What’s the Strongest Armor in Skyrim Anniversary Edition?
The answer to “What’s the strongest armor in Skyrim Anniversary Edition?” isn’t as straightforward as simply naming a single set. The “strongest” armor depends heavily on your build, playstyle, and crafting skills. However, considering pure armor rating, the Dragonplate Armor set, when fully upgraded and benefiting from smithing perks, offers the highest base defense. But, remember that defense isn’t everything! Magical enchantments, resistances, and set bonuses all play crucial roles in determining overall survivability. Certain unique armors, while perhaps having a lower base armor rating, can outperform Dragonplate in specific situations due to their powerful enchantments. So, while Dragonplate armor might have the highest potential base armor rating, it’s vital to look at the overall package when determining what is best suited for your character. Let’s delve deeper into the options and considerations.
The Importance of Armor Rating and Beyond
Understanding Armor Rating
Armor rating is the primary statistic determining how much physical damage you mitigate from enemy attacks. A higher armor rating means less damage taken. However, there’s a diminishing returns effect. Once you reach a certain point (around 567 armor rating, which grants approximately 80% physical damage reduction), additional points provide less and less benefit. Therefore, chasing the absolute highest possible armor rating isn’t always the most efficient strategy.
The Significance of Enchantments
Enchantments significantly enhance the effectiveness of armor. Resistances to magic (fire, frost, shock) are invaluable against dragons and mages. Fortify skills like Archery, One-Handed, or Two-Handed can drastically increase your damage output. Furthermore, enchantments that fortify Health, Stamina, or Magicka provide crucial survivability.
Considering Set Bonuses
Some armor sets offer unique bonuses when worn together. These bonuses can range from increased damage to enhanced magical abilities. Knowing your playstyle and choosing sets that complement it is vital to optimizing your character’s build.
Contenders for the “Strongest Armor” Title
Dragonplate Armor: The High Armor Rating Champion
As mentioned, Dragonplate Armor boasts the highest potential base armor rating when fully upgraded with smithing perks. It requires high Smithing skill and Dragon bones and scales to craft and improve. While lacking inherent enchantments, this allows you to customize it completely with your desired bonuses.
Stalhrim Armor: Frost Resistance and Enchantment Boost
Found on Solstheim (Dragonborn DLC), Stalhrim Armor is a strong contender. Its unique property increases the potency of frost enchantments placed upon it, making it exceptionally powerful against frost magic and deadly when combined with frost-based enchantments.
Ebony Mail: A Stealthy Offense
This unique Daedric artifact grants a constant poison cloak, damaging nearby enemies. It’s a fantastic choice for stealth-oriented characters who want to deal passive damage while remaining hidden. While not the highest in terms of raw armor rating, its offensive capability significantly enhances its overall strength.
Deathbrand Armor: Pirate Power
Added with the Dragonborn DLC, the Deathbrand Armor is acquired piece by piece through a questline on Solstheim. Wearing the full set grants significant bonuses, including increased damage with one-handed weapons, increased carrying capacity, and improved underwater breathing. It’s an excellent choice for a swashbuckling, melee-focused character.
Ancient Shrouded Armor: Stealth Mastery
This armor focuses on stealth skills. It grants bonuses to archery, sneak, and poison resistance. The Ancient Shrouded Armor is primarily for assassins and thieves who rely on remaining undetected. The boots muffle your footsteps entirely, making silent movement effortless.
Nordic Carved Armor: A Balance of Protection and Style
This armor combines a decent armor rating with a visually appealing Nordic aesthetic. It can be crafted with advanced Smithing skills and benefits from perks that improve heavy armor. It provides a good balance between protection and appearance.
Crafting, Smithing, and Enchanting: The Path to Ultimate Armor
Smithing: Forging Perfection
Investing heavily in the Smithing skill tree is crucial for maximizing the effectiveness of any armor set. Perks like “Steel Smithing,” “Advanced Armors,” and “Dragon Armor” allow you to craft and improve progressively stronger armor pieces. The “Arcane Blacksmith” perk enables you to improve enchanted armor, a vital component of building a truly powerful set.
