Chest Armor & Cloaks

Chest armor carries the biggest defense numbers of any slot, and the gap between options is dramatic — vendor pieces top out around a third of what the best exploration finds offer. The progression is essentially three tiers: cheap vendor and quest pieces for the opening chapters, mid-tier chest loot like the Ziggurat Leather Armor for players who explore, and the Frostcursed Plate Armor at the top for those willing to solve its cave entrance. Watch movement speed on heavier pieces: some plate bodies slow you down, while a few rare finds manage high defense with a speed bonus. Two chest pieces are really quest keys in disguise — the Hernandian Attire and Scholastone Uniform gate story access, so keep them even though their stats are poor. Cloaks, a four-piece category added in post-launch patches, are listed at the bottom of this page.

Top Picks

Frostcursed Plate ArmorRareDefense 14 · MV Speed +2

The strongest non-boss chest armor in the game at 14 defense with +2 movement speed. Part of the Frostcursed set with excellent ice resistance.

Lightning Bolt Plate ArmorDefense 14

Chest piece of the Lightning Bolt armor set, wearable by Kliff and Oongka; its crafting recipe was added in patch 1.13.00. Grants Attack Speed +2 and Lightning Resistance +7.

Scorchflame Plate ArmorDefense 14

Chest piece of the Scorchflame armor set, wearable by Kliff and Oongka; its crafting recipe was added in patch 1.13.00. Grants Critical +2 and Fire Resistance +7.

Plate Armor of the ShadowsRareDefense 13

The most powerful open-world chest armor at 13 defense. Part of the elite Shadow set, obtainable without fighting any bosses if you know the location.

Blackwing Leather ArmorRareDefense 12 · MV Speed +1

The best early-to-mid game chest armor with 3 Abyss Core sockets. Its exceptional defense of 12 combined with movement speed makes it a top-tier find.

All Chest Armor & Cloaks: Full Stats Table

Pieces with a dedicated page link to full analysis and comparisons.

