Part of the Fight is Defense
The world of Terraria is dominated by many things. Monsters roam the lands, bosses creep around every corner, and even normal nights can turn into chaos with the rise of a Blood Moon. With all of the dangers, is there anything to protect yourself?
The Terrarian world give you a resource to get armor, from simple wood at the beginning to magical precious metals to enchant your defenses. With over 60 sets of armor, plus additional pieces of clothing that can buff and defend, this supposedly dangerous game is loaded with over 275 different pieces of armor to play the game to your advantage. Because of different playing styles and combat methods, different players might prefer different sets of armor. So, this list is not ranked. Rather, it is a basis on the best armors for a certain ability, strength, or special characteristic. So without further ado, here are the 10 best armors for your custom gameplay!
10. Angler Clothes - Best Armor for Fishing
Fishing never looked so easy!
This little bit of armor, if you can call it that, makes you look exactly like everyone’s favorite NPC, the Angler. Though not your ideal suit of armor, this set of equipment allows you to get the maximum amount of fishing power, which in turn makes it more likely for you to catch fish. The Angler armor, while it’s not the best defensively, makes this list because:
- It increases fishing power tremendously, 5% per piece worn.
- Each piece is given after completing fishing quests, giving you more chances to up your fishing techniques and timing.
Angler Armor Stats:
Angler Hat-
- 1 Defense
- +5% fishing power
Angler Vest-
- 2 Defense
- +5% fishing power
Angler Pants-
- 1 Defense
- +5% fishing power
Total Stats-
- 4 Defense
- +15% fishing power
As expected with fishing armor, the different items of clothing for this set are awarded by the Angler after doing Fishing Quests. After you complete 10 quests, the hat is awarded, then the vest at 15, and then the pants at 20. There are plenty more rewards for you to earn with fishing quests, so make sure you take time during your gameplay to hang up your “Gone Fishing” sign!
9. Turtle Armor - Best Armor for Defense + Thorns
The Turtle Armor inspired artist Raven S. with really cool life-like concept art!
A hardened shell seems to be an unstoppable force seen in many video games. Super Mario Bros. showed this fact, with small turtle-like enemies harming the player, making them get smaller or downright die. Now, capturing the aspects of the animal it’s named after, the Turtle Armor has great defense and an ability to heal yourself with every hit you take. Substantially better for combat and defense than the Angler armor, the Turtle armor:
- Has a high defense rating, even higher than some endgame armor sets.
- Buffs melee damage, as well as critical strike chance, to increase combat ability.
- Has a Thorns effect, when you’re equipped with the full set, that heals you the full amount of damage that would have been dealt to you, disregarding any buffs that decrease the damage you take.
- Attracts enemies, making the most out of the Thorns effect.
Turtle Armor Stats:
Turtle Helmet-
- 21 Defense
- +6% melee damage
- Enemies are more likely to target you
Turtle Scale Mail-
- 27 Defense
- +8% melee damage and critical strike chance
- Enemies are more likely to target you
Turtle Leggings-
- 17 Defense
- +4% melee critical strike chance
- Enemies are more likely to target you
Total Stats & Set bonus-
- 65 Defense
- +14% melee damage
- +12% melee critical strike chance
- Enemies are much more likely to target you
- Attackers also take full damage
Whether cosplaying Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, or using this armor for its healing and defensive properties, a player with this armor is definitely a worthy opponent to many of its enemies. To get this set of armor, you need 54 Chlorophyte Bars in total (12, 24, 18 for each armor piece, top to bottom respectively) which is forged at an Adamantite or Titanium Forge with Chlorophyte ore found in the Underground Jungle. Additionally, 3 Turtle Shells dropped from, you can probably guess, Giant Tortoises also found in the Jungle. With these ingredients and a Mythril or Orichalcum Anvil, the strength of a turtle is in your hands. Or rather, on your back.
8. Dark Artist Armor - Best Armor for Sentries + Magic
The Dark Arts Apprentice, a 'Dungeon Defenders II' character that the Dark Artist Armor is based on
Summoning weapons are a great source of power; being able to summon little beasts and pets to fight at your side has many advantages. Sentries, then, are a subtype of these summonable creatures. Instead of following you around, however, these weapons stay stationary for a certain amount of time. While these are not the ideal utility to go exploring a dungeon or traverse the landscape, they are very helpful in certain events and boss fights, wherever an open arena is either necessary or recommended. For these areas, sentries help control crowds with different effects, as well as putting in great deals of damage to whatever strong enemy is around.
The player, however, only starts with the ability to place one sentry at a time, making armor sets like the Dark Artist Armor useful. Specific to this set of armor that looks like it came straight out of Bloodborne, the Dark Artist Armor:
- Increases the number of sentries you can summon, up to 4 if you’re wearing the full set.
