Strategy is a prevalent concept in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, present in virtually everything you do. Before engaging with your opponents in battle, you first need to analyze their weaknesses to ensure you come out victorious. When speaking with secondary characters, you’re prompted with replies, and you must choose your response wisely or face a possibly negative outcome.
Strategy reigns true even for armor, and with the absolute smorgasbord of armor sets in the Witcher 3, you’ll probably give yourself a headache trying to figure out which armor sets to acquire and when you should equip them. Luckily, you’ve stumbled upon this article where we’re going to discuss the best armor in the Witcher 3 from early to late in the game.
15. Temerian Armor
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How to get the Termerian Armor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_QIHBEC_6Y
Starting off strong with the Temerian Armor, you only need to be at a measly level four to acquire it. You can purchase this set from the same merchant you saved from the griffin in the beginning of the game. The merchant is located near Woesong Bridge in White Orchard.
The only drawback with the Temerian Armor is the large sum of money you need to have in order to purchase it, but once you have the funds you’ll have a beginner’s armor set with extra heavy resistance to all types of attacks such as piercing, bludgeoning, and slashing. Though the set only requires a level four, it has a value of 91, making it the perfect set for Witcher 3 noobs.
+25 Resistance to Piercing - Increase your resistance from piercing inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+25 Resistance to Bludgeoning - Increase your resistance from bludgeoning inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+35 Resistance to Slashing - Increase your resistance from slashing inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+10 Resistance to damage from Monsters - Increase your resistance from damage inflicted by all kinds of monsters.
+10 Resistance to Elemental Magic - Increase your resistance from all kinds of elemental magic.
How to get the Griffin Armor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPX9RcKk2Q8
Coming in at number 14 we have the Griffin Armor located in Velen south of the Hanged Man’s Tree. Make your way through the dense forest until you find the Dragonslayer’s Grotto. Brace yourself - you’re going to come face to face with a couple of wraiths that might best you if you haven't upgraded your weapons or added any oil enhancements.
Use Aard to break through one of the ruined walls that leads into a tunnel. Poisonous gas is your next foe, and you can combat this by doing one of three things: Use a potion to immune yourself to the gas, use Igni or Aard to disperse the smoke, or just say “yolo” and run through it as fast as you can. At the end of the tunnel, use Aard to smash through the rocks.
Surprise! There’s an Ekimmara waiting for you. After you dispatch the nasty boy, loot the surrounding chests and you’ll find the diagrams to craft the Griffin Armor.
The Griffin Armor set is key for boosting sign intensity. Aard, Igni, Yrden, Quen, and Axii will all have an increase of 5%, perfect for building the strength of your signs.
+25% Increase Sign intensity - Increase Aard, Axii, Quen, Igni, and Yrden for more powerful and precise signs.
+9% Resistance to Piercing - Increase your resistance from piercing inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+6% Resistance to Bludgeoning - Increase your resistance from bludgeoning inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+19% Resistance to Slashing - Increase your resistance from slashing inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+26% Resistance to damage from Monsters - Increase your resistance from damage inflicted by all kinds of monsters.
+22% Resistance to Elemental Magic - Increase your resistance from all kinds of elemental magic.
+20% Monster experience - Increase your experience and get closer to the next level.
How to get the Undvik Armor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74J6EoCx5jE
Next we have the Undvick Armor set which is also known as the Skellige Armor. Available to players level 16 and above, the set is located in - you guessed it - The Skellige Isles. Who’da thought?
When you reach Kaer Trolde, enter the castle and make an immediate right. You’ll run into a blacksmith selling the Undvick Armor set. Similar to other sets listed in the article, you’re going to have to pay a generous sum of money to purchase this set, but the perks will sorely outweigh the cost.
Not only will both Geralt and Roach look like the most badass warrior and steed duo you’ll ever lay eyes on, the Undvick Armor set is imperative for resistance to damage of every type. Plus, purchasing the saddlebags for Roach will increase your carrying weight by 100.
+35% Resistance to Piercing - Increase your resistance from piercing inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+35% Resistance to Bludgeoning - Increase your resistance from bludgeoning inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+40% Resistance to Slashing - Increase your resistance from slashing inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+10% Resistance to damage from Monsters - Increase your resistance from damage inflicted by all kinds of monsters.
+10% Resistance to Elemental Magic - Increase your resistance from all kinds of elemental magic.
How to get the Nifgaardian Armor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vvi7wCkQVI4
Nilfgaard might be jerks, but they have some pretty dope armor. The Nilfgaardian Armor is located in Velen at Crow's Perch where the Barron resides. You’ll find the Quartermaster selling the armor set.
