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today, we ‘re focusing entirely on the armor sets in The Elder Scrolls V : Skyrim. Some of this game ‘s armor sets are ill-famed for their appearance alone, while other armor sets have alone enchantments that are n’t available elsewhere. While most of Skyrim ‘s armor sets are viable on higher difficulties, some sets are far above the rest. Conversely, some armor sets offer next to nothing in terms of aesthetics or numeric stats to warrant wearing. Let ‘s go over the seven best and worst armor sets you can find in The Elder Scrolls V : Skyrim .
Updated April 18th, 2021 by Charles Burgar: Ranking armor sets in a game like Skyrim is difficult. Most armor sets look incredible and offer upstanding stats when Smithing or Enchanting are used. We ‘ve overhauled this list wholly, replacing certain entries and adding stat breakdowns at the start of each submission. Armor sets are valued on their utility and aesthetic ( explained in more detail below ).
How We’re Ranking This List
There ‘s much more to an armor rig than its default armor evaluation. This list takes the following into account with each introduction :
- Armor Rating (without a shield)
- Acquisition method
- Enchantments (if any)
- Tempering
- Aesthetics
overall, we ‘re looking at the net benefits of using that particular armor set over something else, although the ocular design of the armor has been taken into account. The “ best ” armor sets have a combination of excellent stats and a great aesthetic. The “ worst ” armor sets contain subpar stats compared to their competitors, or they ‘re not worth the campaign required to obtain them .
You can use whichever armor sets you want in Skyrim on any trouble ( specially if you use Smithing and Enchanting ), but the best armor sets can do sol much more well than the worst entries .
Note: Skyrim has a hard armor cap of 567, 542 if you ‘re using a shield. Due to Smithing and Enchanting exploits, you can easily make any armor set in Skyrim reach this cap. We are not taking this into circumstance for this list. If you want to use any armor set and reach this cap, read this guidebook .
One more note : armor sets are being ranked, not individual pieces. The Archmage Robes, Dragon Priest Masks, and other single-piece items are excluded from this list. Creation Club armor sets are besides omitted. With that out of the direction, let ‘s get to ranking which armor sets are the best and worst .
14 Best: Dragonscale Armor
Dragonscale Armor Stats
- Armor Class: Light
- Armor Rating: 82
- Weight: 20
- Value: 2,850
- Enchantable? Yes
- Tempering? Yes
- Obtained: Crafting (100 Smithing required); extremely rare world drop
The Dragonscale Armor is one of the most cost-efficient light armor sets in the game, crafted from the bones and scales of dead dragons that litter Skyrim ‘s landscape. The main reason why it ‘s not higher on the list is its reliance on Smithing and Enchanting. Creating this armor set requires a Smithing skill of 100 and the Dragon Armor perk up. Since it comes with no enchantments, you ‘ll need to invest in the Enchanting skill to make it a in truth top-tier armor hardening. It is possible to find this armor angstrom early as grade 24, but its fell luck is so first gear that players can go multiple playthroughs without seeing a single assemble of this hardened .
Dragonscale Armor besides gets bonus points for being one of the cooler looking sets in Skyrim. It comes in with an armor stat of 82 without a shield, giving it the highest armor rat out of any light armor set in Skyrim. That number boosts up to a goodly 111 with the inclusion of a shield. Dragonscale Armor provides a set of auspices and intimidation, but its humble drop luck and 100 Smithing prerequisite make it sturdy to obtain in the early to mid-game .
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13 Worst: Imperial Armor
Imperial Armor Stats
- Armor Class: Heavy
- Armor Rating: 60
- Weight: 52
- Value: 185
- Enchantable? Yes
- Tempering? Yes
- Obtained: Worn by Imperial soldiers
imperial Armor is n’t necessarily frightful, although it is n’t terribly utilitarian outside of the first few hours of a playthrough. Bethesda did a great job designing the armor sets in such a manner that most of them do serve a specific purpose. In this case, the Imperial Armor put is the first armor set many Skyrim players will find in their playthrough .
