Baldur's Gate 3 has tons of fantastic armor for the party to find that cover all class options. While spellcasters, monks and barbarians have cool clothing pieces with awesome effects, heavy armor offers a little more protection to those that can wear it. Whether a character needs something specific for their class or just wants the highest armor class possible, the heavy armor on offer in BG3 has them covered.
Heavy armor in Baldur's Gate 3, just like its Dungeons & Dragons counterpart, is the top end of the armor spectrum. It offers the best protection at the trade-off of stealth for classes able to use it. While all fighters and paladins can wear heavy armor at level one, the only other class who can wear it without a feat is the cleric, where particular BG3 cleric domains are granted proficiency.
Related
There are some fantastic medium armors available for the party in Baldur's Gate 3 with some great effects, here are the best and how to find them.
10 Dwarven Splintmail - 19 AC
Rare Armor Can Be Bought In Act 2
The Dwarven Splintmail is a rare piece of armor that not many will come across during their playthroughs of BG3. This is because the only way to get Lann Tarv to sell the armor is to convince Disciple Z'rell to share her secret stash before heading out in search of Balthazar. Dis on YouTube shows the correct dialogue choice to choose when asking for extra support, which luckily doesn't require any skill checks.
AC | Stealth Disadvantage | Special Features |
|---|---|---|
19 | Yes | Boosts Constitution by two and reduces piercing damage by one. Plus one to all Strength ability checks and saving throws. |
The Dwarven Splintmail is fantastic for frontline party members such as fighters, as on top of its 19 AC, it reduces all piercing damage by one. Its special feature, Body Aid, will give an additional plus one to all Strength-based ability checks and saving throws. Finally, the Dwarven Splintmail lives up to the race that created it by boosting the wearer's Constitution by two, to a maximum of 20.
9 Cerebral Citadel Armor - 18 AC
Rare Armor Can Be Found In Act 3
Deep under the Elfsong Tavern is the Emperor’s Old Hideout, which can be accessed via the Elfsong's basem*nt or the Lower City Sewers. Inside are mementos of the illithid's life before his transformation, including a couple of pieces of excellent equipment and some unique heavy armor. The Cerebral Citadel Armor is a set of mind flayer armor that provides a unique boost to wearers with illithid parasites, such as all the BG3 Origin characters.
AC | Stealth Disadvantage | Special Features |
|---|---|---|
18 | Yes | Immune to being frightened and plus one to Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws if the wearer has a tadpole. |
On top of its 18 AC, the Cerebral Citadel Armor gives plus one to all Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws to wearers who have a mind flayer hitchhiker. One of the more useful aspects of this armor is that it makes the wearer immune to being frightened, which is a frustrating condition to deal with in a fight. There are several circ*mstances in Act 3 where this can happen, such as the battle with Viconia, making this armor well worth seeking out.
The Frightened condition works differently in BG3 than in DnD as it prevents the affected target from moving completely as well as imposing a disadvantage to ability checks and attack rolls.
8 Armor of Devotion - 18 AC
Rare Armor Can Be Bought In Act 2
The Armor of Devotion is a great armor that can offer great protection for all, but is fantastic for paladins specifically due to its special feature. Eternal Devotion allows the wearer to regain one Channel Oath charge per long rest. Given how limited this ability is with only one charge regardless of level, this armor is incredibly useful for paladins.
AC | Stealth Disadvantage | Special Features |
|---|---|---|
18 | Yes | Allows paladins to regain one Channel Oath charge per long rest. |
This full plate armor gives a decent AC of 18, but at the cost of the expected disadvantage to stealth checks that most heavy armors have. The Armor of Devotion can be purchased from Roah Moonglow of the Zhentarim in Moonrise Towers, assuming she survived Act 1. Roah is one of the best merchants in BG3 and can be found on the main floor in the foyer area to the right of the main doors, along with Lann Tarv.
