Skyrim: The 30 Best Heavy Armor Sets (2024)

For every character, there's a perfect set of armor in The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. If a player chooses to go down the tankier route and make a close-combat, heavy-damage Dragonborn, chances are they'll most likely invest perks in the heavy armor skill tree. Heavy armor is great for two-handed fighters who like to stay close up and personal and dish out a ton of damage while being able to sustain a lot as well. A player's stamina may be affected as a result, but most people won't mind as long as they can tank through most blows and swing their weapon with immense gusto to take out the many foes standing in their way.

The best Skyrim heavy armor will suit such character builds. Wearing a full set is also a great bonus, provided the player has unlocked the perks within the heavy armor skill tree that grants powerful boosts when wearing only heavy armor. There are many great Heavy Armor sets in Skyrim that players can invest in, with the vast majority of them doing a great job of negating most of the damage inflicted on the Dragonborn and letting them power through the battlefield in style.

Updated on July 19th, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: Skyrim is one of the best video games that players can get their hands on. This amazing title deserves all its praise and then some for revolutionizing the open-world genre, with the incredible modding support ensuring that players can enjoy an endless stream of content with this title. The Creation Club may be gone now, but there was a ton of premium content added to the game via this system that can still be obtained, and at no cost now. This includes some of the best heavy armor in Skyrim that can potentially eclipse the base game and DLC armor sets, even if this equipment is still viable for players given the level at which they get their hands on such powerful armor.

30 Ancient Nord Armor

A Decent Suit Of Armor That Looks Amazing

• Armor Rating: 60
• How To Get: Forelhost, Nordic Ruins, Aela The Huntress after marriage

The Ancient Nord Armorset is quite rare to find and complete. While most draugr will wear pieces of the set, most of them don't drop the armor as loot. Luckily, the armor is there more for its appearance than its utility.

One of the key ways of getting this armor set is to find it at Forelhost or purchase it from Aela The Huntress. Random pieces of it may be found all across Skyrim, typically in Nordic Ruins. It will certainly look nice on an armor stand. Despite being an okay-ish set, it has a high crafting requirement. It can only be made at the Skyforge with the Daedric Smithing perk.

29 Iron Armor (Regular And Banded)

Classic Armor That Is Useful In The Early Game

• Armor Rating: 60 (regular), 63 (banded)
• How To Get: Commonly found in random loot, merchants, as well as Shroudhearth Barrow, Riverwood, and Helgen

Iron Armor is just a copy of Ancient Nordic armor, but it's much more common and has its own distinct look. The regular type in particular is very easy to find early in the game, with some pieces available in Helgen as soon as the game starts.

There's also a banded version of iron armor, which is a bit better in terms of armor rating but still clearly a beginner's armor set in Skyrim. All in all, it's a set that the Dragonborn will likely wear when the game begins but will soon graduate out of. The bonus is that iron armor can be crafted without any Smithing perks or levels.

28 Ebony Spell Knight Armor

The Strongest Variant Of The Spell Knight Armor

• Armor Rating: 62
• How To Get: Finish the quest "Crypt of the Heart"

The best version of the Spell Knight Armor that players can find in the game is the one made of Ebony, as one would expect. This suit of armor has a very regal look that will serve as a piece of eye candy for players who love playing this game in first person.

Depending on the choices they make in the questline associated with this suit of armor, they'll get a version of the Ebony Spell Knight Armor with different enchantments. Regardless of what choice players make, there's no denying that they'll be rewarded with a great suit of armor that looks pretty amazing to boot.

27 Imperial Armor (Regular, Officer's Helmet, And Closed Helmet)

A Variant Of The Iron Armor With A Unique Look

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• Armor Rating: 60 (regular), 62 (officer's helmet), 63 (closed helmet)
• How To Get: Helgen and when joining the Imperial Legion

Imperial Armor is another variant of iron armor. It has the same base armor rating of 60 but has a unique appearance to it. It also comes in three different types, depending on the kind of helmet the Dragonborn chooses to go for. The closed helmet type is the best variant, as it provides the most armor.

This is another extremely early-game heavy armor set in Skyrim. It won't serve the player well past a few levels, but it can be a nice starting armor for just about any character build that relies heavily on heavy armor. To craft it, the Steel Smithing perk is required, as well as level 20 of Smithing.

26 Iron Plate Armor

One Of The Iron Alternative Armors Added Via The Now-Defunct Creation Club

• Armor Rating: 65
• How To Get: Obtained via the quest "Brothers in Irons"

The Creation Club armor sets feature a unique quest that players must complete before getting their hands on some of Skyrim's best heavy armor, and the Iron Plate Armor is one such set that players can acquire in the game. In terms of looks alone, this armor set is something players will love to wear if the base armor sets are getting too grating on the eyes.

