Is Dragonplate Armor the Best in Skyrim? A Comprehensive Analysis

Alright, adventurers and aspiring Dragonborn, let’s cut right to the chase: Is Dragonplate Armor the absolute best armor in Skyrim? The short answer is: it’s complicated. While it’s undoubtedly one of the strongest and most iconic sets, the “best” armor truly depends on your playstyle, perks, and personal preferences. Dragonplate offers a fantastic balance of protection and weight, making it a serious contender, but it’s not a clear-cut victory.

Let’s delve into why Dragonplate is a top-tier choice, and then explore the other contenders that might steal its crown.

Dragonplate’s Strengths: A Mighty Contender

Dragonplate Armor boasts a high armor rating (136 base), providing excellent defense against most enemies in Skyrim. It’s crafted from Dragon Bones and Dragon Scales, making it a symbol of your prowess as a dragon slayer. Beyond stats, its imposing look is a plus for many players, lending a sense of authority and invincibility.

Here’s a breakdown of its key advantages:

• High Armor Rating: As mentioned, 136 base armor is nothing to scoff at. With smithing enhancements and relevant perks, this can be pushed even higher.
• Weight-to-Armor Ratio: While not the lightest heavy armor, Dragonplate offers a respectable balance. It provides significant protection without excessively encumbering you. This is crucial for characters who value mobility.
• Crafting Accessibility: Once you unlock the Dragon Armor perk in the Smithing skill tree, you can craft Dragonplate. While requiring dragon components can be challenging early on, it’s ultimately more reliable than relying on random loot drops.
• Aesthetics and Lore: Dragonplate just looks good. It fits perfectly into the Skyrim setting, and the implication of wearing armor forged from dragons adds to the overall immersion.
• Perk Synergy: The Dragon Armor perk also applies to Dragonscale armor, allowing you to choose between heavy and light dragon armor without investing in additional perks.

The Contenders: Challengers to the Throne

Despite Dragonplate’s strengths, other armor sets vie for the title of “best”:

• Daedric Armor: This set has the highest base armor rating in the game (144). However, it comes with a significantly heavier weight (96). For players who prioritize pure defense above all else and don’t mind the encumbrance, Daedric is a formidable option.
• Ebony Armor: A strong, more readily available alternative. While not as strong as Dragonplate, it can be crafted much earlier in the game. Its armor rating is 128 and a weight of 76, making it a solid choice.
• Stalhrim Armor: Introduced in the Dragonborn DLC, Stalhrim armor has unique properties, like enhancing frost enchantments. This makes it an excellent choice for characters who focus on frost magic or frost-based weapons.
• Mods: A multitude of mods exist that introduce new armor sets, often with unique properties or significantly higher stats than vanilla options. However, modded armor falls outside the scope of this discussion, as their power levels are highly variable.

The “Best” Armor: It’s All About Context

Ultimately, determining the “best” armor requires considering your specific character build and playstyle.

• Heavy Armor vs. Light Armor: Do you prefer the added protection of heavy armor, or the increased mobility and stamina regeneration offered by light armor? If you prefer heavy armor, the decision is between Dragonplate and Daedric (or potentially Stalhrim, depending on your build). If you prefer light armor, Dragonscale becomes the obvious choice.
• Smithing Skill: High Smithing skill significantly impacts the effectiveness of any armor. With enough skill and the right perks, even seemingly weaker armors can reach the armor cap (more on that later).
• Enchantments: Enchantments can further customize your armor, adding resistances, stat boosts, or other beneficial effects. The right enchantments can compensate for a slightly lower base armor rating.
• Personal Preference: Do you prefer the look of one armor set over another? Do you value lore accuracy or roleplaying opportunities? The “best” armor is subjective.

Armor Cap: The Great Equalizer

It’s crucial to understand the armor cap in Skyrim. Regardless of your armor rating, incoming physical damage is reduced by a maximum of 80%. This cap is reached at an armor rating of approximately 567.

This means that once you reach the armor cap, any further increases to your armor rating are effectively useless. It also means that armors with slightly lower base ratings can become just as effective as Dragonplate or Daedric with enough smithing and enchantments.

Conclusion: Dragonplate’s Place in the Pantheon

Dragonplate Armor undoubtedly deserves its place among the best armor sets in Skyrim. Its blend of high armor rating, manageable weight, and iconic design makes it a popular and effective choice for many players. However, it’s not a universally superior option. Daedric armor offers higher protection for those willing to sacrifice mobility, while other sets (like Ebony or Stalhrim) can be more readily accessible or offer unique advantages.

The real “best” armor comes down to your specific character build, your willingness to invest in smithing and enchantments, and your own personal preferences. So, experiment, explore, and find the armor that best suits your Dragonborn!

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How do I get Dragonplate armor?

You need to have a Smithing skill of 100 and unlock the Dragon Armor perk in the Smithing skill tree. Then you can craft it at a forge using Dragon Bones, Dragon Scales, and Leather Strips.

2. Is Dragonplate armor better than Daedric armor?

Daedric Armor has a higher base armor rating, but Dragonplate is lighter. With smithing and enchantments, both can easily reach the armor cap, making the difference negligible for many players. It boils down to personal preference.

3. What is the armor cap in Skyrim?

The armor cap is 80% damage reduction, which is reached at an armor rating of approximately 567.

4. Is Dragonscale armor the best light armor in Skyrim?

Yes, Dragonscale armor is widely considered the best light armor in the game due to its high armor rating for its weight.

5. Can I improve Dragonplate armor?

Yes, you can improve Dragonplate armor at a grindstone using Dragon Bones. The amount it improves depends on your Smithing skill and any relevant perks.

6. What enchantments should I put on my Dragonplate armor?

Common enchantments include increasing health, stamina, magicka, resistances to magic (fire, frost, shock), and fortifying skills like Archery, One-Handed, or Two-Handed.

7. Is Ebony armor worth crafting?

Yes, Ebony armor is a solid mid-game option. It is easier to obtain than Dragonplate or Daedric, and provides excellent protection.

8. Where can I find Dragon Bones and Dragon Scales?

You can find Dragon Bones and Dragon Scales by killing dragons. The higher the level of the dragon, the more you will get.

9. Does difficulty setting affect armor effectiveness?

Yes, higher difficulty settings increase the damage you take, making high armor ratings even more important.

10. Is there a difference between male and female Dragonplate armor?

The only difference is the visual appearance to better fit the character’s body. Stats remain the same.

11. What are some good weapons to pair with Dragonplate armor?

Any weapon will work, but popular choices include Dragonbone weapons (swords, axes, bows) for thematic consistency, or powerful unique weapons like Dawnbreaker or Dragonbane.

12. Does the Steed Stone affect Dragonplate armor?

The Steed Stone increases carry weight and eliminates the weight penalty for worn armor, making it a great choice for heavy armor users.

13. Is Dragonplate armor better than Glass armor?

Dragonplate armor is significantly better than Glass armor in terms of armor rating and protection. Glass armor is a light armor set, making it a poor comparison.

14. Does the Lord Stone affect Dragonplate armor?

The Lord Stone provides a flat resistance to physical and magical damage, complementing the protection offered by Dragonplate Armor.

15. Can I use Dragonplate armor at level 1?

While technically possible to acquire the materials through extreme effort, it is not realistically attainable at level 1. You also won’t have the necessary Smithing skill or perks to craft it effectively until later in the game.