[Top 9] Best Valheim Armor (and How to Get Them)
A year of Valheim has passed and with it many tweaks and updates that changed how the progression of the game can be done. It used to be that one or two pieces of armor are fit for a single biome, which is still the case for the early game, but now with the introduction of 2 new armor types, uses can vary so much more, as their importance and buffs will carry over much farther, depending on what your playstyle is. Given how much the game has changed, it’s best to revisit the armors in detail and check out if they still hold their place in the list, or if they have been replaced by something better.
As with all Valheim lists, this was written at the time of the games’ latest version (version 0.207.20) and is based on my experience in completing the game with a few friends, and will be from the perspective of a new player, progressing through the game in its current state. Armor is based on the overall usability and benefits it brings to the player.
9. Rag Tunic and Pants
While this doesn’t offer anything substantial, this item still exists and therefore still is a valid choice for you in the game.
What’s Good About the Rag Tunic and Pants?
When the game says “it’s better than nothing” they really mean it with this armor. The uses are as short as your time using this armor listed below.
Rag Tunic and Pants:
- Makes you less naked
- You already have ½ of the set immediately
- A freebie if you kill boars for food.
- Again, “better than nothing”
When you drop in with a new character, you’ll already have the tunic equipped, but the downside is, that it will only offer a meager 1 armor, with the pants giving the other 1 armor. Not much to say other than you’re better off moving to the next armor if you can, but if you want the complete set, it’s more doable than the next set.
How to Get the Rag Tunic and Pants?
Armor Details:
For a detailed look at the armor's stats, you may look at the table or use the wiki link below.
https://valheim.fandom.com/wiki/Rag_armor
8. Leather Armor
With a whole tier up compared to the Rag set, the Leather Armor set is a substantial durability upgrade, offering far more safety for the first few steps of the early game.
What’s Good About the Leather Armor?
Having this set is a huge upgrade offering up a total of 7 armor, compared to the measly 2 armor, which is still not a lot, but given how small your health is initially, every bit will help. Below are the things that will make your life a little easier in the beginning.
Leather Armor:
- A bit more armor than the rag set
- Gives a bit more safety against smaller enemies when food hunting
While not much is stated about its importance, early game armors are generally like that anyway, a stop-gap solution meant to be replaced asap. The good thing about the armor is that you’ll be getting the materials for it anyways, seeing as you’ll be hunting Deer more often for food and its trophy, which you need for the first boss. As far as getting it is concerned, it’s a win-win as you’ll get food and trophies alongside the hide that is needed for said armor. The only tough thing to get would be the bone fragments as Skeletons hurt you quite a bit in this phase of the game, so extra care when getting that Gucci armor set.
How to Get the Leather Armor?
Armor Details:
For a detailed look at the armor's stats, you may look at the table or use the wiki link below.
https://valheim.fandom.com/wiki/Leather_Set
7. Troll Armor
Blue is the color of stealth in this game, and the Troll Set is perfect for sneaky plans for a mob ambush.
What’s Good About the Troll Armor?
A light armor for mobility and stealth, this armor doesn’t seem like much at face value, but when you do have it you’ll find the benefits are much better than what it looks like, as seen below.
Troll Armor:
- Decent amounts of armor
- Sneak allows you to get deer and other passive mobs when bow and arrows are unavailable
- Best armor without the movement speed penalty
This is perfect for those non-combat roams in your game, like food gathering, as the armor doesn’t weigh down your movement speed, making you a bit zippier, assuming your stats are on par with someone who has any other armor. Should you do take it on a battlefield against mobs, this is surprisingly substantial in the armor department, offering 19 armor at base value for the set, making those Black Forest adventures a bit safer.
What isn’t safe is the obvious mob you’ll be facing to get the material, the Troll. These gargantuan beings will kill you in no time flat if you’re ill-equipped, and with blocking and parrying being both health and stamina dependent, your best chance at killing it is by having more people take it head-on, or kite it out if you are playing solo.
How to Get the Troll Armor?
