In the universe of the Skyrim world, there are a great many races and peoples who make and use armor depending on their living conditions and combat tactics. There is no single best armor, but there is a set of armor that is most suitable for every play style.
Heavy armor
For the warrior class, there is nothing more suitable than heavy armor. Thanks to its high degree of protection, it wears out less and better protects the player from physical and magical influences. Having put it on, the player must remember that it is quite difficult to move quickly and quietly in it, and you can’t really run long distances, so for scouts and travelers this type of armor is far from the best choice.
Daedric armor is the heaviest, but also the most effective protective set. It is rare, very expensive and highly valued. Full Daedric armor makes the player almost immortal.
Heavy dragon armor - although inferior in efficiency to Daedric armor, is a little lighter and stronger, and, among other things, is found a little more often.
Ebony armor is a rare, but still quite common type of heavy armor. This armor protects better than metal armor, but weighs a lot, which affects the endurance of the game character.
Dwemer armor is the best type of metal heavy armor. Usually found in dungeons, it has average defensive characteristics, which are quite consistent with average weight.
Metal armor - This includes iron, steel and orc armor. They have average protection indicators, but are heavy. However, in the initial stages of the game they are quite effective.
Light armor
This type of armor is used by characters for whom close combat is a necessary measure. It is worn by thieves, magicians, archers - all those who strike the enemy from a distance or in the back. The advantages of this type of armor are its low weight, which allows you to maintain endurance longer, as well as the ability to move quickly and quietly. Its downside is fragility and low strength, as well as lower protection parameters compared to heavy armor.
Light Dragon Armor is undoubtedly the best type of light armor. Combines the protection of heavy armor with light weight. It is very rare, which is not surprising for armor with such characteristics.
Glass armor is worse than dragon armor, but still has a high level of protection for light armor. The disadvantages include not only the rarity of distribution, but also its fragility, which is why it requires frequent repairs.
Elven armor is more common than glass armor and has solid characteristics, both strength and protection. This armor is the most affordable of the expensive and rare types of light armor.
Leather light armor - includes lamellar, leather, riveted and rawhide armor. This armor is easily available to the player, but its stats are low.
Defense is one of the most important parameters of a character in, in addition, armor largely determines the appearance of the character. What's the balance between security and attractiveness? Is the protection rate important? How much does it reduce damage taken?
This guide covers everything you need to know about armor in Skyrim. It will be useful to anyone who is looking for the best protection - both in terms of quantity and appearance. Guide for all versions of the game, including .
Maximum armor level
In The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim there is such a thing as a maximum defense rating. It is 567, and this is the highest level of armor that can be obtained without resorting to the use of mods.
Of course, to achieve this figure you need to wear a full set of armor. At the same time, Skyrim has bonuses when wearing armor elements from the same set: +25 for body armor, helmet, gloves and boots. There is no bonus for the shield. Total +100, which is very good.
How exactly does defense level affect damage received? There is a balance in the game between protection and actual damage reduction. If the character's defense is 567, then physical damage received is reduced by 80%.
Thus, when wearing the best armor in the game, the character will receive only 20% of the damage, that is, only a fifth of the physical damage dealt.
How to increase defense using magic
If the character does not yet have the necessary items to achieve maximum protection or, according to the player’s plan, should not wear a full set of armor, he can use magic.
The best option is the Dragonhide spell. It provides maximum protection for 30 seconds, that is, it increases the protection rate to 567 and due to this reduces physical damage inflicted on the character by 80%. This spell is very useful for magicians who cannot afford heavy luggage.
Of course, Dragon Skin is one of the two best spells from the school of Change. To master it, you will have to develop the corresponding skill. Therefore, for some time the character will be able to effectively use simplified versions of this spell:
- Oakflesh;
- Stoneflesh;
- Ironflesh;
- Enbonyflesh.
Interestingly, the effect of these spells can be greatly enhanced if the Alteration skill is not high enough. To do this, you need to use skill enhancement potions. They are quite rare and expensive, but with some skill, an experienced alchemist will be able to provide himself with a good supply of such “flasks”.
How to increase your defense using crafting
There are several skills in The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim that allow you to craft and upgrade items. This process in games is usually called “crafting” (from the English word “Craft”). Here are three crafting skills:
- Alchemy;
- Smithing;
- Enchanting.
