Difference between revisions of "Dragon scale mail"

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(overhaul main section to focus specifically on dragon scale mail, cross-link between this and dragon scales article, organize and condense...)
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   |special=<ul><li>&lt;by color&gt;</li></ul>
 
   |special=<ul><li>&lt;by color&gt;</li></ul>
 
   |cost=900-1200
 
   |cost=900-1200
−
  |weight=40
 
−
  |material=dragon hide
 
−
}}
 
−
{{armor
 
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  |top={{black|[}}{{blue|[}}{{gray|[}}{{green|[}}{{orange|[}}{{red|[}}{{cyan|[}}{{white|[}}{{yellow|[}}[[Image:Black_dragon_scales.png]][[Image:Blue_dragon_scales.png]][[Image:Gray_dragon_scales.png]][[Image:Green_dragon_scales.png]][[Image:Orange_dragon_scales.png]][[Image:Red_dragon_scales.png]][[Image:Silver_dragon_scales.png]][[Image:White_dragon_scales.png]][[Image:Yellow_dragon_scales.png]]
 
−
  |name=&lt;color&gt; dragon scales
 
−
  |slot=body armor
 
−
  |ac=3
 
−
  |special=<ul><li>&lt;by color&gt;</li></ul>
 
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  |cost=500-700
 
 
   |weight=40
 
   |weight=40
 
   |material=dragon hide
 
   |material=dragon hide
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
'''Dragon scale mail''', commonly abbreviated '''DSM''' and also known as '''dragon mail''', is a type of [[body armor]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. It is the strongest single piece of armor available in the game. Its base [[AC]] reduction is 9, it [[weight|weighs]] only 40, provides a useful [[extrinsic]], is inherently [[erosion|erodeproof]], and doesn't hinder [[spellcasting]]. It does not however provide any [[magic cancellation]], and should hence be complemented by a high [[MC]] cloak.
+
'''Dragon scale mail''', also known as '''dragon mail''' and commonly abbreviated as '''DSM''', is a type of [[Magical item|magical]] [[body armor]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. It is made of [[dragon hide]].
  
−
'''Dragon scales''' are [[body armor]] that might be dropped by a [[dragon]]. They have a base [[AC]] reduction of only 3, but are otherwise identical to the dragon scale mail of the same color. They can be [[#Making dragon scale mail from scales|converted]] into dragon scale mail.
+
==Generation==
 +
Dragon scale mail is not randomly generated, though they can be [[wish]]ed for or found in [[bones]].
  
−
The most coveted varieties are [[silver dragon scale mail]] (SDSM) for [[reflection]] and [[gray dragon scale mail]] (GDSM) for [[magic resistance]].
+
Dragon scale mail can be created by reading a non-cursed [[scroll of enchant armor]] while wearing a set of [[dragon scales]]: the scales will transform into dragon scale mail if the scroll enchants them, and a blessed scroll will additionally grant one point of enchantment.
  
−
==Effects==
+
==Description==
−
 
+
While worn, all forms of dragon scale mail confer 9 base [[AC]], the most of any single piece of [[body armor]]. Dragon scale mail also confers an extrinsic property while worn, based on the color of the armor:
−
===Colors===
 
−
The following table shows the extrinsic abilities provided by each color of dragon scales or dragon scale mail:
 
  
 
{| class="prettytable" style="border:none; margin:0; padding:0;"
 
{| class="prettytable" style="border:none; margin:0; padding:0;"
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|}
 
|}
  
−
Black, gray, and silver dragon scale mail have a base price of 1200 zm, and their scales are 700 zm. Other varieties are 900 zm for the mail and 500 zm for the scales. Gray, silver, and yellow dragon scales are the only ones whose resistances cannot can be obtained as [[intrinsic]]s.
+
Uncontrolled [[polymorph]]ing while wearing dragon scale mail will turn your character into that color of dragon and revert the mail back to scales.{{refsrc|src/polyself.c|498|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/polyself.c|501|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/polyself.c|518|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} Black, gray, and silver dragon scale mail have a base price of 1200[[zm]], and all other types of dragon scale mail have a base cost of 900 zm.
  
