Banded mail

A banded mail is another intermediate armour. It is strictly inferior to a splint mail.

Tips and tricks

While most intermediate armours are to be generally avoided, this is particularly the case with banded mails - it is strictly worse than a splint mail (same EV penalty but one fewer base AC). Don't wear it unless you can find nothing better, or you have an absurdly powerful artefact (along the lines of the +8 banded mail of Fun {rF++ rC++ Dam+4})

History

Banded mail was removed from the game in 0.10; chain mail and other medium armours shifted up a point of AC to take its place.