Look at any major video game franchise character these days, and fans are likely to find one thing: the adventures and hardships they endure are lethal to the average human being. While most video game heroes are exceptional in most aspects, some of their invincibility must be credited to the armor they usually wear into combat. In some cases, changing into the finest piece of armor is a necessity before facing the ultimate boss or simply progressing in the story.

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Whether their second skin is simply strong, bestowed with superpowers or artificial intelligence, or just pleasing to the eye, a video game hero's armor is likely to become every bit as famous as their name. There are endless suits to choose from, but here's our list of the coolest video game armor sets.

Updated on September 29, 2023, by Adrián Tomé López: Tons of great armor designs have become iconic over the years thanks to new video games. It doesn't come as a surprise that the total number of entries in this ranking has doubled. The emergence and popularity of the Souls franchise, great video game sagas, and others that managed to reinvent themselves have, as a result, introduced iconic armor sets that will be remembered for a very long time. Some of these newer contenders are even worthy of challenging the position for the coolest video game armor ever.

20 First Civilization Armor - Assassin's Creed Odyssey

First Civilization set armor.

The Assassin's Creed franchise is not what it was when it started, but it still managed to deliver its coolest-looking armor set with the DLC The Fate of Atlantis: Fields of Elysium for Odyssey. Bringing a sci-fi style to Ancient Greece was a massive success. This armor inspired and forged by the Isu completed one of the best if not the best DLC of the Assassin's Creed saga.

Apart from looking amazing it also contributes to the game by boosting all kinds of stats including critical damage, a lot of assassin damage, and damage with swords. It's the ideal armor to wear in order to become a true unstoppable assassin.

19 Havel's Armor - Dark Souls

Havel's Armor Set Dark Souls

The Havel's Armor is one of the most recognizable sets in all of Darks Souls' lore. Present in Dark Souls and Dark Souls 3, this heavy armor came to the rescue of many players who were overwhelmed by the fierce attacks of some of the strongest and most difficult bosses ever. Thanks to its stats players can take more blows than usual and deliver powerful parries, making sure any enemy can be defeated.

Often in the conversation for the best armor sets in the franchise, this armor combines an attractive design with an important effect in the gameplay. However, it does require a very specific style of play since one becomes incredibly slow while wearing it, which doesn't work very well with those who prefer evading over parrying. Still, it was a nightmare to face in PVP.

18 Daedric Armor - Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim

Daedric Armor Skyrim

It might seem ridiculous to select just a single suit of armor from those available to either purchase or craft in The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim since players were free to assemble their own suits based on whatever criteria they chose - style, strength, magical properties, or weight. But when taking the intimidation factor, value, physical attributes, and time taken to unlock it, the Daedric Armor is hard to top.

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Named for the mystical inhabitants of Oblivion that occasionally cross over into the game's world, the Daedric Armor is about as demonic as a Dragonborn can get. With its sharpened spikes and hellish glow, dragons may simply surrender once laying eyes on this rig.

17 Yharnam Hunter Armor - Bloodborne

Front and back of Yharnam Hunter set Bloodborne

The looks that are commonly viewed as the face of Bloodborne are perfectly encompassed in this armor set. The Yharnam Hunter set represents all that Bloodborne is. It's a fantastic attire for beginners, cheap to get at the start of the game, and with decent stats. Its value mainly comes from how iconic it became and how long many players treasured this armor throughout their playthrough. But even without the sentimental approach, the Yharnam Hunter look is as cool as it gets.

This set is slightly different for male and female characters, with the female version having a small cape around the shoulder. It's sold by the Messengers at Hunter's Dream from almost the beginning of the game for a fair price.

16 T-51b Power Armor - Fallout

T-51b fallout

As the real world marches more and more toward advanced, mechanized armor on the battlefield, it's likely that eventually something along the lines of the T-51b Power Armor will be created. The iconic set of armor used in marketing the Fallout series was a standard issue for American infantry prior to the Great War, found in several games.

It is true that the TX-28 MicroFusion pack used to power the armor's hydraulics isn't exactly the safest option, but then, this is a series whose premise is based on the irresponsible use of nuclear technology. Unlike most entries on this list, both the T-51b and its predecessor, the T-45d power armor are seen multiple times, worn in number by members of the Brotherhood of Steel and the Enclave. Normally that might harm the armor's novelty factor, but even with the extra training required to operate it, nothing beats the stares when entering a room.

15 Hammer Suit - Super Mario Bros

Hammer Mario

Any fan of the Super Mario Bros. series knows that the titular siblings have more than a passing interest in extensive wardrobes. When it comes to special suits, power-ups, or unique abilities, they are the undisputed experts. But rarely can the term 'armor' be applied to Mario or Luigi's bonus clothing - except in the case of the Hammer Suit.

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First appearing in Super Mario Bros. 3, the suit turns either Mario or Luigi into their Hammer variants, modeled after the Koopa enemies known as Hammer Bros. With a fireproof shell, an indestructible helmet, and a set of hammers to hurl at enemies, the Hammer Suit shows Mario in a whole new light. With extra style points awarded for the black color scheme, fans can't help but love one of the few mental images of Mario heading into battle sporting actual armor instead of overalls.