−
{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|A new type of dragon scale mail is added: [[Gold dragon]] scale mail emits light and grants [[hallucination]] resistance. Also, some colors of scales and mail grant additional extrinsics.<ref>https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/commit/ef1eeed7550e38fa1e4ff0ef608f3c8b55eaa950</ref>
+
{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|[[Gold dragon scale mail]] is added per {{commit|5a09a01a13ee4e6e169a7ec0b7e1697ce69a87ac}} along with the corresponding dragons, and acts as a [[light source]] while worn. Per {{commit|ef1eeed7550e38fa1e4ff0ef608f3c8b55eaa950}}, they and other dragon scale mail types that are not gray or silver grant additional extrinsics while worn - the dragon scale mail extrinsics for 3.7 as of this commit are listed below:}}
  
−
The dragon armor extrinsics in 3.7.0 are as follows:}}
 
 
{| class="prettytable" style="border:none; margin:0; padding:0;"
 
{| class="prettytable" style="border:none; margin:0; padding:0;"
 
!Color !! Extrinsics (NetHack 3.7.0)
 
!Color !! Extrinsics (NetHack 3.7.0)
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|}
 
|}
  
−
===Polymorph===
+
==Strategy==
−
Uncontrolled [[polymorph]]ing while wearing dragon scales or dragon scale mail turns you into a dragon of the same color. This, and purposeful polymorph into a dragon of the same color, will revert your scale mail back to its scale form{{refsrc|src/polyself.c|500|version=NetHack 3.6.0}}, but leave its enchantment unchanged. If the dragon scales are enchanted above +3, it is possible that they will evaporate while attempting to return them to dragon scale mail. While polymorphed, the scales will show up as "(embedded in your skin)" and will not function as armor: the base AC and enchantment of the scales will not lower your polymorphed AC, and they cannot be targeted by a [[scroll of enchant armor]]. Your [[shirt]] and [[cloak]] will tear as normal. If you polymorph again while in dragon form, there is a chance that you will turn into a different large monster, destroying your armor in the process.
+
Dragon scale mail is the strongest and most sought-after type of [[armor]] in ''NetHack'': it provides a stellar amount of AC for only 40 units of [[weight]], is made of an intrinsically [[erosion]]-proof material, and does not block [[spellcasting]] - even the least useful dragon scale mail is likely to do much more for a character than most other body armor. One of the few things it does not provide is [[magic cancellation]], which can be remedied with other armor or items such as a high-MC cloak.
  
−
Dragon scale mail is considered to be [[magical item|magical]] for purposes of [[polypiling|object polymorph]], whereas dragon scales are not.
+
{{upcoming|3.7.0|Overhaul the sections below to reflect DSM changes and extrinsic resistance buffs.}}
  
−
Since scales and mail are never generated randomly, they cannot be obtained by polypiling.
+
===Acquiring dragon scale mail===
 +
The most common methods of obtaining dragon scale mail are:
  
−
==Acquiring scales and scale mail==
+
# Wishing for it directly - dragon scale mail is a common early game wish, especially when a character find a random [[wand of wishing]].
 +
# [[Dragon scales#Acquiring dragon scales|Acquiring dragon scales]] in some manner and making them into mail using a scroll of enchant armor.
 +
# A lucky player may happen across the bones of a former character with dragon scale mail in them, though whatever killed that character will likely be trouble for them as well.
  
−
There are two main ways to acquire dragon scale mail: either [[wish]] for it directly, or obtain dragon scales and then upgrade them to scale mail. When wishing, make sure of your spelling and wording, or you may end up with a [[scroll of mail]].
+
When wishing for your preferred dragon scale mail, make sure to spell out and phrase the wish properly, or you may end up with a [[scroll of mail]].
  
−
There are two other ways to obtain DSM. The first is to find it in a [[bones]] pile, which is obviously unreliable. The other option is to kill one of the [[player monster]]s on the [[Astral Plane]], who have a chance of wearing dragon scale mail. This method is almost completely useless, since any adventurer reaching the Astral Plane will probably have DSM already.
+
===Gray versus silver===
 +
{{main|GDSM versus SDSM}}
 +
The most coveted varieties of dragon scale mail are silver (for reflection) and gray (for magic resistance), though players disagree as to which of the two is more useful in particular circumstances. The article linked at the top of this section goes in-depth with regards to which choice may be most appropriate for a given character and/or scenario, particularly in regards to wishes in the early game and availability of other sources for either property.
  
