Survival is your first and foremost priority in Valheim, and armor is your primary means of defense. But that doesn't mean that each and every armor set is worth the price. In some cases, the sheer weight of the armor nearly outweighs its usefulness in defense.

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That being said, there are several armor options available in Valheim, but resources to craft them can be quite the grind. If you're interested in finding out which ones are worth the investment, here are the best sets to hold out for.

These Armor sets are presented in no particular order.

Updated April 19, 2023 by Jacqueline Zalace: With several Valheim updates now out, we've updated this guide to include even more armor sets that are a must-have. Now, you can find refreshed content for the Mistlands update.

7 Troll Armor

Troll Armor is the first substantial protection you can equip in the game. It provides a six-point defense for each piece, which is substantially more than the two-point base protection Leather Armor provides. This is the strongest early-game armor you can wear without suffering a movement debuff.

What truly makes the Troll Armor set stand out as the best armor in the early game is its Sneak buff. Each singular piece of armor, including the Troll Cape, grants the wearer a 25 percent Sneak bonus. That's a total of a 100 percent Sneak buff when wearing the entire set. Overall, if you manage to kill a troll, this is a good set to invest in for early to mid-game content.

How To Craft

6 Root Armor

You'll probably want to upgrade from the six-point defense provided by Troll Armor as you venture to new biomes. The Bronze set is highly weighty, making its cumbersome nature not even worth the defense it provides.

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That's where the Root Armor set comes in, comprised of a pair of leggings, Root Harnesk, and a mask. The leggings and chest pieces only suffer a -2 percent movement debuff compared to other sets, which commonly take a -5 percent hit. What sets Root Armor apart from others of its class is the additional buffs it provides. Its most outstanding stat is the plus 15-point Bow skill provided, making Root Armor the best set for archers.

How To Craft

5 Wolf Armor

The Wolf Armor set is the set you will want for long treks through the Mountain biomes for the Frost Resistance buff provided by the chest piece and cape. Unfortunately, the essential materials used to make Wolf Armor (wolf hide) can only be hunted in the Mountains' harsh climate.

In order to gather the resources required, you will need to brew and consume some Frost Resistance Mead. You will then have ten minutes to make a pointed expedition into the Mountains to farm the materials and get to milder temperatures again before the effects wear off. Because you'll need to gather a substantial amount of materials, it's advised you craft some extra Frost Resistance Meads to have on hand for the journey.

How To Craft

4 Padded Armor

When considering flat-out defense, Padded Armor is one of the best armor sets in the game. Each piece of the set offers a base 26 armor rating and is lighter than the Wolf Armor, weighing in at only ten units apiece. You will still take a -5 percent debuff to movement speed from the greaves and cuirass each.

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Still, in terms of switching between this set and Troll or Wolf armor for their respective bonus effects, it certainly lightens the load in your inventory and gives you superior protection. The complete Padded Armor set's total base protection equals 79 points, but when each piece is fully upgraded to the highest tier, that total rises to 100 points of armor protection.

How To Craft

3 Carapace Armor

The Carapace Armor set is a new set introduced with the Mistlands update. This set has the typical -5 movement debuff and no special bonuses for wearing. So, why is it on our list?

This Mistlands-tier set is the strongest in the game, with each piece providing 32 armor. When you venture into the misty and magical biome, it's definitely worth crafting this set, especially if you want to go up against the Queen.

How To Craft

Currently, you can only upgrade this set once.

2 Eitr-Weave Armor

Like the Carapace Armor, the Eitr-weave set is also Mistlands-tier. As the name implies, the set is crafted with Eitr, which is essentially magic. While this set may not be the strongest, it will greatly boost your Eitr regeneration. The hood will increase Eitr regeneration by 20 percent, while the robe and trousers will boost it by 40 percent each.

Additionally, the Feather cape provides some unique benefits. With the cape equipt, you will have resistance to frost, as well as the Feather Falling effect, which slows your fall speed and negates all fall damage. With the dangerous terrain in the Mistlands, it's easy to see why this set is so important.

How To Craft

Currently, you can only upgrade this set once.

1 Iron Armor

Lastly, we have the Iron Armor set. This is a weighty and trusty set that can protect you while you complete mid-game content. To make this armor set, you will need to venture into the Swamp and gather scrap iron, which in itself can be a dangerous task.

As a mid-game set, the Iron Armor holds up. It will protect you from dangerous monsters while you venture outwards to gather materials for better sets. Sure, you probably won't beat the game wearing this set, but it can help get you there.

How To Craft

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