Codex Umbra

Don't Starve

DST

Codex Umbra
Tier	Always available
	Infinite
Perk	Can Only be used by Maxwell
	Does not stack items
	"waxwelljournal"

See also: Shadow Puppet

“Spooky.”

–Wilson

“Would make a great bedtime story... for nightmares!”

–Willow

“Wolfgang is glad he cannot read!”

–Wolfgang

“Do you want me to read you a story, Abigail?”

–Wendy

“GOOSEBUMPS ACTIVATED”

–WX-78

“I'm not letting THAT in MY library!”

–Wickerbottom

“Trees made into... paper? How unholy!”

–Woodie

“I'm so sorry, Charlie.”

–Maxwell

“My attempts to understand this are being thwarted somehow.”

–Wagstaff

“A tragic tale öf wöe and misery!”

–Wigfrid

“I don't think we should play with that...”

–Webber

“Maman used to keep a journal, before her memory went.”

–Warly

“Nope”

–Wormwood

“That's an adventure waiting to happen.”

–Wheeler

“I don't trust that thing one bit.”

–Winona

“I don't think he knows how to use it.”

–Wortox

“...Don't like stories in that book.”

–Wurt

“Maybe you could teach me some magic tricks? I'm a quick learner!”

–Walter

“Hm.”

–Wanda

The Codex Umbra is a character-exclusive item that Maxwell starts the game with. When used, it sacrifices 15 health and 55 of maximum sanity to spawn a Shadow Puppet clone of Maxwell. It has infinite durability and requires 2 Nightmare Fuel to be used. For each puppet active, Maxwell's maximum sanity is reduced, similar to how Meat Effigies reduce maximum health. A maximum of 3 puppets can be active at one time and each one will disappear 2.5 days after it was summoned. If a Shadow Puppet is killed or despawns, Maxwell will get the used max sanity back.

Origin

“I have discovered something, a book of sorts. I have yet to decode it fully, but what little I have deciphered has opened my mind to terrifying new possibilities.”

–William Carter

The Codex Umbra was discovered by William Carter in 1904, details are unknown.And Willam was intrigued by the "terrifying" possibilities it offered. Months later, he established himself in San Francisco and began going by the name of Maxwell. Maxwell updated his act to incorporate dark manifestations that he taught himself to summon from the Codex Umbra. He found great success in this new act and eventually hired an assistant, Charlie. During their last performance, Maxwell's act went normally until he attempted to pull "shadows incarnate" from the Codex and was instead pulled into the book by giant shadow hands. Soon, the entire act ends in disaster as both Maxwell and Charlie are violently dragged into a parallel dimension.

The Codex Umbra reappeared, still in Maxwell's possession, after he was dethroned and became a survivor. After reuniting with Wilson, Maxwell found the scientist's blueprints for an invention and offered to help construct it with assistance from the Codex Umbra. This made it possible for Maxwell and Wilson to build a portal that allowed other survivors to join forces with them.

Trivia

• Codex Umbra is Latin for "shadow manuscript".
• It's possible for the Codex Umbra to be set alight and burn into ashes. The book will re-appear in Maxwell's inventory upon re-loading the world.
• If using the Codex Umbra reduces Maxwell's health to zero, the Morgue will list the cause of death as "Shenanigans".
• Like Abigail's Flower, the Codex Umbra floats when placed on the ground, but only if the corresponding Maxwell is nearby. If he moves out of range, the book will close and fall to the ground.

Bugs

• Despite being a starting character specific item, the Codex Umbra can be stolen by mobs like Krampus or Eyeplants.
• Using a Sinkhole to enter the Caves or Ruins without the Codex Umbra can sometimes cause it to duplicate in the player's inventory.
• In the Shipwrecked DLC, using a Volcano to climb onto it without the Codex Umbra can sometimes cause it to duplicate in the player's inventory.

Gallery

• 

  Maxwell reading the Codex Umbra.

• 

  A puppet spawning (Look closer and you'll find Mr. Skitts).

• 

  Maxwell's maximum Sanity after summoning a Puppet.

• 

  Maxwell and the Codex Umbra on the All's Well That Maxwell poster.

• 

  Maxwell beside the Codex Umbra (DST).

• 

  Codex Umbra as seen on the 2017 Valentine Cards.

• 

  Codex Umbra animation concept from Rhymes with Play "Maxwell's Character Refresh"