Armor Details:
For a detailed look at the armor's stats, you may look at the table or use the wiki link below.
https://valheim.fandom.com/wiki/Troll_Set
6. Bronze Armor
The first of the metal armors, the Bronze Armor is the best early armor you can get and stacks up pretty well in the tougher biomes at this stage of the game.
What is Good About the Bronze Armor?
While it may not be the best-looking armor, its far superior protection set is a must when compared to everything before it, as seen by the uses below.
Bronze Armor:
- Good armor for longer exploration runs
- Bronze in itself is great for many small to medium threat mobs.
- Has good weapon sets along with it
This brownish set gives out 24 armor at a base value which is good when you consider that you may be swarmed with much more foes by this point, and even more once you defeat the second boss of the game, Elder. Making it is a bit different compared to the previous sets as you’ll need a Forge, a Smelter, and a Charcoal Kiln to make, though the latter of the 3 can be bypassed by burning your food, which is a waste, but possible.
Other than that, deer hide is pretty much what you need. This armor is necessary if you want to face-check the Swamp biome as it’s the armor with the highest amount given compared to the ones before it.
How to Get the Bronze Armor?
Armor Details:
For a detailed look at the armor's stats, you may look at the table or use the wiki link below.
https://valheim.fandom.com/wiki/Bronze_armor
5. Fenris Armor
Stealthy, sexy, and super beneficial to anyone wanting to settle the scores the manly way, by using their fists.
What’s Good About the Fenris Armor?
With a sleek black aesthetic, the Fenris Armor is a cool-looking armor set, but looks aren’t the only thing it’s good for, as listed by the benefits below.
Fenris Armor:
- Extra movement speed gained
- Gives Frost and Fire Resistances
- Increased unarmed damage
Being able to run around faster (9% base to be exact), while also being safer from fire and ice-based attacks is certainly a bonus, which is an amazing step up in utility compared to everything else on the list, so this armor isn’t just for looks and looks to be pretty good on paper, but that’s not always the case. The biggest drawback towards getting these versus the other armors above it is the opposite effect of the unarmed bonus, which we’ll get to next.
As said, the Fenris set gives you a bonus to unarmed weapons, plus 15 to be exact. While hitting enemies with your fists will be more meaningful, it’s useless when you start to use other weapons like swords and maces, denying one of the biggest benefits to the armor. Sure, it’s doable, but you’ll be better off making other mid-tier armors in this list if you want to use weapons (more on that later). One more reason it is also further down the list is the resources needed to make it. It’s no mid-game item in my eyes, and a novice/casual player will find more safety in better/upgraded armor, which this one also lacks in that department.
Other than that, the movement speed addition is nice, the resistances will help you in the Mountain caves, and the unarmed bonus makes so much difference when partnered with the Fleshrippers (a fist-based weapon that looks like claws).
How to Get the Fenris Armor?
Armor Details:
For a detailed look at the armor's stats, you may look at the table or use the wiki link below.
https://valheim.fandom.com/wiki/Fenris_Set
4. Root Set
Introduced as a late addition to the Hearth and Home Update back in December, the Root Armor may have an unorthodox look, but that look can save you so much hassle when you’re in the Swamps.
What’s Good About the Root Set?
Key stat bonuses mean so much more when you pick this armor up, and that will translate to better survivability with some enemies as listed below.
Root Set:
- Grants Poison resistances
- Increases bow skill
- Grants less movement speed reduction
While this is a lower-tier armor piece compared to the Fenris armor, the Root armor is much less tedious to get, offers some important resistances for Swamp-specific battles, and gives an increase to your bow skill, which allows you to pump out more arrows, assuming you haven't maxed the level of that specific stat. Being armor that is made from trees, or rather, a creature that’s a tree (named Abomination), it’s naturally weak against Fire-type attacks, so going to a Mountains cave to fight the Cultist, or going to the Plains on melee combat isn’t a good thought to plant in your head.
Outside of the Swamps, this is more of a utility armor rather than a pure combat-oriented one, and so, using this to shoot and give enemies more splinters from afar is a great way to maximize its use.
