15 Best Armor Sets, Ranked

Dark Souls 3 is a long and grueling adventure featuring terrifying foes and some of the toughest boss fights FromSoftware Inc has to offer. While some Soulslike players may lean towards picking the coolest-looking weapons and armor sets to journey around the Kingdom of Lothirc in style, there are stat differences between every item you come across.

Dark Souls 3, like the other games before it, features a wide array of different armor sets that players can obtain. Armor can come in clutch when you require protection, but with so many different sets to choose from, finding the right one for you can be pretty tricky. Lucky for you, we have comprised a list of the top 15 best armor sets in the game, ranked.

Updated by Nathan Round on March 14, 2024: We have updated this list to include additional entries, along with updating the formatting to better fit with the current formatting standards here at DualShockers.

15 Fallen Knight Set

Great Option For PvP Action

The Fallen Knight Set seems to be the meta option dawned by many players in PvP invasions – and for good reason. It’s an incredible piece of medium-weight armor and is generally great to wear for its high level of Fire defense. Notably, for a set made out of metal, it does an incredible job of resisting Lighting as well.

As the armor of the fallen knights who have disbanded and met their untimely deaths, the black metal gives you amazing protection from Fire. It also has a resemblance to the Yahar’gul Hunter set from Bloodborne. Even though it’s not exactly a fan-favorite, the Fallen Knight set is one of the earliest “cool” sets you’ll acquire on your journey, and it’s a great set all around.

14 Executioner Set

Great Armor Set Majoring In Physical Damage Reduction

Most likely based on the character Bazuso from the Berserk series, the Executioner Set is a bulky suit of armor sporting excellent resistance to Physical damage – along with a good level of Poise. After killing Horace the Hushed, you’ll be able to obtain this armor for 18,000 souls from the Shrine Handmaid during Anri’s quest line.

With such a big chest piece, this armor set is fantastic at providing you with great defenses because of its Weight. The heaviness of the armor makes it highly resistant to most Physical damage. Though the Executioner Set is weak to Strike and Lighting damage, it makes up for this through its elemental resistance.

13 Drakeblood Set

Good Armor With High Resistance To Blood Damage

The Drakeblood Set is one of the most fashionable heavy suits of armor in Dark Souls 3. Being the armor of the Drakeblood Knights, the red cape likely symbolizes these worshippers’ desire for the blood of dragons. The Bleed resistance this armor set has is astonishingly high, quite literally one of the highest levels on this list.

You’ll be able to get your hands on the Drakeblood set after killing an enemy wearing said armor at the mysterious Archdragon Peak. Even though it can be quite the trek, this armor is arguably one of the most well-balanced sets in the game. It’s strong against damage types that usually devastate other armor sets, on top of having consistent absorption of damage.

12 Dancer Set

Lightweight With High Physical Absorption-To-Weight Ratio

The Dancer Set is one of the best armor sets you can use if you want to have a low amount of Weight but still retain a decent level of defense. Worn by the Dancer of the Boreal Valley, this set has a classic medieval fantasy look with a stylish touch. You must defeat the Dancer first before you can snag this gorgeous attire, which will be available for 31,000 souls from the Shrine Handmaid.

The armor set has some of the game’s highest Physical absorption-to-Weight ratios. It also has moderately incredible defenses. The Dancer set is lightweight, which makes it great armor to have if you’re focused on Dexterity. On top of this, if you’re carrying a heavy weapon, the Dancer set is fantastic since it won’t make you sacrifice a hefty weapon for good armor defenses.

11 Leonhard’s Set

Lightweight With Excellent Resistance To Fire & Magic

If you’re a fan of Bloodborne, you’ll find that Leonhard’s Set looks very familiar. It pays homage to The Hunters from Bloodborne and is worn by Ringfinger Leonhard in Dark Souls 3. Of course, since he’s the only one with this outfit on, you’ll have to kill him to get it for yourself, but he’s a bit villainous anyway.

Leonhard’s set is light and provides good physical defenses — not to mention the excellent Fire and Magic resistance that it has, too. However, it is vulnerable to Dark damage, so make sure to be wary of undead enemies and dark-corrupted bosses when wearing this armor set.

10 Wolf Knight Set

Decently High Bleed Resistance & Moderate Physical Reduction

Most commonly worn by Artorias the Abysswalker from the first Dark Souls, the Wolf Knight set showcases a lovely combination of dark blue cloth and silver armor. With Artorias being tied to the Abyss Watchers in Dark Souls 3, it’s important to note that you must defeat them before getting this fashionable suit of armor.

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This set of armor feels like a nice callback to the first game, bringing back memories of an iconic boss and one of the hardest fights of the game. It’s better to wear the Wolf Knight set with the Wolf Ring, as it helps its poor Poise-to-Weight ratio. Regardless, this armor set is excellent. It has impressive resistance against Bleed build-up, as well as moderate physical defenses.

9 Undead Legion Set

Best All-Round Early Game Armor Set

Similarly to the Wolf Knight armor set, you’ll be able to get the Undead Legion Set after defeating the Abyss Watchers. Notably, you’ll notice how this is the armor that the Abyss Watchers wear, showcasing your accomplishment of conquering them. It’s one of the best early armors you can get in Dark Souls 3, mainly due to its high resistance against Poison and Frost.

The Weight of the Undead Legion set is pretty light for a medium-type armor, and it has unusual traits for its armor class. It falls a bit short when it comes to Poise, but its powerful resistance to various negative status effects makes up for it. It’s good armor for the early game for sure, but fails to keep up against some of the other options on this list later on in the game.