7 Emblazoned Plate of the Marshal - 19 AC
Very Rare Armor Can Be Looted In Act 3
Not every playthrough of BG3 is going to be a heroic one, and for those who don't mind being a little evil, the Emblazoned Plate of the Marshal is a great piece to pick up in Act 3. With a fantastic 19 AC, this very rare armor also reduces all incoming damage by two. With Endurance by Fire, the wearer will have resistance to all fire damage and a plus two bonus to saving throws, further protecting them.
AC | Stealth Disadvantage | Special Features |
|---|---|---|
19 | Yes | Reduce all incoming damage by two, plus two to saving throws and fire resistance. Ability to cast fire shield once per long rest. |
The Emblazoned Plate of the Marshal also allows the wearer to cast fourth level fire shield once per long rest. This will wrap them in flames, giving resistance to fire or cold damage and dealing that element's damage back to attackers to manage to land a melee attack. The only drawback to this armor is that it can only be obtained from Duke Ravengard's body, which means he will have to die in the Iron Throne for the party to gain it.
6 Adamantine Splint Mail - 18 AC
Very Rare Armor Crafted In Act 1
Some of the best early game armor can be crafted at the Adamantine Forge during the party's trip through the Underdark. As shown by rAAZ on YouTube, once the correct mold has been found and taken to forge, the party will have some excellent armor that will be of use right through Act 2. The Splint Mold is on a rock ledge close to the Grymforge waypoint and not too far from the Scale Mail Mold.
AC | Stealth Disadvantage | Special Features |
|---|---|---|
18 | Yes | Reduce all incoming damage by two. Melee attackers are sent reeling for three turns and immune to critical hits. |
The Adamantine Splint Armor is perfect for frontline party members as it reduces all incoming damage by two along with an AC of 18. As with the adamantine medium armor version, the heavy splint armor prevents attacks from landing critical hits on the wearer. Intense Adamantine Backlash will also send any melee attacks reeling for three turns when they hit the wearer.
Only two samples of Mithral Ore can be found per playthrough, meaning two pieces of Adamantine equipment can be forged. While the weapons are good, it is best to forge the two armor sets as they offer the best benefits to the party.
5 Flawed Helldusk Armor - 18 AC
Rare Armor Can Be Gained In Act 2
The Flawed Helldusk Armor is easily one of the best armors in BG3 and can be obtained early in Act 2 so long as enough Infernal Iron has been gathered and Karlach has already had her engine upgraded twice. Speaking to Dammon after Karlach has been helped will prompt him to ask the party to keep an eye out for unusual materials. After this, the tiefling blacksmith can be given three pieces of Infernal Iron to forge the Flawed Helldusk set of armor, helmet, and gloves.
AC | Stealth Disadvantage | Special Features |
|---|---|---|
18 | Yes | Reduce piercing damage by one and possibility to deal 1d4 fire damage to nearby attackers. |
The armor offers great protection with 18 AC and can easily be worn right through until the perfected version can be gained. When worn, the Flawed Helldusk Armor reduces piercing damage by one, but the armor's best feature is its Less Infernal Retribution. This special feature acts like a tiefling's hellish rebuke, possibly dealing 1d4 fire damage to any enemy within two meters/seven feet when hit.
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Baldur's Gate 3: Can You Find Dammon After Emerald Grove?
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4 Blackguard's Plate - 19 AC
Very Rare Armor Looted In Act 3
When facing off against Sarevok and the Murder Tribunal, the party has the chance to pick up an excellent piece of heavy armor from one of the undead guardians in the ante chamber. That Which Guards is one of three death knights who guard the entrance to the main hall and will join the fray if combat occurs. Once defeated, the undead former paladin will drop the very rare Blackguard's Plate.
