Like good wine, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a game that keeps improving with time. Even though it’s pushing on in years, it still looks impressive to play. There is something cozy about returning to the Continent and looking for Ciri all over again (right after a game of Gwent). Throughout the game, Geralt faces many difficult opponents and bosses, and a good armor set can be the difference between victory and loading a quick save. This guide covers the best armor sets in The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt.
Best Armor in The Witcher 3
Some of the best armor sets in The Witcher 3 are the crafted sets from the various Witcher schools. You have to go on several scavenger hunts to collect the diagrams and then spend money and rare resources to craft them. There are six such sets, with two requiring the two DLCs released for the game. When we mention those sets in our list, we’re considering their best yet still obtainable versions — namely, the Mastercrafted variants. The Grandmaster and Legendary versions are different beasts in their own right and, as such, have their special mention. Keep reading to see my takes on the best armor in Witcher 3.
Related: How to get New Moon Armor Set in The Witcher 3 DLC Hearts of Stone
10. Undvik Armor
The Undvik Armor is part of the Skellige armor sets released as free DLC. This full heavy armor comes together with matching gear for Roach (saddle, saddlebags, and blinders). It can be obtained by visiting the armorer NPC within the Kaer Trolde citadel. Inspired by the Undvik style, this armor has a distinct and detailed look and provides a nice chunk of defensive stats for the early to midgame. However, it lacks offensive capabilities, which become essential as the game progresses.
These are the attributes associated with the Undvik Armor:
- +55% Resistance to piercing damage
- +55% Resistance to bludgeoning damage
- +60% Resistance to slashing damage
- +15% Resistance to damage from monsters
- +15% Resistance to elemental damage
9. Viper School Gear
Appearance-wise, this armor is very reminiscent of the armor Geralt starts with, the Kaer Morhen armor/Warrior’s Leather Jacket. The main difference is that the Viper set looks darker and has a snakeskin pattern over certain leather parts. While the main game only features the two swords from this school, the full armor set was added in the Hearts of Stone DLC, during which you can collect the crafting diagrams. The stats from this medium armor set are decent, but it’s somewhat underwhelming that there is no set bonus, and the set suffers from not having more upgrades before Legendary.
The total attributes of the armor set are:
- +50% Resistance to piercing damage
- +50% Resistance to slashing damage
- +100% Resistance to poisoning
- +60% Resistance to damage from monsters
- +60% Resistance to elemental damage
8. Hen Gaidth Armor
Depending on your chosen storyline, this crimson armor set from the Blood and Wine DLC can be rendered unobtainable. Without revealing too much, to get this set, you have to seek out the Unseen Elder rather than Syanna. Therefore, the ease of missing out on this armor is the reason to remove some of its points. Along with the full armor set, it also has a related steel sword and a mask. The Dracula armor has likely influenced the blood-red design of this armor from the 1992 movie of the same name. Stat-wise, this set’s armor stat scales with level, making it a viable New Game+ option.
- +68% Resistance to piercing damage
- +52% Resistance to bludgeoning damage
- +59% Resistance to slashing damage
- +63% Resistance to damage from monsters
- +50% Resistance to burning
- +50% Resistance to burning
Set bonus for wearing pieces of the set (maximum of six, including armor, sword, and mask):
- Killing opponents restores Vitality. The amount of Vitality restored equals 1% of your maximum Vitality for each element of the set worn.
7. Griffin School Gear
The Griffin School is renowned for being the most in tune with the Witcher Signs. As such, their unique armor set reflects this by providing boosts to Sign builds and increased elemental resistances. Unfortunately, in practice, pure Sign builds are not strong, especially on greater difficulties, making this armor a decent stop-gap during midgame. The design of the armor set is somewhat uninspired as well, and to add insult to injury, it doesn’t take dyeing as well as others.
The total attributes of the armor set are:
- +50% Sign intensity
- +30% Resistance to piercing damage
- +33% Resistance to bludgeoning damage
- +40% Resistance to slashing damage
- +35% Resistance to damage from monsters
- +40% Resistance to elemental damage
Set bonuses for wearing pieces of the set:
- Bonuses for three pieces: After using Stamina to cast a Sign in its standard mode, the next Sign cast within 3 seconds will be cast in the standard mode without using Stamina.
- Bonuses for six pieces: The size of Yrden traps is increased by 40%. While you are within a Yrden trap, stamina regeneration is increased by five seconds and sign intensity by 100%, and damage is reduced by 20%.
6. Tesham Mutna Armor
This armor is the full-black counterpart to the Hen Gaidth set. Also exclusive to the Blood and Wine DLC, this heavy armor has the same parts and slightly lower stats than the red one. However, it looks way cooler with the glossy all-black finish, and it’s not unobtainable — just somewhat difficult to get, depending on how ready you are to scour the secret vampire lairs in Toussaint completely.
