The Anniversary Edition upgrade makes a lot of changes and introduces a lot of new items to Skyrim, including a variety of new Armors. To put it lightly, there is a metric Vehk-load of new Armors included with Skyrim Anniversary Edition.

RELATED: Skyrim: Where To Find Goblins

The upgrade includes every Armor from the Creation Club as well as a variety of unique Armors completely new to Skyrim, giving players plenty of options for new looks. Some of the best Anniversary Edition armors can be found out in the world, but the majority are earned through tough questlines or are crafted.

Updated April 10th, 2022 by Russ Boswell: There were a lot of great armors added to the Skyrim Anniversary Edition, with many of them stemming from the Creation Club. Players and developers added a multitude of new and powerful gear choices that players could unlock through quests and exploration to make their chosen builds even better. The end result has Skyrim Anniversary Edition teeming with a wide array of new collectibles that will keep even the most hardcore of Skyrim fans busy. To better outline some of the best armors available in Skyrim Anniversary Edition, especially through the Creation Club, the following list has been updated with more entries.

The Gray Cowl Of Nocturnal

Skyrim The Gray Cowl Of Nocturnal
  • Armor Type: Light Helmet
  • Associated Creation: The Gray Cowl Returns!
  • Special Effects: Fortify Carry Weight +50 and Sneak +25. Constantly uses Detect Life.

The Gray Cowl of Nocturnal is one of the best items that a thief or assassin build can get their hands on. Those that enjoy looting their way through Skyrim will appreciate its upgraded carry weight bonus and it will add even more sneak attributes to players that are likely already built to sneak as well as possible. To top it all off, it can "sense" nearby enemies with a constant Detect Life proc that will allow players to effortlessly steal items without worrying if anyone is nearby.

Those that want to get their hands on the Gray Cowl of Nocturnal will need to begin a quest in the Riften Graveyard, where they will have to combat a thief that will attack them on sight. This will start a quest chain that will eventually end in the player obtaining the Cowl for themselves.

Fists Of Randagulf

Fists Of Randagulf Skyrim
  • Armor Type: Heavy Gauntlets
  • Associated Creation: The Contest
  • Special Effects: Fortify +20 to Unarmed, One-handed, Two-handed, and Block.

Players that prefer to make their way through Skyrim as a battle-hardened Warrior will definitely want to consider snagging the Fists of Randagulf. These Heavy Gauntlets are capable of boosting stats for both Two-Handed and One-Handed weapons, and will even add additional strength to Unarmed. This is perfect for players that love to get up close and personal with their foes. The Dragonborn will be able to take a hit too, as the Fists of Randagulf also manage to fortify Block.

These are perfect for players that don't like to both much with magic or ranged attacks and are instead running through their enemies with large two-handed weapons, as well as the sword-and-board technique. Players that want the Fists of Randagulf will need to start the creation The Contest and then finish the quest Caught in a Web.

Helm of Oreyn Bearclaw

Skyrim Anniversary Edition Best Armors Ranked Helm of Oreyn Bearclaw Gallows Hall Mannimarco
  • Armor Type: Heavy Helmet
  • Associated Creation: Gallows Hall
  • Special Effects: +70 to Stamina, 20% faster Stamina Recovery

The Helm of Oreyn Bearclaw is a Heavy Helm that was first featured in Morrowind, then in Oblivion, but wasn't included in the initial release of Skyrim. Now a part of Anniversary Edition, the Helm of Oreyn Bearclaw is a must-have for any Stamina-based player.

The Helm of Oreyn Bearclaw is part of the Gallows Hall Creation, and can be found in the Gallows Hall itself upon completing the Creation's associated quest.

Kenro's Helmet

Skyrim Anniversary Edition Best Armors Ranked Kenros Helmet
  • Armor Type: Heavy Helmet
  • Associated Creation: Ghosts of the Tribunal
  • Special Effects: 30% increase to One-Handed Damage

Kenro's Helmet is the helm worn by Kenro, one of the Hands of Almalexia in the secret Tribunal Temple just north of Raven Rock. His Helm increases One-Handed Damage (although players can enchant helmets beyond the 30% granted by this piece). It is worn along with his robes to infiltrate the Tribunal Temple.

Kenro's Helmet is part of the Ghosts of the Tribunal Creation, and is found during the progression of the Ghosts of the Tribunal questline.

All Brawler's Bracers And Gauntlets

Skyrim Anniversary Edition Best Armors Ranked Brawler Bracers Fearsome Fists
  • Armor Type: Light OR Heavy
  • Associated Creation: Fearsome Fists
  • Special Effects: Extra Unarmed Damage, depending on Armor quality

The Brawler's Bracers and Gauntlets are 15 new pieces of Armor that improve a player's Unarmed Damage output. The effect of each piece corresponds to the Armor's ranking, so the Brawler's Fur Bracers won't add as much Unarmed Damage as the Dragonscale version.

The Brawler's Bracers and Gauntlets are part of the Fearsome Fists Creation, and can be crafted, purchased from vendors, or found in Dungeon loot throughout Skyrim.

Heavy Armor Of The Crusader...

Skyrim Anniversary Edition Best Armors Ranked Heavy Crusader
  • Armor Type: Heavy Armor set
  • Associated Creation: Divine Crusader
  • Special Effects: Fortify Restoration, Health, Armor, Undead Damage, Disease Resistance, Illusion, and Barter. Shield casts Ward on blocking.