AC | Stealth Disadvantage | Special Features |
|---|---|---|
19 | Yes | Reduces all incoming damage by one and advantage on Wisdom saving throws. |
The Blackguard's Plate is a gorgeous set of plate armor with a fantastic AC of 19 making it great for fighters. The special feature Magical Plate reduces all incoming damage by one, but what really comes in handy is the secondary effect. The Blackguard's Plate gives the wearer advantage on Wisdom saving throws, which is incredibly useful against spells such as slow, hold person, and dominate person.
It is often best to kill the three death knights prior to entering the Murder Tribunal hall, as they will not respawn after a long rest and can be dispatched without alerting Sarevok.
3 Reaper's Embrace - 19 AC
Very Rare Armor Can Be Looted In Act 2
There is a lot to like about Ketheric Thorm's impressive armor, Reaper's Embrace, from how cool and spooky it looks to its fantastic 19 AC. This very rare armor can be looted from Ketheric after the third and final phase of his boss fight at the end of BG3's Act 2. With three tough phases, the fight with Ketheric can be grueling, but luckily there is a way to skip phase two as shown by Tali Z Vas Tyria on YouTube by finding the right items and dialogue.
AC | Stealth Disadvantage | Special Features |
|---|---|---|
19 | Yes | Reduces all incoming damage by two, use Howl of the Dead once per short rest, and wearer cannot be moved against their will (toggleable). |
Reaper's Embrace has three excellent features, the first of which is reducing all incoming damage by two. The second, Howl of the Dead, can be used once per short rest to numb enemies to half their movement and grant advantage to any spell attack rolls against affected targets for three turns. Finally, Reaper's Rigidity is a toggleable passive feature that prevents the wearer from being moved against their will by shoves or spells.
2 Armor Of Persistence - 20 AC
Very Rare Armor Can Be Bought In Act 3
Dammon is a brilliant blacksmith and can be encountered in each act of BG3 with new items to buy. Once in Baldur's Gate, Dammon will set up shop at the Forge of the Nine, just northeast of the Lower City Central Wall waypoint. Along with all his goods from the previous acts, Dammon will now sell the Armor of Persistence, which is definitely worth picking up.
AC | Stealth Disadvantage | Special Features |
|---|---|---|
20 | Yes | Reduces all incoming damage by two and permanently grants the effects of resistance and blade ward. |
This beautiful and very rare armor boasts an impressive 20 AC and reduces all incoming damage by two. However, the best thing about Dammon's creation is its Legendary Persistence, which permanently grants the wearer the effects of resistance and blade ward. This means that on top of adding 1d4 to all saving throws, the wearer also has resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage, making the Armor of Persistence fantastic for tanks.
1 Helldusk Armor - 21 AC
Legendary Armor Can Be Looted In Act 3
Easily the best heavy armor in Baldur's Gate 3 belongs to Raphael and can be looted after his defeat in the House of Hope. The Helldusk Armor provides a lot of benefits beyond its 21 AC and can be worn by any party member due to it granting heavy armor proficiency to whoever wears it. In keeping with its Hellish origins, this armor grants fire resistance, prevents the burned condition, and reduces all incoming damage by three.
AC | Stealth Disadvantage | Special Features |
|---|---|---|
21 | No | Grants proficiency in heavy armor, resistance to fire, reduces all incoming damage by three, and grants fly spell once per long rest. When the wearer succeeds in a saving throw, the attacker receives the burning condition. |
With the Helldusk Armor's Infernal Retribution special feature, any time the wearer succeeds a saving throw, the enemy that caused it will receive burning for three turns. But perhaps the best feature gifted by wearing the Helldusk Armor is the fly spell, which can be used once per short rest. The Helldusk Armor fly can be used as a bonus action and lasts for a whopping 10 turns. This can really come in handy in the final fight against the Absolute in Baldur's Gate 3.
Sources: Dis/YouTube, rAAZ/YouTube, Tali Z Vas Tyria/YouTube
Baldur's Gate 3
- Franchise
- Baldur's Gate
- Released
- August 3, 2023
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Platform(s)
- PC , macOS , PS5 , Xbox Series X