As mentioned above, alchemy can be used to increase knowledge of the school of Change, which in turn enhances the effect of spells that increase armor.
Smithing allows you to forge almost any set of armor in Skyrim, but the best items require a high level of skill. Ideally, you should have level 100 Smithing, level 100 Light or Heavy Armor (depending on what you want to forge), and complete the Unfathomable Depths quest to get the Ancient Knowledge talent.
The latter accelerates the development of Blacksmithing and gives a bonus of 15% armor when wearing a full set of Dwemer armor.
Enchanting is another useful skill that makes it easier to achieve maximum defense. Everything is very simple here: each item worn on the character must be enchanted with the same Fortify Smithing effect. It is important to understand that enchantments are applied not only to elements of armor, but also to clothing and jewelry (rings, amulets).
If a character has reached the maximum defense level (567), then further increasing this indicator does not make any sense, since the percentage of reduction in physical damage received, in principle, cannot be higher than 80%. Alas, that's the game.
The best light armor in Skyrim
Light armor is very convenient for characters who want to find a middle ground between mobility and protection. They do not take up much space in your inventory and do not interfere with the use of stealth. Of course, light armor is almost always inferior in effectiveness to heavy armor, but this is the price for the advantages mentioned above.
To get more protection from Light Armor, you should improve the corresponding skill to 100 as early as possible. In principle, it grows on its own if you use light armor, but development can be accelerated by reading books and paying teachers for lessons. The higher the skill, the more armor any armor set will provide.
If we talk about specific sets, then in The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim there are 2 most valuable sets: Nightgale Armor and Dragonscale Armor.
Nightingale armor. A magical set of light armor that increases Stamina and improves damage dealt with One-Handed weapons. Nightingale armor can only be obtained as a reward for completing the last mission of the Thieves Guild - “Trinity Restored”.
At maximum upgrade, full Nightingale armor increases stamina by 40, improves cold resistance by 50%, and adds 25% additional damage to all attacks with one-handed weapons.
But that is not all. Nightingale armor is useful to any thief: it improves the effectiveness of Sneaking, makes Lockpicking easier by 25% and reduces the cost of Illusion spells by 17%.
Dragonscale Armor. In terms of its protection indicators, this light armor is the best in its class. It is the easiest way to achieve the maximum level of protection. Plus she looks really cool.
You can get dragon scale armor only through crafting. In this case, you will need the following resources: dragon scales (“drops out” only from killed dragons), iron ingots, strips of leather. You will also need to raise your Blacksmithing skill to 100 and unlock the Dragon Armor perk.
The best heavy armor in Skyrim
Due to the fact that the game has a defense threshold, there is no fundamental difference between light and heavy armor, since in the end everything will be the same: 567 defense and an 80% reduction in physical damage. However, heavy armor allows you to reach the maximum faster, and also leaves room for experimentation with incomplete sets.
As with light armor, The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim has 2 sets of armor that can be considered the most effective: Daedric Armor and Ahzidal's Armor.
Daedric armor. This set of equipment has a very high armor value, in fact it is the best armor in Skyrim, if you do not take into account the content of official add-ons. She also looks very impressive.
Daedric armor can be forged from ebony ingots, Daedra Hearts and Leather Strips. To do this, you need to have a developed Blacksmithing skill (at least 90) and an open perk with the appropriate name.
Armor of Azidal. Can be obtained by completing the mission “Excavation” (Unearthed). The armor has several very useful enchantments. First of all, it gives a chance that opponents attacking the player character will be paralyzed. Conjuration and rune spells cost 25% more but have increased range.
And if you attach 4 items from the set to Dovahkiin at once, he will receive an increase of 10 points to his Enchantment skill.
How to forge the best armor in Skyrim
Not all armor sets can be forged. For example, Nightingale armor and Azidal's set can only be obtained by completing certain tasks. An experienced blacksmith does not necessarily need to go through them, because he can get maximum protection without leaving the forge.
Daedric Armor (Heavy Armor):
- perk “Daedric armor”;
- Level 90 Blacksmithing;
- 10 leather strips;
- 17 Ebony Ingot;
- 5 Daedra hearts.
Dragon Plate Armor (Heavy Armor):
- perk “Dragon Armor”;
- Level 100 Blacksmithing;
- 6 Dragon Scales;
- 6 Dragon Bone;
- 10 leather strips.
