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If there's one thing that Skyrim isn't lacking in, it's the sheer amount of armor and cosmetic clothing in the game. The base game has hundreds of unique armor choices available, and the two DLCs Dragonborn and Dawnguard introduce dozens and dozens more. The Skyrim community is always looking for new ways to customize their characters, though.
The Creation Club offers 15 Alternate Armors to add even more variety to the game. Many of these creations were introduced for the first time in Skyrim Anniversary Edition – some have questlines tied to them, but the majority can be found everywhere throughout Skyrim. Almost all of these Armors can be crafted with a high Smithing skill and high-level perks, too.
Updated February 25, 2022 by Erik Petrovich: Some of the best pieces of equipment in the game arrived with Anniversary Edition as alternate armors Skyrim featured for the first time. Skyrim Anniversary Edition armor sets vary widely, but these alternate armors serve as aesthetically different options to their vanilla counterparts - Daedric Plate, for example, is essentially just a different version of Daedric Armor. Whichever Skyrim Anniversary Edition new armor you decide to look for, remember that each set still requires players to have certain perks and materials to upgrade them. Ebony Plate can be upgraded with Ebony Ingots, for example, but you also need the Ebony Smithing perk to make full use of this tempering process.
Daedric Mail
- Armor Type: Light Armor
- Total Armor Rating: 19 (Armor, Boots, Gauntlets)
- Improved With: Ebony Ingot, Daedric Smithing perk
Daedric Mail is a Light Armor set that stands high above almost every other Light Armor set in Skyrim. Its design, along with many armors added with Anniversary Edition, was inspired by the Daedric Mail from the mobile game Elder Scrolls: Blades. The Daedric Mail armor set consists of just three pieces: Armor, Boots, and Gauntlets.
To find a full set of Daedric Mail, players can start the "Missing Merchant" quest in Windhelm by talking to the Innkeeper at Candlehearth Hall.
Daedric Plate
- Armor Type: Heavy Armor
- Total Armor Rating: 65 (Armor and Helmet)
- Improved With: Ebony Ingot, Daedric Smithing perk
Daedric Plate is a Heavy Armor set that ranks up there in terms of overall Armor Rating, though it is only made up of two pieces: Armor and a Helmet. Other creations included in Anniversary Edition have a higher Armor Rating (and a more complete set), though Daedric Plate is still better than most Heavy Armor in the base game.
To find a full set of Daedric Plate, players can start the "Beyond The Grave" quest in Whiterun by reading the book "Death Of A Crimson Dirk" in the Dragonreach prison.
Studded Dragonscale
- Armor Type: Light Armor
- Total Armor Rating: 20 (Armor, Boots, Gauntlets, Helmet)
- Improved With: Dragon Scale, Dragon Armor perk
Studded Dragonscale Armor is a new Light Armor set with a high Armor Rating if all pieces are equipped. The Studded Dragonscale set consists of five pieces: Armor, Boots, Gauntlets, a Helmet, and a Shield.
To get a full set of Studded Dragonscale armor, players must complete the "Tilted Scales" quest, which begins in Windhelm after the player reads the book "The Crimson Dirks, v4". The quest grants the player the ability to craft this set.
Insulated Dragonplate
- Armor Type: Heavy Armor
- Total Armor Rating: 64 (Armor, Boots, Gauntlet, Helmet)
- Improved With: Dragon Scale
The Insulated Dragonplate set is a Heavy Armor set that comes from The Elder Scrolls: Blades, and improves on the Dragonplate armor by including a fur lining beneath the armor. It consists of five pieces: Boots, a Cuirass, Gauntlets, a Helmet, and a Shield.
To find a full set of Insulated Dragonplate armor, players must complete the quest "Bones For A Crow", which begins after the player asks any Innkeeper for work (though there is a chance the innkeeper will offer a different quest, instead).
Dwarven Mail
- Armor Type: Light Armor
- Total Armor Rating: 29 (Armor, Boots, Gauntlet, Helmet)
- Improved With: Dwarven Ingot, Dwarven Smithing perk
Dwarven Mail is a Light Armor set that looks like it was just excavated from a Dwemer Ruin. It's not the most defensive Light Armor set in the game, but it's one of the most aesthetically appealing. It consists of four pieces: Mail Armor, Boots, Gauntlets, and a Helmet.
To find a full set of Dwarven Mail, players must complete the quest "Fan Favorite", which begins when the player reads the Arena Fan's Note at a camp southeast of Ivarstead.
Dwarven Plate
- Armor Type: Heavy Armor
- Total Armor Rating: 55 (Armor, Boots)
- Improved With: Dwarven Ingot, Dwarven Smithing perk
The Dwarven Plate set is a Heavy Armor set that gives the player the look of a well-dressed Dwarven warrior, perhaps something like a Royal Dwemer Guard. It consists of two pieces: Plate Armor and Boots.
To find a full set of Dwarven Plate, players must complete the quest "Mightier Than The Sword", which begins after the player reads the Looter's Note at Markarth's Silver-Blood Inn.
Ebony Plate
- Armor Type: Heavy Armor
- Total Armor Rating: 62 (Armor, Boots, Gauntlet, Helmet)
- Improved With: Ebony Ingot, Ebony Smithing perk
Ebony Plate is a long-requested Heavy Armor set that improves upon the appearance of Ebony Armor in Skyrim. It takes its design from The Elder Scrolls: Blades, like most Alternate Armor addons. This set consists of five pieces: Plate Armor, Boots, Gauntlets, a Helmet, and a Shield.