Name	Defense	Attack	MV Speed	Rarity	Special Effect	How to Obtain
Frostcursed Plate Armor	14	—	+2	Rare	—	Found in Mistshard Cave to the right of the Spire of Frost in northern Demeniss; use Stab to enter
Lightning Bolt Plate Armor	14	—	—	—	Attack Speed +2; Lightning Resistance +7 (game8 list values)	Crafting recipe added in patch 1.13.00 (item previously tied to Titan/Kuku boss content)
Scorchflame Plate Armor	14	—	—	—	Critical +2; Fire Resistance +7 (game8 list values)	Crafting recipe added in patch 1.13.00
Plate Armor of the Shadows	13	—	—	Rare	—	Found in Everfrost Watchtower in the Argent Peaks; light the brazier to lower the spikes guarding the chest
Blackwing Leather Armor	12	—	+1	Rare	—	Dropped by Crowcaller boss during Chapter 5 quest 'Black and White'
Demenissian Grand General Plate Armor	11	—	—	—	3 Abyss Gear sockets (includes Shockward I, Fortification I, Aegis I) Max Defense 37 when fully refined.	Reward for defeating Lucian Bastier at the Spire of Clockwork, Breezeblown Knoll (end of Chapter VIII: Blood Coronation); afterwards also sold at the Demeniss Equipment Shop
Grotevant Plate Armor	10	—	—	Rare	—	PS5 exclusive bonus; claimed from the 'Add-Ons' menu in-game
Kairos Plate Armor	10	—	—	Epic	Daze Immunity	Deluxe Edition bonus; claimed from the 'Add-Ons' menu in-game
Demenissian Uniform Leather Armor	9	—	—	Rare	—	Damiane's starting chest armor; automatically equipped when you first use her
Solas Plate Armor	9	—	—	Rare	—	Reward for completing Chapter 7 and defeating the final boss; also purchasable from shops across Pywel
Bolton Plate Armor	8	—	—	Rare	—	Purchased from the Hernand Contribution Shop for 7 Contribution Points
The Ashen's Plate Armor	8	—	—	—	3 Abyss Gear sockets (includes Aegis II, Aptitude I, Vitality I) Max Defense 39 when fully refined.	Reward for defeating Tarandus the Ashen in the Odeck faction quest "Executioner of Justice" (Pailune)
Unyielding Hero's Plate Armor	8	—	—	—	3 Abyss Gear sockets (includes Vitality I, Stamina Transference, Flameward I) Max Defense 39 when fully refined.	Reward for defeating Cassius Morten at Calphade Castle at the end of Chapter VI (main quest "The Unyielding Shield")
Knight of Carnage Plate Armor	8	—	—	—	3 Abyss Gear sockets (includes Disarm I, Vitality I, Fortification I) Max Defense 39 when fully refined.	Reward for defeating Gregor, the Halberd of Carnage at Fort Ironclad (Chapter VIII: Blood Coronation, "Ashen Steps")
Red Rider's Plate Armor	8	—	—	—	3 Abyss Gear sockets Max Defense 39 when fully refined.	Reward for solving the Maze of Dawnreach (Tashkalp); also sold in Tommaso
Camouflage Outfit	7	—	—	Rare	—	Purchased from the Back Alley Shop east of Muckroot Ranch for 23.74 Silver
Leather Armor of the Fallen Kingdom	7	—	—	Rare	—	Found in a treasure chest in the Hernand region ruins
Vildyne Leather Armor	7	—	—	—	Lightning Resistance Lv 1; 3 Abyss Gear sockets Max Defense 30 when fully refined.	Reward for Sword Challenge "Sword of Trials IV" (west-central Hernand)
Oak Barrel Leather Armor	7	—	—	—	Lightning Resistance Lv 1; 3 Abyss Gear sockets Max Defense 30 when fully refined.	Reward for Life Challenge "Traveler with Oak Barrels"
Huskall Leather Armor	7	—	—	—	Lightning Resistance Lv 1; 3 Abyss Gear sockets Max Defense 30 when fully refined.	Equipment Shop in Thalwynd, Calphade (northwestern Hernand)
Valnos Leather Armor	7	—	—	—	Lightning Resistance Lv 1; 3 Abyss Gear sockets Max Defense 30 when fully refined.	Greymane Contribution Office (Carl, Greymane Camp)
Blinding Arrow's Light Leather Armor	7	—	—	—	Lightning Resistance Lv 1; 3 Abyss Gear sockets Max Defense 30 when fully refined.	Equipment Shop at Bloodsteel Camp (Steel Mountains, southwestern Demeniss; near Wells Estate)
Greymane Light Armor	7	—	—	—	3 Abyss Gear sockets Max Defense 30 when fully refined.	Carl the Camp Provisioner at Greymane Camp (7 Greymane Contribution Tokens)
Canta Plate Armor	6	—	—	Rare	—	Purchased from Rhett's Equipment Shop in Hernand for 6.18 Silver after completing 'For Honor' quest
Duskfang Leather Armor	5	—	—	Rare	—	Found behind a waterfall south of Senia in the Hernand Highlands; use Stab to pass through
Hernand Ceremonial Guard Armor	5	—	+1	Rare	—	Purchased from the Hernand Contribution Shop for 21 Contribution Points
Scarlet Blades Cloth Armor	5	—	—	Rare	—	Obtained through Scarlet Blades faction quests
Ziggurat Leather Armor	5	—	—	Rare	—	Found in a treasure chest near the Ziggurat ruins
Stein Leather Armor	5	—	—	—	Lightning Resistance Lv 1; 3 Abyss Gear sockets Max Defense 31 when fully refined.	Reward for Hernand Request quest "Path Crossing the River" (Rocca's Hill)
Blacksmith's Leather Armor	5	—	—	—	Lightning Resistance Lv 1; 3 Abyss Gear sockets Max Defense 31 when fully refined.	Greymane Camp Quartermaster (Howling Hills or Pailune)
Lonely Bomb Leather Armor	5	—	—	—	Lightning Resistance Lv 1; 3 Abyss Gear sockets Max Defense 31 when fully refined.	Reward for Lords of the Unclaimed Lands quest "The Faceless" (Tashkalp)
Northern Fighter's Chain Mail	4	—	—	Uncommon	—	Purchased from vendors in the northern territories
Unyielding Warrior's Plate Armor	4	—	—	Uncommon	—	Purchased from armor vendors in Hernand
Besnet Cloth Armor	4	—	+1	—	Movement Speed Lv 1; 3 Abyss Gear sockets Max Defense 19 when fully refined.	Equipment Shop at Burhum; also tied to the Maze of Burhum per patch-notes coverage
Frenoa Plate Armor	4	—	—	—	3 Abyss Gear sockets Max Defense 41 when fully refined.	Reward for Gun Challenge "When Lightning Strikes V"
Duskmoon Cloth Armor	4	—	+1	—	Movement Speed Lv 1; 3 Abyss Gear sockets Max Defense 19 when fully refined.	Reward for solving the Smoking Lands Desert Mouth Maze (Deadfire Mountain); also sold by Tariv in Demeniss
Ashclaw Leather Armor	3	—	+1	Uncommon	—	Found in a hidden treasure chest in the Hernand Highlands
Bandit Cloth Armor	3	—	—	Uncommon	—	Obtained during bandit-related storyline quests
Blinding Arrow's Leather Armor	3	—	—	Uncommon	—	Found in the world; available from leather armor vendors
Dark Ringleader's Cloth Armor	3	—	+2	Uncommon	—	Found in Blade Cavern, behind a waterfall in the northern Hernand river; use Stab to enter
Hernandian Attire	3	—	—	Uncommon	—	Reward for completing the 'Trials of Kindness' quest at Muckroot Ranch in Chapter 1
Jackals' Leather Armor	3	—	—	Uncommon	—	Reward from completing the 'Shadow Over Pauline' quest in Chapter 7
Matana Leather Armor	3	—	—	Uncommon	—	Purchased from leather armor vendors in Pywel
Nibrak Cloth Armor	3	—	+1	Uncommon	—	Found in the world; available from cloth armor vendors
Weasel Leather Armor	3	—	—	Uncommon	—	Crafted at a Blacksmith after examining the crafting manual; also available from vendors across Pywel
Ynitium Leather Armor	3	—	—	Uncommon	—	Purchased from armor vendors in Hernand or found in early-game areas
Grave Robber's Leather Armor	3	—	—	—	Lightning Resistance Lv 1; 3 Abyss Gear sockets Max Defense 32 when fully refined.	Back Alley Shop in Pailune City (near the docks)
Devan's Cloth Armor	3	—	+1	—	Movement Speed Lv 1; 3 Abyss Gear sockets Max Defense 20 when fully refined.	Greymane Contribution Office (Carl, Greymane Camp)
Mardain Leather Armor	3	—	—	—	Lightning Resistance Lv 1; 3 Abyss Gear sockets Max Defense 32 when fully refined.	Greymane Contribution Office (Carl, Greymane Camp)
Martial Artist's Cloth Garb	3	—	—	—	Lightning Resistance Lv 1; 3 Abyss Gear sockets Max Defense 32 when fully refined.	Reward for Training Challenge "Steel Grip Against the Chest"
Rovenia Cloth Armor	3	—	+1	—	Movement Speed Lv 1; 3 Abyss Gear sockets Max Defense 20 when fully refined.	Reward for Crimson Desert Request "The Path to the Crimson Mountains" (Tashkalp), or purchase at the Tailor Shop in Tommaso
Rivenheim Cloth Armor	3	—	+1	—	Movement Speed Lv 1; 3 Abyss Gear sockets Max Defense 20 when fully refined.	Reward for solving the Ancient Rift Maze (Hernand-Pailune border, east of Calphade)
Scholastone Uniform	2	—	+1	Common	—	Given by Darroch during the 'Forbidden Knowledge' quest in Chapter 4
Martial Monk's Cloth Robe	2	—	+1	—	Movement Speed Lv 1; 3 Abyss Gear sockets (includes Fortification I, Aegis I, Vigor I) Max Defense 21 when fully refined.	Reward for defeating T'rukan the Ascended at Serpent Marsh (Chapter IX: The Sage of the Desert, "True Strength")
Sermena Cloth Armor	2	—	+1	—	Movement Speed Lv 1; 3 Abyss Gear sockets Max Defense 21 when fully refined.	Reward for Demeniss Request quest "Glory in Ruins" at the Royal Tomb (west of the Demenissian Capital)

