Throughout their time with Ghost of Tsushima, players will gain access to a wide variety of different armor sets, each one granting unique bonuses to Jin. While this may not seem all that important at first glance, each set is tailor made for specific playstyles, so fans may want to figure out what best matches them. In total, there are eleven different armors sets to be found, and while many of them are relatively simple to obtain, some (especially the better ones) require a bit more leg work.
At the start of the game, Jin is equipped with only his Broken Armor. This provides no benefit to the player, but is presumably better than nothing as Jin never takes it off until attaining better armor. While there may be some sentimental value attached to this set, perhaps it represents a time before Jin broke his Samurai code and became the Ghost, it is in the player's best interest to swap it out as soon as another set becomes available. This won't take long, as many of the following sets can be obtained immediately after completing the prologue of Ghost of Tsushima.
Traveller's Attire
The Traveler's Attire is an example of an armor set which can be obtained immediately, and all the player needs to do is speak to any merchant. Merchants can be found throughout the map, particularly located in settlements or survivor camps. Speaking to one of these friendly souls will reward the player with the Traveler's Attire. Though it does nothing to help the player in combat, it is extremely useful for exploration. This set allows the player to track artifacts with the Guiding Wind, clears up to 30% more fog of war on the map, and makes the controller vibrate when near artifacts. Sometimes it is worth just switching over to this set while travelling or searching a cleared enemy camp.
Samurai Clan Armor
The Samurai Clan armor is best suited for those that enjoy the rigors of open combat. It both boosts health and reduces incoming damage, allowing the player to take a beating in fights. What's more, taking damage grants resolve, meaning Jin will be able to heal himself or use certain techniques more often. This armor is easy to obtain, as the player needs simply seek out Lady Adachi and complete her first quest. This is available to the player right after the prologue and is a story quest, meaning this is one Ghost of Tsushima item that is unmissable.
Ronin Attire
The Ronin Attire is also obtained early on in Act 1, and this set is ideal for those that want a healthy balance of combat and stealth. While wearing this, it reduces enemy detection speed, increases melee damage, and gives the player a grace period when exiting pampas grass. This makes it ideal for sneaking around Mongol occupied areas, darting from bush to bush, but doesn't leave the player high and dry should they get spotted. It is obtained as part of the main quest "Blood on the Grass" in which Jin helps the Straw Hat Ronins.
Sakai Clan Armor
Players must reach Act 2 and complete the "Ghosts of the Past" main quest in order to unlock the Sakai Clan Armor, is similar to the Samurai Clan armor in a lot of ways. While both provide an increase to health, the Sakai Clan Armor trades away the reduced incoming damage for increased outgoing damage, rewarding players that are skilled with deflection and evasion. Furthermore, it increases the Standoff Streak by up to 2, meaning players could wipe out numerous enemies at once with a single standoff and the right build.
Ghost Armor
The final armor set which players will get as part of the main quest is the Ghost Armor, and it is obtained towards the end of Act 2 at the beginning of the "From the Darkness" main quest. This armor is best suited for those that prefer stealth, as it reduces enemy detection speed pretty drastically, but also aids players in reaching the powerful Ghost Stance. With this set, even if the player is found, they will likely be slaughtering enemies left and right, terrifying them in the process.
Tadayori's Armor
The rest of the armor in the game is obtained as part of a mythic quest, side tale, or some other challenge. When it comes to archery, nothing can match Tadayori's Armor. At the maximum level, players will be able to cock and reload arrows 30% faster, maintain Concentration (slowed time while aiming) for two seconds longer, and each headshot will restore 50% of the Concentration meter. With all of this combined, skilled marksman will be able to maintain concentration for the entirety of the combat, methodically wiping out the opposition with either the Half Bow or Long Bow in the blink of an eye. Players must complete "The Legend of Tadayori" mythic quest in order to obtain it, though.
Gosaku's Armor
Gosaku's Armor is obtained during Act 2's mythic quest, "The Unbreakable Gosaku." It offers yet another take on the melee oriented Samurai armor, this time focusing on staggering enemies. The armor provides a boost to the player's health and stagger damage, and enables the player to heal any time they kill a staggered enemy. When paired with the proper stances and the Heavenly Strike ability, this armor is one of the best in the game for open confrontation.
Kensei Armor
The Kensei Armor fills a unique niche that no other armor set does, as it encourages the player to make greater use of their Ghost Weapons. These include things like the Kunai, Sticky Bombs, and Black Powder Bombs, all of which become far deadlier with this set. Players wearing this armor receive 30% more Resolve across the board, get a 30% increase to Ghost Weapon damage, and can debuff enemies by hitting them with ghost weapons (making them weaker and more vulnerable to damage). It is obtained as an Act 2 Mythic Quest entitled "A Message in Fire."
Mongol Commander's Armor
Likely one of the last armor sets players will acquire in the game, the Mongol Commander Armor is obtained as a reward for a standard side quest. This lengthy tale sees players collecting pieces of the armor initially intended for Khotun Khan himself, and its abilities are reminiscent of the Samurai Clan Armor's with one key exception. While wearing this combat, Mongol detection speed is massively reduced, meaning in some cases players will be able to walk right in the front door of Mongol encampments.
Fundoshi
Players will only be able to obtain the Fundoshi "armor set" once they gain access to Act 3 of Ghost of Tsushima, as it requires the player to have rested in all 18 hot springs in the game. While wearing the Fundoshi, running and sprinting no longer create noise. This can actually be extremely useful in stealth situations, but that is the only benefit it provides. Though combat will certainly be more difficult without any relevant bonuses, at the very least players should have a lot of health from using all 18 hot springs.
Ghost of Tsushima is available now exclusively for PS4.