Armor works differently in Dark Souls 2 than in previous titles. A piece's defenses now scales with the player's Vitality has and it affects how fast you can roll. Rolling and movement speeds have changed now but in order to fast roll properly you now need Adaptability. Poise has also made a return through armor sets as well.
DS2 Armor Cosmetic
Armor is also a cosmetic choice, and individual pieces can be mixed and matched to create an optimized setup, from a defensive and fashion perspective. Armor can be upgraded. To view individual pieces of armor please see the Helms, Chests, Gauntlets, and Leggings pages.
Dark Souls 2 Useful Links
- See the Fashion Souls page for cosmetic builds
- Unique Armor is not part of a set.
- Click here for a list of Armors with Special Effects
- Click here to download an Armor Calculator by Dr_Lowstack
- Click on the set name or image to open its page.
- Armor in DS2 gain an Attribute bonus on their defensive values depending on the player's natural physical DEF (Attribute bonus: Physical DEF stat) (needs confirmation)
Dark Souls 2 Armor Sets Key Aspects
- Defense and Resistance: Armor sets contribute to a character's overall defense against physical and elemental damage. Different sets have varying defensive stats, providing protection against slashing, piercing, and blunt attacks, as well as elemental damage types such as fire, lightning, and magic.
- Weight: Each piece of armor has a weight value, and the total weight of the equipped armor affects the character's mobility. Heavier armor provides better protection but may reduce the character's ability to dodge and move quickly. Players often need to find a balance between defense and mobility based on their preferred playstyle.
- Poise: Poise is a stat associated with armor that determines a character's resistance to being staggered or interrupted by enemy attacks. Heavier armor sets usually have higher poise values, providing stability during combat.
- Set Bonuses: Some armor sets in Dark Souls 2 offer additional bonuses when the complete set is worn. These bonuses can include increased resistance to specific damage types, improved stamina regeneration, or other unique effects. It's worth noting that not all armor sets have set bonuses.
- Customization: Dark Souls 2 allows players to mix and match armor pieces from different sets, offering a high degree of customization. This flexibility allows players to create unique combinations that suit their preferences in terms of appearance, defense, and mobility.
Armor Sets in Dark Souls II
Agdayne's Set Alonne Captain Set Alonne Knight Set Alva Set Archdrake Set Astrologist's Set Aurous Set Bandit Set Bell Keeper Set Benhart's Set Black Dragon Set Black Hollow Mage Set Black Leather Set Black Set Black Witch Set Bone King Set Brigand Set Cale's Set Catarina Set Chaos Set Creighton's Set Dark Set Desert Sorceress Set Dingy Set Dragon Acolyte Set Dragonrider Set Drakekeeper Set Drangleic Set Elite Knight Set Executioner Set Falconer Set Faraam Set Forlorn Set Grave Warden Set Gyrm Set Hard Leather Set Havel's Set Heide Knight Set Hexer's Set Hollow Infantry Set Hollow Soldier Set Hunter/Leather Set Imperious Set Imported Set Infantry Set Insolent Set
Ironclad Set Jester's Set Judgement Set King's Set Knight Set Leydia Black Set Leydia White Set Lion Mage Set Lion Warrior Set Llewellyn Set Looking Glass Set Lucatiel's Set Mad Warrior Set Manikin Set Mastodon Set Monastery Set Moon Butterfly Set Nahr Alma Set Old Ironclad Set Old Knight Set Pate's Set Peasant Set Penal Set Priestess Set Prisoner's Set Pyromancer Set Rogue Set Royal Soldier Set Royal Swordsman Set Ruin Set Rusted Mastodon Set Saint's Set Shadow Set Smelter Demon Set Steel Set Syan's Set Targray's Set Throne Defender Set Throne Watcher Set Traveling Merchant Set Tseldora Set Varangian Set Velstadt's Set Vengarl's Set Wanderer Set White Hollow Mage Set White Priest Set Xanthous Set
Formula
An explanation of armor calculations is below.
For most armor sets, a +5 state will improve the defense values by 50%, and a +10 state will improve it by 100% of the base value (+0). Some of the heavier armor sets are improved by 40% (Velstadt, Vengarl, Dragonrider, Looking Glass Knight, Smelter Demon, Havel). Most DLC armor sets and pieces are only improved by 25 or 50% (Twinkling and regular Titanite, respectively).
For example, Faraam set has 295 physical defense in its base state, 442.5 (which is rounded up to 443 in the wiki page) as a +5 and 590 in a +10 state (which also differs a little from the wiki page).
So all in all, to quickly evaluate fully upgraded stats, one just needs to take the base armor rating and then multiply it by 1.5 and 2 for the +5 and +10 upgrade state respectively.