Enchanting: Imbue with Power
The Enchanting skill allows you to imbue armor with magical properties. Choosing the right enchantments for your build is crucial for optimizing your character’s survivability and damage output. Experiment with different enchantments and find combinations that complement your playstyle.
Alchemy: Potent Potions
While not directly related to armor itself, the Alchemy skill can provide significant benefits. Potions can temporarily fortify your armor rating, resistances, and other crucial stats, providing a significant boost in challenging encounters.
The Importance of Personal Preference
Ultimately, the “strongest armor” in Skyrim Anniversary Edition is subjective. It depends on your character’s build, playstyle, and personal preferences. Experiment with different armor sets, enchantments, and crafting techniques to discover what works best for you. Don’t be afraid to try new things and adapt your strategy as you progress through the game.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does armor rating have a cap in Skyrim?
Yes, the armor rating cap is generally considered to be around 567, which provides approximately 80% physical damage reduction. Going beyond this point provides diminishing returns.
2. How can I improve my Smithing skill quickly?
Crafting iron daggers early on is a classic method. Later, crafting gold rings or dwarven bows can be very effective, especially with the “Lover Stone” buff and “Well Rested” bonus.
3. Where can I find Dragon bones and scales easily?
Killing dragons is the primary method. Dragon lairs are marked on the map. Also, check locations like Shearpoint and Eldersblood Peak for dragons.
4. What is the best way to resist magic attacks?
A combination of magic resistance enchantments, perks in the Alteration skill tree (like “Magic Resistance”), and racial abilities (like the Breton’s inherent magic resistance) are effective.
5. How does elemental resistance work in Skyrim?
Elemental resistance reduces the damage taken from fire, frost, and shock attacks. Reaching 100% resistance makes you immune to that specific element.
6. Can I disenchant unique items?
Yes, but only once. Disenchanting a unique item destroys it, but you learn the enchantment and can apply it to other items. Be careful!
7. What is the best armor for a stealth archer?
The Ancient Shrouded Armor and armor with enchantments that fortify Archery and Sneak are excellent choices.
8. What is the best armor for a mage?
Mages typically wear robes rather than heavy armor. Robes with enchantments that reduce Magicka costs and increase Magicka regeneration are ideal. Consider the Archmage’s Robes or custom-enchanted robes.
9. Does the Heavy Armor skill tree affect light armor?
No, the Heavy Armor skill tree only affects heavy armor. Light armor is affected by the Light Armor skill tree.
10. What is the best way to get gold in Skyrim?
Completing quests, selling items, and looting dungeons are common methods. Investing in the Speech skill tree can increase the prices you receive from merchants.
11. Can I wear multiple pieces of armor with the same enchantment?
It depends on the enchantment. Some enchantments, like Fortify Archery, can be applied to multiple pieces of armor (helmet, gauntlets, ring, amulet), stacking their effects. Others, like waterbreathing, only need to be applied to one piece.
12. How do I get Daedric Armor?
Daedric Armor can be crafted at the Atronach Forge (located beneath the College of Winterhold) after reaching a high Smithing skill (90) and unlocking the Daedric Smithing perk. It can also be found in high-level loot chests or acquired as quest rewards.
13. Is it possible to reach 100% magic resistance?
Yes, it is possible, though requires specific race selection, a shield with a magic resistance enchantment, and possibly the Alteration tree perk.
14. What are the best Smithing perks to get?
Steel Smithing, Dwarven Smithing, Advanced Armors, Arcane Blacksmith, and the perk corresponding to the type of armor you want to craft (e.g., Dragon Armor) are crucial.
15. How do I get Stalhrim armor?
You must complete the “A New Source of Stalhrim” quest on Solstheim (Dragonborn DLC). After that, you can mine and craft Stalhrim Armor with the appropriate Smithing perk.