−
===Making dragon scale mail from scales===
+
===Other colors===
−
Dragon scale mail can be easily made from dragon scales:
+
Even with the popularity of characters using gray or silver dragon scale mail, there are certain builds and strategies where another color is preferred. Some options and their use cases are listed below:
−
# [[wear]] only the dragon scales you wish to convert
 
−
# [[read]] a non-cursed [[scroll of enchant armor]]
 
−
 
 
−
If the scroll is blessed, the mail gains 1 point of enchantment and becomes blessed. Beware; if the scales are already above +3, reading a scroll of enchant armor, even in an attempt to upgrade them to mail, may vaporize them as with most other armor.
 
−
 
 
−
===Acquiring dragon scales===
 
−
Dragon scale mail is simple to acquire: kill dragons of the color you want until one drops scales, and make mail out of them as [[#Making Dragon Scale Mail|described above]].
 
−
 
 
−
The chance of a dragon dropping scales is 1/3, but only 1/20 if the dragon was [[revive]]d.{{refsrc|src/mon.c|255|version=NetHack 3.6.0}}
 
−
 
 
−
Energy sources such as [[magic trap]]s and [[The Mitre of Holiness]] can make [[Spellbook of turn undead|Turn Undead]] a viable strategy for forcing one dragon to drop scales.
 
−
 
 
−
Here are some methods of generating dragons:
 
−
# [[Polymorph]] [[pet]]s on a [[polymorph trap]] until one becomes the desired dragon, then leave it behind for a while to go [[tameness|wild]] (or just kill it and make up for the [[Luck#Ways_to_change_your_Luck|luck loss]]).
 
−
# [[Reverse genocide]] dragons.
 
−
# Allow a monster of the appropriate [[Alignment#Monster_alignment|alignment]] to [[summon nasties]] until the desired dragon is created (note that this can never produce Blue, Gray, or White). Be prepared to deal with whatever else is summoned!
 
−
# Polymorph into a female dragon of the desired variety, lay some eggs (#[[sit]] command), let them hatch and slowly grow up into adult pet dragons. Killing them with a monster's passive attack or a trap avoids penalties.
 
−
# Seek out the dragons found in the [[Castle]], in [[Fort Ludios]], and in some [[quest]] levels.
 
−
# Confused [[loot]] [[throne]]s to create [[Special_room#Throne_rooms|Throne Room]] monsters ([[Farming#Throne_farming|farmable]] prior to [[3.6.0]]).
 
−
 
 
−
If you want to reverse-genocide dragons to kill, but aren't strong enough to beat them in normal combat, you can force them to engage you in a "cage match" where they can't fight back.
 
  
−
<div class='ttyscreen'>
+
* For [[wishless]] ascensions, while it is possible to obtain obtain DSM without a wish via [[reverse genocide]], some unlucky characters may not find the scrolls or a means to write one - in such cases, it is worth enchanting the first dragon scales found simply for the AC benefit and weight reduction. This may also be an option for players whose characters lack a [[bag of holding]] and want to manage their inventory weight without resorting to [[stash]]ing.
−
<replacecharsblock rules="ttymap">
+
* Players attempting [[foodless]] ascensions can get most resistances through [[crowning]], though this may be undesirable in some circumstances e.g. foodless [[atheist]] play (which makes crowning impossible). Foodless characters that have magic resistance and reflection from other sources may consider the following colors of dragon scale mail:
−
@=[[You|{{white|@}}]]
+
** Red dragon scale mail protects against the [[fire trap]]s in [[Gehennom]] - while it can be superseded by the [[ring of fire resistance]], the ring must generally be identified in some way first.
−
D=[[dragon|{{gray|D}}]]
+
** Green dragon scale mail protects against [[instadeath]]s and extra damage from spiked pits, poisoned missiles and poisonous melee attacks. The [[ring of poison resistance]] and [[amulet versus poison]] similarly warrant identification of some form as with red dragon scales: green dragon scale mail can also be superseded by reaching a given [[experience level]] for certain characters or roles, or else finding an [[alchemy smock]]. It may be a candidate for a foodless atheist that obtains an early wish, especially if using a role/race combo that does not gain eventual access to the property.
 +
** Orange dragon scale mail protects from [[sleeping gas trap]]s, sleep [[ray]]s, and thrown or boiled [[Potion of sleeping|potions of sleeping]]. Elven characters can obtain sleep resistance at experience level 4, but the property lacks other sources and can only be partially covered by a [[ring of free action]].
 +
* Yellow dragon scale mail is a very rare consideration: though acid resistance is difficult to obtain short of polymorph or else an alchemy smock, acid attacks are themselves rare and not often a threat, and acidic passives can be avoided with most forms of ranged attack.
 +
* Black dragon scale mail is similarly rare: the only sources of disintegration resistance are the black dragon itself, but a character with reflection can trivialize the threat of their breath attack, then consume their [[corpse]] or [[tin]] for insurance should they lose their reflection somehow.
 +
* Reflection-less play changes considerations significantly, and may open up the possibility of using different colors for harder-to-obtain properties: characters that already have magic resistance covered may consider black dragon scale mail in particular to avoid being surprised by an offscreen disintegration blast, though the property is still supersedable afterward by eating a black dragon corpse or tin.
  