- Buffs minion damage, including your sentries, as well as increasing magic damage and critical strike chance, combining magical and summoning abilities into one powerful suit of armor.
- Specifically empowers the Flameburst Tower sentry minion to increase its range, projectile speed, and field of view, making the weapon a lot more effective and deadly.
Dark Artist Armor Stats:
Dark Artist’s Hat-
- 7 Defense
- +2 Sentry Capacity
- +10% minion and magic damage
Dark Artist’s Robes-
- 21 Defense
- +30% minion damage
- +15% magic damage
Dark Artist’s Leggings-
- 14 Defense
- +20% minion damage
- +25% magical critical strike chance
Total Stats & Set Bonus-
- 42 Defense
- +60% minion damage
- +25% magic damage
- +25% magic critical strike chance
- +1 Sentry Capacity (+3 Total)
- Greatly enhances Flameburst effectiveness
Through your travels after defeating the Eater of Worlds or Brain of Cthulhu, you may stumble across an Unconscious Man, tied up and left in any layer of the world. Untying him allows you to talk to him. The Tavernkeep, now conscious, can stay at your base and tells you about the Old One’s Army event. As you defeat each wave of this army, you are given Defender Medals to purchase items from the Tavernkeep. Through this process, you are able to acquire sentries and the Dark Artist’s Armor, which is worth 225 Defender Medals for the whole set of armor. This top-tier set of armor, though, is only available after defeating Golem which can easily be defeated with tips from this YouTube video.
7. Shinobi Infiltrator Armor - Best Armor for Sentries + Melee
The Shinobi Infiltrator Armor is a tribute to the Shinobi Monk from 'Dungeon Defenders II'
In Japan, while warlords and their warriors (samurai) ruled with powerful families, ninjas or shinobi, were agents or even mercenaries hired to do certain special tasks, such as espionage, infiltration, or assassination. Taking the name and holding true to it, the Shinobi Infiltrator Armor likens itself to the ancient warriors by:
- Replicating the speed of one, both in swinging a blade and actual movement.
- Increasing melee damage and critical strike chance, maximizing damage potential.
- Upping the sentry cap by 3, if wearing the full set of armor, as well as increasing minion damage.
- Enhancing the Lightning Aura sentry minion with an increased range, speed, and critical strike chance.
Shinobi Infiltrator Armor Stats:
Shinobi Infiltrator’s Helmet-
- 10 Defense
- +2 Sentry Capacity
- +20% melee and minion damage
Shinobi Infiltrator’s Torso-
- 26 Defense
- +20% melee speed and minion damage
Shinobi Infiltrator’s Pants-
- 18 Defense
- +20% movement speed, melee critical strike chance, and minion damage
Total Stats & Set Bonus-
- 54 Defense
- +60% minion damage
- +20% melee damage
- +20% melee speed
- +20% melee critical strike chance
- +20% movement speed
- +1 Sentry Capacity (+3 Total)
- Greatly enhances Lightning Aura effectiveness
Like the Dark Artist’s Armor, this powerful combination of melee ability is available for purchase at the Tavernkeep for 225 Defender Medals, that is, after defeating Golem.
6. Red Riding Armor - Best Armor for Sentries + Ranged
Another 'Dungeon Defenders II' character, the Red Riding Huntress, comes to Terraria in the Red Riding Armor
Everyone knows the story, right? Little Red Riding Hood wants to deliver pastries to her grandmother, who lives out in the middle of the woods. Along the way, a wolf meets her and tries to trick her, only to fail. Moving right along, Little Red Riding Hood makes it to her grandmother’s house, only to find that she is now a GIANT EYEBALL WITH ABNORMAL EXTREMITIES. I know, I know. Not how it actually went. But if Terraria authored these fairy tales, bosses would be the center of focus for those in the Red Riding Armor set. Opposite of the innocent girl delivering pastries, the Red Riding Armor:
- Increases the number of sentries you can have, like the past two armor sets.
- Allow you to attack from a range with higher damage, along with having a greater movement speed.
- Buffs the Explosive Trap sentry, when wearing the full set of armor, to react and attack more than twice as fast as normal, as well as have the chance to make enemies have the Oil effect for a short amount of time, which increases damage to certain attacks.
Red Riding Armor Stats:
Red Riding Hood-
- 8 Defense
- +2 Sentry Capacity
- +10% minion damage and ranged critical strike chance
Red Riding Dress-
- 24 Defense
- +25% minion and ranged damage
Red Riding Leggings-
- 16 Defense
- +25% minion damage
- +20% movement speed
Total Stats & Set Bonus-
- 48 Defense
- +60% minion damage
- +10% ranged critical strike chance
- +25% ranged damage
- +20% movement speed
- +1 Sentry Capacity (+3 Total)
- Greatly enhances Explosive Traps effectiveness
After defeating the Golem boss, the Red Riding Armor can be purchased from the Tavernkeep for 225 Defender Medals.
