The Dark Souls series are landmark games that offer a huge amount of replayability. Throughout the series, players are given a myriad of choices, from which weapon to use, which shield, and, of course, which armor to dress their character in.

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Dark Souls 3 is no exception, with some of the best-looking armor sets in the series being featured here. Players can choose their look purely for the fashion or to match a specific build they’re working on. For players looking to become a walking tank, a higher poise build will allow them to withstand more attacks before their character is staggered. Raising the poise stat requires stronger armor.

Updated on March 15, 2024, by Andy Chapman: Dark Souls 3 continues to be a popular game that has endless replay value. With the upcoming release of the Elden Ring DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, interest in Fromsoftware games is likely to once again increase. As new players discover the exciting and challenging world of the Souls series, they will discover new ways to beat the game and new armor that will permit them to look good while doing it. This article has been updated with additional entries to give a better overview of the armor sets available in the game that give players a higher poise stat.

14 Harald Legion Armor

Armor Set's Poise Stat: 31.28

• Location: The Dreg Heap, Ringed City.
• How To Unlock: Dropped From Defeated Harold Knights.

One of the most memorable armor sets in Dark Souls 3 is the Harald Legion Armor. The set only includes the armor, gauntlets, and leggings but offers a huge amount of protection against physical attacks. This rotund armor offers decent poise, far beyond most of the armor sets in the game.

The Harald Legion Armor pieces can only be found in the Ringed City DLC for Dark Souls 3 and are dropped by Harald Legion Knights. These enemies can be tough if taken on directly but are very weak against plunging attacks.

13 Lothric Knight Armor

Armor Set's Poise Stat: 37.70

• Location: The High Wall Of Lothric, Lothric Castle and The Grand Archives.
• How To Get: Dropped From Defeated Lothric Knights.

Some of the toughest early-game enemies players will face in Dark Souls 3 are the Lothric Knights. Found in The High Wall of Lothric area, Lothric Castle, The Grand Archives, and The Dreg Heap in the Ringed City DLC, killing these enemies gives players the chance to acquire the Lothric Knight Armor set.

This classic-looking set allows players to look like ancient knights of myth and offers great protection as well. As an early-game armor, this set offers a significant poise increase that will help protect players against tougher enemies.

12 Millwood Knight Armor

Armor Set Poise Stat: 38.12

• Location: Firelink Shrine.
• How To Get: Purchased From Shrine Handmaiden After Giving Her The Captain's Ashes.

Players will first encounter this armor worn by the Millwood Knights in the Ashes of Ariandel DLC. They are some of the toughest common enemies in the region and are said to worship the earth and nature.

Players will be able to acquire this armor set in the DLC by finding the Captain’s Ashes. This is located at the top of a tower, guarded by several Millwood Nights. The armor set gives good resistance against frost buildup but is weaker to poison. The armor is distinct and reminiscent of ancient Viking armor in style. The armor is not the heaviest but will require some leveling in vitality to avoid fat rolling.

11 Morne’s Armor

Armor Set Poise Stat: 38.91

• Location: Firelink Shrine.
• How To Get: Purchased From Shrine Handmaiden After Defeating Eygon of Carim.

This unique set of armor is first encountered in the Undead Settlement, worn by the Knight Eygon of Carim, who is the sworn protector of Irina of Carim, who sells the player miracles. The questline for these characters, like many in the game, can be tragic. If the player decides to follow a dark path and gives Irina two specific tomes, she will start to feel the effects of the dark and will be taken by Eygon to safety.

The player will be able to retrieve Irina but will have to go through Eygon first. Morne’s Armor is a distinct set, with the most notable part being the helmet. The in-game description states that the armor was modeled after the archbishop’s Apostle, Morne, and was created from a unique mineral.

10 Lapp’s Armor

Armor Set's Poise Stat: 39.11

• Location: Firelink Shrine, The Dreg Heap, The Ringed City.
• How To Get: Completing Lapp’s Quest Or Purchase From Shrine Handmaiden.

Another armor set that is found only through the Ringed City DLC, Lapp's armor is a heavy set that offers some of the best physical protection in the game. As one of the lighter of the heavy armor sets, this set can be used for players looking at medium to heavy builds.

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The armor is acquired after completing Lapp’s questline in the Ringed City or through the Handmaiden if Lapp is killed. The armor is a very late-game addition to a player's inventory but is an ideal choice for an NG+ playthrough.

9 Black Iron Armor

Armor Set Poise Stat: 39.49

• Location: Firelink Shrine.
• How To Get: Purchased From Shrine Handmaiden After Defeating Knight Slayer Tsorig.

Another legacy armor set, worn by Black Iron Tarkus in the first Dark Souls game, the Black Iron armor is an effective choice for tank builds. This reasonably heavy armor set will require some leveling in vitality for players to move effectively. The armor gives excellent resistance against bleed build-up and good resistance to frost.

Dark Souls 3 players will be able to acquire this armor after defeating Knight Slayer Tsorig, who can be found in the Smouldering Lake region. This NPC is one of the tougher fights of its kind, with Tsorig using the Fume Ultra Greatsword, first seen being wielded by Fume Knight in Dark Souls 2.

