Skyrim Best Armor: Heavy, Light, Masks, and Shields Armor
Light Armor: Deathbrand, Ancient Shrouded, Dragonscale
Deathbrand armor, despite being a light armor, is arguably the best in the game, especially if players lack max-level Enchanting or Smithing. It’s easily attained from the Dragonborn DLC quest ‘Deathbrand.’ The armor boasts a 100 defense rating at a tiny 13 weight but really comes into its own with resistances and buffs. The full-set contains a +15 Stamina buff, +40 Carry Capacity, water breathing, and +40% damage from one-handed attacks when dual-wielding. Ideally, players should have high light and heavy armor smithing rating to wear the set, but also upgrade it to its full potential.
Coming in second is the Ancient Shrouded armor, which has 72 defense at 7.5 weight. The set can be found from the Dark Brotherhood side questline ‘Locate the Assassin of Old.’ The set as a bonus of +25 when fully worn, an immunity to poison, a sound muffle, +35% bow damage, and double sneak attack damage from one-handed weapons. For those inclined to sneak, this armor is perfect until the very endgame.
In third is Dragonscale armor, with similar perks as its heavy counterpart. The defense is 82 (111 if paired with a shield) and weighs 20 (26 with shield). The armor is made by an accumulation of dragon scales as opposed to bones and contains no passive resistance. Its overall lack of resistances and buffs places it in third, with the first two light armors having some of the best passive buffs in the game. It’s probably the best-looking set in Skyrim, though, so there’s that.
Keep going for even more of the best armor in Skyrim. Masks are up next.