It carries the lapp defensive statistics as Iron Armor but carries the advantage of being obtained a lot earlier. If you follow Ralof during the opening Helgen sequence, you can obtain this fix by killing an Imperial captain on the main way. imperial Armor besides has the bonus of giving the musician choices in terms of assortment. There are three unlike helmets for this armor set, and each carries slightly different statistical variations. The imperial Armor laid is by no means atrocious : it just falls behind when higher-tier armor sets become available .
12 Best: Miraak’s Robes
Miraak’s Armor Set Stats
- Armor Class: Light (Robes are considered Clothing; mask can drop as Heavy)
- Armor Rating: 45
- Weight: 13.5
- Value: 1,004
- Enchantable? No
- Tempering? No
- Obtained: Complete Solstheim’s main quest
Enchantments
- Miraak (Mask): Increases your Magicka by 40-70 points.
- Miraak’s Robes: 15% spell absorption. Chance on hit to spawn a tentacle explosion.
- Miraak’s Gloves: 5% spell absorption (requires Miraak’s Robes).
- Miraak’s Boots: 5% spell absorption (requires Miraak’s Robes).
Miraak ‘s armor set is unique in that its comprised of different armor types. The robes are considered clothing, the boots and gloves are fall, and the helmet can drop as a light or heavy piece—determined by your proficiency in either tree. Its armor denounce might be quite depleted and ca n’t be further improved by tempering, but the enchantments on this armor set make it absurdly strong .
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Obtaining 25 % enchantment assimilation from an armor set is fabulously herculean, giving all spells and Shouts a 25 % not to damage you any, granting you Magicka adequate to the spell ‘s monetary value. This can be farther enhanced by obtaining the Atronach Stone and the Alteration tree ‘s Atronach perk up. With all three effects combined, you become completely immune to enemy spells and dragon Shouts. not even enchantments can provide that flush of world power !
The tentacle explosion from Miraak ‘s Robes is quite potent, dealing 100 poison price to any nearby enemies whenever you ‘re hit. evening if your spell absorption is 100 %, being hit by a spell or shout can activate this fringe benefit, providing a ample damage increase for aggressive mages. You do give up reduced Magicka monetary value on your spells, but becoming immune to every spell in Skyrim is more than worth the tradeoff .
11 Worst: Iron Armor
Iron Armor Stats
- Armor Class: Heavy
- Armor Rating: 60
- Weight: 46
- Value: 235
- Enchantable? Yes
- Tempering? Yes
- Obtained: Bandits and world loot
Iron Armor is a determine that does n’t truly do much of anything. Its armor fink of 60 is about average, and the band translation of the armor does n’t offer much of an upgrade—sitting at an armor rat of 63 .
A huge and glaring problem with the Iron Armor hardening is that it does n’t benefit from Smithing perks, meaning it ca n’t surpass Flawless tempering quality unless your Smithing skill exceeds 100. Some will argue that its handiness in the early game makes it decent. however, Steel Armor and Imperial Armor can be obtained just as early, both sets providing either better armor or weight values. Iron Armor becomes obsolete besides quickly to warrant practice unless you love the attend of it. In that case, fortify your Smithing and turn this armor into the damage-absorbing beast it deserves to be .
10 Best: Deathbrand Armor
via blogqpot.com
Deathbrand Armor Stats
- Armor Class: Light
- Armor Rating: 78.5 (+100 when the full set is worn)
- Weight: 13
- Value: 11,269
- Enchantable? No
- Tempering? No
- Obtained: Complete the “Deathbrand” quest
Enchantments
- Deathbrand Helm: You can breathe underwater indefinitely.
- Deathbrand Armor: +15 stamina per Deathbrand item equipped.
- Deathbrand Gauntlets: 10% increased one-handed damage while dual-wielding per Deathbrand item equipped.
