Baldur’s Gate 3: Best Armor [Light, Medium & Heavy]

This guide will shed light on the best armors in Baldur's Gate 3 for each category and how to get them.

Best Armor Cover
Baldur's Gate 3: Best Armor [Guide]

Every class has its combat skills that determine the playstyle and build you choose for the certain character, including a critical piece of equipment: Armor. This guide will show you all the Baldur’s Gate 3 Best Armor available in each category. 


Key Takeaways 

  • An armor is a piece of equipment that you can wear on your character.
  • Each armor has an Armor Class or AC value determining the item’s strength.
  • AC depends on gear, dexterity modifier, magical enhancements, and Armor Proficiency
  • Proficiency determines the best-suited gear for a specific class.
  • There are three armor categories: Light, Medium, and Heavy. 
  • They can be classified into common, rare, and legendary.

Light ArmorMedium ArmorHeavy Armor
Low ACModerate ACHigh AC
High Dexterity ModifierModerate Dexterity ModifierLow Dexterity Modifier
Weak protectionModerate protectionStrong protection
Great mobilityMedium mobilityLow mobility
Best synergy with classes requiring dexterity modifiersModerate synergy with most classesBest synergy with classes based on strength

Armor Class

AC stats
Armor Class

In Baldur’s Gate 3, AC is an important attribute that stands for Armor Class. This shows your level of armor. In simpler terms, if your AC is 16, the enemy must roll a dice higher than 16 to hit you. 

Similarly, the higher your AC is, the more chances of you winning a fight against the enemy. AC depends on factors such as your armor gear, Dexterity Modifier, magical enhancements, etc. Thus you must build the best armor which will benefit you in winning fights later on.

Another critical factor in building the best armor is Dexterity Modifier. It represents attributes such as agility, reflexes, and balance based on your character. The number of skills synergize which AC determines how difficult it is for your enemy to attack you successfully. 

Armor pieces also grant Stealth attributes which is a Dexterity skill. This helps you conceal yourself against enemies or while crossing areas unnoticed. 

Armor Proficiency 

It must be noted that AC also depends heavily on Armor Proficiency. This shows the preference of your classes on the type of armor which will suit them the best. If you wear an armor piece in a class that is not proficient, you will be penalized.

These penalties include reducing defensive or offensive output, being unable to cast certain spells, and disadvantages on Saving Throws and Stealth.  

Classes such as BardRogues, and Rangers rely heavily on Dexterity modifiers. This means the armors proficient with these classes will synergize greatly when appropriately combined. Hence, knowing which class works well with which type of armor classification is important. 

These are the preferences based on each class

Class Proficiency
BardLight Armor
BarbarianLight + Medium Armor, Shields
ClericLight + Medium + Heavy Armor, Shields
DruidLight + Medium Armor, Shields
FighterLight + Medium + Heavy Armor, Shields
MonkNone
PaladinLight + Medium + Heavy Armor, Shields
RangerLight + Medium Armor, Shields
RogueLight Armor
SorcererNone
WizardLight Armor
WarlockNone

Baldur’s Gate 3 Best Armor is classified into three categories: Light, Medium, and Heavy. Each class has further divisions which define the rarity of items. 

Armor Comparison:

ArmorQualityACSpecial EffectsWeightPrice
Light Armor
Drow Studded LeatherRare12Stealth +1 bonus5.85 kg1,000 gold
ShadeClingerRare12+1 gain to stealth checks
Benefit on saving throws
4.5 kg561 gold
SpidersilkRare12+1 gain on Stealth Check
Benefits on Saving Throws
5.85 kg1,150 gold
Armor Of The ShopkeeperVery Rare13Malefic Funghi: Allows +1 Bonus to Spell Save on Necrotic Damage.
Spore Sacks: in which you can use Bibberbang, Timmask, and Haste spores when imbued.
4.5 kg1,000 gold
Elegant Studded LeatherVery Rare14Initiative Rolls get a +2 Bonus.
Extra Shield Spell which gives you extra +5 AC when being hit.
5.85 kg2,000 gold
Medium Armor
Elven ChainRare14Initiative Rolls get a +2 Bonus.
Benefits on Saving Throws.
9 kg510 gold
Yuan-Ti Scale MailRare15Adds High dexterity modifier.
Spares Stealth Check penalty.
Initiative Rolls get a +1 bonus.
12 kg704 gold
Armor Of AgilityRare17Adds High dexterity modifier.
Spares Stealth Check penalty.
+2 bonus on Saving Throws.
24 kg2,900 gold
Adamantine Scale MailVery Rare16Magical Plater: decreases all incoming damage by one.
Adamantine Backlash: when you get a melee hit, the attacker gets a -1 Roll on the remaining turns.
Critical Strike Immunity: If attacked, the attacker cannot critically hit you.
12 kg1,300 gold
Heavy Armor
Blackguard’s PlateVery Rare19Magical Plate: Decreases all incoming damage by one.
Benefits on Wisdom Saving Throws.
There is a penalty on Stealth Checks.
20 kg6,400 gold
Armor Of PersistenceVery Rare20Magical Plate: Decreases all incoming damage by two.
Legendary Persistence: Grants additional Resistance.
20 kg6,400 gold
Reaper’s EmbraceVery Rare19Magical Plate: Decreases all incoming damage by one.
Repear’s Rigidity: A skill is activated that restraints you from moving against your will.
There is a disadvantage to Stealth Checks.
20 kg6,400 gold
Adamantine SplintVery Rare18Magical Plate: Decreases all incoming damage by one.
Intense Adamantine Backlash: when you get a melee hit, the attacker gets a -3 Roll on the remaining turns.
There is a disadvantage to Stealth Checks.
Critical Strike Immunity: If attacked, the attacker cannot critically hit you.
19 kg3,800 gold
Legendary Heavy Armor
HellduskLegendary21Grants you a Proficient title while wearing it.
Internal Retribution: If your Saving Throw is successful, you will receive additional Burning for three turns.
Prime Aegis of Fire: Grants fire resistance and also decreases three incoming damage.
Cast Fly Spell: Grants you to touch a creature giving it the ability to fly.
20 kg8,000 gold

Light Armors

This provides the lowest quality AC, which gives minimal protection. However, it allows adding a Dexterity modifier, making it good for classes that use Dexterity-related builds to their advantage. The best Light category includes:

Drow Studded Leather 

baldur's gate 3 best armor light category
Drow Studded Leather Armor
Quality Rare
AC12
Special EffectsStealth +1 bonus
Weight5.85 kg
Price1000 gold

You must find this in Underdark, located under the Blighted Village. You must move towards the tower between Selune’s Fort and stumble upon a chest in Lolth’s Cultist’s cache. The coordinates are x: 83, y:207

ShadeClinger

QualityRare
AC12
Special Effects+1 gain to stealth checks
Benefit on saving throws
Weight 4.5 kg
Price561 gold

You can locate this at Last Light Inn or by Quartermaster Talli merchant. 

Spidersilk 

baldur's gate 3 best armor light category
Spidersilk Armor
QualityRare
AC12
Special Effects+1 gain on Stealth Check
Benefits on Saving Throws
Weight5.85 kg
Price1,150 gold

You must locate Minthara NPC Boss in the Shattered Sanctum and defeat it to get this item.

Armor Of The Shopkeeper

QualityVery Rare
AC13
Special EffectsMalefic Funghi: Allows +1 Bonus to Spell Save on Necrotic Damage.
Spore Sacks: in which you can use Bibberbang, Timmask, and Haste spores when imbued.
Weight4.5 kg
Price1,000 gold

You must locate this in Philgrave’s Mansion or find it by the merchant Mystic Carrion

Elegant Studded Leather

QualityVery Rare
AC14
Special EffectsInitiative Rolls get a +2 Bonus.
Extra Shield Spell which gives you extra +5 AC when being hit.
Weight5.85 kg
Price2,000 gold

This is one of the Best Armor in the Lightweight category. It is related to Return Rakath’s Gold Quest, where you must find this in The Counting House and locate the High-security vault. You will receive a key once the quest is completed. 

Medium Armors

This provides moderate-quality AC and has better protection than light, with a reduced Dexterity modifier, up to a maximum of two. These include:

Elven Chain

QualityRare
AC14
Special EffectsInitiative Rolls get a +2 Bonus.
Benefits on Saving Throws.
Weight9 kg
Price510 gold

This piece is located at Rivington General. You must unlock Chapter Three to get access. 

Yuan-Ti Scale Mail

QualityRare
AC15
Special EffectsAdds High dexterity modifier.
Spares Stealth Check penalty.
Initiative Rolls get a +1 bonus.
Weight 12 kg
Price704 gold

Locate this in Last Light Inn in Chapter Two

Armor Of Agility

QualityRare
AC17
Special EffectsAdds High dexterity modifier.
Spares Stealth Check penalty.
+2 bonus on Saving Throws.
Weight24 kg
Price2,900 gold

You can buy it from Gloomy Fentonson in the Stormshore Armoury

Adamantine Scale Mail

Quality Very Rare
AC16
Special EffectsMagical Plater: decreases all incoming damage by one.
Adamantine Backlash: when you get a melee hit, the attacker gets a -1 Roll on the remaining turns.
Critical Strike Immunity: If attacked, the attacker cannot critically hit you.

