When it comes to gaming, the look of player armor is key, especially among RPG enthusiasts. Many expected Dark Souls 2 to have beautiful gear that made gamers feel at home. Instead, Dark Souls 2 took a hard left turn as far as this franchise goes. Players either loved looking like a mix-and-match puppet or hated sacrificing looking good for better statistics.

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The sets were better off taken apart and used individually, which made all of the min-max players look like they got dressed after a romp through the dumpster of a Spirit store after Halloween. Other gamers sacrificed the best stats for using a whole armor set to look cohesive. This article compiles the results of the discovery process in the field of which sets worked and did not work, both visually and functionally.

Updated on April 22nd, 2022 by Hodey Johns: This guide got a bit long, with flowing descriptions and locations. It was very in-depth, which might appeal to an average reader, but gamers were probably looking for more specific sources of information. Therefore, this guide has replaced sections that talked about statistics with charts for easier viewing. Also, there is a segment in each section of "best" armor that helps players find the gear they are looking for. This has made important information quicker to find for players who are looking for it. The entries have, themselves, remained the same since the community did appreciate some degree of consensus on these particular entries.

10 BEST: Alonne Captain Set

No, the set does not have any pants. Or shoes. Or gloves. There are only two pieces to this "set." Maybe set isn't an appropriate term. Accessories, perhaps? Whoever is looking for a full set is going to join the list of NPCs with very sad lives.

So why is this on the best list? Well, aside from the pieces looking great with those dueling dragons, they are actually quite transferrable. The stats are fantastic, so players can use their favorite equipment in other slots and still look phenomenal in the torso and head.

How To Get Alonne's Armor

Players will first have to defeat none other than Sir Alonne himself. After besting him, Magerold of Lanafir in Iron Keep sells the complete set for 74,000 souls. Some players have managed to get a piece to drop from Sir Alonne himself as a phantom, but this is widely considered a glitch.

9 WORST: Brigand Set

Ever love the way that the character fights the best bosses in the game, but wish they had a piece of gear that makes the elbows look fluffy and massive? No? Yet some designers saw fit to grant that unwished wish.

On top of the cartoon-looking joints, the statistics on this gear are unforgivable. The elemental defense is poor and, for being medium armor, the physical defense is on par with some of the lighter armors in the game.

8 BEST: Aurous Set

This heavy-looking armor set is surprisingly mobile. The Aurous Set is well-rounded on defense and stands up strong against the most evil characters in the franchise, it's a tempting choice for all players that come across it. Plus, the spikes add height!

This is a controversial selection for one reason only; this armor set has a transparent alternative that some players love to walk around in. But isn't there a warning story about a prideful man and invisible clothing? The furry underwear in this game is not nearly flattering enough to justify the resulting embarrassment.

How To Get The Aurous Set

The first and most common way to get the armor is the get it to drop off of Rhoy the Explorer in Grave of Saints. However, there is a secret way to acquire the armor. Spent 15,000 in souls from Maughlin the Armorer in Majula, then come back completely broke. He'll gift the player the armor to his best customer.

7 WORST: Lion Mage Set

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The problem here is that this armor set does not commit to the look. The top and the bottom look shredded enough, but the pristine gold bracelets add an element of class to a look that is lacking in classiness entirely.

Some say this is the best game in the series, but it's definitely not because of this armor set.

6 BEST: Heide Knight Set

This is perhaps the most iconic armor in Dark Souls 2 and rightfully so. The imagery is that of a white knight, shot by arrows, and pressing on despite the pain. If that's not a metaphor for the gameplay of this franchise, then nothing is.

When it is located, the player will notice a huge boost in defensive capabilities immediately. Two different helmets have the "Heide" label, so be ready to customize with anything that drops off of the other tough DLC bosses.

How To Get The Heide Knight Set

Unsurprisingly, the pieces of this gear are dropped from the knights of the same name. There are three locations where the knights appear: the Forest of Fallen Giants, the Lost Bastille, and the Shrine of Winter. To farm the complete set, use the Bonfire Ascetic to potentially reset the spawns.

5 WORST: Faraam Set

The Faraam Set is insanely heavy for how it looks. And while it has the physical defense to justify that problem, the elemental defense is total trash. When moving in a suit of armor this slow, the elements are pretty much guaranteed to land. A fair amount of gamers would like to ask the folks at FromSoftware what they were thinking with statistics like these.

Everything above the waist has no style complaints, but below the buckle, nothing makes sense. Are those blue jeans? Are those smushed-up cowboy boots? And why no teal and silvery-white when the rest of the outfit is silvery-white?

4 BEST: Havel's Set

Sometimes players have a build that demands the biggest, heaviest armor in the game to protect the best classes in the game. When they finally acquire it, they hold their breath in anticipation. With a whole character build revolving around this armor, will it be any good?

Luckily, there is fantastic news to the tanks out there, Havel's Set is statistically just fine and its look really reflects the style of play. With extra chains dangling from all over the place and a sleek polish, no gamer will be disappointed with this walking cannonball.

How To Get Havel's Set

The Forgotten Key in the Black Gultch opens several doors that are critical to the mission, but one of the most important doors is in the Gutter. Make way through a room of vases toward a clay door. The armor is inside.

3 WORST: Gyrm Set

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Enter Dark Souls 2 in 2014 with the Gyrm Set, a suit of heavy armor, a solid Viking-style helmet, and...Daisy Duke's signature cutoff jean shorts.

Combine this with the choice to also give the set some biker gloves and the result is the most confusing combination of armor in the entire game. It feels so absurd to wield the game's best bows while wearing this monstrosity.

2 BEST: Vengarl's Set

Thanks to the underground nature of some of the optional bosses in the series, getting through the game is a grimy experience. So it helps to have a roguish look; someone who isn't afraid to get dirty and slimy. It's even better when these smudges and smears can enhance the effect of grime.

The Vengarl's Set looks like a fantasy hunter's dream come true. The character looks stylish wearing a bear pelt, complete with the animal's head over the face. The layer of chainmail under this makes the armor stand out even more.

Where To Get Vengarl's Set

Famously, Vengarl has been split into two pieces. Naturally, getting this set means visiting both places as well. Talk to Vengarl's Head in the Shaded Woods until it has no dialogue options left, it will then yield the helm. The rest are dropped off of Vengarl's Body, located by the bonfire in The Dear Duke's Freja.

1 WORST: Smelter Demon Set

Any fan of the game knew it was only a matter of time before this entry came up. And here it is, the infamous Smelter Demon Set. The statistics are horrible for a clunky piece of armor and the exposed midriff is a baffling choice. But forgive all of that and it is still the worst armor in the game.

The helmet is a pair of horns with a puckered orifice in the center for the face. There's no getting around this not-so-thinly-veiled similarity to a posterior portion of the human anatomy. This armor will be the...*ahem*...butt of jokes for years to come.

Dark Souls 2 was released on March 11th, 2014, and is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC.

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