Armor has always been one of the signature classic components of the Monster Hunter franchise. Every player has their favorite one and each one does different things for different situations. There are so many different kinds that it's easy to get overwhelmed by which one is the best fit for you.
To build most armor, you need to farm materials via slaying monsters for their oh so valuable parts, meaning certain ones won't be available to you until you are strong enough to defeat higher leveled monsters. This will give you a sneak at those if you haven't reached that part yet.
We have generated a diverse combination of the best armors. Some of them are really beginner-friendly, some are postgame aesthetic and some are perfect for things you wouldn't expect.
10 Bone Armor
For new players who came over from Monster Hunter Rise, Stories has a very similar concept but follows some more traditional JRPG themes. As such, the way you get armor will be slightly different. For that reason, the best first one to go with is definitely the bone armor. It is a common first choice for starting players in the Monster Hunter games. The fact that it is easy to farm materials for and comes with a pretty good defense buff that will help sustain lower-leveled hunters against hard-hitting monsters makes it a solid choice. This set also has a non-elemental attack boost.
9 Bloodbath Diablos Armor
The Bloodbath set is something that is going to be crucial when you are in the postgame setting fighting very powerful enemies like the elder dragons. Besides its beautiful Dark Souls-like appearance, this armor's skills are invaluable. It comes with an evasion ability that provides a chance to dodge an enemy attack and increases the stats of evasion overall.
The other skill, Tenacity, lets the player survive a hard hit that would have otherwise had them done for. However, it will only work if their HP is above 50 percent or more. The next one boosts the wielder's non-elemental attack so make sure if you use it that you are carrying a non-elemental weapon as well.
8 Arzuros Armor
The bear-like gluttonous Arzuros is an icon of the monster hunter games. For players who want a decent armor set but don't want to farm for it, the Arzuros armor is available to purchase with bottlecaps fairly early on in the game.
Do note that you'll be able to farm things to craft it in the game a bit later, this just gives you a small headstart. You won't miss out if you want to use your bottlecaps on something else. Arzuros's armor increases the hunter's maximum HP, so it's another good choice for sustainment.
7 Dreadqueen Armor
The Dreadqueen set is optimal for players who wish to participate in the player versus player setting. It comes with skills that increase the player's critical rate so it's excellent for battle. This set is the ultimate DPS tool in the game as well as a fan favorite.
It also has the specific skill Inflinct Rate Up, where your chance to change an enemy's status highly increases. Dreadqueen's last skill, Salt in Wound, works in conjunction with Inflict Rate Up by doing extra damage to enemies with abnormal statuses. Make sure to also bring along items that can cause abnormal statuses, such as poison knives.
6 Great Jaggi Armor
For players who would prefer an early armor set that is for battle rather than support, the Great Jaggi armor is the way to go with its critical buff skill. This set will give you a damage boost in battles.
Great Jaggi is a fairly weak monster, so farming the material shouldn't be too much. This is a great choice for players who have played other Monster Hunter games before and are more experienced with the battling style.
5 Rathian Heart Armor
Pink Rathian is the armor set for players who have advanced into the game but are still new to the play style of the Monster Hunter franchise overall. If you find that you are leveled but easily get knocked out, consider getting this set for its skills.
The armor has a health boost with moderate power that increases maximum HP. The other skill, self-heal, restores tons of HP at the end of a turn. The last skill, Crit-Heal, restores a great amount of HP when you get a critical hit.
4 Kecha Wacha Armor
Possibly one of the derpiest monsters in the game, this lemur monster that the armor comes from is no joke. Able to slash with its claws ad spit long-range attacks, it's definitely a formidable foe.
The Kecha set is another one that you can purchase in the game's second area before having firsthand experience fighting that strange-looking beast. This armor comes with a Divine Blessing buff that gives you a chance to avoid taking damage from enemies.
3 Kulu-Ya-Ku
The egg thief bird Kulu-Ya-Ku is a monstie that you will encounter pretty early on in the game. At first it looks to be on the smaller side and not particularly threatening, but what the kulu-ya-ku lacks in physical strength it makes up for in speed and the ability to hold and throw things.
This bird wyvern's armor set comes with the dancer buff, which gives a speed boost. You also will be granted a defense against thunder thanks to its Thunder Defense Boost skill. The armor also boost Kinship Skill, which is the thing you need to fill during battles to do a special attack with your monstie.
2 Rathian Soul Armor
Rathian Soul Armor is particularly good if you like using the Greatsword weapon, but it will honestly work for any hunter.
The reason it works well for greatsword users is that it has a skill called Great Sword Focus that will help you use up less charge so you can utilize the weapon's power more often in the span of a fight. This set also comes with a skill called Critical that highly increases the critical hit rate.
The other skill, All-Out, uses more Kinship Charge to unleash skills at full power. It also increases the power of skills by a high amount.
1 Astalos Armor
The Astalos set with its neon trimming and its Sauron-like design is beautiful to look at and is as quality as its appearance. This armor is a little too niche to really use for player versus player.
Instead, use it against battles with monsties who are weak to thunder since it has that handy Thunder Boost skill. The armor also comes with a Critical skill that will increase damage done as well as Self-Heal. Overall it's an excellent set that is worth getting after you nabbed some armors that have more universal utility.