For this medium armor you’re going to be dishing out around a thousand gold pieces, and you have to be at least a level 10 to acquire it. However, just like the Undvik armor the Nilfgaardian Armor includes gear for your loyal steed, Roach.
Not only is the Nilfgaardian Armor one of the best looking sets in the game, it also grants you access into the House of Respite, an exclusive club for high-ranking Nilfgaardian soldiers. Eventually, you’ll need to access this club if you want to explore every facet of the game, so acquiring the set is a necessity.
+40% Resistance to Piercing - Increase your resistance from piercing inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+40% Resistance to Bludgeoning - Increase your resistance from bludgeoning inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+45% Resistance to Slashing - Increase your resistance from slashing inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+15% Resistance to damage from Monsters - Increase your resistance from damage inflicted by all kinds of monsters.
+10% Resistance to Elemental Magic - Increase your resistance from all kinds of elemental magic.
How to get the Manticore Armor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOqe5LJtvYk
If you’re an avid user of bombs, potions, and oils during combat, then the Manticore Armor is the one for you. While this medium relic armor comes with great perks, it won’t be the most easy to find, as the diagrams for each component are scattered throughout different locations.
The Manticore Armor is located in Toussaint, northeast of Gelenser farm. Make your way down the overgrown path and you’re going to come across some level 40 panthers that you can choose to fight or skirt out of their way. Enter the mouth of the cave when you discover it and descend down into the dark depths of what is the Prophet Lebioda’s temple.
Use your Witcher senses to scour the paper strewn walls and you’ll come across the diagram for the Manticore armor. A fantastic perk to this armor is that its primary strength is alchemy, raising Geralt’s toxicity level by 30 while also increasing the strength of your bombs.
10 Maximum Toxicity - Increase your toxicity gauge and boost your ability to drink more potions to boost your abilities.
+19% (20% (NG+)) Resistance to Piercing - Increase your resistance from piercing inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+24% Resistance to Slashing - Increase your resistance from slashing inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+31% Resistance to damage from Monsters - Increase your resistance from damage inflicted by all kinds of monsters.
+25% Critical hit bonus - Increase your chance for a critical hit bonus and dispatch your enemies quicker.
How to get the New Moon Armor (Relic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAPGi5eQMSE
Before you ask, no, this is not Edward Cullen’s armor (though the addition of the New Moon armor in the Twilight saga would have made for one hell of a plot twist). The New Moon Armor can be found northwest of Novigrad at the lighthouse on the small island of Crane Cape. When you get to the lighthouse, enter and climb up two ladders. When you reach the top you’ll find the New Moon Armor.
The New Moon Armor has a decently high intensity increase in all the attacks that matter: bludgeoning, critical hits, and slashing. It also has a perk where you can attain 10% bonus gold for every foe you kill. Essentially, you get paid to kill.
+35% Resistance to Bludgeoning - Increase your resistance from bludgeoning inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+30% Resistance to Slashing - Increase your resistance from slashing inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+20% Critical hit bonus - Increase your chance for a critical hit bonus and dispatch your enemies quicker.
+5% Critical hit chance - Increase your chance for a critical hit and dispatch your enemies quicker.
+10 Additional Gold - Gain gold and become wealthier when dispatching your enemies.
New Moon Armor (Relic)r: https://witcher.fandom.com/wiki/New_Moon_armor
9. Ofieri Armor
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How to get the Ofieri Armor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9dP23hddb0
The Ofeiri Gear set is a special one. If you acquire each component belonging to this gear set along with the horse gear, you can win an achievement titled “I Wore Ofieri Before It Was Cool”. How clever. However, we’re going to focus solely on the armor.
You can find the Hearts and Stone exclusive Ofieri Armor in Velen through a quest titled “From Ofier’s Distant Shores.” You will have to find the diagrams for each piece in the set, and once you find the diagram for the armor, you can take it to a merchant in Upper Mill who will translate the foreign diagram for you.
It can be a bit tedious to find, but the Ofieri Armor is great to equip Geralt with when you’re mid-game. This armor excels in sign intensity, boosting Quen, Yrden, and Axii. This is a plus if you’re an avid wielder of signs and like to incorporate their benefits during battle.
+20% Quen Sign intensity - Increase your Quen sign and strengthen your shield against enemies.
+10% Yrden Sign intensity - Increase your Yrden sign and block enemies from advancing with a greater intensity.
+10% Axii Sign intensity - Increase your Axii sign and hypnotize your enemies with a greater intensity.
+30% Resistance to bludgeoning - Increase your resistance from bludgeoning inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+30% Resistance to slashing - Increase your resistance from slashing inflicted by both monsters and humans.