−
.|
+
===Pets and DSM===
−
.|DDD
+
Humanoid pets and others that can wear body armor, on the other hand, will appreciate certain "off-meta" colors of dragon scale mail more, depending on their own intrinsic resistances:
−
.+D@D
 
−
.|DDD
 
−
.|
 
−
</replacecharsblock></div>
 
  
−
Dig a 3x3 square in the rock behind a [[closet]], or use a [[boulder]] to block the entrance. Stand on a [[scroll of scare monster]] ([[Elbereth]] will fade immediately if you attack, but a permanent engraving is an acceptable alternative if you can rely on [[pet]]s to kill the dragons for you). The scroll will prevent the dragons from attacking you in melee, but they also won't use their breath weapons while in melee range. Beware of digging monsters breaking your setup.
+
* [[Mind flayer]] pets are especially vulnerable to passive attacks due to their multiple hit dice, and yellow dragon scale mail in particular may be worth considering for them.
−
 
 
−
<div class='ttyscreen'>
 
−
<replacecharsblock rules="ttymap">
 
−
@=[[You|{{white|@}}]]
 
−
D=[[dragon|{{gray|D}}]]
 
−
`=[[boulder|{{gray|`}}]]
 
−
 
 
−
----------
 
−
}}}}}}}}}|
 
−
}-------}|
 
−
-|`D@D`|}|
 
−
.+D.DD.|}|
 
−
--------}|
 
−
..|}}}}}}|
 
−
</replacecharsblock></div>
 
−
 
 
−
If you manage to get to the [[castle]] without dragon scale mail, the room with the [[wand of wishing]] in a [[chest]] includes a guaranteed scroll of scare monster on the floor. It is cursed, so attempting to pick it up will destroy it. There are two positions in the room where a dragon can breathe at you, which you can block off with boulders generated by a [[scroll of earth]] from [[Sokoban]]. The walls are undiggable, negating the threat of disruption.
 
−
 
 
−
The [[Sokoban]] scroll of scare monster can also be used, although you'll have to move it out of the closet by digging a [[hole]] below it and letting it fall through. Hopefully it lands somewhere a [[boulder fort]] can be arranged (in place of walls); if not, you can move the scroll into a more suitable position by [[kick]]ing it (it will be stopped by either a wall or a monster) or, if it gets stuck, digging a hole once more (except on the lowest level).
 
−
 
 
−
==Strategy==
 
−
 
 
−
===Gray or silver?===
 
−
{{main|GDSM versus SDSM}}
 
−
<!-- Please don't add too much info here; that's what the GDSM versus SDSM page is for. -->
 
−
 
 
−
Gray and silver are widely considered the two best types of dragon scale mail, but players disagree as to which is more useful in particular circumstances. Gray provides [[magic resistance]] which protects against monster spells and polytraps; silver provides [[reflection]] which protects against wands and breath attacks. Since both are extremely useful, it's best to find a source of magic resistance or reflection and then get the dragon scale mail that grants the other intrinsic.
 
−
 
 
−
===Other colors===
 
−
In general, one will always want GDSM or SDSM.  However, there are some corner cases where one might use another color:
 
−
*[[Wishless]] ascensions: Of course, one can obtain DSM without wishing via reverse genocide.  However, some unlucky characters may find neither the scroll nor enough magic markers to write one.  In this case, it is worth enchanting the first dragon scales found, simply for the AC benefit and weight reduction.
 
