I wrote a guide on how to choose armor- http://forums.spiralknights.com/en/node/116352
If it's too long for you:
Get chaos and ignore shadow defense lines
I need quick help, what is the best shadow defence helm line?
I wrote a guide on how to choose armor- http://forums.spiralknights.com/en/node/116352
If it's too long for you:
Get chaos and ignore shadow defense lines
I wrote a better guide: http://forums.spiralknights.com/en/node/78944
I also have an armor guide. The short version is: Asking for shadow defense is asking the wrong question. You should instead be asking about offensive bonuses, followed by status resistances.
Read Zeddy=Panda's it's the funniest.
As long as we're still here, let me point out that there's a Kataclysm going on. So this is your chance to get the 3-star Black Kat helmet, for a mere 70 Ancient Pages. There's your shadow helmet.
while we're on the subject, is it worth it to use a whisker to upgrade the black kat helm to 4*, or use it to make the 3* kat armor?
I would focus my whiskers on the suit, not the helmet. Because at some point you might find a Book of Dark Rituals and get the 5-star helmet immediately. And the 4-star helmet does not upgrade to the 5-star helmet.
Of course, any long-term plan like this is subject to having the developers change the rules (drop chances, item statistics, etc.) midway through.