How to get the Mahakman Heavy Armor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTz0BVq1wQI
The Mahakman Heavy Armor can be found in the Skellige Isles along the northern coast of the main continent. On your map, you’ll see a series of question marks that are actually underwater chests. Dive down into the water and you’ll find the Mahakman Heavy Armor in one of these chests.
The Mahakman Heavy Armor comes with an equally heavy vitality boost, +637 to be exact. This stat is a game changer along with the other strong resistances to attacks.
+25 Resistance to Bludgeoning - Increase your resistance from bludgeoning inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+25% Resistance to Piercing - Increase your resistance from piercing inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+30% Resistance to Slashing - Increase your resistance from slashing inflicted by both monsters and humans.
Mahakman Heavy Armor: https://witcher.fandom.com/wiki/Mahakaman_heavy_armor#Mahakaman_heavy_armor_(common)
7. Tesham Mutna Armor
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How to get the Tesham Mutna Armor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUEO9cU8jyg
The Tesham Mutna Armor can be found in the Tesham Mutna Ruins in the Blood and Wine expansion pack during the main quest called La Cage Au Fou. When you enter the building and walk down the first stairwell,you’ll need to loot the chest that Regis is leaning on. Inside you’ll find the Tesham Mutna Armor.
Not only is this armor cool because it involves vampires (you can’t escape Edward Cullen), but if you wear at least three pieces in the set at one time, you’ll be given a vampiric aura which allows you to heal yourself every time you kill an enemy. The stats are also top notch.
+30% Resistance to Piercing - Increase your resistance from piercing inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+25% Resistance to Bludgeoning - Increase your resistance from bludgeoning inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+25% Resistance to Bleeding - Increase your resistance to bleeding which will continuously decrease your health.
+30% Resistance to Slashing - Increase your resistance from slashing inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+25% Resistance to damage from Monsters - Increase your resistance from damage inflicted by all kinds of monsters.
How to get the Wolven Armor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_lB-My6nKU
Fitting for the infamous White Wolf, this armor was practically made for Geralt. To acquire the Wolven Armor, head to the Signal Tower that is southwest of Kaer Morhen. Within the ruins you’ll find a half-built portal with a missing crystal.
Use your Witcher senses to scour the ruins for clues that will lead you to the crystal. When you find it, transfer it to the portal and activate the portal using Aard. Jump through the portal and you will appear below the tower where you can kill off the enemies waiting for you and loot the diagram from a nearby skeleton.
The Wolven Armor is a great medium armor. It’s versatile and has strengths in every facet, making it perfect for the players who enjoy mixing up their combat style.
+5% Adrenaline Point gain - Increase your adrenaline point gain for when you’re ready to access your adrenaline.
+5% Resistance to Piercing - Increase your resistance from piercing inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+5% Resistance to Bludgeoning - Increase your resistance from bludgeoning inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+10% Resistance to Slashing - Increase your resistance from slashing inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+15% Resistance to damage from Monsters - Increase your resistance from damage inflicted by all kinds of monsters.
How to get the Viper Armor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5murUC5rSA&t=32s
Number five is the Viper Armor that is attainable during the “Open Sesame!” mission. Once in Novigrad, head to Borsody Auction House and talk to Countess Mignole who sells the Viper Armor. Note that this conversation is optional, however if you choose to opt out of speaking with her, you will not be able to have this opportunity again.
The Viper Armor is essential for near immunity against poison. Coupled with high poison resistance and resistance to damage from monsters, this medium armor set is going to make a world of a difference during combat.
+30% Resistance to Piercing - Increase your resistance from piercing inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+50% Resistance to Poisoning - Increase your resistance to poisoning which will greatly decrease your health.
+30% Resistance to Slashing - Increase your resistance from slashing inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+40% Resistance to damage from Monsters - Increase your resistance from damage inflicted by all kinds of monsters.
+40% Resistance to Elemental Magic - Increase your resistance from all kinds of elemental magic.
Howto get the Hen Gaidth Armor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CBxQBhq5k8
Bright red and menacing, the Hen Gaidth Armor will make Geralt look as if he’s truly wearing the blood of his enemies. Available to players level 53 or more, the Hen Gaidth armor can be found during the quest titled “What Lies Unseen”, a main quest in the Blood and Wine expansion pack.
To find the Hen Gaidth armor, you must choose to go after the Unseen Elder in the “What Lies Unseen” quest. The elder’s lair is located in Toussaint in a cave. When you arrive at the cave, make your way through, killing foes and looting gear along the way until you get the chance to slide down a stone wall. You’ll come to a tower and at the base of the tower is a chest containing the armor diagram.