8 Executioner Armor

Armor Set Poise Stat: 39.98

• Location: Firelink Shrine.
• How To Get: Purchased From Shrine Handmaiden After Defeating Horace The Hushed.

This heavy imposing armor set will be first seen by players when they encounter Anri and their companion, Horace The Hushed, in The Road Of Sacrifices area. Horace will give the player the Blue Sentinel Badge, which unlocks the Blue Sentinel Covenant.

Anri and Horace's questline is one of the more tragic ones in the game, as it won’t be long before the two travelers lose each other. Players will find Horace alone in a cave in the Smouldering Lake area, where they can either leave him or kill him. Horace’s armor is ideal for strength builds and offers great protection against bleeding. The in-game description states that Horace was only one of two children to escape from Aldrich.

7 Cathedral Knight Armor

Armor Set's Poise Stat: 41.96

• Location: Cathedral Of The Deep, Consumed Kings Garden.
• How To Get: Dropped From Defeated Cathedral Knights.

The Cathedral Knight Armor is another classic-looking set that offers decent protection against physical attacks, particularly against thrust attacks, and has a high level of Magic absorption as well.

It is dropped from Cathedral Knights, who are found within the Cathedral Of The Deep area, as well as Consumed Kings Knights, who wander the Consumed King’s Garden. Both of these enemies can be tough to take down, especially if taking on more than one at a time. Successfully killing them has a chance of an armor drop.

6 Exile Armor

Armor Set's Poise Stat: 43.17

• Location: Farron Keep.
• How To Get: Dropped From Defeated Exile Watchdogs.

Getting into the mid-range of high poise armor, the Exile armor is a large imposing set that can be purchased from the Handmaiden in Firelink Shrine. The armor is only available after the player has killed two enemies who guard the way to Farron Keep.

The Exile Watchdogs can be tough to defeat, but the armor is worth the effort. Offering decent protection against physical attacks, its true worth is in its resistance stats, especially with its resistance to bleed.

5 Winged Knight Armor

Armor Set's Poise Stat: 43.24

• Location: Lothric Castle.
• How To Get: Picked Up In A Hidden Room.

The Winged Knights are tough enemies that can cause some serious damage. Finding this heavy armor set is a little trickier than some of the others, as it doesn’t simply drop from an enemy.

In Lothric Castle, from the first bonfire, players should follow the path until they come to a room with a ladder and a Winged Knight waiting to ambush them. In this room, at the top, is an illusory wall. Behind this, players will be able to find the armor set.

4 Catarina Armor

Armor Set's Poise Stat: 43.81

• Location: Anywhere Siegward Is Found. Firelink Shrine, Cathedral Of The Deep.
• How To Get: Looted From Siegward If Dead Or Purchased From Patches.

Some of the most iconic characters from across the Dark Souls series are the famous Knights of Catarina. Their armor is some of the most beloved found in the game and has some of the best protection as well.

This set is dropped if Siegward dies at any time during the playthrough, as well as at the end of his questline after defeating Yhorm The Giant. Additionally, it can be purchased from Patches after he steals the armor or taken from Patches’ body if killed.

3 Gundyr's Armor

Armor Set's Poise Stat: 44.37

• Location: Firelink Shrine.
• Acquired: Purchased From Shrine Handmaiden After Defeating Champion Gundyr.

One of the most iconic fights in Dark Souls 3 is the very first against Iudex Gundyr. A challenging fight for first-time players, this boss battle sets the tone and pace of the game perfectly. Unfortunately, his armor only becomes available later in the game, after defeating the tougher version, Champion Gundyr.

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Purchased from the Shrine Handmaiden after completing the Untended Graves area and beating the boss, this armor offers good all-around protection, especially against slash attacks.

2 Smough’s Armor

Armor Set's Poise Stat: 49.43

• Location: Firelink Shrine.
• How To Get: Purchased From Shrine Handmaiden After Defeating Aldrich, Devourer Of Gods.

One of the most iconic boss fights from the first Dark Souls game is against Ornstein and Smough. Unique and memorable in their appearance, this armor set allows players to appear as the man of large girth himself, Smough.

As the heaviest armor set in the game, players will need to plan their build carefully to use this effectively. With its great protection and amazing look, it's one of the best armors to choose for both poise and fashion.

1 Havel's Armor

Armor Set's Poise Stat: 50.15

• Location: Farron Keep.
• How To Get: Picked Up Near Stray Demon, After Defeating Havel in Archdragon Peak.

The best armor a player can choose in Dark Souls 3 if they are looking to build a poise-based character is Havel’s Armor set. It's worn by another iconic character from throughout the series.

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Havel’s Armor offers fantastic protection against physical attacks and decent protection against fire. Players will need to put a lot of points into Vitality, though, as this is the second-heaviest armor in the game. For those wanting to become walking tanks, there is no better armor in Dark Souls 3.

Dark Souls 3

Platform(s)

PS4 , Xbox One , PC

Released

March 24, 2016

Developer(s)

From Software

Genre(s)

Action RPG