How to Get the Leather Armor?
Armor Details:
For a detailed look at the armor's stats, you may look at the table or use the wiki link below.
https://valheim.fandom.com/wiki/Root_Set
3. Iron Armor
Something that should be more familiar in terms of material for armor, the Iron armor set is the safest option for an upgrade you’d want after using a set of Bronze armor.
What’s Good About the Iron Armor?
Creating this armor is a natural thing for those wanting the safest path to, well, safety against a whole number of mobs, and that’s a simple thing to achieve while also being good for the following.
Iron Armor:
- Great armor for almost all the biomes
- Makes gathering more iron from the Swamp a lot easier when going in crypts
- Excess Iron can be made for much better items
Iron is the most important ore in the game as a lot of things are made from it, including this armor set. You’ll have a sweet armor set alongside some of the best weapons made from it, making this a must-have for the mid-game Viking. While it may not be flashy in terms of bonuses, in fact, it even slows you down a bit, let it be known that survivability is key, and this one delivers. Priority in making this will depend on your playstyle, but for most new players or play-safe Vikings playing Valheim, you’d lean towards this safe option. Just make sure you save some Iron for the endgame (which we’ll discuss later).
How to Get the Iron Armor?
Armor Details:
For a detailed look at the armor's stats, you may look at the table or use the wiki link below.
https://valheim.fandom.com/wiki/Iron_Armor
2. Wolf Set
Howl at your enemies as you charge on, knowing you’ll be safe by wearing this formidable Silver-based armor.
What’s Good About the Wolf Armor?
Prepare to scavenge the alps, as you’ll need a whole case cabinet full of silver for one, as listed here.
Wolf Armor:
- Grants Frost resistance when the full set is done, which gives you huge survivability on the Mountains
- When upgraded, it’s a massive boost against the Iron armor set
- Partnered with the silver shield and weapons, it’s a great combat kit for Swamp adventures
- Fashionable wolf head for that extra style
A cool armor set if you ask me (pun intended). It’s also a strong, capable armor that protects much better than the Iron set as it gives a massive 61 armor at base value. This is the essential armor to get when you’re traversing the Mountains as Wolves, Drakes, and Stone Golems roam around the terrain, with a further increase in danger when fighting Valheim’s newest addition to the Mountain mobs, the Cultist. Creating this armor gives a strong incentive to be able to stand toe-to-toe with the creatures of the game in all but the last biome, wherein that place gives you access to the best armor you can make in the game, which we’ll talk shortly about.
How to Get the Wolf Set?
Armor Details:
For a detailed look at the armor's stats, you may look at the table or use the wiki link below.
https://valheim.fandom.com/wiki/Wolf_Armor
1. Padded Armor Set
A year later, and with no Blackmetal Armor or any other tier above replacing it, the Padded Iron Armor is still the best all-around armor set you can build in the game right now.
What’s Good About the Padded Armor Set?
By keeping a large inventory of Iron in stock, you will grant access to the best armor set in the game, and with that, the big benefits are listed below.
Padded Armor Set:
- 100 armor when maxed, making you durable against strong mobs
- Plains are less scary when having this around
- Partnered with the Blackmetal shield and weapons, you can take on everything around you
- Simply, the best (as of now)
Having that much armor on base, 78 to be exact, allows you to be better off in places like the Plains, and its hoard of relentless Fulings makes you untouchable against weaker mobs, that you’ve finished off in the first few minutes of the game. This isn’t a guaranteed get out of jail free card in which you can run at any mob and expect to live unscathed, so plan what approach you’ll take with each specific enemy, as it will suck to leave your corpse, and the armor you just made into the middle of nowhere.
There’s not much to say other than that the Padded Armor is the best armor set in the game, and with nothing beyond the Plains biome, this will stay that way unless the future Mistlands update has something to say about that.
How to Get the Padded Armor Set?
Armor Details:
For a detailed look at the armor's stats, you may look at the table or use the wiki link below.
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