Metal Shoulder Armor
| Metal Shoulder Armor | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Class | Protective Gear |
| Slot | Left Shoulder Pad |
| Covers | Left Upper Arm |
| Can't Wear With |
|
| Weight | 1 |
| Insulation | - |
| Wind Resistance | - |
| Bite Defense | 60% |
| Scratch Defense | 80% |
| Bullet Defense | 15% |
| Combat Speed | -5% |
| Discomfort | 20% |
| Condition | 5 |
| Wear Chance | 1 in 4 |
| Can Tear | No |
| Research |
|
| Crafting Skill | Blacksmithing: 4, Tailoring: 2 |
| Crafting | See How to Craft |
| Location | Containers |
| Spawn ID | /additem Base.Shoulderpad_Metal_L/additem Base.Shoulderpad_Metal_R
|
| Crafting XP | 10 XP (Blacksmithing) 10 XP (Tailoring) |
Metal Shoulder Armor is a forged steel pauldron that sits over the shoulder and upper arm. It is protective gear for one upper arm. A pair covers both shoulders.
Its main strength is tough, lasting cover with some bullet protection. Its main cost is the clash with backpacks. A character wearing it has to carry gear another way, such as a satchel or a bag in hand.
One piece fits either shoulder. The game moves it from the left shoulder to the right with an inventory option. It is a smithing project, and late-game survivor safehouses hold one only very rarely. The Tailor is the best occupation for protective gear. It starts with the most Tailoring skill.
Wearing
On the covered upper arm, the pauldron stops about three in five bites and four in five scratches. It also turns aside a small share of bullets.
The plate slows attacks a little. It is also fairly uncomfortable to wear for long.
Scrap Metal Shoulder Armor gives the same bite and scratch cover, with less bullet cover and a shorter life. Wooden Shoulder Armor stops only half of bites and scratches and wears out sooner. Articulated Metal Shoulder Armor stops every bite and scratch and more bullets, with less discomfort and a smaller attack cost, but it is twice as heavy.
The in-game tooltip warns that it cannot be worn with a backpack. It also takes the place of a bulletproof vest, a shoulder holster, sport shoulder pads, webbing, a breathing mask or apparatus, and any full suit.
Tailoring
The Assemble Metal Shoulder Armor recipe needs a Simple Forge or better, Blacksmithing level 4 and Tailoring level 2. The recipe must be learned first. It uses one Small Steel Sheet, two Leather Strips, one Buckle, heavy thread and three pieces of charcoal. A smithing hammer, pliers or tongs, a sewing needle and an awl are needed and kept.
Research Craft on it teaches Assemble Metal Shoulder Armor, both versions of Assemble Shoulder Armor, Make Scrap Metal Shoulder Armor and Forge Buckle.
A welder at Welding level 5 can turn it into Spiked Metal Shoulder Armor with Weld Spikes On Metal Armor. The job uses two units from a Welding Torch and three Nails, with a welding mask on.
A worn-out pauldron smelts at an Advanced Furnace into a Steel Chunk.
The Research Craft option in the inventory menu studies the Metal Shoulder Armor and teaches the recipes below.
| Recipe | Output | Image | Spawn ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assemble Metal Shoulder Armor | Metal Shoulder Armor | 
|
/additem Base.Shoulderpad_Metal_L
|
| Assemble Shoulder Armor - Left | Articulated Metal Shoulder Armor - Left | 
|
/additem Base.Shoulderpad_Articulated_L_Metal
|
| Assemble Shoulder Armor - Right | Articulated Metal Shoulder Armor - Right | 
|
/additem Base.Shoulderpad_Articulated_R_Metal
|
| Make Scrap Metal Shoulder Armor | Scrap Metal Shoulder Armor | 
|
/additem Base.Shoulderpad_MetalScrap_L
|
| Forge Buckle | Buckle | 
|
/additem Base.Buckle
|
How to Craft Metal Shoulder Armor
Each recipe that makes the Metal Shoulder Armor is listed with its materials and the tools it keeps.
Assemble Metal Shoulder Armor
The Assemble Metal Shoulder Armor recipe makes the Metal Shoulder Armor. It needs Blacksmithing level 4, Tailoring level 2. It is made at a Simple Forge. The recipe has to be learned first.
| Name | Image | Amount | Kept | Spawn ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charcoal | 
|
3x | No | /additem Base.Charcoal
|
| Steel Sheet - Small | 
|
1x | No | /additem Base.SmallSheetMetal
|
| Leather Strips | 
|
2x | No | /additem Base.LeatherStrips
|
| Buckle |
|
1x | No | /additem Base.Buckle
|
| Smithing Hammer | 
|
1x | Yes | /additem Base.SmithingHammer
|
| Metalworking Pliers | 
|
1x | Yes | /additem Base.MetalworkingPliers
|
| Needle | 
|
1x | Yes | /additem Base.Needle
|
| Awl | 
|
1x | Yes | /additem Base.Awl
|
| Sinew Thread | 
|
1x | No | /additem Base.Thread_Sinew
|
Used in Crafting
These recipes take the Metal Shoulder Armor as an ingredient or a part.
| Recipe | Output | Image | Station | Skill | Spawn ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weld Spikes On Metal Armor | Spiked Scrap Metal Shoulder Armor | 
|
- | Welding: 5 | /additem Base.Shoulderpad_MetalSpikeScrap_L
|
These recipes accept the Metal Shoulder Armor by its type rather than by name.
| Recipe | Output | Image | Station | Spawn ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smelt Small Steel Item | Small Ceramic Crucible with Steel | 
|
Advanced Furnace | /additem Base.CeramicCrucibleSmall_Steel
|
| Smelt Steel From Small Steel Item | Steel Chunk | 
|
Advanced Furnace | /additem Base.SteelChunk
|
Variations
The Metal Shoulder Armor comes in 2 versions. Most of their stats match, and the extra columns show the ones that differ.
| Name | Image | Look | Slot | Covers | Combat Speed | Spawn ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metal Shoulder Armor |
|
L | Left Shoulder Pad | Left Upper Arm | -5% | /additem Base.Shoulderpad_Metal_L
|
| Metal Shoulder Armor |
|
R | Right Shoulder Pad | Right Upper Arm | -8% | /additem Base.Shoulderpad_Metal_R
|
Locations
The pauldron is almost never found. Late-game survivor safehouses can hold it in dressers, wardrobes, crates and boxes, but the odds round down to nearly zero. Forging it is the realistic way to get one.
The places where it spawns, with the rough chance per container.
| Location | Container | Chance |
|---|---|---|
| Survivor safehouse (late game) | Cardboard box | <0.1% |
| Survivor safehouse (late game) | Crate | <0.1% |
| Survivor safehouse (late game) | Dresser | <0.1% |
| Survivor safehouse (late game) | Small box | <0.1% |
| Survivor safehouse (late game) | Wardrobe | <0.1% |
Notes
- The backpack clash is the biggest trade-off, so plan for a satchel or a bag in hand.
- Research Craft on it unlocks the articulated shoulder armour recipes.
- Spikes can be welded on later for a spiked version.
- A spare pauldron smelts back into steel.
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