5. Valhalla Knight Armor - Best Armor for Sentries + Melee + Regeneration
The final 'Dungeon Defenders II' cameo, the Valhalla Knight makes an appearance in the Valhalla Knight armor
While not as melee-inclined as the Shinobi Infiltrator Armor, this glorious set of armor has a unique ability to heal the player considerably. The Valhalla Knight Armor conducts itself to:
- Not only increase sentry capabilities, but also a fair bit of melee critical strike damage and movement speed.
- Have the fourth strongest raw defense stat at 64 defense, under the Solar Flare, Beetle, and Turtle Armor
- Buff the Ballista sentry, allowing for its arrows to attack quicker, fly faster, and increase penetration.
Valhalla Knight Armor Stats:
Valhalla Knight’s Helm-
- 14 Defense
- +2 Sentry Capacity
- +10% minion damage
Valhalla Knight’s Breastplate-
- 30 Defense
- +30% minion damage
- Massively increased life regeneration
Valhalla Knight’s Greaves-
- 20 Defense
- +20% minion damage and melee critical strike chance
- +30% movement speed
Total Stats & Set Bonus-
- 64 Defense
- +60% minion damage
- +20% melee critical strike chance
- +30% movement speed
- +8 HP/sec life regeneration
- +1 Sentry Capacity (+3 Total)
- Greatly enhances Ballista effectiveness
This Thor-worthy set of armor can be found for sale by the Tavernkeep for 225 Defender Medals, and, like the other three sets, is only available after defeating Golem.
4. Stardust Armor - Best Armor for Summoning
The Stardust Armor as imagined by Bohrokki!
Moving away from the sentry-type armors, we come to one of my favorite sets. The Stardust Armor is a great set of armor for any player who loves the accompaniment of pets and minions during their playthrough. This out-of-this-world set of armor:
- Increases the number of minions you can summon by 5, as well as buffs their damage.
- Emits a good bit of light, allowing you to explore your world without torches.
- Invites a new friend to play: The Stardust Guardian. Following the player passively, this monster of a minion is only attacks with a double tap of the down key and appears on the nearest block to your cursor. After that, it attacks sentry-style, but with a little bit of mobility to chase enemies, by giving it a big ole hug, or at least that’s what the explosion that damages enemies looks like. Once the threat is gone, the Stardust Guardian returns to follow you loyally.
Stardust Armor Stats:
Stardust Helmet-
- 10 Defense
- +22% minion damage
- Increases your max number of minions
Stardust Plate-
- 16 Defense
- +22% minion damage
- Increases your max number of minions
Stardust Leggings-
- 12 Defense
- +22% minion damage
- Increases your max number of minions
Total Stats & Set Bonus-
- 38 Defense
- +66% minion damage
- +5 minion capacity
- Summons a Stardust Guardian which follows the player around
This first set of endgame armor, the Stardust Armor is craftable with Luminite Bars, which are forged with Luminite dropped by the Moon Lord, and Stardust Fragments, which are dropped by the Stardust Pillar during a Lunar event or crafted with one of every other fragment: Solar, Vortex, and Nebula Fragment. Take 36 Luminite Bars and 45 Stardust Fragments (8 & 10, 16 & 20, and 12 & 15 to craft them separately, from top to bottom) to an Ancient Manipulator dropped by a Lunatic Cultist to have some interstellar armor!
3. Nebula Armor - Best Magic Armor
This mystical set of armor, illustrated by Bohrokki, is beautiful and powerful, fit for the game
Our second set of endgame armor, the Nebula set has a mage look to them, with a purple-tint to the robes and a pink and white star over the hood covering a dark face. Unlike the mysterious eyes that poke through the hooded figure, the armor’s advantages are quite well known. The Nebula Armor:
- Boosts your magical ability in every way, with increased damage, critical strike chance, and mana, as well as reduced mana usage.
- Connects to the universe around it when the full set of armor is worn, spawning buff boosters when hurting enemies with magic projectiles. The boosters, looking like tiny flames, have three different aspects, Damage, Life, and Mana, that hurt enemies, heal life, and regenerate mana, respectively. Better get ‘em quick though, because they last eight seconds and stack to three boosters at a time.
Nebula Armor Stats:
Nebula Helmet-
- 14 Defense
- +60 mana
- -15% mana usage
- +7% magic damage and critical strike chance
Nebula Breastplate-
- 18 Defense
- +9% magic damage and critical strike chance
Nebula Leggings-
- 14 Defense
- +10% magic damage and movement speed
Total Stats & Set Bonus-
- 46 Defense
- +60 Mana
- -15% mana usage
- +26% magic damage
- +16% magic critical strike chance
- +10% movement speed
- Hurting enemies has a chance to spawn buff boosters, pick boosters up to get stacking buffs
This second piece of stellar armor, the Nebula Armor is crafted similarly to all other endgame armor sets. With 36 Luminite Bars crafted from Luminite (8, 16, 12, top to bottom) and 45 Nebula Fragments dropped from the Nebula Pillar or made with one of each other Solar, Vortex, and Stardust Fragments (10, 20, 15, top to bottom), you are able to craft your own mystical Nebula armor.
