Combat in Rimworld can be messy. I find it’s better to clean the mess than to BE the mess. Armor in Rimworld can make sure your insides stay inside and keep you in the fight. Even a lucky shot from a random raider can tragically cripple your pawns. Armor is key to keeping them whole.

5. Flak Jacket-

A full body suit of kevlar covering all the squishy bits.

Flak jackets are great! They don’t require a huge amount of resources nor any difficult research. They cover the outermost layer of armor, over everything else. Best used with more layers of armor underneath. Every pawn should have some armor in the outer layer!

Why the flak jacket is great:

• Fairly cheap.
• Good protection.
• Doesn’t restrict movement.

Flak Jacket wiki: https://rimworldwiki.com/wiki/Flak_jacket 

How to achieve a Flak Jacket:

• Traders regularly sell them.
• They can be crafted at a machining table.
• They are commonly worn by raiders, but most pawns don’t like to wear armor off a corpse.

4. Devilstrand Duster-

Devilstrand and shield-belt? Layers and layers of armor.

The Duster’s red hue comes from the material it’s made from. Devilstrand comes from a mushroom you can cultivate. Once you start a farm you’ll have a steady stream of material. Slightly better than the flak jacket.

Devilstrand duster Pros:

• The crafting material can be cultivated.
• Devilstrand is a strong mid-game material.  
• Covers top layer of armor, can be worn with more armor underneath.
• Doesn’t reduce speed.

Duster stats: https://rimworldwiki.com/wiki/Duster 

How do I equip my pawns with the Devilstand Duster?:

• Buy one from traders, but it won’t be cheap.
• They can be crafted at Tailoring benches.

3. Plasteel Plate armor-

Just out picking berries in your plate armor, just in case.

Another prime example of how the material you use to make something makes a huge difference in this game. The plasteel that goes into making this particular plate armor goes a long way to protecting your little knights. Don’t wear it all the time though it’s very heavy and causes your pawns to move slower than any other armor.

Plasteel Plate is awesome!:

• It covers every part of the body. You’ll need to craft the helm for the head.
• Huge protection from almost all forms of attacks.
• You look like a freaking knight.

Plasteel Plate armor info: https://rimworldwiki.com/wiki/Plate_armor 

How do I get the armor?

• They’re rarely sold by traders.
• They can be made at the Fueled Smithy.

2. Shield Belt-

A bubble shield protecting your pawns from gunfire. 

A fully armored pawn can still have MORE armor. As long as you don’t already have a shield belt equipped. Usually used for melee pawns exclusively as they do prevent you from using ranged weapons. The shield belt blocks ranged attacks from both directions inside and out. 

How is the shield belt worth it?

• High-level shield belts can protect from even powerful explosions.
• You can have a shield belt AND a full array of other armor. 
• When depleted they explode with the power of an EMP grenade.

Shield belt stats: https://rimworldwiki.com/wiki/Shield_belt 

Where do you find the shield belts?:

• They can be crafted, with the proper research, at the Machining table.
• Hopefully, you don’t get hit with a raider equipped with one of these. Good luck.
• They can be sold by specialized traders.

1. Marine armor-

Taking a stroll to the creek in advanced power armor.

Marine armor is basically sci-fi power armor. Hyper advanced and very late game this set of armor is the beefiest armor in the game without mods. It does reduce your pawns movement speed, but not nearly as much as plate armor. 

Basically a Space Marine!:

• Covers all body parts. You’ll need a helm for your head.
• The best armor in the game without mods or DLC.
• Better protection than any plate armor with less movement penalty.

Marine Armor wiki: https://rimworldwiki.com/wiki/Marine_armor 

Getting my grubby hands on this treasure:

• You can always craft them at the Fabrication bench.
• They can be a quest reward.
• They can be purchased by specialized traders. 
• Unfortunately, some raiders can have these late in the game so be prepared. 

Armor is vital in Rimworld. All of your pawns are often equally important. Random acts of storyteller violence will often cripple some of your most important characters! Be sure to never be caught exposed if you can help it.

You may also be interested in: 

• 50 Most Useful 'Rimworld Tips' For Beginners
• Top 15 Best Rimworld Seeds (2019 Edition)
•  
• Top 3 Rimworld Best Clothing and How To Get Them
• [Top 5] RimWorld Best Melee Weapons and How To Get Them
•  
• [Top 5] RimWorld Best Armor and How To Get Them
• [Top 15] Best Rimworld Mods For A Brand New Experience
•  
• [Top 10] Best Rimworld Combat Mods We Love!