Difference between revisions of "Ice dragon scales"

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{{Flavour|The scales of a cold-breathing dragon. It provides great protection from cold, while rendering its wearer more susceptible to fire.}}
 
{{Flavour|The scales of a cold-breathing dragon. It provides great protection from cold, while rendering its wearer more susceptible to fire.}}
  
'''Ice dragon scales''' are a decent medium-weight body armour option. These scales offer less AC than a suit of [[plate armour]], but their EV penalty is significantly lower, making them excellent for races with lower [[strength]]. The rC++ makes them fantastic for use against cold enemies, but rF- is extremely dangerous to keep active constantly. Use with discretion.
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'''Ice dragon scales''' are a medium-weight body armour. They provide 2 ranks of [[cold resistance]] (rC++), but 1 rank of fire vulnerability (rF-).
  
This item may randomly generate when you slay an [[ice dragon]].
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This item has a 33% chance to generate when you slay an [[ice dragon]].
  
 
==Desirability==
 
==Desirability==
While the raw protection of ice dragon scales is slightly superior to that of [[fire dragon scales]], most players consider ice dragon scales to be inferior, simply because fire resistance is useful in more situations than cold resistance. In general, one should only use ice dragon scales on characters who have been extraordinarily lucky with finding fire resistance (e.g. a character who has found a set of [[artefact]] gloves with rF++).
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Ice dragon scales offer almost as much AC as a [[plate armour]], but with much lower encumbrance. Therefore, they are good for casters/[[EV]]-based fighters who can afford the weight, or melee brutes with no heavier scales available. It's often best to wait until you have a source of fire resistance, as taking 150% damage from fire can be dangerous.
  
Paradoxically, a [[fire magic]] specialist may actually find these scales useful: combined with a [[staff of fire]] and a [[ring of fire]], such a character would have two spell enhancers, and a level each of fire and cold resistance.
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This item has better stats than [[fire dragon scales]]: ice scales offer +1 base AC (and +1 max [[enchant]]ment) with no extra encumbrance. However, players may prefer fire resistance over cold resistance. This mostly applies to [[Zot]], as [[orbs of fire]] exist, but orbs of ice don't.
  
Notably, ice dragon scales grant 1 more AC than their [[fire dragon scales|fire counterpart]], because of the increased desirability of fire resistance over cold resistance in the late game.
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Paradoxically, a [[Fire Magic]] specialist may actually find these scales useful: combined with a [[staff of fire]] and a [[ring of fire]], such a character would have two spell enhancers, and a level each of fire and cold resistance.
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[[Troll]]s and [[Oni]], unable to wear normal [[plate armour]], may want to wear these even without fire resistance. Just be careful with it.
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==History==
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*Prior to [[0.19]], ice dragon scales were called ice dragon armour, and it was obtained by using a [[scroll of enchant armour]] on a [[ice dragon hide]].
  
 
{| class="prettytable" style="border:none; margin:auto; padding:0; text-align: center"
 
{| class="prettytable" style="border:none; margin:auto; padding:0; text-align: center"
! || Image
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! Ice dragon scales || Image
 
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| '''Ice dragon scales''' || [[File:Ice dragon armour.png]]
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| '''Mundane''' || [[File:Ice dragon armour.png]]
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|-
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| '''Artefact''' || [[File:Ice dragon armour artefact.png]]
 
|}
 
|}
==History==
 
*Prior to [[0.19]], ice dragon scales were called ice dragon armour in-game, and it was obtained by using a [[scroll of enchant armour]] on a [[ice dragon hide]].
 
  
 
{{armours}}
 
{{armours}}
 
[[Category:Body armour]]
 
[[Category:Body armour]]
 
[[Category:Dragon scales]]
 
[[Category:Dragon scales]]

Latest revision as of 15:08, 6 February 2024

Version 0.31: This article is up to date for the latest stable release of Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup.
Name Ice dragon scales
Size to wear Any
Armour Class 9
Encumbrance rating 11
Maximum Enchantment +9
Grants rC++, rF-
Time to Wear 5


The scales of a cold-breathing dragon. It provides great protection from cold, while rendering its wearer more susceptible to fire.

Ice dragon scales are a medium-weight body armour. They provide 2 ranks of cold resistance (rC++), but 1 rank of fire vulnerability (rF-).

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

Desirability

Ice dragon scales offer almost as much AC as a plate armour, but with much lower encumbrance. Therefore, they are good for casters/EV-based fighters who can afford the weight, or melee brutes with no heavier scales available. It's often best to wait until you have a source of fire resistance, as taking 150% damage from fire can be dangerous.

This item has better stats than fire dragon scales: ice scales offer +1 base AC (and +1 max enchantment) with no extra encumbrance. However, players may prefer fire resistance over cold resistance. This mostly applies to Zot, as orbs of fire exist, but orbs of ice don't.

Paradoxically, a Fire Magic specialist may actually find these scales useful: combined with a staff of fire and a ring of fire, such a character would have two spell enhancers, and a level each of fire and cold resistance.

Trolls and Oni, unable to wear normal plate armour, may want to wear these even without fire resistance. Just be careful with it.

History

Ice dragon scales Image
Mundane Ice dragon armour.png
Artefact Ice dragon armour artefact.png
Armour
Body Armour Leather armourRing mailScale mailChain mailPlate armourCrystal plate armour

RobeAnimal skinTroll leather armourSteam dragon scalesAcid dragon scales
Swamp dragon scalesQuicksilver dragon scalesFire dragon scalesIce dragon scales
Pearl dragon scalesShadow dragon scalesStorm dragon scalesGold dragon scales

Miscellaneous HatHelmetCloakScarfGlovesBootsBarding
Shields BucklerKite shieldTower shieldOrb