The total attributes of the set armor are:
- +50% Resistance to piercing damage
- +40% Resistance to bludgeoning damage
- +50% Resistance to slashing damage
- +40% Resistance to damage from monsters
- +50% Resistance to burning
- +50% Resistance to burning
Set bonus for wearing pieces of the set (maximum of six, including armor, sword, and mask):
- Killing opponents restores Vitality. The amount of Vitality restored equals 1% of the maximum Vitality for each element of the set worn.
Related: How to Level Up Fast in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
5. Manticore School Gear
The Manticore set is a relatively functional medium armor set perfectly described as a “jack of all trades, master of none.” Requiring the Blood and Wine DLC to unlock, it doesn’t offer any specific specializations while being just a good all-around general set to wear. In terms of its looks and design, it’s interesting that Geralt mentions how he “once wore armor from the Manticore school.” This likely refers to the first Witcher game, in which Geralt’s default armor design closely resembles the Witcher 3 Manticore School set. Similar to the Viper School set, this set suffers from no upgrades before legendary.
The total attributes of the armor set are:
- + 30 maximum toxicity
- +29% resistance to piercing damage
- +45% resistance to slashing damage
- +48% resistance to damage from monsters
- +45% resistance to elemental damage
- +50% critical hit damage bonus
- +10% critical hit chance
Set bonuses for wearing pieces of the set:
- Bonus for three pieces: Critical hit chance and critical hit damage also apply to bombs.
- Bonus for six pieces: The maximum number of charges for each alchemy item is increased by 1.
4. Wolf School Gear
The set from Geralt’s school, the School of the Wolf, is rightly very reminiscent regarding the design of the armor that Eskel wears. It features layered studded and riveted leather jackets accented with chainmail details. This medium armor is also excellent to dye, offering various possible looks. Unfortunately, while strong in raw stats, the Wolf set bonuses put Geralt in a particular build style that isn’t the most intuitive for most players, which takes some of the points away from an otherwise great set.
The total attributes of the armor set are:
- +20% adrenaline point gain
- +20% attack power
- +20% sign intensity
- +25% resistance to piercing damage
- +20% resistance to bludgeoning damage
- +40% resistance to slashing damage
- +50% resistance to damage from monsters
- +40% resistance to elemental damage
Set bonuses for wearing pieces of the set:
- Bonus for three pieces: Up to three oils can be applied simultaneously to a sword.
- Bonus for six pieces: Bombs are thrown without any delay.
3. Ursine School Gear
Matching its namesake animal, the School of the Bear armor set is heavy, ponderous, and tough. Its design mixes elements of plate armor, chainmail, and quilted leather details to produce the best purely defensive set in the game. For this reason, it is one of the best sets to start the New Game+ with and face the challenges of that mode. The extra protection of this armor set’s stats combined with the pure utility of its interaction with the Quen Sign gives you plenty of wiggle room when facing enemies.
The total attributes of the armor set are:
- +50% adrenaline point gain
- +40% resistance to piercing damage
- +45% resistance to bludgeoning damage
- +55% resistance to slashing damage
- +70% resistance to damage from monsters
- +25% resistance to elemental damage
Set bonuses for wearing pieces of the set:
- Bonus for three pieces: When a Quen shield shatters, there is a chance a new one will be cast at no Stamina cost. The bonus increases by 5% for each piece of the set.
- Bonus for six pieces: Damage dealt by Abilities involving the Quen Sign is increased by 200%.
2. Feline School Gear
First introduced by the witcher Gaetan during the ‘Where the Cat and Wolf play…’ questline, this light armor set looks sleek and stealthy. However, what makes this armor set shine are the stats and bonuses that it confers, as well as the pairing up with its ‘light armor’ type to make Geralt fast, agile, and deadly. This is the armor set of choice for Crit builds that can mince through the opposition, and why those are the builds of choice for the aggressive New Game+ playthroughs.
The total attributes of the armor set are:
- +50% Attack Power
- +22% Resistance to piercing damage
- +30% Resistance to slashing damage
- +30% Resistance to damage from monsters
- +70% Resistance to elemental damage
Set bonuses for wearing pieces of the set:
- Bonus for three pieces: Strong Attack increases Fast Attack damage for five seconds by 10% for each set piece.
- Bonus for six pieces: Rear attacks deal 50% more damage and stun the opponent for the cost of one Adrenaline Point(s) cost.
1. Grandmaster Witcher Gear Sets
Perhaps a bit of a cheat, but the best armor you can have in the Witcher 3 is any of the four Witcher School armor sets you can craft in its Grandmaster version (Wolf, Griffin, Bear, Cat, which also requires the Blood and Wine DLC). For New Game+, there is even a Legendary version of all six school sets, providing Geralt with massive bonuses. To explain the choice, it is essential to note that it is a bit of a grind to get the full diagrams for even one of these sets, as well as being a massive coin and resource sink to craft. Therefore, by the time you can obtain and craft one of these sets, you will already have decided on your build and will know exactly which complements it the best. Or, for fun, you could go with the one you think has the coolest look — though that’s nowhere near as optimal.
Published: May 23, 2023 03:38 pm