−
*[[Foodless]] ascensions: While players attempting a foodless ascension can get most resistances through [[crowning]], this may be undesirable (or even impossible for foodless [[atheist]]s). The extra extrinsic may thus be worthwhile, particularly if the player already has MR and reflection from other sources. One advantage of gaining extrinsics from DSM over rings is that you have to identify the rings first. The three most desirable colors are:
 
−
:* Red dragon scale mail, to protect against the [[fire trap]]s in [[Gehennom]], can be superseded by the [[ring of fire resistance|ring]].
 
−
:* Green dragon scale mail, to protect against spiked pits, poisoned missiles, and poison melee attacks, can be supplanted by an [[alchemy smock]], by the eponymous amulet or ring, and for some roles by leveling up.
 
−
:*[[Sleep resistance]], from orange dragon scale mail, protects against traps, wands, and thrown potions. It is granted to elves at level 4, but otherwise cannot be entirely superseded by a [[ring of free action]], making that DSM also useful.
 
−
*If you really hate acid attacks: Short of self-[[polymorph]] or the MC 1 [[alchemy smock]], yellow dragon scale mail is the only way to obtain acid resistance.  Acid attacks are rarely threatening, however.
 
  
 
==Variants==
 
==Variants==
−
 
 
===SLASH'EM===
 
===SLASH'EM===
 
Getting dragon scale mail is a bit different in SLASH'EM. Baby dragons take much longer to grow up, and it is not feasible anymore to polymorph pets into dragons for their death drop (due to polymorph working like it does for player characters). However, there are many dragons in the [[Special level (SLASH'EM)#Wyrm Caves|Wyrm Caves]], and there are the guaranteed gray dragon scales in the [[Lawful Quest]] and the gray dragon scale mail worn by [[Black market (SLASH'EM)#One-eyed Sam|One-eyed Sam]]. The last two may be somewhat difficult to liberate from their previous owners, and the law quest one is generated cursed -9.
 
Getting dragon scale mail is a bit different in SLASH'EM. Baby dragons take much longer to grow up, and it is not feasible anymore to polymorph pets into dragons for their death drop (due to polymorph working like it does for player characters). However, there are many dragons in the [[Special level (SLASH'EM)#Wyrm Caves|Wyrm Caves]], and there are the guaranteed gray dragon scales in the [[Lawful Quest]] and the gray dragon scale mail worn by [[Black market (SLASH'EM)#One-eyed Sam|One-eyed Sam]]. The last two may be somewhat difficult to liberate from their previous owners, and the law quest one is generated cursed -9.
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== References ==
 
== References ==
 
<references />
 
<references />
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+
{{nethack-367}}
 
[[Category:Dragon armor]]
 
[[Category:Dragon armor]]
−
{{nethack-366}}
 

Revision as of 00:49, 20 March 2024

English

 • 中文（中国大陆）‎
[[[[[[[[[Black dragon scale mail.pngBlue dragon scale mail.pngGray dragon scale mail.pngGreen dragon scale mail.pngOrange dragon scale mail.pngRed dragon scale mail.pngSilver dragon scale mail.pngWhite dragon scale mail.pngYellow dragon scale mail.png
<color> dragon scale mail
Appearance <color> dragon scale mail
Slot body armor
AC 9
Special
  • <by color>
Base price 900-1200 zm
Weight 40
Material dragon hide

Dragon scale mail, also known as dragon mail and commonly abbreviated as DSM, is a type of magical body armor that appears in NetHack. It is made of dragon hide.

Generation

Dragon scale mail is not randomly generated, though they can be wished for or found in bones.

Dragon scale mail can be created by reading a non-cursed scroll of enchant armor while wearing a set of dragon scales: the scales will transform into dragon scale mail if the scroll enchants them, and a blessed scroll will additionally grant one point of enchantment.

Description

While worn, all forms of dragon scale mail confer 9 base AC, the most of any single piece of body armor. Dragon scale mail also confers an extrinsic property while worn, based on the color of the armor:

Color Extrinsic
Blue shock resistance
Black disintegration resistance
Gray magic resistance
Green poison resistance
Orange sleep resistance
Red fire resistance
Silver reflection
White cold resistance
Yellow acid resistance

Uncontrolled polymorphing while wearing dragon scale mail will turn your character into that color of dragon and revert the mail back to scales.[1][2][3] Black, gray, and silver dragon scale mail have a base price of 1200zm, and all other types of dragon scale mail have a base cost of 900 zm.