The Iron Plate Armor may not last players for too long, but it is a perfectly serviceable suit of armor that is viable in the early- and mid-game. It's decent at absorbing damage and lets the Dragonborn look incredibly intimidating as they cleave their way through the many foes standing in their way.

25 Falmer Armor

Surprisingly Effective Armor Despite How Little It Covers

• Armor Rating: 65
• How To Get: Can either be found in the Mzinchaleft Depths or crafted with Chaurus Chitin

The Falmer Armor seems like a rather impractical suit of armor to wear while trying to avoid blows. It leaves the midriff of the Dragonborn wide open for attacks while also blocking their vision with one of the most impractical designs in the game.

However, for some reason, even this baffling design didn't prevent the Falmer Armor from having a respectable armor rating in the game. Of course, this armor is easily outclassed by most of the other heavy armor in Skyrim.

24 Wolf Armor

Amazing Looking Armor With Decent Protection

• Armor Rating Without Shield: 72
• HowTo Get: Eorlund Gray-Mane's shop (must join Companions first)

The Wolf Armor is a surprisingly cool set that can be seen on many of the members of the Companions upon joining them. Not many players may have noticed, but this armor set can also be bought from Eorlund Gray-Mane after they've completed the Proving Honor quest in the Companions faction.

Although this heavy armor set looks nice, it's not that strong in the long run and soon becomes obsolete in comparison to Dwarven armor for instance. That being said, it provides a nice base armor of 72 when a full set of it is worn.

23 Steel Armor

The Armor That Most Players Will Stick With In The Early Game

• Armor Rating: 72
• How To Get:Buy from merchants, loot from chests or bandits

Tied with the Wolf Armor, Steel Armor is a bit easier to find while adventuring in Skyrim. Most random loot and merchants will have steel armor, so players won't be having a hard time at all to find at least a few pieces of it here and there. It's a decent early-game choice as well, upgrading from iron armor.

To craft steel armor, level 20 of Smithing is required, as is the Steel Smithing perk.

22 Bonemold Armor

Causes Morrowind Flashbacks In The Best Way Possible

• Armor Rating: 73
• How To Get: Requires Dragonborn DLC, can be purchased from Glover Mallory at Raven Rock

The Bonemold Armor is another set introduced first in the Dragonborn DLC. Upon entering Raven Rock in particular, the player will spot it on local Redoran guards. Like the Chitin Heavy Armor, it's sold by Glover Mallory and worn occasionally by Reavers.

With the right level of Smithing, which in this case is only 15, the player can craft their own set with bone meal, Netch leather, and iron ingots. A full set has a fairly good armor rating of 73 and is still lackluster compared to many of the base game heavy armor sets found later in Skyrim.

21 Iron Spell Knight Armor

Added In The Game Via The Creation Club

• Armor Rating: 76
• How To Get: Found during the quest "Crypt of the Heart"

There's no denying that the armor added via the Creation Club looks amazing, and the Spell Knight Armor is a great example of the same. The quest involving this suit of armor may be pretty simple, but players won't mind as long as they get their hands on one of the best heavy armor sets in Skyrim.

The Iron Spell Knight Armor may be the weakest of the bunch, but don't let that take away from the impressive level of protection afforded by this set. Players who manage to get their hands on this gear early in the game will be using it for quite some time before a better set of heavy armor comes their way.

20 Dwarven Armor

Easy To Craft And Provides A High Armor Rating

• Armor Rating: 78
• How To Get: Commonly found in random loot, especially in Dwemer ruins like Nchuand-Zel

One of the more common heavy armor sets to find in Dwemer ruins, Dwarven Armor is also fairly easy to craft. The player will need to be level 30 in Smithing, with the Dwarven perk unlocked. The difficulty with crafting this armor set is that it requires Dwarven metal ingots, which need to be smelted from Dwarven metal scraps.

It's a nice mid-game heavy armor set in Skyrim to have but outlives its usefulness after a point. Nchuand-Zel is one of the best locations to find a full set if the player urgently requires one.

19 Dawnguard Heavy Armor

Amazing Looking Armor From The Dawnguard DLC

• Armor Rating: 78
• How To Get: Requires the Dawnguard DLC, received when joining the Dawnguard faction

The Dawnguard DLC also introduced a brand new armor set: the Dawnguard Heavy armor. If the player joins the vampire hunter faction, they'll be able to receive this armor upon joining. To get the helmet, however, it needs to be bought from Gunmar.

Much like other faction-related armor sets, this heavy armor can't be crafted from scratch. That being said, it can be upgraded using steel ingots.

18 Falmer Hardened Armor

A Tougher Version Of The Falmer Armor

• Armor Rating: 78
• How To Get: Commonly found in Dawnguard DLC, on high-level Falmers

Found in the Dawnguard DLC, this Falmer Hardened Armor is a weaker variant of the Falmer Heavy Armor. It looks entirely the same as its stronger version but has a significantly lower base armor rating. The armor can be often looted off of high-level Falmer enemies like Warmongers and Shadowmasters.

