Armor not only determines your Armor Class, but it can also provide excellent buffs and benefits, making it very important for your build. We’ve put together a ranked list of the 10 best armor to wear in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Throughout your playthrough, you’ll slowly be able to loot or purchase new armor sets that fit your party members perfectly, but some are simply better than others. Here are the best of the best.
Baldur’s Gate 3: Best armor, ranked
Although there are other armor-type pieces like Gloves, Boots, Amulets, and more, this list only focuses on the actual body armor you wear. It includes various pieces of Light, Medium, and Heavy armor, most Very Rare, but one with the Legendary status. Now, let’s dive right into the 10 best armor pieces in Baldur’s Gate 3, ranked from great to best.
10. Bhaalist Armor
This Very Rare piece of Light Armor has a couple of unique features added to it. The Bhaalist Armor has an AC of 14 + DEX, and has a price of 2,000 Gold. When wearing this black and red leather armor, you gain Aura of Murder and Ambusher:
- Aura of Murder: Enemies within 2m become Vulnerable to Piercing damage, unless Resistant or Immune to it.
- Ambusher: Gain a +2 bonus to Initiative rolls.
While wearing the Bhaalist Armor, you’ll get ahead of the Initiative order, and make enemies more Vulnerable to Piercing damage, so make sure you give it to someone like Astarion. You can buy the Bhaalist Armor from Echo of Abazigal who’s in the Murder Tribunal, but only after you become an Unholy Assassin.
9. Armor of Agility
Armor of Agility is a beautiful piece of Very Rare Medium Armor. It’s steel armor with golden etchings, with an AC of 17 + DEX. This makes Armor of Agility one of a few Medium armors with a pretty high AC. While you gain a +2 to Saving Throws, you also get the Exotic Material feature:
- Exotic Material: Add your DEX Modifier to your AC. Also, armor doesn’t impose Disadvantage on Stealth checks.
Most armor pieces will impose disadvantage on Stealth, but you won’t get that here with this piece. It’s also nice to have a little bonus to Saving Throws. You can buy Armor of Agility from Gloomy Fentonson at the Stormshore Armory in Act 3, which is in the Lowery City.
8. Dark Justiciar Half-Plate (Very Rare)
While you can find a few different Dark Justiciar armor pieces lying around, this Very Rare Half-Plate one is special. It’s Medium Armor, and perfect for Shadowheart if you’re leading her down Shar’s path. With an AC of 17 + DEX (limited to +2), and a hefty list of features, you should consider getting this armor:
- Shar’s Umbrae: When Obscured, wearer has Advantage on Stealth checks.
- Advantage on CON Saving Throws.
- Shar’s Protection: When wearer has Shield of Faith active, reduce all incoming damage by two and reflect damage received back at attacker, taking 1d4 Necrotic damage.
- Shar’s Aegis spell: Increases AC by two as a Bonus Action.
If you’re willing to kill Nightsong in Act 2, you’ll earn this Dark Justiciar Half-Plate armor. Although this can lead to dire consequences, you get new armor with some cool features.
7. Elegant Studded Leather
This piece of Light Armor is also good for a stealthy party member like Astarion. The Elegant Studded Leather is Very Rare, has an AC of 14 + DEX, and has a couple unique features:
- Ambusher: +2 bonus to Initiative rolls.
- Advantage on Stealth checks.
- Shield spell: A reaction spell to avoid getting hit.
While it doesn’t look all that special on the surface, it can provide some decent benefits for someone who needs that Stealth advantage. Shield is also a highly useful spell and will come in handy so often. You can get the Elegant Studded Leather from the Counting House in the Lower City. It’s in the High Security Vault number nine, and you can get a key to this vault after completing the quest Return Rakath’s Gold.
6. Armor of Moonbasking
Although there are three Very Rare Light Armors for each Druid subclass, this one is a favorite. It works best for your Circle of the Moon Druid (which I played as), and can provide some incredible benefits, alongside having an AC of 11 + DEX:
- Lunar Bestial Vitality: Gain 22 temporary HP after casting Wild Shape. While the temporary HP is active, reduces all incoming damage by one.
- Lunar Bestial Fortitude: You gain a +2 AC bonus. You also gain Advantage on Saving Throws against spells (effect persists while in Wild Shape).