The following information pertains to an upcoming version (NetHack 3.7.0). If this version is now released, please verify that it is still accurate, then update the page to incorporate this information.

Gold dragon scale mail is added per commit 5a09a01a along with the corresponding dragons, and acts as a light source while worn. Per commit ef1eeed7, they and other dragon scale mail types that are not gray or silver grant additional extrinsics while worn - the dragon scale mail extrinsics for 3.7 as of this commit are listed below:
Color Extrinsics (NetHack 3.7.0)
Blue shock resistance, very fast speed
Black disintegration resistance, drain resistance
Gray magic resistance
Green poison resistance, sickness resistance
Gold light source, hallucination resistance
Orange sleep resistance, free action
Red fire resistance, infravision
Silver reflection
White cold resistance, slow digestion
Yellow acid resistance, stoning resistance

Strategy

Dragon scale mail is the strongest and most sought-after type of armor in NetHack: it provides a stellar amount of AC for only 40 units of weight, is made of an intrinsically erosion-proof material, and does not block spellcasting - even the least useful dragon scale mail is likely to do much more for a character than most other body armor. One of the few things it does not provide is magic cancellation, which can be remedied with other armor or items such as a high-MC cloak.

The following information pertains to an upcoming version (3.7.0). If this version is now released, please verify that it is still accurate, then update the page to incorporate this information.

Overhaul the sections below to reflect DSM changes and extrinsic resistance buffs.

Acquiring dragon scale mail

The most common methods of obtaining dragon scale mail are:

  1. Wishing for it directly - dragon scale mail is a common early game wish, especially when a character find a random wand of wishing.
  2. Acquiring dragon scales in some manner and making them into mail using a scroll of enchant armor.
  3. A lucky player may happen across the bones of a former character with dragon scale mail in them, though whatever killed that character will likely be trouble for them as well.

When wishing for your preferred dragon scale mail, make sure to spell out and phrase the wish properly, or you may end up with a scroll of mail.

Gray versus silver

Main article: GDSM versus SDSM

The most coveted varieties of dragon scale mail are silver (for reflection) and gray (for magic resistance), though players disagree as to which of the two is more useful in particular circumstances. The article linked at the top of this section goes in-depth with regards to which choice may be most appropriate for a given character and/or scenario, particularly in regards to wishes in the early game and availability of other sources for either property.

Other colors

Even with the popularity of characters using gray or silver dragon scale mail, there are certain builds and strategies where another color is preferred. Some options and their use cases are listed below:

  • For wishless ascensions, while it is possible to obtain obtain DSM without a wish via reverse genocide, some unlucky characters may not find the scrolls or a means to write one - in such cases, it is worth enchanting the first dragon scales found simply for the AC benefit and weight reduction. This may also be an option for players whose characters lack a bag of holding and want to manage their inventory weight without resorting to stashing.
  • Players attempting foodless ascensions can get most resistances through crowning, though this may be undesirable in some circumstances e.g. foodless atheist play (which makes crowning impossible). Foodless characters that have magic resistance and reflection from other sources may consider the following colors of dragon scale mail:
    • Red dragon scale mail protects against the fire traps in Gehennom - while it can be superseded by the ring of fire resistance, the ring must generally be identified in some way first.
    • Green dragon scale mail protects against instadeaths and extra damage from spiked pits, poisoned missiles and poisonous melee attacks. The ring of poison resistance and amulet versus poison similarly warrant identification of some form as with red dragon scales: green dragon scale mail can also be superseded by reaching a given experience level for certain characters or roles, or else finding an alchemy smock. It may be a candidate for a foodless atheist that obtains an early wish, especially if using a role/race combo that does not gain eventual access to the property.
    • Orange dragon scale mail protects from sleeping gas traps, sleep rays, and thrown or boiled potions of sleeping. Elven characters can obtain sleep resistance at experience level 4, but the property lacks other sources and can only be partially covered by a ring of free action.
  • Yellow dragon scale mail is a very rare consideration: though acid resistance is difficult to obtain short of polymorph or else an alchemy smock, acid attacks are themselves rare and not often a threat, and acidic passives can be avoided with most forms of ranged attack.
  • Black dragon scale mail is similarly rare: the only sources of disintegration resistance are the black dragon itself, but a character with reflection can trivialize the threat of their breath attack, then consume their corpse or tin for insurance should they lose their reflection somehow.
  • Reflection-less play changes considerations significantly, and may open up the possibility of using different colors for harder-to-obtain properties: characters that already have magic resistance covered may consider black dragon scale mail in particular to avoid being surprised by an offscreen disintegration blast, though the property is still supersedable afterward by eating a black dragon corpse or tin.