The pieces can't be crafted, but they can be upgraded with Chaurus chitin. The base armor rating for a full set is 78 points, which makes this heavy armor set kind of weak since it ranks so much lower than sets that are much easier to find all around Skyrim and earlier on in the game.

17 Improved Bonemold Armor

A Unique-Looking Armor That Is Great

• Armor Rating: 79
• How To Get: Read the Bonemold Formula note at the end of the Paid in Full quest to get the crafting recipe

The idea of using bone as armor might sound pretty harebrained, but logic doesn't necessarily need to apply in a fantasy world full of magic and dragons. So, it's not all that hard to see why the Bonemold Armor functions as a decent suit of heavy armor in the game.

If the base armor isn't good enough, there's an improved version of the same that can be acquired after completing a certain quest. The Improved Bonemold Armor set is pretty beefy and can tank many attacks, even if the component itself might not seem all that powerful.

16 Chitin Heavy Armor

One Of The Best-Looking Armor Sets In The Entire Game

• Armor Rating: 87
• How To Get: Requires Dragonborn DLC, reliably acquired after killing Vendil Severin during the quest Served Cold

Players who have the Dragonborn DLC will have access to this unique and cool Chitin Heavy Armor set, which is inspired by the Morag Tong light armor variant. It's a surprisingly lightweight set as well, making it a good heavy armor set in Skyrim.

The Chitin Heavy Armor set provides an armor rating of 87 when a full set is worn. It can be found all around Solstheim as loot, but Glover Mallory will also sell it over at Raven Rock. Reavers are the best target to loot a full set. With high enough Smithing, the player can also craft their own set with Netch leather, chitin plate, and corundum ingots.

15 Steel Plate Armor

A Powerful Version Of Steel Armor Unlocked In Later Levels

• Armor Rating: 87
• How To Get: Can be found as random loot or purchasable equipment. Can also be crafted

Steel Plate Armor is a pretty widespread piece of armor that players can easily get after reaching level 18 in Skyrim. It's a good mid-game armor to use unless players want to go for more unique and exotic variants.

A special thing to note about the Steel Plate Armor is that it can only be crafted if players have invested in light armor smithing. It might sound odd, but this is far from the only armor that receives this special treatment.

14 Ahzidal's Armor

Tough Armor With A Nord Design

• Armor Rating: 87
• How To Get: Obtained in Kolbjorn Barrow

Speaking of unique armor, a great set that players can use if they manage to obtain the same at a relevant level is Ahzidal's Armor. It's a custom set of Nord Armor with better stats that can carry players for a decently long time.

As a bonus, players who are trying to be Enchanters will be well-serviced by the ten bonus points bequeathed by this entire set. All in all, Ahzidal's Armor is a great heavy armor set, even though it outlives its usefulness a while before the late-game starts.

13 Blades Armor

Tough Armor Worn By The Legendary Blades

• Armor Rating: 88
• How To Get: Sky Haven Temple, inside the armory

Related of course to the Blades faction, which is joined during the main questline, the armor of the faction can't be crafted. That being said, finding it isn't very difficult, and there's one set location where the player can expect to discover it. It can also be upgraded, eventually.

When entering Sky Haven temple, the Blades Heavy Armor set is inside the armory room and can be looted from the chest. Steel ingots can be used to upgrade it, and with a shield, the armor rating is bumped significantly to 114.

12 Steel Spell Knight Armor

Added In The Spell Knight Armor Creation Club Content

• Armor Rating: 88
• How To Get: Found during the quest "Crypt of the Heart"

The Creation Club may be gone now, but it had attained somewhat of a mixed reception in the Skyrim community. Sure, the quality of these paid mods may be on a whole new level, but there's no denying that Bethesda's attempts to monetize the mods made for the game have left a sour taste in the mouths of many fans. Still, there are some great pieces of content players can download for the game, including the Spell Knight Armor set that adds three sets of cool-looking armor to the game.

The Steel Spell Knight Armor is the second-best one of the bunch. The armor looks amazing, serving as the perfect choice for players who don't mind prioritizing fashion over effectiveness. Players must engage in the quest Crypt of the Heart to get their hands on this set, which they can find as the quest goes on.

11 Orcish Armor

Excellent Heavy Armor That Withstands Enemy Attacks Effectively

• Armor Rating: 90
• How To Get: Commonly found in loot, can be bought from merchants, found at Largashbur

Another great base game heavy armor set in Skyrim, Orcish Armor will begin to appear randomly in chests after the player has reached roughly 26 levels. Fairly common at shops and orc camps as well, it's easy to find but also it's possible to craft a set.

To craft it, the player's Smithing needs to be at least level 50 and they'll need the Orcish Smithing perk. With a shield, the armor rating is bumped up to 120.