To find a full set of Ebony Plate, players must complete the quest "Hearts of Crimson", which begins after the player reads a letter delivered by the Courier after reaching Level 32.
Elven Hunter Armor
- Armor Type: Light Armor
- Total Armor Rating: 6 (Armor, Boots, Gauntlet)
- Improved With: Refined Moonstone, Elven Smithing perk
The Elven Hunter set is a much more elaborate and colorful version of Elven Armor in Skyrim, featuring a red sash around the waist and intricate carvings all over. It consists of just three pieces: Armor, Boots, and Gauntlets.
To find a full set of Elven Hunter armor, players must take on the "Once A Hunter" quest by reading the Guard Dossier in Falkreath's Barracks.
Iron Plate
- Armor Type: Heavy Armor
- Total Armor Rating: 47 (Armor, Boots, Gauntlet, Helmet)
- Improved With: Iron Ingot
The Iron Plate set is a Heavy Armor version of normal Iron Armor taken directly from The Elder Scrolls: Blades. It features a more interesting Helmet than the default set, as well as mustard-yellow tassets and clothing beneath the metal plates to add some color. It consists of four pieces: Plate Armor, Boots, Gauntlets, and a Helmet.
To find a full set of Iron Plate armor, players must complete the "Brothers in Irons" quest, which starts by reading a note in the Pale's remote The Nightgate Inn.
Leather Scout
- Armor Type: Light Armor
- Total Armor Rating: 12 (Armor, Boots, Gauntlet, Helmet)
- Improved With: Leather
The Leather Scout armor is a Light Armor set that improves on the normal Leather set by replacing its ugly Helm with a leather Hood and by adding a bit more color to the armor overall. It consists of four pieces: Scout Armor, Boots, Gauntlets, and a Helmet (rather, a Hood).
To find a full set of Leather Scout armor, players must complete the "Double-Edged" quest by heading to the Cliffside Retreat in Whiterun Hold, just southwest of Dragon Bridge.
Orcish Plate
- Armor Type: Heavy Armor
- Total Armor Rating: 57 (Armor, Boots, Gauntlet, Helmet)
- Improved With: Orichalcum Ingot, Orcish Smithing
The Orcish Plate armor set is a Heavy Armor set that gives the Orsimer a bit more representation in Skyrim's armor selection. Orcish Plate Armor features multiple leather straps and belts, jagged Plate tassets, a traditional Orcish helmet, and lots and lots of fur lining. It consists of four pieces: Plate Armor, Boots, Gauntlets, and a Helmet.
To find a full set of Orcish Plate armor, players must complete the "Smith 'N Slash" quest by reading a Dossier in the Whiterun Guard Barracks.
Orcish Scaled Armor
- Armor Type: Light Armor
- Total Armor Rating: 28 (Armor, Boots, Gauntlet, Helmet)
- Improved With: Orichalcum Ingot, Orcish Smithing perk
Orcish Scale armor is, like Orcish plate, a way for the Orsimer to wear more traditional clothing. Its Helmet is similar to the Plate set, but instead of Plate, the tassets are made of dark Leather. It consists of four pieces: Scaled Armor, Boots, Gauntlets, and a Helmet.
To find a full set of Orcish Scale armor, players must complete the "Gambler's Edge" quest by asking an Innkeeper for work (though there is a chance that another random quest will be assigned instead).
Silver
- Armor Type: Heavy Armor
- Total Armor Rating: 62 (Armor, Boots, Gauntlet, Helmet)
- Improved With: N/A
Silver Armor is a highly-requested armor set that gives players a sheen unmatched in any other Skyrim set. Aside from the glimmering armor itself, the set also features colorful tassets of deep blue and crimson as well as Gold touches to bring out the Silver color. It consists of four pieces: Silver Armor, Boots, Gauntlets, and a Helmet.
To find a full set of Silver armor, players must complete the "When The Cat's Away" quest by heading to the Bannered Mare in Whiterun and reading M'Sharra's Diary.
Steel Soldier
- Armor Type: Heavy Armor
- Total Armor Rating: 52 (Armor, Boots, Gauntlet, Helmet)
- Improved With: Steel Ingot, Steel Smithing perk
The Steel Soldier armor is an armor set that, like many others, was first featured in The Elder Scrolls: Blades. This set is much more rugged than the normal Steel set – in fact, there's surprisingly little Steel visible on the set at all. It consists of five pieces: Steel Soldier Armor, Boots, Gauntlets, a Helmet, and a Shield.
To find a full set of Steel Soldier armor, players must complete the "Over The Edge" quest in the Four Shields Tavern near Whiterun Hold's Dragon Bridge, where they will find a note titled "Suicide At Dragon Bridge".
Stalhrim Fur
- Armor Type: Heavy Armor
- Total Armor Rating: 59 (Armor, Boots, Gauntlet, Helmet)
- Improved With: Stalhrim, Ebony Smithing perk
The Stalhrim Fur armor set is a beautiful alternate rendition of Skyrim's Stalhrim armor, featuring insulating Fur beneath the Heavy Armor, a covered Helmet, and an even deeper commitment to displaying stunning shades of Blue. It consists of four pieces: Stalhrim Fur Armor, Boots, Gauntlets, and a Helmet.
To find a full set of Stalhrim Fur armor, players must complete the "Ancient Ice" quest, which starts when the player reads Skjol's Journal just south of Skaal Village in Solstheim.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition is available for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series S|X