was removed in version [[0.32]], which reworked [[Dithmenos]].
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*Prior to [[0.29]], Shadow Form was not immune to [[Corona|backlighting]].
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{{Forms}}
 
[[Category:Status effects]]
 
[[Category:Status effects]]
[[Category:Transformation]]
 

Latest revision as of 07:09, 27 October 2024

Obsolete: This article refers to an aspect of the game which has been removed. It is retained for historical reference only.
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

Resistances

Other

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.

Even the undead can use Shadow Form.

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 resistances. 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 stabbers can take advantage of the invis-stabs. The infinite willpower can be used to block hex effects, whether from uniques or standard monsters. Could also be used for poison resistance in a pinch, though there are usually better sources.

Tips & Tricks

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


Shadow Form
Shadow form.png

History

Transformations
Talisman Beast FormFlux FormBlade FormMaw FormSerpent FormStatue FormDragon FormDeath FormStorm Form
Bad Forms Bat FormFungus FormPig FormTree FormWisp Form
Divine Slaughter Form