As a Wild Shape user, I found this piece of armor to be of critical importance. Although the initial AC doesn’t seem high, you get an additional bonus with Lunar Bestial Fortitude. You can purchase Armor of Moonbasking from Voiceless Penitent Bareki in the Undercity Ruins, which is in the Lower City sewers.
Related: 10 best Legendary weapons in Baldur’s Gate 3, ranked
5. Reaper’s Embrace
If you’re looking for a solid piece of Heavy Armor, try out Reaper’s Embrace. This is a Very Rare Heavy Armor with an AC of 19. You’ll get Disadvantage on Stealth Checks, and it’s got a hefty price of 6,400 Gold. Here are some of the interesting features it comes with:
- Magical Plate: All incoming damage reduced by two.
- Reaper’s Rigidity: When activated, you can’t be moved against your will, but have Disadvantage on DEX Saving Throws.
- Howl of the Dead spell: Numbs all nearby creatures.
A companion like Lae’Zel works great with Reaper’s Embrace, I had my Lae’zel wear it for quite a long time. There’s a good chance you’ll come across this armor, as you get it after defeating and looting Ketheric Thorm.
4. Adamantine Scale Mail
This is a fairly unique piece of Very Rare Medium Armor, with an AC of 16 + DEX (bonus limited to +2), and imposes Disadvantage on Stealth checks. Despite that one downside, some impressive features come with it:
- Magical Plate: All incoming damage reduced by one.
- Adamantine Backlash: When a melee attack hits you, attacker is sent Reeling for two turns.
- Attackers can’t land Critical Hits on you.
Give this one to someone who’s always right in the fight to trigger Adamantine Backlash and Critical Strike Immunity. To get Adamantine Scale Mail, you have to forge it at the Adamantine Forge, but it requires a Scale Mail Mould and one Mithral Ore.
3. Adamantine Splint Armor
I promise you that while this sounds similar to the last piece of armor, this is the upgraded version of it. Adamantine Splint Armor is Very Rare Heavy Armor with an AC of 18, also imposing Disadvantage on Stealth checks. It has very similar features with a bit of a bonus:
- Magical Plate: All incoming damage reduced by two.
- Intense Adamantine Backlash: When a melee attack hits you, attacker is sent Reeling for three turns.
- Attackers can’t land Critical Hits on you.
This improved version of the last armor piece upgrades both Magical Plate and Intense Adamantine Backlash. As you can imagine, you can get the Adamantine Splint Armor by forging in in the Adamantine Forge. It requires a Splint Mould and one Mithral Ore.
2. Emblazoned Plate of the Marshal
This Very Rare Heavy Armor signifies military authority, as it’s made for the Marshal of the Flaming Fist. The Emblazoned Plate of the Marshal has an AC of 19, and imposes Disadvantage on Stealth checks. There are a few great features that come with it:
- Magical Plate: All incoming damage reduced by two.
- Endurance by Fire: Gives Resistance to Fire damage, and a +2 bonus to Saving Throws.
- Fire Shield spell: Cover your body in flames that provide Resistance to Fire or Cold damage, and retaliates against melee attacks for 2d8 Fire/Cold damage.
The Fire Shield spell is worth it for its damage and protection. You’ll want to give this to someone who’ll be on the front lines if you’re fighting fire. You can take this armor from the Grand Duke Ulder Ravengard, who is Wyll’s father.
1. Helldusk
Helldusk is the only piece of Legendary Armor in the game, and it’s legendary for a reason. It’s Heavy Armor with an incredible AC of 21. Although it’s worth 8,000 Gold, I wouldn’t recommend selling it, as you’d be missing out on these features:
- You’re considered Proficient with this Armor while wearing it.
- Infernal Retribution: When you succeed in a Saving Throw, the caster receives Burning for three turns.
- Prime Aegis of Fire: You gain Resistance to Fire damage, and cannot be Burned. You also take three less damage from all sources.
- Fly spell: Allows you to fly to a target position.
Anyone can wear this, as it gives you Proficiency, even if you’re not Proficient in Heavy Armor. Helldusk is also great for retaliating against spell casters and protects you from overall damage. You can find this incredible piece of Armor is you loot it from Raphael in the House of Hope.
Now that you’ve read this ranked list on the best armor to wear in Baldur’s Gate 3, here’s a tier list of all the classes!