- Deathbrand Boots: +10 carrying capacity per Deathbrand item equipped.
- Deathbrand Set: +100 Armor
The Deathbrand Armor set provides powerful enchantments and an exceptionally high armor rat of 178.5. Wearing it as a full set provides you with tons of cool buffs, including increased carry capacity and water-breathing .
arguably the most unique share of the Deathbrand Armor is its enchantments. As you equip extra pieces of the armor fixed, the enchantments on certain items become a lot stronger. With a full armor set, you can expect +60 Stamina, +40 carrying capability, 40 % increased one-handed damage while dual-wielding, and the ability to breathe subaqueous .
The armor itself has an interest invention deoxyadenosine monophosphate well. It ‘s a crisp blue hue that seems to be built based on a Nordic sic. If you ‘re looking for the Daedric Armor equivalent for light armor, you ‘ve found the right specify .
9 Worst: Stormcloak Armor
Stormcloak Armor Stats
- Armor Class: Light
- Armor Rating: 43
- Weight: 14
- Value: 32
- Enchantable? Yes
- Tempering? Yes
- Obtained: Worn by Stormcloak soldiers
For clarity, this is the default option Stormcloak Armor that most soldiers use, not the Stormcloak Officer variant that ‘s a lot better .
There is n’t much going for this set besides its great aesthetic purpose. The set has an armor rating on par with Studded armor, lacks a shield, does n’t benefit from Smithing perks, and becomes disused once players start finding Leather Armor not even a few hours into their playthrough. The Stormcloak Armor set suffers from being an early crippled token that does n’t in truth progress beyond its beginnings. Unless you love representing the Stormcloaks or how it looks, there ‘s virtually no reason to use this armor set .
8 Best: Ancient Shrouded Armor
Via: Reddit
Ancient Shrouded Armor Stats
- Armor Class: Light
- Armor Rating: 72
- Weight: 7.5
- Value: 2,346
- Enchantable? No
- Tempering? Yes
- Obtained: Complete the “Locate the Assassin of Old” quest
Enchantments
- Ancient Shrouded Cowl: Bows deal 35% increased damage.
- Ancient Shrouded Armor: 100% Poison Resistance.
- Ancient Shrouded Gloves: Sneak attacks with one-handed weapons deal double damage.
- Ancient Shrouded Boots: Your footsteps are muffled.
- Ancient Shrouded Set: +25 Armor
The Ancient Shrouded Armor fit is unquestionably one of the best armor sets in Skyrim. It has an fabulously high armor rat of 72, weighs future to nothing, and has a great set of enchantments that any back-stabbing assassin would love. The slick red and black design ensures that each character assassination is stylish .
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As the Miraak located is best for mage characters, the Ancient Shrouded fixed is tuned towards furtive characters that fall upon from the shadows. The increase to sneak damage makes this an excellent armor set to pair with stealth builds. Best of all, this armor set does n’t have any degree scaling, meaning you can complete this mission at level one and obtain an endgame armor set. If you ‘re playing a stealth build, few armor sets will serve you better than this.
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7 Worst: Fur And Skaal Armor
Fur Armor Stats
- Armor Class: Light
- Armor Rating: 44-46 (based on armor variants)
- Weight: 10-11
- Value: 82-88
- Enchantable? Yes
- Tempering? Yes
- Obtained: Bandits and world loot
Skaal Armor Stats
- Armor Class: Light
- Armor Rating: 46
- Weight: 9.5
- Value: 560
- Enchantable? Yes
- Tempering? No
- Obtained: Skaal villagers and Solstheim loot
We ‘re including both the Fur and Skaal armor sets due to their identical stats. Both armor sets don’t provide a set of protection and do n’t scale well with Smithing. These issues are reasonably excusable due to how common Fur is, but this issue is inexcusable for Skaal Armor since it ca n’t be tempered. Those interest in fashion will probably appreciate Fur ‘s different armor variants and Skaal ‘s winter-themed appearance, but the stats on both sets are so severe that it ‘s street fighter to recommend using them over other options .