Cloak

Cloaks are included on this page — only four exist in the game, all added in post-launch patches.

Name	Defense	Attack	MV Speed	Rarity	Special Effect	How to Obtain
The Ashen's Leather Cloak	0	—	+1	—	Ice Resistance Lv 5 Max Defense 12 when fully refined.	Reward for Life Challenge "Tiny Citizens of Grasslands" (unlocked via Sealed Abyss Artifact near Beast Hunter's Camp)
Unyielding Hero's Plate Cloak	0	—	—	—	Fire Resistance Lv 7 (as reported by VULKK; other set cloaks are Lv 5) Max Defense 12 when fully refined.	Reward for Hunting Challenge "Hunter's Discipline" (unlocked via Sealed Abyss Artifact at the fork between Tommaso and the Great Gate of Urdavah, Tashkalp)
Knight of Carnage Plate Cloak	0	—	+2	—	Fire Resistance Lv 5; Movement Speed Lv 2 Max Defense 12 when fully refined.	Reward for Horse Challenge "Harmonious Hooves III" (unlocked via Sealed Artifact at Ironwood Farm, southern Demeniss)
Demenissian Grand General Plate Cloak	0	—	+1	—	Lightning Resistance Lv 5; Movement Speed Lv 1→2 Max Defense 12 when fully refined.	Reward from Count Elmore at Brookfield Manor after the House Elemore faction quest "Lunar Judgment" (defeat all 3 Moon Reaper bosses); also sold at the Demeniss Equipment Shop