📖 Cactus Armor Breakdown: DS vs DST’s Thorny Split

Cactus Armor is a craftable chest armor that reflects damage back to attackers. It was introduced in Don't Starve: Shipwrecked – the tropical-themed DLC for single-player Don't Starve. In Shipwrecked (SW), it serves as an upgrade to the Log Suit, giving you a "thorny" defense.

However, Cactus Armor does not exist in the base Don't Starve or the Reign of Giants expansion, and it's absent in Don't Starve Together without mods. Klei Entertainment deliberately kept Shipwrecked content separate from DST's core game, focusing DST on its own updates (like Return of Them) instead.

Cactus Armor in Don't Starve: Shipwrecked

In Shipwrecked, Cactus Armor appears in the Fight Tab and requires an Alchemy Engine (or a Sea Lab) to prototype.

Required Ingredients:

• 🪵 1 Log Suit
• 🌵 3 Cactus Spikes

80% – Same as a Log Suit (will absorb 80% of incoming physical damage).

450 hit points – Can absorb 450 points of damage before breaking.

17 damage to the attacker per hit. Whenever an enemy hits you, that enemy takes 17 points of damage in return.

While worn, Elephant Cacti will not target you at all. You can stand near active Elephant Cacti without taking damage.

Unlike the Log Suit, Cactus Armor is non-flammable. It will not catch fire or smolder, making it safe around fire or lava.

No special penalty. Cactus Armor has the standard Log Suit 10% movement speed reduction in single-player.

👍 Pros (Why Cactus Armor Rocks)

• ✓ Free Counter-Damage: Every hit deals 17 damage back to enemies.
• ✓ Fire Immunity: The armor won't burn up, useful near flames or in the Volcano.
• ✓ Elephant Cactus Synergy: Stand among Elephant Cacti unharmed for creative base defenses.
• ✓ No Sanity or Speed Drawbacks: Unlike other special armors, no mental debuffs or major slowness.
• ✓ Upgraded Log Suit: Gives a way to "upgrade" a basic Log Suit into something better.
• ✓ Durability Efficiency: Effectively provides 600 HP of protection to a 150 HP character.

👎 Cons (Thorns to Consider)

• ✗ Limited Availability: Locked to Shipwrecked DLC worlds.
• ✗ Resource Intensive: Cactus Spikes are dangerous to harvest and not renewable.
• ✗ Not Great vs Big Bosses: The 17 reflect damage is relatively low against high-HP enemies.
• ✗ Requires Getting Hit: Rewards a tank playstyle – you need to take damage to deal damage back.
• ✗ No Protection from Elements: Doesn't guard against poison, heat or cold.
• ✗ Boat Combat Drawback: If you're on a boat and enemies attack the boat, thorns don't trigger.

Tank Small Fry to Death

Cactus Armor lets you tank weaker enemies and let them kill themselves on your spikes. Each bee sting deals 17 damage back to the bee, often one-shotting it! With a bit of healing on hand, you can clear bee hives or wasp nests by thorns alone.

Elephant Cactus Defense Setup

Build an Elephant Cactus "minefield" for defense and wear Cactus Armor to navigate it safely. The Elephant Cacti will shoot and shred your pursuers (20 AoE damage per shot), while ignoring you entirely.

Thorns + AoE = Carnage

If you have other area-of-effect damage (like Abigail's aura or Bee Mines exploding), adding Cactus Armor thorns can layer on extra damage for a synergy that melts hordes.

Use with Healing Items

Since you'll intentionally tank hits, pair the armor with healing. Wigfrid is great with Cactus Armor due to her natural lifesteal and extra defense. Alternatively, carry healing foods like Pierogi or Honey Poultice.

Situational Swap

You don't always need Cactus Armor equipped – carry it and swap in when the moment is right. Roam with a backpack for gathering, then swap to armor when combat begins.

Thorny Retreat

If you're low on health but enemies are on you, run away with Cactus Armor on. Each time they hit your back, they get hurt. It's a parting gift to whatever's chasing you!

Wormwood (the plant-like character from Hamlet, added to DST) can craft a unique armor called the Bramble Husk in DST, which is remarkably similar to Cactus Armor:

• • Crafted by: Wormwood with 2 Living Logs and 4 Stingers (under his Green Thumb tab)
• • Absorption: 80% (same as Cactus Armor)
• • Durability: 525 (slightly better than Cactus Armor's 450)
• • Thorns Damage: 22.5 damage to all attackers in a 1-tile radius
• • Special: Prevents damage from harvesting spiky plants

Essentially, DST's devs gave us Cactus Armor's effect through Wormwood, keeping it as a character-specific perk rather than a global item.

Wormwood's Bramble Husk in DST

"Island Adventures" Mod

By: Mobbstar and team

This ambitious mod ports the entire Shipwrecked DLC into DST – including biomes, mechanics, and items. Cactus Armor is available with slightly increased durability (525) to better suit DST's longer fights.

Workshop ID: 1467214795

"Tropical Experience" Mod

By: Vagner (a.k.a Komila)

Another comprehensive mod that combines Shipwrecked and Hamlet content in DST. It adds SW islands, Hamlet seasons/biomes, etc., into the DST world, including Cactus Armor.

Workshop ID: 1505270912

"Kyno's Clothes Pack" Mod

By: Kynoox

This mod focuses on items and clothing from Shipwrecked and Hamlet without adding the whole worldgen. It implements nearly all clothing items from SW and Hamlet DLC, reworked to suit DST.

Workshop ID: 2174681153

Shipwrecked Updates

• February 25, 2016 – Release the Quacken Update:

  Cactus Armor was introduced as a new craftable in Don't Starve: Shipwrecked (alongside items like Shark Teeth Crown, Horned Helmet, etc.).

• June 2017 – Shipwrecked integrated with Hamlet:

  Allowed world-hopping, so players could bring Cactus Armor to RoG/Hamlet worlds (no stat changes, just notable for availability).

• April 2019 – Hamlet full release:

  No direct changes to Cactus Armor, but Hamlet added Wormwood who in single-player can craft Bramble Husk (a similar armor).

• March 2020 – DST "She Sells Sea Shells":

  DST Wormwood character released. Introduced Bramble Husk in DST (80%, 525 durability, ~22.5 thorns) effectively bringing Cactus Armor's concept to DST in a new form.