6 Best: Nightingale Armor
Nightingale Armor Stats
- Armor Class: Light
- Armor Rating: 69
- Weight: 18
- Value: 3,085-9,646 (scales with level)
- Enchantable? No
- Tempering? Yes
- Obtained: Complete the “Trinity Restored” quest
Enchantments
- Nightingale Hood: Illusion spells cost 12-17% less to cast.
- Nightingale Armor: +20-40 Stamina. Increases Frost Resistance by 15-50%.
- Nightingale Gloves: Lockpicking is 15-25% easier. One-handed weapons deal 15-25% increased damage.
- Nightingale Boots: Your footsteps are muffled.
- Nightingale Set: +25 Armor
On looks entirely, the Nightingale Armor set is arguably the coolest looking alight armor set in Skyrim. The cloak confront, cape attachment, and Nightingale engravings on the armor make it nothing shortstop of a jaw-dropping armor fix .
In terms of functionality, the Nightingale stage set offers some utilitarian enchantments for stealth characters, tuned more towards larceny than assassinations. alike to Daedric items, the Nightingale Armor plant is stronger based on the level you obtained it. At level 32 and beyond, the armor set will have the most value and strongest enchantment values. It ‘s tied to an absurdly long questline and might not compete with min-maxed Dragonscale Armor, yet the overall aesthetic and backstory with this set are so inspiring that it ‘s unvoiced not to love the Nightingale located .
5 Worst: Hide Armor
Via: Pintrest
Hide Armor Stats
- Armor Class: Light
- Armor Rating: 40
- Weight: 9
- Value: 95
- Enchantable? Yes
- Tempering? Yes
- Obtained: Bandits and world loot
The Hide Armor set is the worst light armor set in the game. It has the worst armor rate out of all luminosity armor, does n’t benefit from Smithing perks, and is surprisingly uncommon when compared to Fur and Iron Armor. It ‘s not evening the best early game craftable set of armor. The Leather Armor set beats out multiple armor sets in the early game and can be crafted with facilitate. From an objective point of view, this would be considered the worst armor set in the game if a couple of other sets did n’t fall through sol hard in regards to expectations and implementation .
4 Best: Ahzidal’s Armor
via elderscrolls.wiki.com
Ahzidal’s Armor Stats
- Armor Class: Heavy
- Armor Rating: 87
- Weight: 59
- Value: 6,914
- Enchantable? No
- Tempering? Yes
- Obtained: Found during the “Unearthed” quest
Enchantments
- Ahzidal’s Helm of Vision: Conjuration and Rune spells cost 25% more, but can be cast at a greater range.
- Ahzidal’s Armor of Retribution: Enemies who hit you have a small chance of being paralyzed.
- Ahzidal’s Gauntlets of Warding: Your Wards are 25% less effective, but absorb 50% Magicka cost from enemy spells (similar to spell absorption).
- Ahzidal’s Boots of Waterwalking: You can walk on water indefinitely. If four Ahzidal artifacts are equipped, +10 Enchanting.
- Ahzidal’s Ring of Arcana: Gain the Ignite and Freeze spells.
- Ahzidal’s Ring of Necromancy: Reanimated creatures you summon detonate when hit, dealing 50 points of Frost damage to nearby foes. The reanimated creature dies in the process.
Ahzidal ‘s Armor set is n’t necessarily attention-getting in its design, but it surely packs a punch. The armor evaluation of this set is rather poor for heavy armor, but the enchantments on Ahzidal ‘s Armor are incredibly herculean. Those that have invested in Smithing can easily fortify this armor set to the armor ceiling, negating one of the few negatives Ahzidal ‘s has. If that was n’t enough, two jewelry pieces are besides part of this fix, which more than makes up for the miss of a carapace .
