Armor Guide: Early Purchases and Stat Comparisons

Three body armor purchases to compare

Use this small reference to identify an actual item and a documented seller before spending Gold. It covers body armor only: head and leg equipment, rings and cloaks are not interchangeable entries in the same slot. It is not a ranking of every armor piece or a claim that these purchases are best for an endgame character.

Selected base-game reference records, not an exhaustive or live-patch database. Sources were reviewed through published pages and search-index excerpts where direct access was unavailable. No personal gameplay test is claimed. Armor values are unenhanced references; prices precede discounts. A null price means not established, not free.

Check vocation compatibility first

The table preserves the native vocation listings in the source. Warfarer has broader equipment access and should be treated separately rather than silently changing a native-vocation listing into a universal rule. An item that looks appropriate for your character may still be unavailable to their currently selected vocation. Check the equip screen before purchasing for either the Arisen or a Pawn.

For a concrete starting comparison, Chain Mail is listed at Runne's Apothecary in Melve. The shop reference and armor catalogue both record a 2,250 G base price. That establishes a useful shopping destination; it does not make the item a required purchase before leaving town.

Compare equivalent upgrade states

Read Defense and Magick Defense separately. When comparing a shop item against your current equipment, first check whether your current item has already been enhanced. An unenhanced reference row is not a like-for-like measurement against upgraded gear. Weight also belongs in the decision: our recommendation is to compare the complete load you intend to carry, including supplies, rather than treating a higher defense number as an automatic upgrade.

The enhancement guide explains smithing styles. No enhancement multipliers are applied to this table, and resistances not listed here should be checked in the game's detailed comparison.

Make the shopping trip useful

Before leaving a settlement, write down the intended wearer, the item name and your spending limit. Check your equipped item, then inspect the shop's current comparison and purchase price. If the improvement is not worth the cost to you, keep the Gold for a later item rather than buying solely to complete a list.

For accessory effects and their separate acquisition conditions, open rings and cloaks. For weapons, use the named weapon records or the existing Gear Finder. Promotional artwork on this page is illustrative; it does not show the exact appearance of every recorded item.