2. Vortex Armor - Best Ranged Armor
This set of Vortex Armor by Sir-Gator is legendary!
Significantly sturdier than the other two sets of endgame armor, the Vortex Armor resembles a futuristic space suit, finished with light blues and dark grays. The appeal for this armor, though, comes from much more than cool looks. To match its appearance, the Vortex Armor also:
- Increases many ranged effects, including damage, critical strike rate, and even a chance for the player not to consume ammo when firing.
- Boosts movement speed a considerable amount.
- Has a special ability, stealth, that is an upgrade to the Shroomite armor with a similar use. By tapping the down button twice, you enter stealth mode, where you’re practically invisible. This substantially increases ranged damage and critical strike chances, as well as decreasing the chance that enemies target you, all for the low low price of a bit of movement speed, which you won’t need so much now that you’re firing a bow while invisible. This effect is stopped if you double-tap down again, or dash or ride a mount. So sneak along to your heart’s content!
Vortex Armor Stats:
Vortex Helmet-
- 14 Defense
- +16% ranged damage
- +7% ranged critical strike chance
Vortex Breastplate-
- 28 Defense
- +12% ranged damage and critical strike chance
- +25% chance not to consume ammo
Vortex Leggings-
- 20 Defense
- +8% ranged damage and critical strike chance
- +10% movement speed
Total Stats & Set Bonus-
- 62 Defense
- +36% ranged damage
- +27% ranged critical strike chance
- +10% movement speed
- +25% chance not to consume ammo
- Double-tap down to toggle stealth, increasing ranged ability and reducing chance for enemies to target you but slowing movement
This machine of a set of armor, allowing you to get the most out of ranged weapons, is only craftable at an Ancient Manipulator with Luminite Bars and Vortex Fragments. Of the first ingredient, that is forged together with Luminite, you need 36 Bars (8, 16, 12, top to bottom) and for the second, which is dropped by the Vortex Pillar during a Lunar Event or created by combining the three other Lunar Fragments, you will need 45 Vortex Fragments (10, 20, 15, top to bottom). When you get the materials, you become a futuristic version of Robin Hood!
1. Solar Flare Armor - Best Melee Armor
Solar Flare Armor looks very cool rendered in this fashion!
Energized by the literal sun, this powerful set of armor has the highest defense of any armor in the game and has the look for it. As the brightest of our endgame sets of armor, the Solar Flare Armor certainly lives up to its name by:
- Buffing melee damage, speed, and critical strike chance.
- Giving you an extremely high chance of getting targeted by enemies, making sure you get up close and personal with your foes.
- Shines light from you with every piece added, up to the point where you have an after-image if you wear all three pieces.
- Producing a shield powered by the sun to protect you, if you’re wearing the full set, as well as building up charges every 5 seconds, which appear as spikes on the shield. Using these charges by tapping left or right twice, you can barrel through your enemies using a dash that harms an enemy both by running into it and creating a small explosion.
Solar Flare Armor Stats:
Solar Flare Helmet-
- 24 Defense
- +17% melee critical strike chance
- Enemies are more likely to target you
Solar Flare Breastplate-
- 34 Defense
- +22% melee damage
- Enemies are more likely to target you
Solar Flare Leggings-
- 20 Defense
- +15% movement and melee speed
- Enemies are more likely to target you
Total Stats and Set Bonus-
- 78 Defense
- +22% melee damage
- +17% melee critical strike chance
- +15% melee speed
- +15% movement speed
- Enemies are significantly more likely to target you
- Solar shields generate over time protecting you, consume the shield power to dash, damaging enemies
The final set of endgame armor is created through the same process as the last three endgame sets. Grab yourself Solar Fragments, which are dropped by Solar Pillars during a Lunar Event or crafted through combining Vortex, Stardust, and Nebula Fragments, and some Luminite Bars, which are created from Luminite dropped by the Moon Lord, and bring them over to an Ancient Manipulator. With 36 Luminite Bars (8, 12, 16, top to bottom) and 45 Solar Fragments (10, 20, 15, top to bottom), you can harness the power of the sun and instill it in your character.
While some sets of armor may seem better than others, every knight must wear the suit that fits him best. And, surely, Terraria knows that people play differently. From slashing with a sword to firing a bow, this game makes sure every player finds their fit, and no warrior is complete without their suit of armor.
