The Pathfinder franchise is making a mark in the world of both table-top RPGs and video games. Players like the wider variety of customization options when it comes to classes, a feature that sets the adventures of the Pathfinder universe apart from other turn-based RPG games and makes it Dungeons & Dragons' most serious competitor.
The recent release of the next installment of Pathfinder's video game franchise, Wrath of the Righteous, offers a lot to the player when it comes to options for character customization. Players who are familiar with the previous game in the franchise, Kingmaker, might be familiar with some of the more basic choices when it comes to outfitting their characters and companions early in the game.
It might seem fine to slap whatever on the characters when in the first few levels, but there are some items, spells, and pieces of conventional armor that are better for some builds than others. Keep in mind that the companions who join the party have to be well-geared too, and some of the best armor in the early game will be ideal for them. Here are some of the best choices when it comes to Pathfinder: WotR armor.
Updated March 11, 2022, by Kristy Ambrose: Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous continues to evolve, not only with some recent major updates but also a new DLC and versions for the PS4 and Xbox consoles. Players have also had more time to explore every corner of the game and find even more handy items to help the hero and their friends slay the demon hoards. Here are a few more ways to improve options for Pathfinder: WotR armor earlier in the game, to ensure the hero and their companions survive to find the overpowered stuff later.
13 Mage Armor
Virtually all the spellcasting schools have access to this handy Conjuration spell as a learned power from level 1. They can cast it on themselves or anyone within reach and their target gets a +4 to the armor class (AC) bonus.
This is an important ability for a squishy caster to have in the first place, and if they have a scroll, players can also use it even they don't have access to this spell. This is so useful that players will keep using it even at higher levels, but it's even better at low levels when the choice of Pathfinder: WotR armor is more limited.
12 Silver Robe
Ideal for Wizards or other casting classes, the Silver Robe is worn as a chemise or long shirt in a separate slot from armor, and it's light, so it can be equipped by any class. It grants the wearer a +1 bonus to all saving throws against Fear effects, and that applies to anything, not just spells. This ability makes the Silver Robe ideal for party roles like healers and tanks that have more at stake if they succumb to a Fear effect.
The party has to include Camellia in order to find this unique piece of Pathfinder: WotR armor. It's in Gwerm's Mansion, and players can loot it from the first floor provided they accept the quest he offers to clear his estate of demons.
11 Magical Vestment
A similar spell to Mage Armor, this is a version of the spell that is associated with Oracles and Paladins. It's a level 3 ability, so it's at the higher end of the spells available early in the game.
Magical Vestment is from the Transmutation school and gives the target a suit of armor with an enhancement bonus of +1 for each of the caster's levels, so it's actually +3 when the character first learns it. It's a basic but important protection spell, and can be used on oneself or a party member.
10 Bracers +1
There are a lot of +1 pieces that players will find in their first few levels, but not all of them are useful. Several party members have strict limits on what kind of armor they can wear, but those restrictions don't apply to bracers.
They're cheap and easy to find, and the kind of players who like to explore and search will come across a few pairs. Players might have to mix and match a bit because the +1 usually doesn't stack, but even the Monk and Witch in the party can wear them.
9 Shield of Magical Retribution
Find this shield on the battlefield after defeating a demon army on the road to Drezen. That won't happen until about level 4 or 5, which usually correlates with Chapter 2 of the main storyline, so by this point most of the characters in the party are wearing some decent armor anyway.
Not only does the bearer of this shield get a +2 Enhancement bonus, but whenever an enemy hits them with any melee or ranged attack, that enemy also suffers 2d6 Force damage. If the protagonist can't equip this piece of Pathfinder: WotR armor, make sure that someone in the party can.
8 Alchemist's Shirt
Not all classes can wear heavier types of armor, but lighter shirts and robes like this one can be equipped by any class, even Monks and Wizards. The Alchemist Shirt can be looted from the Half-Measure tavern in Drezen during the siege to retake the city, which concludes Act 2.