8 Alva Set

Good Medium Armor With Great Bleed Resistance

The Alva Set can also be seen in Dark Souls 2, but the Dark Souls 3 version makes it more unique. It’s a fairly rounded armor, offering a lot more Poise and higher status resistance that aren’t typically seen in medium armor. Notably, this set does a great job breaking down Bleed build-up and Dark and Lightning defenses.

It appears on a corpse near Karla’s cell in Irithyll Dungeon. However, you must defeat Alva, Seeker of the Spurned, before it’s able to be acquired. Because of where the Alva set is, and because it’s possible to accidentally skip Alva’s invasion entirely, it can be easy to miss out on this set if you’re not careful.

7 Havel’s Set

Great Heavy Armor With High Level Of Poise

Being one of the heaviest armor sets in the game, investing in Havel’s Set is a journey. Unsurprisingly, you’ll have to make a serious commitment to focusing on Vitality to even move about in this armor. But, this pays off in the end, as it has an extreme resistance to any Physical damage.

There are also extreme amounts of Poise and high resistance that come with Havel’s set. Overall, if you’re wearing this armor, you’ll almost feel like a tank with how much damage you’re able to take without dying quickly. On the other hand, you’ll have to kiss swift dodge-rolling goodbye with it on.

6 Morne’s Set

All-Round Great Armor Set With High Defense

Morne’s Set sits somewhere in the middle when it comes to overall Weight, making it more targeted for players who want a decent level of defense without sacrificing mobility all too much. When it comes to defense, this armor set is pretty good, specifically when it comes to Slash and Thrust – which are pretty high when compared to some of the heavier armor on this list.

For resistance, Morne’s Set shines in countering Bleed and Frost, not falling too far behind Smough’s Set. This makes this particular armor piece great at countering many basic attacks, but superb in getting through Bleed and Frost AoE attacks. However, one thing to bear in mind is that Morne’s Set is rather weak against Dark damage, along with Poison and Curse.

5 Smough’s Set

Heaviest Armor With Highest Physical Damage Resistance

Smough’s Set is by far the heaviest set on this list, but with this tradeoff comes some pretty awesome benefits. For starters, this set grants one of the highest levels of defense across the board, with its highest levels of defense being focused on Strike and Slash damage. Resistance is also considerably high, making Smough’s Set rather proficient in countering Bleed, Poison, Frost, and Curse.

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Poise is also quite high for this armor set, thus making you much more resistant to Stagger. All in all, the Smough’s Set is arguably the best armor for tanking as much damage as possible. However, its high level of Weight does increase the potential for you to get over-encumbered, along with slowing down your movements and reducing stamina regeneration.

4 Dragonslayer Set

Great Armor Set With High Bleed Resitance

The Dragonslayer Set is definitely a step up from Smough’s Set in terms of its Weight, which is almost half of the previous entry. In terms of defense, the Dragonslayer Set has some decent stats for its Weight class, mainly distributing much of its strengths in countering Slash, Thrust, and Fire. Though some of its defenses are much lower than Smough’s Set, the Dragonslayer Set is better equipped for Fire damage.

This collection of armor pieces also boasts a decently high level of Poise, along with a high level of resistance against Blood damage. However, resistance to other defenses is fairly low, especially when compared to the Black Iron Set and the Winged Knight Set. Though the latter options are slightly heavier, this trade-off is more than worth it.

3 Black Iron Set

Great Armor With Consistent Stats

The Black Iron Set may be slightly heavier than the Dragonslayer Set, but it is considerably better for a few reasons. For starters, the level of Poise this set has is slightly higher, and you will also see a significant upgrade in defense when using this armor set. Slash and Thrust are two damage types that the Black Iron Set is better equipped at dealing with, but its Fire Defense is also greater.

The best thing about the Black Iron Set, however, is its levels of resistance – which are considerably high across the board. The Black Iron set has rather consistent stats when it comes to both its defenses and resistance, and the Weight difference between both this armor piece and the Dragon Slayer set is only a small fraction. Though this armor’s physical resistance is a little lower than some other options on this list, the high level of resistance to other damage is a great tradeoff – especially if you want to balance between mobility and defense.

2 Winged Knight Set

Heavy Armor With Great Dark Defense

The Winged Knight Set falls slightly on the heavier side for armor sets in general, but does possess some great benefits despite this obvious drawback. For starters, the Winged Knight Set majors in defending against Dark damage. This armor set also sports a fairly high level of Poise, a level that is just a little lower than Smough’s Set.

The resistance of the Winged Knight Set is also pretty impressive, as it is pretty effective at countering many different types of damage. The Winged Knight Set is more or less an upgraded version of the Black Iron Set in terms of stats, sporting greater defense and resistance across the board. However, either option is good, and which one you go with depends on whether you feel comfortable wearing more Weight.

1 Iron Dragonslayer Set

Defensive Armor With The Highest Level Of Bleed Resistance

Even though you’ll see this armor in the base game, it’s only available for players to wear in The Ringed City DLC. Besides being arguably the best-looking set of armor in the game, the Iron Dragonslayer set completely stands out among all the others – specifically when it comes to its exceptionally high resistance to Bleed.

What makes this so highly regarded in the game comes from how it takes every element of different armor and enhances them into one glorious armor set. It also has unusually high Poise and has very strong resistance to all the different kinds of Physical damage types. Overall, if you want an incredibly defensive armor that you can still move freely in, the Iron Dragonslayer set is the way to go.

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