Pets and DSM

Humanoid pets and others that can wear body armor, on the other hand, will appreciate certain "off-meta" colors of dragon scale mail more, depending on their own intrinsic resistances:

  • Mind flayer pets are especially vulnerable to passive attacks due to their multiple hit dice, and yellow dragon scale mail in particular may be worth considering for them.

Variants

SLASH'EM

Getting dragon scale mail is a bit different in SLASH'EM. Baby dragons take much longer to grow up, and it is not feasible anymore to polymorph pets into dragons for their death drop (due to polymorph working like it does for player characters). However, there are many dragons in the Wyrm Caves, and there are the guaranteed gray dragon scales in the Lawful Quest and the gray dragon scale mail worn by One-eyed Sam. The last two may be somewhat difficult to liberate from their previous owners, and the law quest one is generated cursed -9.

Some of the gnolls can be generated with dragon scale mail: gnoll warriors may be generated with orange dragon scale mail, chieftains may get blue dragon scale mail, and shamans may get either red or silver dragon scale mail.

SLASH'EM's used armor dealers can sometimes enchant armor for you. Using this service on dragon scales will turn them into dragon scale mail, providing a way for illiterate characters to obtain dragon scale mail without violating conduct. However, the player is far from guaranteed to find a shopkeeper who offers the appropriate service: only 25% of armor dealers will offer it.

New colors in SLASH'EM

Color Extrinsic
Shimmering displacement
Deep level-drain resistance

While still less useful than GDSM and SDSM, these two new dragon scale mails are still worth using for some players. Drain resistance is a lot more important in SLASH'EM, given the abundance of wands of draining and the breath of deep dragons in its later game; a player who has magic resistance and reflection from other sources may well consider deep dragon scale mail as an option. Meanwhile, shimmering dragon scale mail provides a way for players to get displacement and MC 3 at the same time without sacrificing their cloak slot. Finally, due to the presence of shoggoths and giant shoggoths with their high speed and massive acid damage, yellow dragon scale mail is also a viable option.

SporkHack

In SporkHack, all colors of DSM save gray and silver have some kind of secondary effect. Spork also adds an additional color, gold, which acts as a permanent light source.

Color Extrinsic SporkHack secondary extrinsic
Blue shock resistance speed
Black disintegration resistance passive blinding attack
Gray magic resistance none
Green poison resistance passive poison attack
Orange sleep resistance passive slow attack
Red fire resistance +1d6 to all melee damage
Silver reflection none
White cold resistance freezes water and lava under foot
Yellow acid resistance stun and confusion resistance

New colors in SporkHack

Color Extrinsic
Gold radius 2 light

dNetHack

In dNetHack, shimmering dragon scales/mail and deep dragon scales/mail are also added. All old DS/DSM have additional properties too.

Color Extrinsic dNetHack additional extrinsics
Blue shock resistance very fast speed
Black disintegration resistance drain resistance
Gray magic resistance half spell damage
Green poison resistance sickness resistance
Orange sleep resistance free action, hallucination resistance
Red fire resistance flying (scales and mail only, not shield), protects from sliming
Silver improved reflection* none
White cold resistance magical breathing, swimming, and protects inventory from water damage.
Yellow acid resistance stoning resistance
Shimmering displacement infinite range see invisible
Deep drain resistance unchanging

In addition, dragon scale shields can now be made. They are made by reading a scroll of enchant armor while confused, and will harden worn dragon scales into a shield. They grant the same extrinsics that the same color of mail does, except that red dragon scale shields do not grant flying.

Also, dNetHack silver dragon scale mail/shields is much more valuable. Amulets and shields of reflection no longer reflect dragon breath, but SDSM/SDSS do.

UnNetHack

In UnNetHack, dragon scale mails have AC 5 (down from 9) and dragon scales have AC 1 (down from 3).