Draconic Scale Armor (Light Armor):
- perk “Dragon Armor”;
- Level 100 Blacksmithing;
- 14 dragon scales;
- 4 leathers (Leather);
- 2 iron ingots (Iron Ingot).
Leather strips can be cut from leather at a special workbench or purchased from merchants (average price - 3 gold per piece). Iron ingots are available for about 7 coins from the very beginning of the game, and Ebony ingots are available only after reaching level 27 (cost approximately 150 gold).
The fastest way to get a lot of Daedra Hearts is to clear the Shrine of Mehrunes Dagon in the White Coast area (The Pale).
Dragon scales and bones can only be obtained in one way - by killing dragons. Fortunately, there are definitely no problems with them in Skyrim.
Defense is one of the most important parameters of a character in, in addition, armor largely determines the appearance of the character. What's the balance between security and attractiveness? Is the protection rate important? How much does it reduce damage taken?
This guide covers everything you need to know about armor in Skyrim. It will be useful to anyone who is looking for the best protection - both in terms of quantity and appearance. Guide for all versions of the game, including .
Maximum armor level
In The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim there is such a thing as a maximum defense rating. It is 567, and this is the highest level of armor that can be obtained without resorting to the use of mods.
Of course, to achieve this figure you need to wear a full set of armor. At the same time, Skyrim has bonuses when wearing armor elements from the same set: +25 for body armor, helmet, gloves and boots. There is no bonus for the shield. Total +100, which is very good.
How exactly does defense level affect damage received? There is a balance in the game between protection and actual damage reduction. If the character's defense is 567, then physical damage received is reduced by 80%.
Thus, when wearing the best armor in the game, the character will receive only 20% of the damage, that is, only a fifth of the physical damage dealt.
How to increase defense using magic
If the character does not yet have the necessary items to achieve maximum protection or, according to the player’s plan, should not wear a full set of armor, he can use magic.
The best option is the Dragonhide spell. It provides maximum protection for 30 seconds, that is, it increases the protection rate to 567 and due to this reduces physical damage inflicted on the character by 80%. This spell is very useful for magicians who cannot afford heavy luggage.
Of course, Dragon Skin is one of the two best spells from the school of Change. To master it, you will have to develop the corresponding skill. Therefore, for some time the character will be able to effectively use simplified versions of this spell:
- Oakflesh;
- Stoneflesh;
- Ironflesh;
- Enbonyflesh.
Interestingly, the effect of these spells can be greatly enhanced if the Alteration skill is not high enough. To do this, you need to use skill enhancement potions. They are quite rare and expensive, but with some skill, an experienced alchemist will be able to provide himself with a good supply of such “flasks”.
How to increase your defense using crafting
There are several skills in The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim that allow you to craft and upgrade items. This process in games is usually called “crafting” (from the English word “Craft”). Here are three crafting skills:
- Alchemy;
- Smithing;
- Enchanting.
As mentioned above, alchemy can be used to increase knowledge of the school of Change, which in turn enhances the effect of spells that increase armor.
Smithing allows you to forge almost any set of armor in Skyrim, but the best items require a high level of skill. Ideally, you should have level 100 Smithing, level 100 Light or Heavy Armor (depending on what you want to forge), and complete the Unfathomable Depths quest to get the Ancient Knowledge talent.
The latter accelerates the development of Blacksmithing and gives a bonus of 15% armor when wearing a full set of Dwemer armor.
Enchanting is another useful skill that makes it easier to achieve maximum defense. Everything is very simple here: each item worn on the character must be enchanted with the same Fortify Smithing effect. It is important to understand that enchantments are applied not only to elements of armor, but also to clothing and jewelry (rings, amulets).
If a character has reached the maximum defense level (567), then further increasing this indicator does not make any sense, since the percentage of reduction in physical damage received, in principle, cannot be higher than 80%. Alas, that's the game.
The best light armor in Skyrim
Light armor is very convenient for characters who want to find a middle ground between mobility and protection. They do not take up much space in your inventory and do not interfere with the use of stealth. Of course, light armor is almost always inferior in effectiveness to heavy armor, but this is the price for the advantages mentioned above.
