If no upgrade material is noted however, (e.g.

When the 'Upgraded With' colum contains 'N/A' for the required perk, this means that you must boost your Smithing Skill over 100 with potions of Fortify Smithing in order to improve the item beyond Flawless quality.

All other sets can be acquired through the standard measures of crafting or random loot in the wild.

Unique sets are marked with an asterisk *, whereby we'll note where to find them.

Occasionally one item of a set might rank higher than another for defense, but we're only considering items from a set as part of that overall group.

We've ordered the below by full set stats, rather than individual stats, with items that don't belong to a specific set being included in a separate list.

Generally, our rankings are based on the defenses provided, with weight a secondary factor.

Whilst still an important factor for affecting movement speed, weight is generally less crucial for armor as it is for weaponry, particularly with the weight-removing Perks for the Light and Heavy armor skill trees unlocked.

If you're looking to craft or enchant your armor, be sure to check out our detailed guide to power-levelling Smithing and Enchanting skills to hit that level cap and craft the best gear in the game as quickly as possible.

Watch on YouTube What you need to know about Armor and Shields in Skyrimīefore we dive into the specifics of the best sets and individual pieces of kit, there are a couple points to bear in mind:

The best individual armor pieces in Skyrim.

The best Light Armor sets in Skyrim ranked.

The best Heavy Armor sets in Skyrim ranked.

What you need to know about Armor and Shields in Skyrim.

If you are playing the 2021 Anniversary Edition, we have explainers on features such as fishing. Shields, meanwhile, work as an option for those who prefer Light Armor's benefits, but still want to fight in open melee combat, and thus help to boost the defensive stats of Light Armor wearers, whilst being a tad superfluous for those already wearing a Heavy set. Those who expect to be getting up close and personal, taking plenty of hits but caring less for the stealthy approach will prefer Heavy Armor. Classes which require a decent ability to sneak past enemies, and swiftly escape oncoming attackers will benefit from Light Armor. Generally, your armor of choice will be dependent on your playstyle. Essential for just about any playthrough, it's well worth keeping track of the best Light Armor, Heavy Armor, and Shields in Skyrim.

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