Wearing the Alchemist's Shirt does nothing for AC, but instead gives the wearer total immunity to pesky, debilitating conditions like Nauseated and a +4 bonus on saving throws against acid.
7 Breastplate +1
Players that need some heavy Pathfinder: WotR armor at an early level could do a lot worse than Breastplate +1. It's easy to find as loot from the many corpses that are left in the party's wake, and vendors usually have it in their inventory.
The good old Breastplate +1 is a simple piece, but the bonus is stackable, and the wearer only gets a -3 to their armor check penalty, which is better than most heavy armor. It's a nice addition until players get to about level 6 or 7 and better heavy pieces start to turn up on the road to Drezen.
6 Silky Veil
Several of the companions recruited early in Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous won't be able to wear conventional armor. Lann, the Monk, is one example. This is a class with an armor class comparable to a spell caster and depending on the subclass, might not be able to wear armor at all.
The Silky Veil is one of the first class-specific pieces that the player comes across. It gives a +1 dodge bonus to the character's AC and a +2 enhancement bonus to attack and damage rolls with unarmed attacks, so it's specific to the Monk class. It's a lootable item in Leper's Heart, one of the locations on the road to Drezen.
5 Bruiser's Chainshirt
The Lost Chapel is one of the best places to find quality Pathfinder: WotR armor early in the game, and this is where players find the Bruiser's Chainshirt. It gives a +2 to AC, which is normal for medium armor, and also provides an additional 3 to damage reduction from piercing weapons.
That includes arrows and darts in addition to melee weapons like rapiers and spears. Equip this on the party's tank or one of the Oracles or Clerics to get the maximum benefit.
4 Chainmail of the Dragonfly
It's chain mail, so this piece is limited to non-spell casting classes, with Clerics and Oracles being the usual exceptions. It's one of the items the Crusader army will acquire late in Act 2 or early in Act 3 as they clear out the northeastern corner of the map.
The Chainmail of the Dragonfly gives +1 to Dexterity and Insight saving throws to all the wearer's allies in a 30-foot radius. This not only applies to party members, but all friendly companions. The only catch is that it has to be activated in order to extend this benefit, but the effects last for a whole day.
3 Amulet of the Apothecary
Another great option for spellcasters looking for extra armor bonuses, the Amulet of the Apothecary is an ideal choice. It's a necklace, so any character can equip it. It gives a +1 to the wearer's AC plus a generous +4 bonus for saving throws against poison attacks.
The environment involves fighting monsters that use poison throughout the game, so this is handy. It's not the weapon of choice for the demonic forces most of the time, but their undead and cultist minions often use this elemental attack.
2 Blood Clarity
Blood Clarity is a cloak, so anyone can equip it, which is one of the reasons it's a nice item for early in the game. However, it's got a situational use, and it's best to give it to the character in the party that lands the most killing blows. That's not quite the same as doing the most damage, but it often is.
This cloak gives the wearer an increase of Resistance +2 when they equip it, but every time they hit a creature and kill it, they gain immunity to mind-affecting conditions for the next three 3 rounds. This is a nice addition to a character like a Barbarian or damage-oriented Fighter in a situation that involves enemies of the undead or demonic persuasion.
1 Lady Callandra's Chain Shirt
This is one of the first-named pieces found in Pathfinder: Wrath, and it's looted from the Tower of Estrod in Kenabras. There's a lot of nice stuff in this Tower, and there are also a couple of interesting side quests along the way that can also be done while exploring the neighborhood.
It's light armor, but it's Mithril, so that means it's a +2 AC bonus anyway on top of the usual 4, which is nice for a light armor piece. It also means that anyone who can wear light armor can also use this shirt, which is handy well into Chapter 4 when the characters are nearing level 7.
Pathfinder: Wrath Of The Righteous was released on September 2, 2021, and is available on PlayStation 4, PC, and Xbox One.