With the best defense, you can reach heights like never before. I’d say you could even beat bosses like Titan and Garuda with ease very early in the game, provided you have the proper stats for a good defense!

Armor here in Final Fantasy 16 is quite different compared to the series' previous entries. In this game, armor is presented as belts and vambraces. No complete armor changing per se. That means no chest armor, leg armor, or anything of that sort.

There is one thing you need to remember before you want to be overpowered, and I think it’s an unspoken rule of gaming in general, “Do not skip sidequests”. Trust me when I say that. 

Keep doing the side-content of this game, and you’ll eventually find the materials required to craft the armor from the blacksmith. Oh, and these are also upgradable, so be sure to visit Blackthrone on and off again for that. Without further ado, let’s get on with the list.

10. Drakeslayer’s Belt

Drakeslayer’s Belt 

Drakeslayer’s belt stats:

Armor Type: Belt
Health: 23
Defence: 74

We start with Drakeslayer’s Belt, one of the late-game belts you can equip on Clive, which gives off a decent health boost but a great amount of defense boost that Clive needs.

There are item requirements to craft this item when brought it to Blackthorne and for that you’ll definitely be needing to complete the Hunts for this. Specifically, the Severian hunt Mark, where you’ll get the Electrum item after beating the Mark.

What Drakeslayer’s Belt excels in:

• A decent amount of HP Boost for Clive means more health.
• Great amount of Defense Boost for Clive, meaning Clive can take on hits from opponents without much health drain.
• Allows mixing and matching with other gears as well.

How to get Drakeslayer’s Belt: 

• Ensure you have 1 Dragon’s Talon, 20 Briar Clam Shell, 1 Scarletite, and 1 Electrum (which you get by killing the Severian Hunt Mark).
• Go to Blackthorne at the Hideaway.
• Craft the item and equip it.

9. Rune Crescents

“Finished, are ya?”

Rune Crescents Stats:

Armor Type: Vambraces
Health: 23
Defense: 76

Next up, we have the Rune Crescents. It’s available way late in the game when you begin the “A Song of Hope” quest but offers a decent amount of stats related to defense boost.

The good thing about this is that no items are required to craft this, and you can buy it immediately at Charon’s Toll right after you start the mission. You can keep and reinforce it when you’re starting at New Game Plus.

What Rune Crescents excels in:

• A decent amount of HP Boost for Clive means more health.
• Great amount of Defense Boost for Clive, meaning Clive can take on hits from opponents without much health drain.
• Allows mixing and matching with other gears as well.
• No additional items are required to craft this gear.

How to get Rune Crescents: 

• Start the “A Song of Hope” mission.
• Go to Charon’s Toll and buy the item from her for 3800 Gil.

8. Rune Belt

Another photo of Charon

Rune Belt stats:-

Armor Type: Belt
Health: 20
Defense: 75

Rune Belt’s up next, and while the stats may not be up to the proper mark, the good thing about it is that it can be upgraded twice to deliver some killer stats.

The great thing here, too, is that this is available right off the bat at Charon’s Toll when you start “A Song of Hope,” the same as the previous entry.

What Rune Belt excels in:

• A decent amount of HP Boost for Clive means more health.
• Great amount of Defense Boost for Clive, meaning Clive can take on hits from opponents without much health drain.
• Allows mixing and matching with other gears as well.
• No additional items are required to craft this gear.

How to get Rune Belt: 

• Start the “A Song of Hope” mission.
• Go to Charon’s Toll and buy the item from her for 3600 Gil.

7. Regal Armguards

Waloed.

Regal Armguard Stats:-

Armor Type: Vambrace
Health: 25
Defense: 84

The Armguards are one of the better gears in the game, which is why it is placed higher than the previous entries, but the only downside to it is that you can’t upgrade it, hence why it is made below the top 5.

To get this, you must reach and unlock “The Shadow Coast” area within the main story. Once that’s done, go to the Hunt Board and find Pandemonium; the area where you fight the mark has a chest containing this item, so that’s that!

What Regal Armguards excels in:

• A decent amount of HP Boost for Clive means more health.
• Great amount of Defense Boost for Clive, meaning Clive can take on hits from opponents without much health drain.
• Allows mixing and matching with other gears as well.
• No additional items are required to craft this gear.

How to get Regal Armguards: 

• Unlock “The Shadow Coast” area in the main game.
• Go to the Hunt Board and find Pandemonium. This will be possible near the end of the game.
• Reach the area where Pandemonium is located, and a chest will contain the item. Unlock it to receive the item.

6. Regal Sash    

Clive defeats enemies in The Krozjit Echoes. 

Regal Sash Stats:

Armor Type: Belt
Health: 25
Defense: 84

The fact that a Sash is categorized as a Belt is pretty weird, but that shouldn’t stop you from getting this item in the first place since it’s got great stats as well.

To find this, you must have unlocked “The Krozjit Echoes” area in the Dhalmekian Republic. In this area, a coeurl will be guarding a chest. Kill it and claim the prize! It can’t be upgraded or reinforced either, but it should provide a decent defense stat. 

What Regal Sash excels in:

• A decent amount of HP Boost for Clive means more health.
• Great amount of Defense Boost for Clive, meaning Clive can take on hits from opponents without much health drain.
• Allows mixing and matching with other gears as well.
• No additional items are required to craft this gear.

