ToME: the Tales of Maj'Eyal

I'm interested in Cauterize, seeing as how it's basically a get-out-of-death free card (if you have the ability to run away, which any self-respecting character should), but it says that the damage bypasses resistances. It doesn't mention damage shields, but I thought that since it does bypass resistances, it might bypass other things as well, and if I still take 80% of the daamge it might be worth my time to get Draconic Body or some other prodigy instead.

And before anyone mentions that Heroism Infusions can let me survive into deep negative numbers, I enjoy playing as the undead and they've got no guaranteed negative HP unles playing as a Necromancer.

It doesn't bypass damage shields.

I don't think Cauterize even deals damage, it removes X from you each turn.
It doesn't check resistances, it's "pure" damage if you like.

On a slightly unrelated note, don't rest when you have Cauterize procced as it won't cancel rest.
Lost my extra life like this :/.

Thanks for the information Mex, Mankeli. It'll be a big help to me.