The Armor of the Crusader is the armor worn by Pelinal Whitestrake during his travels across Tamriel in ancient times and was the focus of the Knights of the Nine DLC in Oblivion. It can only be worn by those with a heart of good, and it provides no benefits to characters who take evil actions.

RELATED: Skyrim: How To Get The Headman's Cleaver

The Heavy Armor of the Crusader is part of the Divine Crusader Creation, and can be found alongside the Light variant in Four Skull Lookout near Markarth.

...And Light Armor Of The Crusader

Skyrim Anniversary Edition Best Armors Ranked Light Crusader
  • Armor Type: Light
  • Associated Creation: Divine Crusader
  • Special Effects: Fortify Restoration, Health, Armor, Undead Damage, Disease Resistance, Illusion, and Barter. Shield improves Armor without taking up a Weapon slot.

The Armor of the Crusader comes in separate varieties, Heavy and Light, with minor differences between the two. The Light Armor of the Crusader has slightly less Armor Rating than the Heavy Version. Additionally, the Light Shield doesn't take up a weapon slot, increasing Armor while allowing players to equip another Shield, Dual Wield, or use Two-Handed weapons.

The Light Armor of the Crusader is part of the Divine Crusader Creation, and can be found alongside the Heavy variant in Four Skull Lookout near Markarth.

Golden Saint and Dark Seducer Armors

Skyrim Anniversary Every Unique Armor Saints and Seducers
  • Armor Type: Heavy (Golden Saint) and Light (Dark Seducer)
  • Associated Creation: Saints and Seducers
  • Special Effects: None (can be enchanted)

The Saints and Seducers creation adds a huge number of new items and gear to Skyrim, including many powerful unique armors and weapons. However, the Golden Saint and Dark Seducer armors outrank just about all of them because they are very easy to acquire, provide huge Armor Rating bonuses compared to other unenchanted Armor, and look awesome as a full set.

The Golden Saint and Dark Seducer armors are part of the Saints and Seducers Creation, and can be crafted or found on the bodies of bandits killed during the Creation's associated quest.

Daedric Plate

Skyrim Anniversary Edition Best Armors Ranked Daedric Plate Mail
  • Armor Type: Heavy (Helm and Body)
  • Associated Creation: Alternate Armors - Daedric Plate
  • Special Effects: None (can be enchanted)

Daedric Plate is one of the many Alternate Armor creations included with Anniversary Edition, which adds a variety of Armors from the mobile game The Elder Scrolls: Blades to Skyrim. The Daedric Plate Armor gives the most Armor and improves on the vanilla Ebony armor significantly – it's hard to imagine ever going back to the normal set after equipping this.

RELATED: Skyrim: Creation Club Mods That Break The Lore

Daedric Plate is part of the Alternate Armors - Daedric Plate Creation, and can be found by completing the associated quest Death of a Crimson Dirk which begins in Whiterun's prison.

The Lord's Mail

Skyrim Anniversary Edition Best Armors Ranked Lords Mail Male Female
  • Armor Type: Heavy
  • Associated Creation: The Lord's Mail
  • Special Effects: Absorb 5 Health, +75 to Poison Resistance, +17 to Magic Resistance

The Lord's Mail is a legendary piece of Ebony armor rumored to be in the possession of warriors from Hammerfell. It's the stuff of Imperial myth, absorbing enemy health near the player constantly while also massively increasing Poison and Magic resistances.

The Lord's Mail is part of the eponymous Creation, and can be found by completing the Gift of Kynareth quest, which begins in Solitude's Castle Dour.

The Imperial Dragon Set...

Skyrim Anniversary Edition Best Armors Ranked Imperial Champion
  • Armor Type: Heavy
  • Associated Creation: Civil War Champions
  • Special Effects: Fortify Health Recovery, Melee Damage, Armor, Bashing Damage, Blocking, and Fire/Shock/Frost Resistance

The Imperial Dragon set is a beautiful set of armor intricately detailed in golden carvings on black metal, and features the most Roman-inspired piece of headgear in Skyrim. This set improves a variety of skills intended to make the player shrug off blows, deal more damage, and be more resistant to the elements.

The Imperial Dragon set is part of the Civil War Champions Creation, and can be found either by choosing the Imperial side in the duel or by defeating the Imperial Champion as a Stormcloak.

...And The Storm-Bear Set

Skyrim Anniversary Edition Best Armors Ranked Storm Bear Male Female
  • Armor Type: Heavy
  • Associated Creation: Civil War Champions
  • Special Effects: Fortify Health, Shout Recovery, Stamina Recovery, Power Attack Cost, Armor, Bashing Damage, Blocking, and Frost Resistance

The Storm-Bear set is a powerful set of Heavy armor featuring layered plate mail, the symbol of the Storm Bears, and a helm that appears as a fusion between a half-helm and a chainmail coif. While the Imperial Dragon set increases all resistances, this set gives a huge boost to Frost Resistance specifically, as well as a litany of bonuses to power-based abilities like Shouts and Heavy Attacks.

The Storm-Bear set is part of the Civil War Champions Creation, and can be found either by joining the Stormcloak side of the duel or by defeating the Stormcloak Champion as an Imperial.

Skyrim Anniversary Edition is available for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S

MORE: The Complete Guide to Skyrim - Items, Quests, Mods, Builds, and Tips