Scarab Shell
Used by Inaros
Scarab Shell
Activate to form Armor by draining Inaros' Health. Activate again to stop the formation early. The protective layer reduces incoming Damage and absorbs Status Effects.
Introduced in Update 18.5 (2016-03-04)
Ability stats
- See in-game / wiki ability card for rank values
- See in-game / wiki ability card for rank values
- See in-game / wiki ability card for rank values
- Activate to form Armor by draining Inaros' Health.
Info
- Scarab Shell is Inaros’s ability 3.
- Activate to form Armor by draining Inaros' Health.
- Use it with the rest of the kit — especially Desiccation, Sandstorm — instead of casting it in isolation.
- Ability Strength, Duration, Range, and Efficiency each matter differently; check Mod Scaling below before dumping all four.
Augment
Negation Armor
Scarab Shell Augment: When Inaros takes fatal damage, he consumes Scarab Shell to heal with a brief invulnerability that ends with a dead…
InarosScarab Shell Augment: When Inaros takes fatal damage, he consumes Scarab Shell to heal with a brief invulnerability that ends with a deadly Slash Status Effect. Cooldown 30s.
Max rank drain ~9; see rank table on the augment page.
Cast Changes
- Modifies Scarab Shell with: Scarab Shell Augment: When Inaros takes fatal damage, he consumes Scarab Shell to heal with a brief invulnerability that ends with a deadly Slash Status Effect.
- Rank up the augment to unlock the full effect values.
- Costs a mod slot (and capacity) — only equip it when the change matters for your loop.
Worth the Slot?
- Worth it when the augment’s change is central to how you play Inaros.
- Skip it if the base Scarab Shell already does what you need and you’d rather keep the slot for survivability or strength.
Tips & Tricks
- Read the battlefield first — cast Scarab Shell when it actually solves the room, not on cooldown habit.
- Pair Scarab Shell with movement and energy economy so you’re not stranded after a big spend.
- On Steel Path, confirm whether Scarab Shell still carries without strip, Viral, or a squad buff.
- If you never press 3, it’s the first Helminth candidate on Inaros.
Ability dossier · Scarab Shell
Synergies
- Scarab ShellDesiccation
Use Scarab Shell to set up Desiccation, or follow Desiccation with Scarab Shell while enemies are vulnerable.
- Scarab ShellSandstorm
Use Scarab Shell to set up Sandstorm, or follow Sandstorm with Scarab Shell while enemies are vulnerable.
- Scarab ShellScarab Swarm
Use Scarab Shell to set up Scarab Swarm, or follow Scarab Swarm with Scarab Shell while enemies are vulnerable.
Mod Scaling
Strength
- Improves Scarab Shell’s damage or effect potency where Strength is listed on the ability.
Duration
- Duration is low priority on Scarab Shell unless an augment or lingering effect needs it.
Range
- Range is usually dumpable on Scarab Shell unless you feel the hitbox is too tight.
Efficiency
- Scarab Shell costs energy each cast — Efficiency (or strong regen) keeps the loop comfortable on long missions.
Priority
Stack the stats that actually move this ability’s needle, then Efficiency for uptime.
Mission Use Cases
| Mission | How to Use It |
|---|---|
| Steel Path Survival / Defense / Disruption | Test whether Scarab Shell still clears or enables clear when enemies are dense and overlevelled. |
| Mobile Defense / Excavation | Use Scarab Shell to control or delete the swarm on the objective, then reposition. |
| Exterminate / Capture Speed Runs | Cast Scarab Shell only when it saves time — skip it on empty tiles. |
| Spy / Rescue / Quiet Routes | If Scarab Shell is loud or forces combat, save it for after the vault; if it’s stealth-friendly, use it to stay safe. |
Comparisons
- VS
Vs similar tools on other frames — Scarab Shell is tuned for Inaros’s loop — don’t judge it as a standalone subsume without the rest of the kit.
Desiccation
Sandstorm
Scarab Swarm