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{{flavour|A small golden cameo of a beetle. Transforms the user into a sun scarab, a fiery insect that carries around a mote of searing heat and light outside itself, like a tiny sun.

This solar ember burns adjacent enemies whenever the scarab attacks, and can be healed by swapping with it. In addition, the scarab's own mandibles can reduce enemies' fire resistance and Fire spells are easier for the user to cast.}}

[[File:scarab talisman.png]] A '''scarab talisman''' is a [[talisman]] that changes you into a scarab beetle rolling around a miniature sun.

==Useful Info==
When e'''V'''oked, a scarab talisman turns you into Scarab Form, which lasts until you end the form. Entering or exiting a form takes 5 turns.

Scarab Form has the following effects:

'''Offensive traits'''
*'''[[Unarmed Combat]]:''' 3 base damage (''no bonus'')
*'''Aid to Fire Magic:''' The [[Spell Success#Modifiers|raw failure rate]] of [[Fire Magic]] is reduced by x66.6% (equivalent to going from 0 -> 2 levels of [[wizardry]], stacking independently with wizardry).
*Your melee attacks have a 50% chance to apply rF- if they pass AC.

'''Solar ember'''
*While in this form, the player will have a {{monsterlink|solar ember}} that follows alongside them. It uses similar leashing behavior to [[phalanx beetle]]s, but additionally will not move while already adjacent to the player (so that its positioning remains predictable while the player fights.)
*Every 2nd melee attack triggers the solar ember to unleash a blast of fire against all enemies adjacent to it (and damage itself by 7-10 HP).
**The damage is 2d14-2d24, scaling with Shapeshifting skill.
*Swapping places with the ember heals it for 75% of its max HP.
*If the ember is destroyed, it will automatically respawn 20-32 turns later.

'''Defensive traits'''
*Fire resistance 2 (rF++)
*Poison vulnerability (rPois-)
*'''Innate AC:''' +5-9 AC, scaling with Shapeshifting skill
*Scarab Form is '''[[Size#Small|Small]]'''-sized. This gives a significant benefit to [[EV]] for species who are Medium or larger, scaling more to one's [[Dexterity]] and [[Dodging]] skill.

'''Restrictions'''
*'''[[Transformation#Useful Info|Melded Gear]]:''' All weapons and armor
*'''Suppressed [[mutations]]:''' Anatomy, blood, bones

Scarab Form has a minimum [[Shapeshifting]] skill of 8, below which you get an [[Talisman#Skill|HP penalty]]. Maximum skill is 14.

==Strategy==

Scarab Form is the glass cannon of Tier-2 talismans, with high [[EV]] and high damage output in exchange for the [[AC]] of one's melded armour. Not only does the flare do immense damage for its investment levels, but in the early to mid [[Dungeon]] and [[Lair]], there are very few monsters with [[fire resistance]], so rF- melee attacks will let solar ember flares outcompete most other mage background spells (like [[Flame Wave]]). Positioning for the flare and monsters alike to keep the ember safe without also leaving yourself open is crucial- against multiple monsters, try to find slightly open chokepoints the ember and you together can then fill up.

<gallery class="left" widths="300px" heights="300px" mode="nolines">
File:Scarab positioning.png|thumb|left|Two-space-wide chokepoints particularly help with monsters focusing on the player first.
</gallery>

{| class="prettytable" style="border:none; margin:auto; padding:0; text-align: center"
! Scarab Form || Gargoyle
|-
| [[File:Scarab form.png]] || [[File:Scarab form gargoyle.png]]
|}

==History==
*Scarab talismans were added in [[0.33]].

{{Forms}}

Scarab talisman - Revision history

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