Ebony Mail



Ebony Mail is considered by some to be one of the most powerful chest pieces in the games, providing useful protection and abilities.

The Elder Scrolls: Arena
During the third era, the Eternal Champion was an owner of the mail. It was hidden in Black Marsh after the previous owner, a warrior named Helath Stormbinder lost the favor of Boethiah. Following a strange map, the Eternal Champion eventually found the resting place of the mail and retrieved it for his war against Jagar Tharn.

The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall
During the third era, the Hero of Daggerfall was awarded the Ebony Mail by Boethiah after completing an elimination job.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Click here for a video walkthrough on how to obtain it.

The Ebony mail makes its appearance in Skyrim after completing the Daedric quest, Boethiah's Calling. The cuirass is a heavy armor with an approximate base defense of 46. It grants the wearer a special muffle effect, and deals 5 poison damage per second to any enemies nearby.

A unique feature of the ebony mail is it grants the wearer a 'shrouded' effect while sneaking, making the wearer appear more like a shadow (similar to the Chameleon effect in earlier titles). Due to the handling of the particle effect's DDS texture file, the smoke effect coming from the mail while using a bow or other weapons can potentially make it difficult to see regardless of the visual settings.

Uses for Ebony Mail
While Ebony Mail is not the only heavy armor in the game with stealth enchantments, it is the most directly acquired. Other heavy armors with muffle, sneak bonuses, or lockpicking enchantments are randomly generated at traders or in containers and may take significant time to locate due to the many variations possible when the store or chest is first generated. It was originally stated that the Ebony Mail's shrouded effect was only a visual effect, but after further investigation has proven to be a functional part of the armor. The wearer is at least 15-20% harder to detect when sneaking in the armor.

Thieves Guild


 * If you decide to take the Thieves Guild quests later on in the game after you've already specialized in another play style with your character other than thief, the Ebony Mail can give you a much needed edge in completing quite a few Thieves Guild missions.

The Dark Brotherhood


 * This armor will provide synergy in completing your assassination jobs by allowing easier break-in and escape of the targets home or vicinity. Though stealth is entirely optional for these quests.

Dungeon Diving


 * The Ebony Mail can give a player an advantage when choosing non-violent (stealth) approaches to exploring dungeons for whatever reason.

 Followers 


 * Heavy armor style followers can be made into much less of a liability for a sneaky character by being equipped with the Ebony Mail. It is also advisable to give them equipment further boosting their stealth, such as fortify sneaking.

 Vampirism 


 * The armor's added stealth effect stacks significantly well with the stealth bonus from Vampirism (Skyrim).

 DoT (Damage Over Time) Stacking and Stealth DoT  Thieving
 * The poison DoT given off by the Ebony Mail is by far one of the easiest way to kill Slaughterfish, as it will hurt them while you are swimming (no normal attacks can be made while swimming).


 * Due to this armor granting a shrouded effect around the Dragonborn, stealing and picking pockets becomes imensly easier to accomplish. With a decent sneak level, you may find yourself able to steal items while someone is looking directly at you only a yard away.


 * The armor can be combined well with cloak spells, wall spells (sprayed on the ground around the caster), Reflect Blows and setting enemies on fire or shocking them (as both have lingering effects). Additionally, using the Ebony Mail in conjunction with invisibility spells and potions or powers like the Shadowcloak of Nocturnal and Embrace of Shadows will damage enemies who are searching for but cannot see you. You can easily stand right next to an enemy that is ostensibly "searching" for you while dealing DoT with impunity. Take care not to touch the enemy, otherwise they will detect you.

Bugs

 * If the player equips Ebony Mail right in the crouch invisibility animation of Shadow Warrior while under the Invisibility spell, the shadow effects and damage aura may become a default Active Power when crouching (you get shadow tendrils and damage aura without having to wear the Ebony Mail), quicksaving and loading may fix it so that it just works during the 1 second Shadow Warrior perk invisibility.
 * If the Champion of Boethiah is resurrected with Dead Thrall after the Mail is taken, he will regain the Ebony Mail once the area is left, allowing for multiple copies of the Ebony Mail.
 * If you have a follower wearing the armor and try to make them into a blade, the armor will be replaced with blades armor and will not be able to be retrieved again.
 * If you use the Become Etheral shout and crouch and equip the Ebony Mail, after the shout wears off you won't have the black aura around you until you re-equip the armor.

Appearances

 * The Elder Scrolls: Arena
 * The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall
 * The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
 * The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim