Key Takeaways
- Elden Ring offers high customization with armor sets catering to specific build types.
- Poise is crucial for avoiding being staggered; Elden Ring provides armor sets with high poise.
- Various armor sets, like the Scaled, Crucible, and Radahn sets, offer unique benefits and protection.
Elden Ring offers players a high level of customization. From the variety of weapons, the selection of spells, and the assortment of armor sets, each newly created character is unique from the last. While “fashion Souls” has always been a part of FromSoftware’s games, choosing the best armor isn’t always just about the look.
Elden Ring‘s high level of challenge allows players to customize their characters into specific builds. From nimble dexterity-based characters to heavy-hitting brutes, there is an armor set ready for any build type. Poise is an important stat in the game that stops players from being staggered and left open to visceral attacks. Elden Ring supplies many effective armor sets that offer high levels of poise. These sets will allow players to shrug off the strongest attacks, giving them more opportunity to inflict damage and achieve a swift victory.
Updated on October 1, 2024, by Andy Chapman: Elden Ring has become one of the most successful games in recent times. The hype around the game once again increased with the release of Elden Ring’s massive DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree. The fantastic expansion pushed Elden Ring’s difficulty to new levels of challenge, with some of the toughest boss fights in the developer’s history. The cultural success of Elden Ring cements even further FromSoftware’s place as one of the most important developers in gaming. This article has been updated to include armor sets found in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.
13 Scaled Armor Set
The Armor Of Old Knight Istvan
- Poise: 71 (68 – Altered)
- Combined Weight: 38.0 (37.0 – Altered)
The Scaled set is the lightest of the high-poise armors and offers players excellent protection against non-physical damage, and strong protection against slash damage. With a poise level of 71, players can tank many heavy attacks, while remaining quick enough to counterattack. Its light weight allows players of any build to wear it effectively, and with its reinforced scales, the armor is a unique variation of traditional knight armor.
Players can collect this armor set by progressing through the Volcano Manor questline. Old Knight Istvan is the first of the targets assigned to the player and defeating him will reward the Scaled Armor set. His invasion sign can be found in Limgrave, close to the Colosseum in Stormhill.
12 Crucible Set
Ancient Armor Of The Crucible Knights
- Poise: 71 (69 – Altered)
- Combined Weight: 36.9 (36.3 – Altered)
Some of the toughest enemies in Elden Ring are the Crucible Knights, who pose a significant challenge for many players. There are sixteen Knights scattered throughout the Lands Between, easily recognized by their ornate armor and deadly attacks. There are also two different Crucible armor sets players can collect, both offering the same amount of poise and weight.
The Crucible armor is one of the lighter heavy armor sets in Elden Ring and offers good protection against slash and magic damage. It is great armor for strength builds, as it is light enough for players to wield large weapons. The Crucible Tree set is found in Deeproot Depths, in a chest guarded by Crucible Knight Siluria. The Crucible Axe Set is dropped by Crucible Knight Ordovis at the end of Auriza Hero’s Grave.
11 General Radahn Set
The Armor Of The Starscourge
- Poise: 72 (71- Altered)
- Combined Weight: 41.6 (40.1 – Altered)
One of the most memorable and dramatic boss battles in Elden Ring is against General Radahn. Defeating him unlocks the way to Nokstella and progresses Ranni’s questline. Victory over Radahn also unlocks his armor set from Enia in the Roundtable Hold.
The Radahn set offers a high level of poise and is light enough for players to wield heavier weapons more easily. It gives good protection against fire, as well as strike and piercing damage. This is an excellent armor set for a variety of builds, offering a good poise-to-weight ratio. With this armor, players can withstand many heavy attacks while remaining fast enough to dodge many more.
10 Beast Champion Set
The Armor Of A Recusant
- Poise: 72
- Combined Weight: 41.6 (40.5 – Altered)
This ornate armor set is engraved with images of different beasts and is one of the most unique armor sets in the game. It has an excellent poise-to-weight ratio, making it ideal for a variety of build types. It offers high levels of protection against all physical damage. Additionally, unlike most armor sets, the poise does not change when the armor is altered, while the weight does.
Players first see this armor worn by the NPC Knight Bernahl, who drops it upon death. If players decide not to kill the character early in the game, he will eventually invade and attack the player in Crumbling Farum Azula. Defeating him will reward players with the altered version of the set.
9 Gaius’s Set
The Armor of Commander Gaius
- Poise. 75
- Combined Weight: 44.3
Commander Gaius can be one of the most frustrating bosses in Shadow of the Erdtree. His difficulty comes from extreme aggression and some tough hitboxes. Players will find Commander Gaius after making their way through The Shadow Keep. Behind the large legacy dungeon, Commander Gaius patrols the path to the Scadutree Chalice, where players are rewarded with five Scadutree fragments.
Once the boss is defeated, players can buy Gaius’s set from the Roundtable Hold. This large armor offers strong protection against slash and piercing damage. It has significant weight but is lighter than some. Gaius’s set is a strong option for players building a tank character.
8 Veteran’s Set
The Armor Of The Commanders
- Poise: 80 (77 – Altered)
- Combined Weight: 45.0 (43.3 – Altered)
This outlandish and versatile armor works well for a variety of build types. Its high level of poise and low weight ratio make it a good strength build choice that allows players to wield larger weapons. The Veteran’s Armor offers excellent protection against all physical damage, especially Slash damage.
Players first encounter the Veteran armor set when fighting the mini-boss, Commander O’Neil, in the Caelid region. This boss must be defeated to progress Millicent’s story. To acquire the armor, players must first progress to the Mountaintop of the Giants region and complete Castle Sol. Defeating Commander Niall will unlock the set from Enia in the Roundtable Hold.
7 Tree Sentinel Set
Brilliant Golden Armor Worn By Tough Enemies
- Poise: 82 (78 – Altered)
- Combined Weight: 45.0 (44.2 – Altered)
The Tree Sentinels are some of the toughest enemies in Elden Ring for new players. First encountered in the starting region of the game, the Tree Sentinel is a true test of perseverance that teaches players that running away is sometimes the best option. The armor of this enemy is one of the hardest to find in the game. It offers a very high level of poise and robustness, and strong protection against fire, slash, and piercing damage.
This is an ideal choice for players looking for a heavy, yet versatile armor set that will allow them to withstand strong attacks. Players will find the armor in Auriza Hero’s Grave after destroying the chariots that patrol throughout the dungeon. While this is no easy task and requires specific actions, doing so rewards players with the armor and Holy Ground Ash of War.
6 Lionel’s Set
The Armor Of Fia’s Champion
- Poise: 86 (84 – Altered)
- Combined Weight: 50.5 (49.5 – Altered)
This large armor set offers players a high level of poise and robustness. It is one of the lighter oversized armors in the game and is a great choice for both strength and dexterity-type builds. It is extremely effective against slash and piercing damage and allows players to hit through enemy attacks.
This memorable armor is worn by Lionel the Lionhearted, who is the sworn protector and self-proclaimed father of Fia, the deathbed companion. This chivalrous NPC can be summoned for the boss fight with General Radahn. Later, players will encounter him as one of Fia’s Champions in the Deeproot Depths region. The armor set is found in Leyndell, Royal Capital, on a bed next to the Lower Capital site of grace.
5 Omen Set
Armor Of The Loathsome Dung Eater
- Poise: 91
- Combined Weight: 55.0
This disturbing armor is an effective yet heavy set with excellent protection against slash and piercing damage. With its strong resistance and high level of poise, the Omen set is a good choice for strength builds looking to tank heavy damage attacks. Additionally, wearing this armor will increase the damage of the Omen Bairn and Regal Omen Bairn.
Players will first encounter the armor worn by the Dung Eater in the Roundtable Hold, in the corpse-ridden room. After collecting at least one Seedbed Curse, this murderous NPC will task the player with freeing him from his cell in the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds. Here, players can choose to kill the Dung Eater, who will drop the armor upon defeat.
4 Fire Prelate Set
Armor Of The Guardians Of The Flame
- Poise: 96 (94 – Altered)
- Combined Weight: 58.8 (57.7 – Altered)
Longtime Souls players will recognize the similarities of this armor set to legendary Dark Souls boss Smough, with its rotund body and high level of protection. The Fire Prelates are tough enemies that can be found in several specific locations in Elden Ring. They wield huge fiery hammers and send forth fire bursting from their helmets.
This armor isn’t the easiest to get and will require farming Fire Prelates for the entire set. However, it does offer the second-best level of poise in the game, along with excellent fire and physical protection. Equipping this armor will allow players to storm into battle and weather the heaviest attacks, especially from fire-type enemies such as Dragons. In the Mountaintop of the Giants region, the Fire Prelate near the Guardian’s Garrison drops the various armor pieces for this set. The altered version of this set is dropped by the Fire Prelate in Fort Laiedd, in the Mt. Gelmir region.
3 Solitude Set
Imposing Heavy Armor for Strength Builds
- Poise: 96
- Combined Weight: 57.1
The Solitude Armor Set is one of the first players can acquire when starting Shadow of the Erdtree. However, to acquire this set, players must first defeat Blackgoal Knight. This can be a tough challenge early in the DLC, as his attacks deal high damage and he is surprisingly quick. Blackgoal Knight is found in the Western Nameless Mausoleum, which is west of the Scorched Ruins Site of Grace.
The Solitude Set offers some of the best poise in Elden Ring. This simple, heavy armor looks powerful and imposing, like a walking tank. It also gives some of the best Focus resistance in the game. Higher focus gives better protection against the Sleep and Madness effects.
2 Bull-Goat Set
Armor Of A Famed Knight Of Assistance
- Poise: 100
- Combined Weight: 63.0
While this unique armor set is the heaviest in the game, it also offers the most poise. For players looking to take on Elden Ring’s toughest challenges and stand firm against the most devastating attacks, this armor is the best in the game. This heavy armor also looks the part, with two large horns stuck to its body.
It offers excellent protection against all physical damage and good protection against lightning attacks. Players must invest a significant amount of runes in endurance to effectively wear this armor, and even then they will likely have a heavy equip load. Players will acquire this armor through Patches’s questline, once he has moved to Volcano Manor and given players the order to kill Great Horned Tragoth. The invasion sign is found in Magma Wyrm Makar’s boss room. Victory will reward the player with the armor set.
1 Verdigris Set
The Impenetrable Armor Of Moore
- Poise: 100
- Combined Weight: 61.6
The Verdigris Armor Set offers very high poise, equaling that of the Bull-Goat Set. However, the Verdigris Armor wins as it provides the same poise for slightly less weight. While this armor is still very heavy and requires significant leveling in Endurance, for players looking to build a pure tank character, there is no better armor.
This armor also offers superior robustness, which protects players against the frost and hemorrhaging effects. Players first find the armor worn by the NPC Moore outside Belurat legacy dungeon. Players can acquire this set after Moore is killed, most commonly after defeating Leda and her allies, near the end of the game.
