A honeycomb extrusion die assembly, comprising: a die body, comprising: an inlet surface and a discharge surface opposite the inlet surface; a skin forming region of the discharge surface , comprising: a first step extending into the die body and a second step disposed toward an outer periphery from the first step extending further into the die body than the first step ; feedholes extending from the inlet surface into the die body; an intersecting array of discharge slots extending into the die body from the discharge surface to connect with the feedholes at intersections within the die body, the intersecting array of discharge slots being formed by side surfaces of a plurality of pins bounded by the slots and extending into the die body from the discharge face, a forming plate disposed on the die body inlet surface to block a feedhole corresponding to the first step at the discharge surface and not block a feedhole corresponding to the second step at the discharge surface , characterized in that at least some of the side surfaces of the pins forming the walls of the slots comprise a divot spaced apart from the feedhole-slot intersection and spaced apart from the discharge surface , and the plurality of slots comprise: a first group of the slots comprising a width W1 between adjacent pins at the discharge surface , and a second group of the slots comprising a second width W2, greater than W1, between adjacent pins at the discharge surface , wherein W2 is constant from the discharge surface to the divot . an inlet surface and a discharge surface opposite the inlet surface; a skin forming region of the discharge surface , comprising: a first step extending into the die body and a second step disposed toward an outer periphery from the first step extending further into the die body than the first step ; feedholes extending from the inlet surface into the die body; an intersecting array of discharge slots extending into the die body from the discharge surface to connect with the feedholes at intersections within the die body, the intersecting array of discharge slots being formed by side surfaces of a plurality of pins bounded by the slots and extending into the die body from the discharge face, a forming plate disposed on the die body inlet surface to block a feedhole corresponding to the first step at the discharge surface and not block a feedhole corresponding to the second step at the discharge surface , characterized in that at least some of the side surfaces of the pins forming the walls of the slots comprise a divot spaced apart from the feedhole-slot intersection and spaced apart from the discharge surface , and the plurality of slots comprise: a first group of the slots comprising a width W1 between adjacent pins at the discharge surface , and a second group of the slots comprising a second width W2, greater than W1, between adjacent pins at the discharge surface , wherein W2 is constant from the discharge surface to the divot . a first group of the slots comprising a width W1 between adjacent pins at the discharge surface , and a second group of the slots comprising a second width W2, greater than W1, between adjacent pins at the discharge surface , wherein W2 is constant from the discharge surface to the divot . <EOS>