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The effects gifted by this sic are as follows : enemies who melee attack you have a gamble to be paralyzed, water-walking, allow you to cast spells ignite and freeze, and if a creature you summon were to die in battle, it combusts while delivering Frost damage. This fixed does a draw beyond just protecting the player from massive heaps of damage and can be acquired reasonably easily. If you play a spellsword or any melee build up, give this armor set a hear .
3 Worst: Ancient Nord Armor
Via: Elder Scrolls Forums
Ancient Nord Armor Stats
- Armor Class: Heavy
- Armor Rating: 60
- Weight: 41
- Value: 235
- Enchantable? Yes
- Tempering? Yes
- Obtained: Craftable at the Skyforge upon completing the Companions’ main questline
In terms of rare available armor sets, it ‘s hard to beat the Ancient Nord Armor set. It can alone be crafted at the Skyforge after you finish the Companions ‘ main quest. That ‘s already a tall order, but this specify besides requires the Daedric Smithing perk up from the Smithing tree .
What do you get for all of that oeuvre ? You get an armor typeset with the same armor rat as Iron Armor and weighs five units less. There ‘s no particular perk up, enchantment, or any unique aspect to this armor set beside its absurd unlock requirement. It only takes an Iron Ingot to temper, but anyone with Daedric Smithing unlocked is most probably capable of crafting an armor set better than this. It ‘s no contest ; this is the worst heavy armor set in Skyrim .
2 Best: Daedric Armor
Daedric Armor Stats
- Armor Class: Heavy
- Armor Rating: 108
- Weight: 81
- Value: 6,050
- Enchantable? Yes
- Tempering? Yes
- Obtained: Crafting (90 Smithing required); extremely rare world drop
- Hidden Perk: Intimidation checks are 10% easier
Does this need an explanation ? It ‘s Daedric Armor. This is the most iconic armor set in Skyrim, arguably in the integral Elder Scrolls franchise. The darkness black metallic element and glow crimson accents make this one of the most daunting armor sets in the game. Bethesda must have thought so american samoa well because this armor set up besides makes your determent checks 10 % easier .
Aesthetics digression, this is the best clayey armor set in the game in terms of armor values. With some anneal and heavy armor perks, it ‘s quite easy to hit Skyrim ‘s armor ceiling with a Daedric fix. It can besides be enchanted, allowing crafty players to create a truly overwhelm fix of armor. Daedric Armor looks incredible, makes you much more durable, and has a rarity to match its power. It ‘s improbable you ‘ll find a set of Daedric Armor while playing Skyrim, so the best means of obtaining this armor dress is through Smithing. If you can get past that, this iconic armor set is nothing shortstop of incredible .
1 Worst: Worn Shrouded Armor
Via: Nexus Mods
Worn Shrouded Armor Stats
- Armor Class: Light
- Armor Rating: 35
- Weight: 12
- Value: 225
- Enchantable? Yes
- Tempering? No
- Obtained: Found in the Dawnstar Sanctuary
The Worn Shrouded Armor jell is the worst armor you can find in Skyrim. It has an armor rate of 35 that ca n’t be increased through temper. thankfully, none of the pieces are enchanted, so you can remedy this reasonably by using defensive enchantments. calm, is it worth investing resources into an armor set that has no singular qualities ? For most, that answer is a clear no. furtive characters that love the Dark Brotherhood ‘s aesthetic are better off with the Ancient Shrouded Armor set. It might be easy to obtain, but that does n’t redeem this awed armor set in the slender .
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Jerrad Wyche
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Jerrad Wyche is a writer, interior designer, and producer hailing from Albuquerque, New Mexico. His darling video games include Mass Effect 2, Inside, Pokémon Soul Silver, Spelunky, and Call of Duty 4 : modern Warfare. He hosts his own hebdomadally television game podcast at Controlled Interests and is a consecrated writer for TheGamer .
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