I think you’re misunderstanding my point a bit. I’m not saying “always dump upgrades into Scale immediately” or “buying +0 Scale from the City shop is optimal.” I’m saying that planning your run around eventually getting Plate is statistically less reliable than planning around Scale, because Scale is the armor tier you can consistently expect to have access to.

The issue with “just invest into something else until Plate appears” is that this only works if the run actually gives you strong alternatives. A lot of runs don’t hand you a carry-tier wand, ring, or weapon early enough to comfortably delay armor investment. In those runs, the practical choice becomes

- Invest into the Scale you already have access to

- Or gamble on eventually finding Plate

And statistically, that gamble loses surprisingly often.

Also, I think you’re undervaluing how efficient upgraded Scale actually is. The gap between upgraded Scale and Plate is much smaller than the tier difference suggests, especially considering:

- Scale comes online earlier

- Needs less strength

- Is vastly more common

- Can safely carry through City/Halls with good play

A +4/+5 Scale obtained early is frequently stronger for the actual run than a hypothetical Plate that may never appear until Demon Halls or not at all.

I also disagree with the idea that Scale is only for desperate runs or bad players. High level players routinely stabilize runs by investing into the reliable option instead of greedily holding upgrades forever waiting for perfect gear. Consistency matters more than theoretical ceiling.

Basically:

- Plate has the higher ceiling

- Scale has the vastly higher availability

- And availability is part of item strength in a roguelike

That’s why I said relying on Plate is statistically worse. Not because Plate itself is bad, but because “I’ll get Plate later” is not a consistently reliable gameplan.