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.

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 weapons of holy wrath or Dispel Undead. And, while it is based on the shadow monster, you won't get innate flight.

Pros

• Invisibility
• Immunity to poison
• Immunity to external sources of draining
• Immunity to torment
• Immunity to hostile enchantments
• Immunity to petrification
• Immunity to backlighting (Corona, Meteoran aura, halos, glow from high magic contamination)
• 50% damage reduction
• You bleed smoke when taking damage

Cons

• Your attacks do 50% less damage
• Two negative spell power enhancements
• Taking damage also inflicts further unavoidable drain

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.

Shadow Form

History

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