Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance allows players to take on the role of the Dwarvish King, Bruenor Battlehammer. A formidable yet compassionate leader, Bruenor is among Icewind Dale's most notable heroes, playing a key role in Kessel's downfall. Even so, the forces of evil have risen, and Bruenor must once again defend Ten-Towns against destruction.
Even though Bruenor alone is a stalwart hero, he will require aid against the Dark Alliance's forces. One such form of aid is his gear, which has survived well beyond its years. Even though Icewind Dale is brimming with gear, not just any set will suffice. Some armor sets greatly surpass others, providing innumerable benefits to Bruenor.
8 Cold Resistance
- 3 Pieces Bonus: 30% Resistance to Cold Damage
- 5 Pieces Bonus:Â 50% Resistance to Cold Damage
- 8 Pieces Bonus: 2% Chance to release a Cold Burst when hit. This deals Cold Damage, possibly Freezing enemies.
The Cold Resistance Armor Set grants Bruenor the chance to unleash a Cold Burst and Cold Resistance. These buffs allow him to easily endure the earlier stages of the game and beyond.
Many of Icewind Dale's threats rely on Cold Damage to defeat foes, making this Resistance immensely beneficial. Bruenor also sustains many hits throughout confrontations, making the likelihood of a Cold Burst far greater. Overall, the Cold Resistance set further strengthens Bruenor's defensive capabilities while providing a passive means of doing damage.
7 Keeper Of Secrets
- 3 Pieces Bonus: 5%Â Bonus to Damage
- 5 Pieces Bonus: 10% Bonus to Damage
- 8 Pieces Bonus: 35% Chance to inflict a Condition from Elemental Damage
The Keeper of Secrets Armor Set provides Bruenor a greater chance to inflict Conditions and a Damage Bonus. With these benefits, Bruenor can easily dish out Damage and impose debilitating debuffs upon enemies.
When Bruenor relies heavily on Defense without a formidable Offense, the Dark Alliances forces can easily overwhelm him. With this set, however, he can easily dispatch hordes of foes or cut away at stalwart enemies' HP. Therefore making Bruenor a formidable force capable not only of taking Damage but dishing it out as well.
6 Hoard Raider Scales
- 3 Pieces Bonus: 10% Reduction against Elemental Damage
- 5 Pieces Bonus: 15% Reduction against Elemental Damage
- 8 Pieces Bonus: When Bruenor has 15% or less HP, he receives Legendary Resistance
The Hoard Raider Scales Armor Set grants Bruenor Legendary Resistance and a Reduction to Elemental Damage. This Armor Set builds upon Bruenor's already impressive Defenses, making him a nearly insurmountable adversary.
Elemental Damage is among the most common and debilitating threats in Icewind Dale, making Resistance to it immeasurably beneficial. Moreover, Legendary Resistance, while seemingly situational, is indispensable against Legendary Attacks/Sources that can easily defeat Bruenor. This armor acts as an effective way for Bruenor to fend against most of Icewind Dale's dangers without fail.
5 Battlerager
- 3 Pieces Bonus: 10% Chance of Reflecting Physical and Elemental Damage to the attacker
- 5 Pieces Bonus: 15% Chance of Reflecting Physical and Elemental Damage to the attacker
- 8 Pieces Bonus: 20% Chance to inflict Bleeding upon reflecting damage
The Battlerager Armor Set provides Bruenor the chance to inflict Bleeding and Reflectvarious forms ofDamage. This allows Bruenor to take advantage of his Defenses, using them as a means of dealing passive Damage to enemies.
Bruenor, while able to endure great amounts of enemy damage, struggles to attack without compromising his Defenses. Against swarms of foes, it is easy for enemies to overrun Bruenor and consequently defeat him. However, with this set, Bruenor can weaken and even defeat enemies all without lifting his ax.
4 Goblin Bane
- 3 Pieces Bonus: 20% Damage Reduction against Taunted enemies
- 5 Pieces Bonus:Â 30% Damage Reduction against Taunted enemies
- 8 Pieces Bonus: Taunt Ability has a 50% Increased Duration
The Goblin Bane Armor Set increases the duration of Bruenor's Taunt Ability, and reduces damage against Taunted enemies. The Taunt Ability is invaluable to Bruenor, and this Armor Set seeks to maximize its effectiveness.
Taunt grants Bruenor Stalwart and Thorns, providing him greater survivability in return for aggravating enemies. Stalwart boosts his Strength attribute, while Thorns deals passive damage to nearby enemies. This Armor Set, alongside this Ability, allows Bruenor to become a punishing Defender. This is especially useful in cooperative play.
3 Duergar Infiltrator
- 3 Pieces Bonus: 10% Armor Penetration against enemies
- 5 Pieces Bonus: 20% Armor Penetration against enemies
- 8 Pieces Bonus: The Anvil of Clanggerdin ignores enemy's Armor
The Duergar Infiltrator Armor Set enhances Bruenor's Anvil of Clanggerdin, and grants him Armor Penetration against enemies. One of Bruenor's greatest weaknesses is his inability to adequately deal with hoards of enemies or seemingly insurmountable foes, but this can offset that.
Even though Bruenor is a formidable attacker, he struggles against especially defensive enemies. Regardless of how much he attacks, these foes possess Defenses far too great for Bruenor to penetrate. However, infringing upon or negating theirArmor allows Bruenor to deal raw damage, making these confrontations far more manageable.
2 Coldstone Guardian
- 3 Pieces Bonus: 10% Reduction against Physical Damage
- 5 Pieces Bonus: 15% Reduction against Physical Damage
- 8 Pieces Bonus: Whirlind's Duration doubles and grants Bruenor Invincibility
The Coldstone Guardian Armor Set enhances Whirlwind's effectiveness and grants Bruenor Physical Damage Reduction. This set builds upon his already impressive defenses, making death a near impossibility.
Nearly every enemy utilizes Physical Attacks to unleash devastating hits upon Bruenor, despite his unwavering Defenses. Therefore, additional Defenses allow him to endure potentially lethal hits. Furthermore, with Whirlwind he can completely negate – and dish out – damage of his own. This Armor Set will make once exceedingly difficult encounters far easier.
1 Battlehammer King
- 3 Pieces Bonus: 15% Stamina Cost Reduction for Blocking
- 5 Pieces Bonus: 25% Stamina Cost Reduction for Blocking
- 8 Pieces Bonus: Successful Blocks grant Precision Strikes
The Battlehammer King Armor Set grants Bruenor Precision Strikes and reduces the Stamina Cost forBlocking. With this set, he can endure prolonged confrontations without wavering.
Like all other characters, Bruenor requires Stamina to perform actions, although his need is more constant than most. His limited mobility prevents him from escaping danger, forcing him to endure battle. This is considerably taxing, and without proper consideration, Bruenor will falter and ultimately fail. This set not only caters to this need, but also grants him an effective means of dispatching enemies.