Icon Key
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Physical Defense |
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Magic Defense |
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Fire Defense |
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Lightning Defense |
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Poise |
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Poison Resist |
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Bleed Resist |
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Dark Resist |
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Petrify Resist |
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Curse Resist |
Agdayne's Set
Alonne Captain Set
Alonne Knight Set
Alva Set
Archdrake Set
Astrologist's Set
Aurous Set
Bandit Set
Bell Keeper Set
Benhart's Set
Black Dragon Set
Black Hollow Mage Set
Black Leather Set
Black Set
Black Witch Set
Bone King Set
Brigand Set
Cale's Set
Catarina Set
Chaos Set
Creighton's Set
Dark Set
Desert Sorceress Set
Dragon Acolyte Set
Dragonrider Set
Drakekeeper Set
Drangleic Set
Elite Knight Set
Executioner Set
Falconer Set
Faraam Set
Forlorn Set
Grave Warden Set
Gyrm Set
Gyrm Warrior Set
Hard Leather Set
Havel's Set
Heide Knight Set
Hexer's Set
Hollow Infantry Set
Hollow Soldier Set
Hunter/Leather Set
Imperious Set
Imported Set
Infantry Set
Insolent Set
Ironclad Set
Jester's Set
Judgment Set
King's Set
Knight Set
Leydia Black Set
Leydia White Set
Lion Mage Set
Lion Warrior Set
Llewellyn Set
Looking Glass Set
Lucatiel's Set
Mad Warrior Set
Manikin Set
Mastodon Set
Monastery Set
Moon Butterfly Set
Nahr Alma Set
Old Ironclad Set
Old Knight Set
Pate's Set
Peasant Set
Penal Set
Priestess Set
Prisoner's Set
Rogue Set
Royal Soldier Set
Royal Swordsman Set
Ruin Set
Rusted Mastodon Set
Saint's Set
Shadow Set
Smelter Demon Set
Steel Set
Syan's Set
Targray's Set
Tattered Cloth Set
Throne Defender Set
Throne Watcher Set
Traveling Merchant Set
Tseldora Set
Varangian Set
Velstadt's Set
Vengarl's Set
Wanderer Set
White Hollow Mage Set
White Priest Set
Xanthous Set
Starting Class Equipment
For further information on any of the classes, click here, or on any of the classes below.
Bandit Set
Bandit
Archdrake Set (only robes)
Cleric
Black Hollow Mage Set (excluding hood & including Imported trousers)
Sorcerer
Traveling Merchant Set
Explorer
Imported Set
Deprived
Anonymous
- Anonymous
is the gyrm helm+jester armor+havel's some meta armor or something? recently whenever i invade/get invaded the other guy's always using that specific armor combo with the sun sword, i understand it's high poise but that's nothing the stone ring can't handle. is this like a fighterpl situation where there's a sect in ds2 that wants to make those specific pieces "infamous" and attributed to hardcore pvp or whatever?
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
There is literally no reason to upgrade armor in this game, the defense increase is so negligible I've never noticed any changes
- Anonymous
DONT TELL ME THIS GAME DONT GOT THE BEST ARMOR THEY EVEN PUT THAT SH*T IN DS3. Blood drake is my fav but the dlc ones ain’t on here I guess.
- Anonymous
Dark Warlock: Warlock helm, grave warden shirt, imported pants and imported gloves (the gloves will look even better when you're hollowed)
- Anonymous
To the people who say armor does nothing in this game, you're forgetting the most crucial and important thing of all.... FASHION
- Anonymous
Punished Mage: Penal mask, Black hollow mage robe, classic pyromancer manchettes, Vengarl's boots.
- Anonymous
Sets missing : Loyce, Charred Loyce, Ivory King and Fume Sorcerer
- Anonymous
Really cool looking combination i tend to use: Penal mask, Raime's armor, Executioner's gloves, And Executioner's Leggings (the mask fits very well in my long-haired blonde male character, it may not look as cool with some hairstyles tho). I also believe that the Berseker blade is one of the weapons that best fits this combination.
- Anonymous
Ds2 is a game defined by these things: Plastic Graphics, Clunky Animation, Eh Lore, Good Weapon Variety, Good Pvp Combat, Okay pvp balance, Bad Soul Memory, Bad Online Rewards, No full eye orbs, Okay Bosses, Okay'ish level design, and Creative Characters. The gameplay (pve and pvp) makes up for the other things.
- Anonymous
Dark souls 2 is an iconic game that does not deserve the hate. The bosses are amazing and the game play is really fun. Idk why people hate on it so much.
- Anonymous
Don’t listen to the negative comments guys. The things people are saying are so objectively wrong that I bet they haven’t even played the game. The vast majority of these people don’t even realise that their criticisms are entirely subjective. Like “ds2 doesn’t even feel like a real souls game” is not a valid argument and isn’t even true. seriously? THIS game doesn’t feel like a real souls game? Not ds3, elden ring and bloodborne? Those 3 games are so far from what souls used to be that don’t even fit under the souls like category anymore.
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
Can Simeone of you give me an advice on which fashion Is better for a barbaric nord with an axe and a sword
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
Royal swordsmen helm + chaos robe + royal swordsmen gloves + chaos boots. Rub bleeding serum over a blacksteel katana and walk forward.
- Anonymous
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People might not like DS2 as much (wrong opinion btw), but there's no denying it's got the best fashion out of the entire soulsborne.
