In Elden Ring, you’ll eventually drape yourself with the hides and stolen clothes of the very gods and kings you’ve killed like the classy Skinwalker you are. Before that point, you’re just a zombie with a craving for fancy armor. However, to make yourself feel less Tarnished (even though are), you can always opt for the more protective or stylish best armor sets in Elden Ring. These are great for beginners and budding usurpers.
Kaiden Set
| Location | Drops from Kaiden Sellsword enemies in Limgrave. Two of them patrol the area west of Warmaster’s Shack, Limgrave. |
| Weight | 20.8 |
| Poise | 39 |
If you want to look somewhat dignified or formidable in Elden Ring‘s early-game phase, then the Kaiden Set is your best bet. This Viking-themed armor should hold well up until you get to the Mountaintops of the Giants.
It’s not just for fashion, of course. A light weight and decent defenses stat make it a well-rounded armor set. Also, with the good poise value, you can’t really blame this armor set too much if you keep dying. It’s guilt-free and worry-free Elden Bling.
Knight Set
| Location | Sold by Twin Maiden Husks in Roundtable Hold. |
| Weight | 25.3 |
| Poise | 51 |
It’s heavier and you don’t really need this one if you picked the Vagabond class since the stats are similar to the Vagabond Set. However, it’s shinier and better-maintained compared to that rust bucket. Moreover, the poise value is higher.
It’s a good upgrade path for most melee builds especially those who are worried about getting staggered or stun-locked too much. Moreover, it’s easy to acquire and you don’t need to keep slaying enemies for a chance to get them.
Carian Knight Set
| Location | Beside a worshipped statue near a ledge located opposite the giant wheel lift area in Raya Lucaria Academy. |
| Weight | 25.1 |
| Poise | 40 |
If you’re having trouble against enemies who inflict non-physical damage types, then the Carian Knight set should be your ideal protection. It has some of the highest elemental and magical defense among the best armor in Elden Ring. Moreover, it’s undeniably fashionable.
Getting this one is hard, however. Starting from the rotating lift area in Raya Lucaria Academy, you’ll have to shimmy around some ledges and drop to the hidden areas in the academy to get this armor set. You’ll find the set right next to a statue that’s being worshipped by zombies.
Spellblade Set
| Location | Drops from Sorcerer Rogier in Roundtable Hold after you defeat Godrick, the Grafted in Stormveil Castle, Limgrave, and after you’ve found his Bloodstain in Stormveil Castle. You can also start Ranni’s questline in Caria Manor, Liurnia of the Lakes to trigger Rogier’s death. |
| Weight | 8.6 |
| Poise | 15 |
If you’re good at evading melee attacks but are having trouble against elemental attacks, then the Spellblade Set offers even better non-physical protection. It’s also light, making it ideal for Sorcerery and mage builds.
Each piece of the set also comes with a special property that boosts your magical Ash of War damage. If you’ve managed to acquire Moonveil early on, pairing it with this armor set will increase the damage. Of course, let’s not forget just how appropriate the Spellblade Set is for the Rennaissance Fair.
Banished Knight Set – Best Early Armor in Elden Ring
| Location | Drops from Banished Knight enemies in Stormveil Castle, Limgrave (there’s one in the elevator room before the Rampart Tower Grace), or Cathedral of the Dragon Communion, Caelid. |
| Weight | 41.6 |
| Poise | 72 |
You can’t have too much protection without adding extra weight, but a good balance between the two is the Banished Knight Set. It drops from Banished Knight enemies and you’re in for a long haul when farming this set as the drop rates can be random or low.
If you have a beefy build, however, you can benefit further from this set, and you can even take it to the late-game without upgrading to other armor. While you’re at it, farming it repeatedly is also a decent way to level up while gaining something else.
Elden Ring is now available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One.