14 Drachen Alpha Armor - Monster Hunter: World

Drachen Alpha Set

This is probably the best armor in Monster Hunter: World and definitely the prettiest. Amazing stats and boosts mixed in with a beautiful design make the Drachen Alpha Armor a perfect attire wished for by every player who comes across the lands of the New World.

As could be expected from this type of armor set, it's very hard to get, having to fight some of the most powerful monsters in the game. The reward is more than worth it, not only because of how good it looks but also for the 92 max defense and increased airborne damage.

13 Raging Wolf Armor Set - Elden Ring

Ragin Wolf Armor Set Elden Ring

Elden Ring has left a huge impression on the gaming world, and of course, their epic armor sets are part of the reason. This armor set, in particular, serves as the face of Elden Ring from the moment it was shown in the trailer, which created an uncanny level of expectation for the latest Souls entry. However, this default Tarnished look is not easy at all to get in the game. The Raging Wolf Armor can be acquired after completing the Volcano Manor quest line.

The original owner was Vagram the Raging Wolf whom the player kills and is one of the first Tarnished to ever reach the Roundtable and therefore a key piece of the game's lore. Any fan that followed Elden Ring from the beginning was dying to get this armor when it finally came out.

12 Augmented Reaction Suit - Vanquish

Augmented Reaction Suit

It could be said about many of the armor sets on the list that the suit itself is the hero's greatest weapon. However, in the case of Vanquish, the sentiment is a literal one. Instead of building futuristic guns, DARPA invested in the Augmented Reaction Suit (ARS) to turn an everyday soldier into a walking tank.

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Besides heightening the user's strength, endurance, mobility, and speed (negating any need for developing a "supersoldier serum"), the suit's BLADE system puts an entire arsenal at the user's disposal. Able to scan any battlefield weapon and essentially recreate it out of the suit's own parts. Assault Rifles can switch to Sniper Rifles, to Rocket Launchers, and back again at the press of a button. That special ability alone offers a deadlier suit than simple body armor, but its ability to slow down time makes it one of the most underrated armors on the list.

11 Lich King Armor - World of Warcraft

Lich King Armor World Of Warcraft

Wrath of the Lich King offered not only an intricate and exciting storyline but also one of the coolest armors of all time. The only same about this one is that it exclusively belongs to the Lich King himself, so not being playable it's obviously a major downside. Still, it makes for a memorable villain forever tied to this fearsome-looking armor. If it was possible to obtain it, it could easily contend for first position in this ranking.

This attire that looks inspired by Sauron from The Lord of the Rings became so iconic that even gamers who don't play World of Warcraft have seen it at some point. For the actual fans of World of Warcraft, it doesn't need an introduction. Its cultural importance in the video gaming world is immeasurable.

10 Shield-Weaver Armor - Horizon Zero Dawn

Shield-Weaver Armor Horizon Zero Dawn

The world of Horizon Zero Dawn has some of the most unique worldbuilding ever, and it's thanks to that all the armor sets look so amazing. The combination of tribal post-apocalyptic aesthetics with futuristic technological elements gave birth to one of the best armor sets ever. It gets even better while playing, as this armor is able to display a shield during combat that protects Aloy from hits.

Perhaps the only downside is that it's very hard to get and won't be available until the latest stages of the game. Even the second entry of the franchise couldn't surpass this armor in terms of appeal.

9 Ghost Armor - Ghost Of Tsushima

Ghost armor Ghost of Tsushima

Another game famous for being aesthetically pleasant, Ghost of Tsushima has a ton of incredibly cool armor sets. Among them, none is as good as the Ghost Armor set. In a similar case to Elden Ring, Jin Sakai was seen wearing this armor in the early trailers of the game, already developing an important fanbase. It embraces the fusion of the ninja and the samurai with a unique design that very easily catches the eye.

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On top of that, it's actually the best armor in the game when it comes to playing as a stealthy ninja, adding multiple perks, as well as allowing one to enter the Ghost Stance more often. It's an armor set that brings fear and panic to the enemies.

8 Powered Combat Suit - StarCraft

power combat suit starcraft

The image of a hulking, gritty space marine wearing hulking armor has become something of a stereotype in the video game industry - right up there with a wall-running, cloaked assassin - but there are few more influential or iconic as the Confederate Marine Corps Powered Combat Suit. The mark of any true Terran soldier in the world of StarCraft, the armor could make a monster out of even a modest-sized man.

Virtually impervious to small arms fire, and capable of automatically applying tourniquets to wounded limbs, the CMC Combat Suit was designed from the ground up for the kind of odds-defying and savage battles that the Zerg, Protoss, or other human beings would bring about. Over the course of the series the suit itself has evolved, but regardless of the color or model of "Hardskin," it's nearly impossible for any StarCraft fan to picture Jim Raynor, Tychus Findlay, or many other characters without it.