The powers of dragons and thus their scales and scale mails is randomized each game:

Appearances Powers (randomized each game)
tatzelworm "magic"
amphitere "reflecting"
draken "fire"
lindworm "ice"
sarkany "sleep"
sirrush "disintegration"
leviathan "electric"
wyvern "poison"
glowing* "stone"**
guivre "acid"
chromatic all

(*) Dragons described as "glowing" always emit light, and wearing their scales or scale mail grants radius 2 light, like SporkHack.

(**) The dragon with the "stone" power has lava breath, not stoning. However, wearing its scales or scale mail confers stoning resistance.

Before wishing for dragon armor, note the new rules for wishing in UnNetHack. In particular, wands of wishing only have 0-2 charges (plus 1 wrest), and only wishes from wands can grant wishes for magical items. Dragon scale mails, magic markers, scrolls of genocide and scrolls of enchant armor all count as magical items. However, dragon scales are considered non-magical items and can thus be obtained from any wish source.

Any dragon armor can be wished for by appearance, so wishing for "guivre scale mail" (from a wand of wishing) or "guivre scales" will always work.

To wish for dragon armor by its power, the corresponding armor must be formally identified first, e.g. by using a scroll of identify on dropped dragon scales (the matching scale mail will be identified with it). The name of the power (from the table above) can then be used in the wish, e.g. "reflecting dragon scale mail".

FIQHack

  • Dragon scale mail in FIQHack weighs 300 when carried (150 when worn).
  • White dragon scale mail protects your inventory from water damage.
  • Shimmering dragon scale mail provides displacement and stun resistance.
  • Blue dragon scale mail gives 100% resistance against slow monsters.

Colored DSM (all except silver/gray) have new benefits, in addition to the standard ones above:

dtsund-DSM

NetHack Fourk, xNetHack, EvilHack, and Hack'EM implement the dtsund dragon-scaled armor patch. In these variants, dragon scales are cloaks instead of body armor. Dragon scale mail is removed; instead, a set of dragon scales can be fused into a suit of body armor by reading a scroll of enchant armor while wearing the scales over the armor. Scrolls of enchant armor will always target worn dragon scales instead of other worn items. Any body armor infused with dragon scales confers 3 extra AC and the scales' extrinsic. If the armor is already dragon-scaled, fusing another set of scales will replace the previous color.

If the scroll is blessed, the fused armor becomes blessed and has its erosion repaired (but it is not made erodeproof). If the scroll is cursed, the fused armor becomes cursed and loses a point of enchantment.

If you read a scroll of enchant armor while wearing scales without body armor, you polymorph into the matching type of dragon. (If you have polymorph control, you choose whether to transform.) If you read it while confused and wearing both scales and body armor, the scales fuse into the armor, and then you polymorph into a dragon.

xNetHack

In xNetHack's implementation of dtsund-DSM, the additional extrinsics that were added to most scales in 3.7.0 only apply to dragon-scaled armor, not to the scales by themselves.

Hack'EM

In Hack'EM's implementation of dtsund-DSM, dragon-scaled armor provides an additional extrinsic and a passive attack. In the table below, a set of scales provides only the primary extrinsic, while a suit of dragon-scaled armor provides all three benefits. Passive attacks marked with an asterisk (*) may affect attackers' items.

Color Primary extrinsic Secondary extrinsic Passive attack
Black disintegration resistance slow digestion disintegration*
Blue shock resistance very fast speed shock*
Deep drain resistance stability (hurtling resistance) level drain
Gold light source automatic searching blinding
Gray magic resistance protection from cancellation cancellation*
Green poison resistance sickness resistance poison
Orange sleep resistance free action slowing
Red fire resistance +1d6 melee damage fire*
Shimmering displacement stealth, warning, and see invisible confusion, stunning, and slowing
Silver reflection blinding resistance scares like a mirror
Sea magical breathing swimming rust*
White cold resistance freeze water and lava underfoot cold*
Yellow acid resistance stoning resistance acid*

Encyclopedia entry

Stephen had argued, and the expert armorer had grudgingly
admitted, that dragonscale shield or armor, provided it proved
feasible to make at all, ought to offer some real, practical
advantages over any metal breastplate or shield -- gram for
gram of weight, such a defense would probably be a lot
tougher and more protective than any human smiths could
make of steel.
[ The Last Book of Swords: Shieldbreaker's Story,
by Fred Saberhagen ]

References

  1. ↑ src/polyself.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 498
  2. ↑ src/polyself.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 501
  3. ↑ src/polyself.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 518
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