Armour Penalties and Second Skin Explained

Match the skill to your armour type

Both are Swordmastery perks that work in either form. With a mixture of medium and heavy pieces, check the corresponding skill for each armour type. Taking a rank in the medium-armour skill does not grant a rank in the heavy-armour skill.

The percentage refers to reducing that armour type’s penalty. It is not a 33%, 66% or 100% increase to the armour value shown on an item. At rank 3, the listed penalty reduction reaches 100%; the item still has its own weight and equipment properties.

Rank costs and the manuals you need

Buying all three ranks of either skill costs 4 skill points and 3 time segments, before any prerequisite ranks you still need. The reductions shown are the total effect at that rank: rank 2 is 66%, not an extra 66% added to rank 1’s 33%.

Finding or buying a manual opens access to learning the relevant rank; it does not pay the training cost. Check your current manual access at a shrine and open the manual’s page for seller and location notes. Read the skill-book guide when comparing books with the same skill name.

Use the skill calculator to include prerequisites. Record ranks you already know before planning the remaining points and time, especially when moving from Second Skin I into Second Skin II.

Why you can still be overencumbered

Exceeding the Inventory Weight Limit makes Coen overencumbered. In that state, he cannot run or use fast travel. A full Second Skin skill does not remove weight from the items in his inventory.

To reduce inventory weight, sell unwanted items, destroy them, or place them in Storage, which is accessible from every shrine. Store equipment you intend to keep for another loadout before travelling.

The build planner shows the weight of the equipment selected in its slots. That total does not include every ingredient, spare weapon and other item in your in-game inventory. Check the game’s inventory weight display if running or shrine fast travel is unavailable.

Compare the item and your character’s effects separately

Begin with an item’s armour type, listed armour and bonuses in the armour directory. Compare pieces for the same slot in the equipment comparison, then account for your Second Skin ranks when checking the equipped result in game.

The comparison tool shows base item values and listed modifiers. It does not calculate a final armour-penalty total for your character. Item level, upgrades and character effects can change the panel values you see while playing.

If your immediate problem is running out of stamina, also check how you defend: Omniblock and ordinary attacks consume stamina, a successful directional block costs none, and a Perfect Block restores some. Those combat actions are separate from learning an armour skill.