Highlights
- Armor in Baldur's Gate 3 comes in different rarities, with even Common Armor providing advantages and bonuses, making it a valuable option in the early game.
- It is important for players to consider the correct Armor Proficiency for their characters to wear Light, Medium, or Heavy Armor.
- Certain Common Armor pieces, like the Breastplate and Small Mail Armor, offer high AC values but may come with disadvantages such as reduced stealth or limited ability bonuses.
Armor in Baldur's Gate 3 comes in five different rarities, but even Common Armor can provide Armor Class and great bonuses, with the benefit of being cheap or easily found in the early game. Armor Class (commonly abbreviated to AC) is the number that enemies must roll to successfully hit a target in Baldur's Gate 3. For example, if a target has 15 AC, then opponents must roll 15 or higher to hit.
While players will want to pick up the best Rare Armor in BG3 eventually, some pieces of Common Armor are actually very strong and should not be underestimated. Players do need to bear in mind however that characters must have the correct Armor Proficiency to wear Light, Medium, or Heavy Armor.
7 Breastplate
Type | AC | Effects |
|---|---|---|
Medium Armor | 14 + Dexterity Modifier (Max 2) | AC Bonus from Dexterity limited to +2 |
There are a few Medium Armor pieces in Baldur's Gate 3 that don't give players a disadvantage on stealth checks, and out of the Common pieces, the Breastplate offers the highest AC. This makes it very comparable with the Githyanki Half Plate, which has an extra 1 AC, at the cost of making players less stealthy.
Players will find the Breastplate in multiple random locations while traveling and looting, and it is certainly not an item to be sold in the early stages of the game.
6 Small Mail Armor
Type | AC | Effects |
|---|---|---|
Light Armor | 14 + Dexterity Modifier | Disadvantage on Stealth rolls |
While most Light Armor in Baldur's Gate 3 is better for stealth than heavier forms of pieces of Armor, the Common yet sturdy Small Mail Armor does unfortunately give the player a disadvantage on stealth rolls. However, it makes up for it with a very high AC of 14 which can be increased with high Dexterity.
Whereas some Common Armor pieces can be used for most of Act 1, players will have to wait until they reach the Grymforge, as Small Mail Armor is dropped by the Duergar Dwarves.
5 Githyanki Half Plate
Type | AC | Effects |
|---|---|---|
Medium Armor | 15 + Dexterity Modifier (Max 2) | Disadvantage on Stealth rolls and AC Bonus from Dexterity limited to +2 |
Lae'zel is one of the strongest companions in Baldur's Gate 3 and if players choose to recruit her to their party, then they will have one of the best Common Medium Armor pieces in the game right from the off.
There isn't much to Githyanki Half Plate other than its fantastic AC of 15, and if players want more than just Lae'zel's set, they can kill other Githyanki to acquire it.
4 Splint Armor
Type | AC | Effects |
|---|---|---|
Heavy Armor | 17 | Disadvantage on Stealth rolls and no AC Bonus from Dexterity |
While players will have to wait till the later stages of the game to get one of the best Heavy Armor pieces, Adamantine Splint Armor, the Common rarity Splint Armor is a great option for Act 1 and the first stages of Act 2.
Its high AC of 17 is comparable with Heavy Armor pieces of Uncommon and Rare values and at only 700 gold, it is much cheaper than the slightly superior Plate Armor.
3 Studded Leather Armor
Type | AC | Effects |
|---|---|---|
Light Armor | 13 + Dexterity Modifier | Superior Padding: You take 1 less Bludgeoning damage |
Studded Leather Armor is one of the few Common Armor pieces with a unique effect, allowing players to take 1 less damage from bludgeoning. While this isn't exactly game-changing, it nonetheless gives it an advantage over other Common Light Armor pieces.
As with all the best Light Armor pieces in Baldur's Gate 3, if players have a high Dexterity Stat then they can still have high AC with Studded Leather Armor and also avoid stealth debuffs.
2 Half Plate Armor
Type | AC | Effects |
|---|---|---|
Medium Armor | 15 + Dexterity Modifier (Max 2) | Disadvantage on Stealth rolls and AC Bonus from Dexterity limited to +2 |
Half Plate Armor is the best Medium Armor of Common rarity and can be looted around the world from chests and the like. It offers fantastic protection in the early stages of the game, especially if players have at least 14 Dexterity so that they can take their AC up to 17 with the modifier.
As with most Medium or Heavy Armor, the Half Plate Armor is not ideal for those looking to surprise enemies with stealth-based gameplay, as it gives a disadvantage.
1 Plate Armor
Type | AC | Effects |
|---|---|---|
Heavy Armor | 18 | Disadvantage on Stealth rolls and no AC Bonus from Dexterity |
When it comes to Common Heavy Armor in Baldur's Gate 3, Plate Armor is easily the best offering the highest AC, which is actually on par with some Rare Armor. However, players will have to wait until Act 2 to get their hands on this armor as it is sold by A'jak'nir Jeera in Creche Y'llek for 1500 gold.
As with most other Common Armor pieces, Plate Armor has no special effects, but an AC of 18 should save players against most throws.
Baldur's Gate 3 is out now on PC and PlayStation 5, with an Xbox Series X/S version in the works.