7 Resource Integration Gear - Dead Space

resource integration gear dead space

They say that necessity is the mother of invention, and Dead Space proves that the statement is just as true with video games. Starting with hero Isaac Clarke, a systems engineer for a deep space mining corporation, a roughneck who just happens to enjoy a great view while metalworking. Even if it wasn't in his job description, he had the tools and clothing needed to do battle with Hell itself.

Clarke's standard-issue Resource Integration Gear (RIG) was designed to afford engineers protection and improved strength. It may not have been designed for combat, but the RIG's spine-mounted, color-coded health indicator, wrist-mounted holographic projectors, and ability to be worn in hard vacuum make it tailor-made for a video game action hero. A variety of RIGs have been introduced, but gamers never forget their first.

6 Hazard Environment Suit - Half-Life

Half-Life Hazard Suit

It's hard to know if the authorities at the Black Mesa Research Facility realized that when they outfitted their scientists with Hazardous Environment (HEV) Suits, they were essentially preparing them for inter-dimensional war, but Half-Life series fans agree it was the perfect suit for the job. The HEV Suit of theoretical physicist Gordon Freeman, in particular, has seen more action than most.

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It's possible Black Mesa may have assumed that scientists would lack the aggression or athletic prowess to make the most of the suit's on-board morphine injectors to endure superhuman trauma, ability to travel to another dimension, not to mention take the full force of attacks from the villainous Combine. Their decision to go with as bold a color as orange wasn't bad. It may be a bit 'shouty' compared to our other favorites, but it's a classic nonetheless.

5 Nanosuit - Crysis

Nanosuit Crysis

A strong case could be made that the Crynet Nanosuit worn by the heroes of the Crysis series is, without a doubt, one of the coolest-looking armor sets that video games have produced. The perfect blend of feasible technology and monstrous appearance, the Nanosuit (also known as a Nano-Muscle Suit) was designed with one purpose: to make human beings as powerful and deadly as the alien menace known as 'Ceph.'

Once fans get past the stunning exterior, it becomes clear that the true beauty of the suit is its versatility. The artificial muscle fibers spread throughout the suit (not just for show) are capable of taking on new properties depending on the wearer's preferred mode of attack. As multi-purpose an armor set as one can hope for, even if it did originate from alien tech.

4 Kaer Morhen Armor - The Witcher 3

The-Witcher-3-Geralt-Highlights

Going back to classic warrior armor, few are better and more well-known than the Kaer Morhen Armor in The Witcher 3. When talking about armor that is a key part of a legendary video game but is also worn by Henry Cavill, there's little competition. This is the armor everyone thinks of when Geralt comes to mind, and it doesn't matter if it's the games, the books, or the show.

The defiant look, the wolf head warning him of magic being used with two weapons at his back ready to undertake on a gruesome mission for way less money than it should get him. Simply perfect, and iconic.

3 Fierce Deity Armor - The Legend of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom

Fierce of the deity armor The legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom

The Fierce Deity set represents the meaning of cool as good as any other armor in the history of video games. It may not be as recognizable as the hero set always associated with Link, but this design defines the peak of The Legend of Zelda franchise. It first appeared in Majora's Mask as one of Link's transformations and instantly became a classic. Now returning as an armor set for Tears of the Kingdom most fans instantly put it as the best in the game.

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It comes with an improved attack and is obtained after completing a cool secondary mission that will send players on a treasure hunt. It's difficult to get better than the Fierce Deity armor, which earned the title of best non-futuristic armor ever.

2 Mjolnir Powered Assault Armor - Halo

Halo Mjolnir armor

It's a safe bet that no suit of video game armor is more widely recognizable in modern culture than the Master Chief's. It's changed quite a bit over the years - from the MJOLNIR Mark IV seen in Halo: Combat Evolved to the GEN2 versions seen in Halo 4 - but has largely retained its iconic silhouette and coloring.

The armored plating, intimidating helmet, and energy shielding make the suit any soldier's dream, but its ability to house an AI makes it a dream come true. In hindsight, players (and the Chief) were lucky that it was an AI as friendly as Cortana chosen to fuse with the wearer's brain, as the MJOLNIR blurs the line between armor and wearer like few others. The suit's potency in combat ensured that it would carve out its place in the armor hall of fame, but the fact that gamers have never seen Master Chief out of it means the armor essentially is John-117.

1 Power Suit - Metroid

Metroid Prime 4 Leak August 2023

These days, everyone knows that a space bounty hunter is useless without a set of armor, but when Nintendo got around to unveiling Samus Aran, the star of their classic Metroid series, they decided to play it safe and give the heroine equipment that would ensure her legacy. Raised by the mysterious and ancient alien race known as the Chozo, Samus entered the profession of bounty hunting with an organic, cybernetic suit of Power Armor whose add-ons are limited only by the user's imagination. The strangest feature: the suit can't be removed unless Samus wills it, and has been known to disappear and reappear into thin air.

Cutting down on storage space is a bonus, but the suit's many variations have kept the series surprisingly fresh through multiple spin-offs and sequels. But the variety of deadly and memorable weapons the suit makes possible are the stuff that childhood gaming wonder is made of.

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