Summary
Armor pieces inBaldur’s Gate 3come in five different rarities, and apart fromthe Legendary Helldusk Armor, and a few helmets and gloves, Very Rare Armor is the best, providing players with overpowered effects and extremely high AC. Armor Class (AC) is the number that enemies must roll to successfully hit a target inBaldur’s Gate 3.
The best Very Rare Armor pieces inBG3will synergize with a character’s playstyle and overall build, but all of them provide high AC or other great buffs. Characters must have the correct Armor Proficiency to wear either Light, Medium, or Heavy Armor, whereas anyone can wear Clothing that technically still counts as Armor.
Updated June 27, 2025 by Joe Grantham:Game of the Year winner Baldur’s Gate 3 is now available on all platforms and whether players are enjoying their first run or gearing up for their 10th playthrough, knowing where to find the best armor pieces is always vital. When it comes to Very Rare armor pieces, including helmets, gloves, boots, and chest armor, these items are often found in the later stages of the game, particularly Act 3. While some of these items are OP as part of specific builds, the following are examples that can be used by a broad variety of builds.
Heavy Helmet
Although characters will need to have Heavy Armor Proficiency in order to wear theGrymskull Helm, it is nonetheless one of thebest helmets inBG3.Not only does it stop enemies from landing crits, but it also halves all incoming Fire damage. The Hunter’s Mark spell can also be very useful against bosses, especially as it is used as a Bonus Action.
Thankfully, theGrymskull Helmcan also be found earlier on in the game than most Very Rare items, as it isdropped by Grym in the Adamantine Forge.
Boots
Helldusk Bootsare incredibly overpowered on the feet of any character for a multitude of reasons. Wearers not only overcome Difficult Terrain but also cannot be forcibly moved. Additionally, the ability to choose when to succeed in certain Saving Throws cannot be overlooked. The most powerful component of these boots, however, is the Hellcrawler action, which is similar to Misty Step, but deals Fire damage upon landing.
Helldusk Bootscan befound on the top floor of Wyrm’s Rock fortress, inside a locked Gilded Chest, making them accessible fairly early on in Act 3.
16 + Dexterity Modifier (Max 2)
The 16 AC from theAdamantine Scale Mailwhich can be increased to 18 AC for players with at least 14 Dexterity, makes it one of the best Medium Armor pieces in the game, and one of the best Very Rare Armor pieces in general.
It is particularly strong against melee attackers as it sends them Reeling, which basically means they will have a -1 penalty to any successive attack rolls. Players can craftAdamantine Scale Mailaspart of “The Adamantine Forge” quest.
19
If players are ever facing off against enemies who rely on fire damage, then theEmblazoned Plate of the MarshallHeavy Armor piece will pretty much guarantee them victory, thanks to its fire resistance on top of 19 AC.
The Magic Plate effect is also extremely strong over the course of a long fight, constantly reducing any damage received.Emblazoned Plate of the Marshallisdropped by Duke Ulder Ravengardif players choose to kill him.
10 + Dexterity Modifier
Not every character inBaldur’s Gate 3has proficiency with one of the three Armor types, andWizards, for example,will normally have to wear Clothing instead. There are a number of Very Rare Clothing items in the game, some of which will be perfectly suited to certain builds and playstyles.
Robe of the Weaveis arguably the strongest overall, offering a bonus 2 AC, which is rare for Clothing, as well as the incredible Weave Eater effect that heals the character on successful saving throws. This robe can befound inside a Globe of Invulnerability on the lower level of Ramazith’s Tower.
14 + Dexterity Modifier
Elegant Studded Leatheris one ofthe best Light Armor sets inBaldur’s Gate 3, providing players with an impressive 14 AC that can be increased with a high Dexterity stat.
Given that this is a Very Rare piece of Armor, it also happens to give players one ofthe best Abjuration Spells, Shield, which gives a character an additional 5 AC when they are about to be hit.Elegant Studded Leathercan be obtained in theCounting House as part of the “Return Rakath’s Gold” quest.
18 + Dexterity Modifier (Max 2)
When it comes tothe best Medium Armor inBaldur’s Gate 3, the Very RareArmor of Agilityis hard to beat, offering 20 AC to characters with at least 14 Dexterity.
This puts it on par with most Heavy Armor, and yet as the Agility part of the name suggests, it is good for stealth too despite its defensive capabilities.Armor of Agilityissold by Gloomy Fentonsonat Stormshore Armory in the Lower City.
Gloves
TheGauntlets of Hill Giant Strengthare by far one of thebest gloves inBG3, especially for any character who uses the Strength stat. With these gauntlets equipped, players can respec their character to have the minimum Strength stat available and allocate points elsewhere, as these gloves set Strength to a whopping 23.
Given their power, players will have to wait until Act 3 to acquire them, where theGauntlets of Hill Giant Strengthcan betaken from a pedestal in the House of Hope’s archives.
20
Armor of Persistenceis the second-bestHeavy Armor inBaldur’s Gate 3, only beaten by the Legendary Helldusk Armor. The AC of 20 makes any character wearing this armor extremely hard to hit, with bonuses or a natural 20 roll required.
Even when hit, players will take 2 less damage, and the permanent defensive spells of Resistance and Blade Ward, mean that it is very hard to die with this equipped.Armor of Persistencecan bebought from the merchant Dammonin Act 3.