To get more protection from Light Armor, you should improve the corresponding skill to 100 as early as possible. In principle, it grows on its own if you use light armor, but development can be accelerated by reading books and paying teachers for lessons. The higher the skill, the more armor any armor set will provide.
If we talk about specific sets, then in The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim there are 2 most valuable sets: Nightgale Armor and Dragonscale Armor.
Nightingale armor. A magical set of light armor that increases Stamina and improves damage dealt with One-Handed weapons. Nightingale armor can only be obtained as a reward for completing the last mission of the Thieves Guild - “Trinity Restored”.
At maximum upgrade, full Nightingale armor increases stamina by 40, improves cold resistance by 50%, and adds 25% additional damage to all attacks with one-handed weapons.
But that is not all. Nightingale armor is useful to any thief: it improves the effectiveness of Sneaking, makes Lockpicking easier by 25% and reduces the cost of Illusion spells by 17%.
Dragonscale Armor. In terms of its protection indicators, this light armor is the best in its class. It is the easiest way to achieve the maximum level of protection. Plus she looks really cool.
You can get dragon scale armor only through crafting. In this case, you will need the following resources: dragon scales (“drops out” only from killed dragons), iron ingots, strips of leather. You will also need to raise your Blacksmithing skill to 100 and unlock the Dragon Armor perk.
The best heavy armor in Skyrim
Due to the fact that the game has a defense threshold, there is no fundamental difference between light and heavy armor, since in the end everything will be the same: 567 defense and an 80% reduction in physical damage. However, heavy armor allows you to reach the maximum faster, and also leaves room for experimentation with incomplete sets.
As with light armor, The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim has 2 sets of armor that can be considered the most effective: Daedric Armor and Ahzidal's Armor.
Daedric armor. This set of equipment has a very high armor value, in fact it is the best armor in Skyrim, if you do not take into account the content of official add-ons. She also looks very impressive.
Daedric armor can be forged from ebony ingots, Daedra Hearts and Leather Strips. To do this, you need to have a developed Blacksmithing skill (at least 90) and an open perk with the appropriate name.
Armor of Azidal. Can be obtained by completing the mission “Excavation” (Unearthed). The armor has several very useful enchantments. First of all, it gives a chance that opponents attacking the player character will be paralyzed. Conjuration and rune spells cost 25% more but have increased range.
And if you attach 4 items from the set to Dovahkiin at once, he will receive an increase of 10 points to his Enchantment skill.
How to forge the best armor in Skyrim
Not all armor sets can be forged. For example, Nightingale armor and Azidal's set can only be obtained by completing certain tasks. An experienced blacksmith does not necessarily need to go through them, because he can get maximum protection without leaving the forge.
Daedric Armor (Heavy Armor):
- perk “Daedric armor”;
- Level 90 Blacksmithing;
- 10 leather strips;
- 17 Ebony Ingot;
- 5 Daedra hearts.
Dragon Plate Armor (Heavy Armor):
- perk “Dragon Armor”;
- Level 100 Blacksmithing;
- 6 Dragon Scales;
- 6 Dragon Bone;
- 10 leather strips.
Draconic Scale Armor (Light Armor):
- perk “Dragon Armor”;
- Level 100 Blacksmithing;
- 14 dragon scales;
- 4 leathers (Leather);
- 2 iron ingots (Iron Ingot).
Leather strips can be cut from leather at a special workbench or purchased from merchants (average price - 3 gold per piece). Iron ingots are available for about 7 coins from the very beginning of the game, and Ebony ingots are available only after reaching level 27 (cost approximately 150 gold).
The fastest way to get a lot of Daedra Hearts is to clear the Shrine of Mehrunes Dagon in the White Coast area (The Pale).
Dragon scales and bones can only be obtained in one way - by killing dragons. Fortunately, there are definitely no problems with them in Skyrim.
Hello everyone, dear friends!
Perhaps I’ll start today’s article with a question. By what criteria is armor considered the best for you? Maybe this is an indicator of protection? Unique enchantments? Or do you prioritize the appearance of the armor over its characteristics? Write your options in the comments. I tried to choose universal armor for you in all respects, so stop procrastinating and move on to the review of the best equipment in The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim.
Top light sets
Light armor– the most popular type of equipment for players. They allow you to move faster in battle, do not restrict movement, and provide many bonuses to stealth. In terms of protection, at high levels and with maximum pumping, such armor is not inferior to heavy armor, which is why it received the title of one of the most usable in Skyrim.
