What are the best sets of armor in Pillars of Eternity? What makes them so great?

Staying alive is necessary when exploring the world of Eora, and trying to figure out which sets of armor are the best can be a challenge, especially when many are so similar to one another. Need an easy list of what to look out for? Here are the 10 best sets of armor you will come across on your adventure.

10. Gwisk Glas

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What Makes the Item Great:

• One of few armors that has the Second Chance effect bound to it
• One of few armors that grant the wearer bonus to Might
• Fast recovery speed

Stats:

• -15% Recovery Speed
• 15 DR
• Grants 1 charge of Second Chance when falling unconscious per rest
• +2 Might

9. Hand and Key

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What Makes the Item Great:

• The wearer becomes more resistant to very powerful effects
• Easy to acquire

Stats:

• -40% Recovery Speed
• 15 Pierce DR
• 12 Slash, Crush, Shock, Corrode DR
• 11 Burn, Freeze DR
• +25% Defense against Confused attacks
• +20% Defense against Charmed attacks
• +15% Defense against Dominated attacks

8. Wayfarer’s Hide

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What Makes the Item Great:

• The wearer becomes more resistant to powerful and annoying effects
• Great stats

Stats:

• -25% Recovery Speed
• 20 Pierce, Freeze DR
• 17 Slash, Crush, Burn, Shock DR
• 12 Corrode DR
• +25 Defense against Hobbled, Paralyzed, and Stuck attacks
• Grants 1 use of Nature’s Vigor spell per rest

7. Argwes Adra

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What Makes the Item Great:

• One of few armors that has the Second Chance effect bound to it
• One of few armors that grant wearer bonus to the Lore skill

Stats:

• -50% Recovery Speed
• 20 Slash, Pierce DR
• 16 Crush, Burn, Freeze, Corrode DR
• 9 Shock DR
• Grants 1 charge of Second Chance when falling unconscious per rest
• +2 Lore

6. Coat of III Payment

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What Makes the Item Great:

• Has some of the highest DR ratings on any armor
• One of few armors that grant wearer bonus to Resolve
• Excellent for tank characters 

Stats:

• -50% Recovery Speed
• 22 Crush DR
• 18 Slash, Pierce, Burn, Freeze, Shock DR
• 15 Corrode DR
• Characters that hit the wearer take 6-10 Pierce damage
• +2 Resolve

5. Sanguine Plate

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What Makes the Item Great:

• One of few armors that grant wearer bonus to the Survival skill
• Excellent armor for attackers

Stats:

• -50% Recovery Speed
• 15 Slash, Pierce DR
• 12 Crush, Burn, Freeze, Corrode DR
• 6 Shock DR
• +2 Survival
• Grants 2 charges of Frenzy ability when Critically Hit per encounter

4. Vengiatta Rugia

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What Makes the Item Great:

• Bonuses synergize very well with rogues
• Bonuses can work well with other classes
• Great stats with a low recovery speed

Stats:

• -20% Recovery Speed
• 19 Crush, Pierce DR
• 16 Slash, Freeze, Shock DR
• 14 Burn, Corrode DR
• Characters that hit the wearer take 6-10 Pierce damage
• +10% damage toward Flanked targets

3. White Crest Armor

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What Makes the Item Great:

• Has some of the highest DR ratings on any armor
• Grants the wearer powerful spells
• Excellent for tank characters that don’t need to move around

Stats:

• -50% Recovery Speed
• 24 Slash, Pierce DR
• 20 Crush, Burn, Freeze, Corrode DR
• 12 Shock DR
• Grants 1 charge of Overwhelming Wave spell per rest
• Grants 1 charge of Dancing Bolts spell per rest
• -1 Movement Speed

2. Ryona’s Breastplate

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What Makes the Item Great:

• It has amazing spells bound to the armor
• Bound spells activate more frequently than other similar armors
• Only soulbound armor in the game
• Amazing stats

Stats:

• Soulbound
• -40% Recovery Speed
• 22 Pierce DR
• 18 Slash, Crush, Shock, Corrode DR
• 16 Burn, Freeze DR
• Grants 1 charge of Litany Against Minor Afflictions spell per rest
• +3 Intellect
• 15% chance to cast Vigorous Defense when receiving Hits or Critical Hits
• Grants 1 charge of Triggered Immunity per encounter

Chanter Specific Stats:

• Gain Dire Blessing spell when dropping below 50% Health once per encounter

Monk Specific Stats:

• 10% chance to cast Disciplined Barrage when receiving Hits or Critical Hits

Paladin Specific Stats:

• Gain Triumph of the Crusaders spell when dropping below 50% Health once per encounter

1. Blaidh Golan

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What Makes the Item Great:

• Common, almost go-to armor used for the Ultimate challenge
• Prevents the wearer from being stun locked and quickly killed
• Balanced stats make it great for any class

Stats:

• -25% Recovery Speed
• 11 Pierce, Freeze DR
• 9 Slash, Crush, Burn, Shock DR
• 6 Corrode DR
• -50% Stun and Prone duration
• +50% to all defenses while Stunned and Prone

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