What sets the Hen Gaidth armor apart from the others is its unique ability for its host to gain vitality just for killing opponents. Every time you slay an enemy, the vitality you heal back is 1% per armor piece, and with a set of six pieces you can gain up to 6% vitality.
+40% Resistance to Piercing damage - Increase your resistance from piercing inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+30% Resistance to Bludgeoning - Increase your resistance from bludgeoning inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+25% Resistance to Bleeding - Increase your resistance to bleeding which will continuously decrease your health.
+35% Resistance to Slashing - Increase your resistance from slashing inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+35% Resistance to damage from Monsters - Increase your resistance from damage inflicted by all kinds of monsters.
Hen Gaidth Armor Set: https://witcher.fandom.com/wiki/Hen_Gaidth_armor
3. Feline Armor
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How to get the Feline Armor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2BxSrRwDj0
If you’re a fenline fanatic with a drive for quick attacks, the Feline Armor is what you’re looking for. Head down the road and along the cliffside located behind the tower on Novigrad’s Temple Isle. Disable the illusion with Keira Metz’s amulet and enter a cavern where you’re going to dispatch a Golem.
Afterwards, make your way up to the net chamber and fight off the wraiths that appear out of thin air. Rotate the statues that appear in the chamber so they are facing inwards and the floor will open to reveal - you guessed it - drowners. Once you kill the drowners, swim to the bottom of the cavern to acquire the laboratory key from the skeleton.
When you enter the laboratory, you’ll face off with a rogue Witcher named Mad Kiyan. Defeat the crazed man and loot his corpse that is carrying the diagram for the Feline Armor.
This is hands down some of my favorite armor because it makes dodging attacks so much smoother. It’s light armor that focuses on speed and stamina rather than brute strength, making for fast and nimble attacks just like a feline.
+12% Aard intensity - Increase your Aard intensity and blast your enemies with even greater strength.
+20% Attack power - Increase your attack power and dispatch your enemies quicker.
+10% Resistance to Bleeding - Increase your resistance to bleeding which will continuously decrease your health.
+8% Resistance to Piercing - Increase your resistance from piercing inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+11% Resistance to Slashing - Increase your resistance from slashing inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+11% Resistance to damage from Monsters - Increase your resistance from damage inflicted by all kinds of monsters.
+40% Resistance to Elemental Magic - Increase your resistance from all kinds of elemental magic.
+20% Monster experience - Increase your experience and get closer to the next level.
How to get the Ursine Armor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFsrZ3FlKd4&t=752s
This one is for all my Quen lovers out there. The Ursine Armor can be found in Skellige along the trail to Yngvar’s Fang. You’ll come across the ruins to a building where you need to head inside and ascend some stairs. You’ll be greeted by a large room where you can find a chest containing the armor diagram.
I can’t stress how important Quen is during combat. Not only will it save you each and every time from a critical blow, it’s going to keep you alive a lot longer when you’re facing those strong bosses.
+5% Adrenaline Point gain - Increase your adrenaline point gain for when you’re ready to access your adrenaline.
+5% Resistance to piercing - Increase your resistance from piercing inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+5% Resistance to bludgeoning - Increase your resistance from bludgeoning inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+15% Resistance to Slashing - Increase your resistance from slashing inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+20% Resistance to damage from Monsters - Increase your resistance from damage inflicted by all kinds of monsters.
How to get the Grandmaster Wolven Armor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0r9ikEZSVoU
And here it is, ladies and gentleman, the armor you’ve all been waiting for: The Grandmaster Wolven Armor. You can find this armor when you acquire the quest “Scavenger Hunt: Grandmaster Wolven Gear”. This takes place in Toussaint and you’ll need to head to the Termes Palace Ruins.
Before entering the ruins, pick up the purple ruby to your right so you can gain access. Once inside, make your way through and dispatch the various enemies you encounter. You’ll find a satchel on the ground that contains the diagram to craft the Grandmaster Wolven Armor.
What makes the Grandmaster Wolven Armor so revered is the fact that it’s so well rounded. You have enhancements in every facet with the notable addition that Geralt is the one and only White Wolf, so the Wolven Armor is perfect for him. Alexa, play “The Song of the White Wolf” from The Witcher Netflix series.
+22% Adrenaline Point gain - Increase your adrenaline point gain for when you’re ready to access your adrenaline.
+19% Resistance to Piercing - Increase your resistance from piercing inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+17% Resistance to Bludgeoning - Increase your resistance from bludgeoning inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+24% Resistance to Slashing - Increase your resistance from slashing inflicted by both monsters and humans.
+31% Resistance to damage from Monsters - Increase your resistance from damage inflicted by all kinds of monsters.