- Anonymous
Along with the DLC, this is the best Dark Souls in the series (including armor, gameplay, mechanics and story. It was my first souls game and proved to be the best.
- Anonymous
ok hear me out
black hood
bone king robe
engraved gauntlets
dark leggings
looks cool on a hexer, if you are tired of using the lion mage set and don't mind losing the cast speed boost, in the end is all about FASHION
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
Where is the armour of John Dark Soul, the famous protagonist of the hit franchise, Dark Souls! known for his famous quotes: 'everything is darkest before the soul' and 'every soul has its dark.
- Anonymous
Royal swordsman helmet
Insolent chest
Heidi knight gloves
Infantry legs
You're welcome.
- Anonymous
im on first playthrough still with over 80 million soul memory and its sad because i cant invade anyone for the covenant items, and the pvp in undead purgatory is super laggy which is so annoying
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
The best armors in the game are Drakekeeper set (only for those whos being knightly), Looking Glass set (only for those who wants to be a person) Smelter Demon set ( only for those who want to look sick) Havel set ( Only for those who want to reduce damage and be so strong and be knightly) these are the best armors worth equiping
- Anonymous
Boy ... i'm not invading and defeting 300 human players in 3 different covenants for targray, nahr and bellkeeper sets.
I'm sorry, but those covenant leaders will have to go.
- Anonymous
this is the only reason im playing dark souls 2 is the armor. the armors in dark souls looks AWWWSOME!
- Anonymous
Ah the Elite Knight set. My most used and most favorite one.
- Anonymous
DS2 is a kinda ****ed up game but god the fashion souls is amazing
- Anonymous
(Male Arch Hexer) Alonne Knight's helmet black shirt bandit gloves and mad warrior legging
(Female Arch Hexer) Alonne Knight's helmet black shirt bandit gloves and king leggings
- Anonymous
Male Blue mage Astrologist's cap dingdy shirt drangleci glove and legging
Famale Blue mage Astrologist's cap dingdy shirt drangleci glove and monsrtay shirk
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
Say what you will about the gameplay, DS2 has the best fashion in the series, hands down.
- Anonymous
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- Anonymous
No solaire armor, my characters life isn't worth living anymor
- Anonymous
I would have loved to see an actual red set, like the Crimson set in Dark Souls.
- Anonymous
no armor of thorns from kirk.. siince they got back so many armors from ds 1 why not kirks armor..... :(
- Anonymous
Ds2 Still has the best Fashion soul. Ds3 felt kinda limited (and texturewise bland).
- Anonymous
Anyone have a good armor combo for Thanos (w/ his armor) build? I figured Red Iron Twinblade for the weapon.
I'm sad several some of these sets didn't make it back in DS3: Alonne sets, Heide, Ironclad, Looking Glass, Jester, and especially the Shadow Set. Imagine how they could've been mixed together.
- Anonymous
Remember back when physical resistance existed? Haha me neither
- Anonymous
heaviest armor set = gym warrior helmet ironclad chest, havels gauntlets and leggings.
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
Seriously Idk why Dark Souls 2 gets so much hate. best endgame pvp (despite shit balance) wonderful fashion. But most importantly, the weapon variety and move pools!
- Anonymous
The armour in this game is my favourite of all the Souls games (Sorry Demon's Souls, fluted can't outmatch this). The sheer variety and mass of styles and armors here are phenominal, and quite a lot of the amour in this game is realistic and modeled after actual historical armour, take for example, Drakeblood Set - it's a mix between 15th/16th century Gothic plate and Sengoku/Edo-jidai Samurai armour, with a little bit of ancient Roman influence in there as well (Lorica Segmentata)
The robes and... unrealistic... leather armour, is still fucking cool looking and fairly realistic looking, the fashion souls potential you can get is awesome, and you can get dark fantasy up to high fantasy looks and they all fit, with the added bonus of getting it all to look realistic, it's just fucking dope, man.
- Anonymous
Dark Souls 2 fashion is absolutely glorious. Dark Souls 3 fashion is a huge disappointment overall. There are a few nice ones, but only a few. In DS2 everything looks distinct and original and there is such diversity. The colours are great too. In DS3 everything is grey which seriously hurts the fashion.
- Anonymous
in dark souls 2 the rotten is a piece of pooooooop (⌐▀͡ ̯ʖ▀)
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
Heide Knight,I got the helm/iron mask. Is there a full set of it, or it just a solo gear?
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
Looking for beggining sorc chest piece if anyone has it please I can't get it because I didn't choose that class sm 2.4m and ps4 name adeathlykiss
- Anonymous
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- Anonymous
It doesn't have the alva set listed here. I had to go to the Dark Souls 2 Scholar of the First Sin Wiki to find it
- Anonymous
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- Anonymous
I thin some armor dont follow this formula, for example: drakeblood armor has 200 phisical defense in +0 and in +10 has 249
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
I hope dark souls 3 has a lot of armor sets in it, the best part of dark souls 2, besides the amazing gameplay, was finding really badass armor combinations
someone here knows how much less AGL do you get from wearing armor without the requirements?
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+10
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