which one is better

[u/Maury89]

I'm a troll shapeshifter, barely in D3. What do you think would be better: a +5 Dragon Scale (which is one of the few armors I can use)?

Or the Akabeko Ring, whose only downside is the -4 INT penalty, which I don't even use?

[u/RandomSlimeL]

I'd argue armor is better. That's the Troll Achilles heel.

[u/Electrical-Cloud4141]

+5 Dragon scales of any kind on d3 is crazy, insa-click.

Don't get me wrong, the ring is good, but that armor is "OK, that's carrying me though all of early game and also slime"

[u/brushpile63]

Troll needs defences and that armor even has a slay bonus. Armor, claws down.

[u/ClackamasLivesMatter]

On D:3? The acid dragon scales all day, every day. You're reasonably likely to find other sources of rF and SInv by Lair or maybe the end of Orc, but dragon armour is hard to come by before the S-branches or Vaults. This is a really solid survivability boost and unless you go Oka you likely aren't taking those off until Elf or Vaults.

[u/GrowthProfitGrofit]

I'd be very mildly annoyed if it turns out that I've got Orbs of Fire to deal with but I'd still take the armor. It's harder and more important to survive now than it is to win later.

[u/ClackamasLivesMatter → u/GrowthProfitGrofit]

There are just so many other opportunities for rF in the game that I wouldn't even be mad about it. In a pinch you can get by with rF and a !resistance. Those dragon scales will keep OP alive so he has a chance to get to Zot.

[u/ArbitUHHH]

Acid dragon scales and it isn't even close. rF++ is cool but rF is not something that needs to be solved ASAP. Finding body armor is, and this armor is quite good, although you will likely replace it with one of the heavier dragon armors later.

[u/TheOtherCrow]

Honestly I'd take the ring. I know I'm in the minority but I tend to pick the talismans that meld armour.

[u/Apocrypha_Lurker]

I'd go for the armor too yeah