Among all game sets (not counting DLS), two armors can be distinguished:
- Nightingale. Issued after complete completion of the Thieves Guild quest line. Unique equipment increases the level of endurance, increases damage from one-handed weapons, improves stealth and by 25%, makes it easier to pick locks. Plus, to all this, the appearance of the equipment is very nice and will look great on the hero until the very end of the game.
- Dragon scale. Crafted from 100 dragon scales. Requires level 100 blacksmithing and the corresponding perk. Features: protection indicator and chic appearance. It is easiest to improve security on scale armor, among light armor of course.
Any of the listed equipment will be excellent protection and decoration for the player and will appeal to most gamers.
Best Heavy Armor
As I already said, there is not much difference between light and heavy equipment, because in Skyrim the limit is set at 576 points of defense, which provides an 80% reduction in all physical damage received. If the armor is higher than the specified limit, this will not be taken into account.
The only difference in this situation is the speed at which the protection threshold is reached. By using heavy armor, getting maximum protection from physical attacks will be easier and faster.
There are 2 top equipment sets in the game:
- Daedric armor. The main components for manufacturing are Dadrovsky hearts and ebony ingots. The equipment has the highest protection rate in the game and is rightfully considered the best heavy armor. Plus, the appearance of the armor is also excellent and pleases the eye of any gamer.
- Armor of Azidal. Issued as a reward for completing the "Excavation" quest. The armor earned its place in this top thanks to its enchantments: the chance to paralyze an enemy during an attack, spells from the Witchcraft constellation and runic skills cost 25% less, while their range of action increases.
Despite the fact that the listed equipment is considered the best, according to most players, you can make the most top-end armor yourself. It is possible to sharpen almost any equipment to maximum protection and add the necessary charms, the main thing is to choose it according to the type that you like.
That's all, dear friends. Subscribe to the channel and leave the name of your favorite armor in the comments. See you soon!
1. Where does this stupid stereotype come from? By your logic, a character who has the maximum skill of one-handed weapons, blocking, who can kill a dozen dragons with one hand, protects the weak and disadvantaged, will not be able to get into Sovngarde! Because he is not a glorious warrior, but a thief. Why is he a thief, you ask? Because he wears light armor. And others like him. It follows, based on your own logic, that any magician whose all schools of magic are developed to the maximum automatically becomes a warrior if he has mastered blacksmithing. And to hell with him that he didn’t hold a sword in his hands.
2. The good thing about increasing regen is that you can get “that very unit” much faster.
3. Stop clinging to this stun. I'm already tired. In all the posts above I told you how to avoid it. Even in the post above I talked about all the other advantages. But for all the time that we have been arguing, you have not brought anything other than stunning as an argument.
4. The shield has the ability “living hammer”. With it, any run with a raised shield knocks opponents to the ground, no matter how many there are. Therefore, even 10 or 20 enemies at a time, what difference does it make if they lie down all the time? When I said that I almost always fight with 1-2 people, I don’t understand. At first, yes. At the beginning of the game on high difficulties, withdrawal tactics are the only tactic for all classes. Even for a tank. And this is an axiom. There is no need to argue with me on this. And if there is no difference, then running in light clothes is easier.
5. I would see how the horse would show itself in caves and forts, infested with vampires and magicians. Oh yeah, he just won't fit into them. In open areas, a horse can be very useful if you need to escape from a bear or a spriggan, or some random encounter. But why do you need a horse? You love to fight, why do you need this “thief’s horse” on which you can run away from the fight? This is not like a boy.
6. No one will ever spawn behind your back. Perhaps in a quest about the civil war, when clearing a fort. But at the beginning of the game no one passes it.
7. I have never had any problems with the flare shaft. All opponents attack one at a time, maximum two. Except at the very end, when an archer shoots at you from the bridge. But why put yourself in a obviously losing position? You can go to a place where he won't hit you. And it’s not a matter of “acting out”, but of common sense.
8. About “millions of heals.” Everyone uses potions, even me, because I'm a human too, right? But I never ate millions of them. Maybe because the stars aligned that way, maybe because Mara’s blessing worked that way, or maybe because I’m theoretically a better player? No... The whole point is that I'm a thief. Exactly. Or whatever, based on your logic?