How to get Regal Sash: 

• Unlock “The Krozjit Echoes” area once you reach the Dhalmekian Republic.
• Find and Encounter a Coeurl that will guard a chest containing the Regal Sash.
• Kill it and claim your prize within the chest!

5. Sun Bracelets

Hodor. Final Fantasy Edition. 

Sun Bracelets stats:

Armor Type: Vambrace
Health: 26
Defense: 86

Sun Bracelets are next on the list; if you’ve noticed the format, it goes from good to better to best.

Just like the next entry on the list, you get this item by completing the “Streets of Madness” quest and unlocking Goetz’s Toll. The moment this has been done, buy this item and equip it. Fast. You can even upgrade it twice to get 30 Health and 92 Defense, rivaling some of the best armor in this category.

What Sun Bracelets excels in:

• A decent amount of HP Boost for Clive means more health.
• Great amount of Defense Boost for Clive, meaning Clive can take on hits from opponents without much health drain.
• Gives the opportunity to mix and match with other gears as well.
• No additional items are required to craft this gear.

How to get Sun Bracelets: 

• Complete the “Streets of Madness” quest and unlock Goetz’s Toll.
• Buy this gear immediately (provided you have saved up gil since this is the only place to get this item.)

4.  Circle of Heaven

Circle of Heaven.

Circle of Heaven stats:

Armor Type: Belt
Health: 24 (base)
Defense: 85 (base)

Next up is the Circle of Heaven, and it’s certainly one of the best gears in-game. Safe to say, it’s the second-best gear of the game in its category.

Just like the previous item on the list, you get this at Goetz’s Toll, and if you upgrade it further, it gives off a killer stat of 30 Health and 91 Defense. For that, you’ll be needing this item twice and a bunch of other items as well.

What Circle of Heaven excels in:

• A decent amount of HP Boost for Clive means more health.
• Great amount of Defense Boost for Clive, meaning Clive can take on hits from opponents without much health drain.
• Allows mixing and matching with other gears as well.
• No additional items are required to craft this gear.

How to get Circle of Heaven: 

• Complete the “Streets of Madness” quest and unlock Goetz’s Toll.
• Buy this gear immediately (provided you have saved up gil since this is the only place to get this item.)

3. The Founder’s Grasp

Quest location.

The Founder’s Grasp stats:

Armor Type: Vambrace
Health: 50
Defense: 94

On #3, we have “The Founder’s Grasp,” which is arguably one of the best Vambraces in-game. Reason being is that it is one of the only items that give off a HUGE health boost of 50 along with a raised defense of 94.

To get this, you will need to have completed the “Where There’s A Will” quest that will give you this item as a reward for the completion of that quest.

What The Founder’s Grasp excels in:

• Great Amount of HP Boost for Clive, meaning more health. Arguably the highest in-game.
• Great amount of Defense Boost for Clive, meaning Clive can take on hits from opponents without much health drain.
• Gives the opportunity to mix and match with other gears as well.
• Can be obtained after the completion of a quest

How to get The Founder’s Grasp: 

• It can be obtained once you complete the “Where There’s A Will.” Quest.

2. Ouroboros 

Ouroboros.

Ouroboros stats:

Armor Type: Belt
Health: 32
Defense: 95

Probably the best belt in-game. Crafting this requires a lot of effort; once you’ve done that, you will surely reap the rewards.

You need 1 Orichalcum, 1 Comet Feather, and 1 Stone Tongue to craft this, so complete the Hunt Board to get these items! Furthermore, you need to have completed the Blacksmith Blues III Sidequest to get the designs for this.

What Ouroboros excels in:

• Great Amount of HP Boost for Clive, meaning more health. Arguably the highest in-game.
• Great amount of Defense Boost for Clive, meaning Clive can take on hits from opponents without much health drain.
• Allows mixing and matching with other gears as well.
• Can be obtained after the completion of a quest

How to get Ouroboros: 

• Complete “Blacksmith Blues III” to acquire the design draft for the Ouroboros.
• Go to the Hunt Board and completely hunt ALL the marks to get the items required for crafting.
• Go to Blackthorne at the Hideaway and craft it. Equip it once done.

1. The Sons of Ouroboros 

Blacksmith Blues III. 

The Sons of Ouroboros stats:

Armor Type: Vambrace
Health: 32
Defense: 97

Arguably, one of the best Vambraces in-game is oft-compared to “The Founder’s Grasp,” where the latter has one of the highest Health boosts in-game, and the former has the highest Defense boost in-game.

Like Ouroboros above, you’ll need to have completed “Blacksmiths Blues III” to get the design draft, clear the Hunt Board for items, and get the items received from your Hunt Marks to craft it over at Blackthrone. This item should get you through New Game + easily.

What The Sons of Ouroboros excels in:

• Great Amount of HP Boost for Clive, meaning more health. Arguably the highest in-game.
• Great amount of Defense Boost for Clive, meaning Clive can take on hits from opponents without much health drain.
• Allows mixing and matching with other gears as well.
• Can be obtained after the completion of a quest

How to get The Sons of Ouroboros: 

• Complete “Blacksmith Blues III” to acquire the design draft for the Ouroboros.
• Go to the Hunt Board and completely hunt ALL the marks to get the items required for crafting.
• Go to Blackthorne at the Hideaway and craft it. Equip it once done.

And that’s about it with the best armor in-game. Just do all of the side-quests on your first playthrough, and you should be good for New Game +.

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