Weight 12 kg
Price1,300 gold

You must forge this in the Adamantine Forge, located in the Underdark. You need two materials for the combinates:

  1. Mithral Ore (Found at Ore Veins from Grymforge)
  2. Scale Mail Mould (Found in Grymforge at x: -618, y: 264)

However, this has a slight disadvantage: it grants -2 on Stealth Checks

Heavy Armors

The last category includes heavy, which offers the highest AC protection. However, it is to be noted that it does not provide any Dexterity modifier, so classes which use dexterity attributes to their advantage are not ideal for this. 

You must use this for classes that are strength-based. The best Heavy gears include:

Blackguard’s Plate

QualityVery Rare
AC19
Special EffectMagical Plate: Decreases all incoming damage by one.
Benefits on Wisdom Saving Throws.
There is a penalty on Stealth Checks.
Weight20 kg
Price6,400 gold

You must locate this in Bhaalist Crypt

Armor Of Persistence

QualityVery Rare
AC20
Special EffectsMagical Plate: Decreases all incoming damage by two.
Legendary Persistence: Grants additional Resistance.
Weight20 kg
Price6,400 gold

You can buy it from Dammon at location Forge of Nine

Reaper’s Embrace

QualityVery Rare
AC19
Special EffectsMagical Plate: Decreases all incoming damage by one.
Repear’s Rigidity: A skill is activated that restraints you from moving against your will.
There is a disadvantage to Stealth Checks.
Weight20 kg
Price6,400 gold

You must complete the Quest Defeat Ketheric Throm. After defeating the boss, you can claim this item. It is located on coordinates x: 866, y: -22

Adamantine Splint

Baldur's gate 3 best armor heavy category
Adamantine Splint Armor
QualityVery Rare
AC18
Special EffectsMagical Plate: Decreases all incoming damage by one.
Intense Adamantine Backlash: when you get a melee hit, the attacker gets a -3 Roll on the remaining turns.
 There is a disadvantage to Stealth Checks.
Critical Strike Immunity: If attacked, the attacker cannot critically hit you.
Weight19 kg
Price3,800 gold

You can locate it at the Grymforge by coordinates x: -593, y: 309. It is related to Adamantine Forge Quest. You need two materials for the combination:

  1. Mithral Ore (Found at Ore Veins from Grymforge)
  2. Splint Mould (Found in Grymforge at x: -597, y: 309)

Legendary Armors

Apart from those categories, you will stumble upon the rarest and most unique armor pieces found. You must find these from bosses, hidden in secret places, or rewarded for completing Quests. Helldusk is regarded as the best armor due to its high stats, providing many attributes to your character. 

Helldusk

Heavy armor
Legendary Armor
QualityLegendary
AC21
Special EffectsGrants you a Proficient title while wearing it.
Internal Retribution: If your Saving Throw is successful, you will receive additional Burning for three turns.
Prime Aegis of Fire: Grants fire resistance and also decreases three incoming damage.
Cast Fly Spell: Grants you to touch a creature giving it the ability to fly.  
Weight20 kg
Price8,000 gold

You must loot this from Raphael in the House of Hope. You can access this in Chapter Three. Helldusk is considered the best in the game for multiple reasons. 

  1. Having an AC value of 21, the highest in the game provides strong protection to your character. Your enemy must roll a high dice to hit you; having such a high AC grants more chances of not being hit. This ultimately increases your survivability in fights.
  2. Internal Retribution is a unique skill that inflicts burning to your enemy for the next three consecutive turns. This greatly affects your offensive power against enemies. 
  3. Moreover, you also get Fire resistance. This enables you to receive less damage from fire-based attacks providing extra resilience in certain fights. 
  4. On top of this, you also get to cast Level 3 Fly Spell. This allows your character to enter flight mode, where you get an aerial-based tactical advantage. This will also open new doors for strategic opportunities in battles against opponents.  

In conclusion, your gear is best suited according to your chosen class. Each class has its preference which makes it more useful in battles. Therefore overall, statistically, Helldusk is regarded as Baldur’s Gate 3 Best Armor due to its multiple advantages. 

Up Next:

Was this helpful? 🎮

Good job! Please give your positive feedback ☺️

How could we improve this post? Please Help us. 🤔