Best Armor Tier List
All 99 armor pieces ranked by defensive value
This tier list ranks every armor piece in Crimson Desert by defense rating and special effects. Armor is grouped by equipment slot and scored relative to the best in each category. Pieces with special effects receive a bonus in the ranking.
Tier S
Tier A
Tier B
Tier C
Headgear
29 pieces
S
Frostcursed Plate Helm
Daze Immunity
DEF 5
S
Grotevant Plate Helm
DEF 5
S
Kairos Plate Helm
DEF 5
S
Carta Plate Helm
Daze Immunity
DEF 4
A
Blackwing Mask
DEF 4MOV 1
A
Bolton Plate Helm
DEF 4
A
Northern Fighter's Plate Helm
DEF 4
A
Black Bear Gas Mask
Brimstone Immunity
DEF 3
A
Canta Plate Helm
Tinnitus Immunity
DEF 3
A
Ferman Plate Helm
Daze Immunity
DEF 3
B
Jackals' Leather Helm
DEF 3MOV 1
B
Leather Helm of the Fallen Kingdom
DEF 3
B
Flame Knight's Plate Helm
Roar Nullification
DEF 2
B
Rabbit Leather Mask
Daze Immunity:+2 Trust Gain
DEF 2
B
Scarlet Blades Gas Mask
Confusion Immunity
DEF 2
B
Arkhan Leather Helm
DEF 2
B
Beltran Plate Helm
DEF 2
B
Boren Leather Headgear
DEF 2
B
Grace Plate Helm
DEF 2
B
Hartmann Plate Helm
DEF 2
B
Helm of Ignition
DEF 2
B
Mortain Plate Helm
DEF 2
B
Unyielding Warrior's Plate Helm
DEF 2
C
Dark Ringleader's Cloth Helm
DEF 1MOV 1
C
Visione
Allows your character to view memory fragments
DEF 0
C
Hernandian Crown
DEF 0
C
Labrak Cloth Headgear
DEF 0MOV 1
C
Rivellon Cloth Headgear
DEF 0MOV 1
C
Rueconec Cloth Cap
DEF 0MOV 1
Chest Armor
28 pieces
S
Frostcursed Plate Armor
DEF 14MOV 2
S
Plate Armor of the Shadows
DEF 13
S
Kairos Plate Armor
Daze Immunity
DEF 10
S
Blackwing Leather Armor
DEF 12MOV 1
A
Grotevant Plate Armor
DEF 10
B
Demenissian Uniform Leather Armor
DEF 9
B
Solas Plate Armor
DEF 9
B
Bolton Plate Armor
DEF 8
B
Camouflage Outfit
DEF 7
B
Leather Armor of the Fallen Kingdom
DEF 7
B
Canta Plate Armor
DEF 6
C
Duskfang Leather Armor
DEF 5
C
Hernand Ceremonial Guard Armor
DEF 5MOV 1
C
Scarlet Blades Cloth Armor
DEF 5
C
Ziggurat Leather Armor
DEF 5
C
Northern Fighter's Chain Mail
DEF 4
C
Unyielding Warrior's Plate Armor
DEF 4
C
Ashclaw Leather Armor
DEF 3MOV 1
C
Bandit Cloth Armor
DEF 3
C
Blinding Arrow's Leather Armor
DEF 3
C
Dark Ringleader's Cloth Armor
DEF 3MOV 2
C
Hernandian Attire
DEF 3
C
Jackals' Leather Armor
DEF 3
C
Matana Leather Armor
DEF 3
C
Nibrak Cloth Armor
DEF 3MOV 1
C
Weasel Leather Armor
DEF 3
C
Ynitium Leather Armor
DEF 3
C
Scholastone Uniform
DEF 2MOV 1
Gloves
23 pieces
S
Dark Ringleader's Leather Gloves
DEF 5ATK 12MOV 1
S
Frostcursed Plate Gloves
DEF 5ATK 17
S
Scorchflame Plate Gloves
DEF 5ATK 12
A
Demenissian Uniform Leather Gloves
DEF 4ATK 13MOV 2
A
Fluttering Radiance Plate Gloves
DEF 4ATK 15
A
Hernand Ceremonial Guard Gloves
DEF 4ATK 17
A
The Helms' Plate Gloves
DEF 4ATK 15
B
Blackwing Leather Gloves
DEF 3ATK 13MOV 2
B
Canta Plate Gloves
DEF 3ATK 13
B
Grotevant Plate Gloves
DEF 3ATK 18
B
Kairos Plate Gloves
DEF 3ATK 18
B
Plate Gloves of the Fallen Kingdom
DEF 3ATK 13
B
Ator's Will Leather Gloves
DEF 2ATK 13
B
Bolin Leather Gloves
DEF 2ATK 13
B
Dallaban Leather Gloves
DEF 2ATK 12MOV 1
B
Demeniss Elite Soldier Plate Gloves
DEF 2ATK 11
B
Ironwilled Guardian's Leather Gloves
DEF 2ATK 13
B
Pavis Leather Gloves
DEF 2ATK 13
C
Jester Leather Gloves
DEF 1ATK 9MOV 2
C
Melvin Leather Gloves
DEF 1ATK 11
C
Northern Fighter's Leather Gloves
DEF 1ATK 9MOV 2
C
Sunset Reed Cloth Gloves
DEF 1ATK 11
C
Ynitium Leather Gloves
DEF 1ATK 11
Footwear
19 pieces
S
Plate Boots of the Shadows
DEF 7ATK 16
A
Frostcursed Plate Boots
DEF 5ATK 17
A
Odeck's Protector Plate Boots
DEF 5ATK 16MOV 1
B
Demenissian Uniform Leather Boots
DEF 4ATK 13MOV 1
B
Hernand Ceremonial Guard Boots
DEF 4ATK 17
B
Hungering Fang Leather Boots
DEF 4ATK 16MOV 1
B
Scholastone Boots
DEF 4ATK 15MOV 1
B
Unyielding Warrior's Plate Boots
DEF 4ATK 10
B
Canta Plate Boots
DEF 3ATK 13
B
Grotevant Plate Boots
DEF 3ATK 18
B
Kairos Plate Boots
DEF 3ATK 18
B
Solas Plate Boots
DEF 3ATK 18
C
Grey Wolf Leather Boots
DEF 2ATK 13
C
Helms' Leather Boots
DEF 2ATK 12MOV 1
C
Lauques Leather Boots
DEF 2ATK 11MOV 2
C
Woodbrock Leather Boots
DEF 2ATK 11MOV 2
C
Hernandian Banquet Leather Boots
DEF 1ATK 9MOV 1
C
Sein Leather Boots
DEF 1ATK 11
C
Ynitium Leather Boots
DEF 1ATK 9MOV 1
How We Rank Armor
Armor is scored primarily by defense value. Pieces with special effects (like increased stamina recovery or damage reduction) receive a 15% bonus to their effective score. Each slot is ranked independently — compare headgear against headgear, not against chest armor.
Armor FAQ
- What is the best armor in Crimson Desert?
- The best armor depends on your slot needs. Check each slot's S-tier for the highest-rated piece. Armor with special effects often outranks pieces with slightly higher raw defense.
- Do special effects matter for armor ranking?
- Yes. Armor with special effects receives a ranking bonus because effects like damage reduction, stamina recovery, or movement speed bonuses provide significant combat advantages beyond raw defense.
- Can I upgrade armor?
- Yes, armor can be enhanced at blacksmiths using materials. Upgrading increases defense and may improve special effect values.