On this page · 8 sections
Quick Answer
There is no universal best armour in The Blood of Dawnwalker. A piece’s value depends on its slot, weight, progression point, and whether its effects support human swordplay, stamina and critical hits, or vampire health, claws, blood, and active abilities.
The Enhanced Armour of the Arbiter is one of the strongest and most versatile complete sets, making it the safest all-round target—but Pieter’s Garb, Isbrand’s Plate, Ambrus’s Cuirass, Bakir’s Armour, and other named pieces can be better for focused builds.
Armour is modular across Light, Medium, and Heavy types. Rings and amulets are accessories, not armour slots. Exact ratings and percentage bonuses can vary with item level, upgrades, or patch data, so this guide focuses on stable roles and acquisition context instead of fragile numbers.
The Four Armour Slots
Coen’s armour is divided into four slots. Each is independent, so a piece you find for one slot does not force the others.
| Slot | What it covers | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chest | Torso protection | Usually the highest-defence piece and the one with the strongest set bonus. |
| Hands | Gloves / bracers | Often pairs with a weapon or active-ability bonus. |
| Legs | Trousers / greaves | Frequently a mobility or stamina perk rather than raw defence. |
| Feet | Boots | Commonly a traversal or stealth benefit. |
Mix, don’t marry
Because the slots are independent, the "best" loadout is often three pieces from one set plus a stray strong piece. Build around the slot that matters most for your fight.
Best All-Round Target: Enhanced Armour of the Arbiter
The Enhanced Armour of the Arbiter is a complete four-piece target: chest armour, Enhanced Bracers, Enhanced Shin Guards, and Enhanced Boots. Guides consistently recommend it for versatility rather than one unbeatable number. It is a strong goal when you want a coherent set that does not commit Coen exclusively to human swordplay or vampire claws.
Treat it as a safe default when you are unsure which direction your build is heading, rather than the ceiling. If you specialise hard into one form or one weapon, a focused set can out-perform it in that niche.
A Bulwark Against Darkness: Materials and Ritual
The full Enhanced Arbiter set comes from A Bulwark Against Darkness, not a random drop. Reach Infamy Level 4 to enter the quest, gather its four required materials, then return to the blacksmith at Uriashi, start the ritual, and survive its combat sequence.
- Relic of a Saint — one of the four ritual components.
- Bundle of Silk Threads — the textile component; some shorthand guides call it Silk Thread.
- Flask of Quicksilver — the alchemical component.
- Moult of a Large Lizard — the creature component.
Where it happens
The final reward is the complete Enhanced Arbiter Armour set and the Arbiter’s Regalia achievement. The material hunt crosses several quests and locations, so this is a substantial progression route rather than a quick early detour.
Named Armour and Where It Fits
| Armour | Slot / type | Why it is notable and where it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Enhanced Armour of the Arbiter | Chest; part of a four-piece set | Versatile all-round target rewarded by A Bulwark Against Darkness. |
| Ambrus’s Cuirass | Chest | Named court-boss armour obtained from defeating and looting Ambrus. |
| Pieter’s Garb | Chest | Buried Past reward associated with human health, weapon-critical, and stamina-focused play. |
| Isbrand’s Plate | Chest | Lacra-related route / chest piece suited to vampire health, claws, and blood-oriented play. |
| Coat of Darkened Scales | Chest | A named chest piece; compare its effects with your build rather than ranking it by rarity alone. |
| Ancient Hero’s Armour | Chest | Part of the distributed Ancient gear family found across quests, dungeons, and activities. |
| Bakir’s Armour | Medium chest | Post-fight loot tied to Bakir; reward conditions are disputed, so check his remains after Kill or Drain. |
Other named pieces fill the remaining slots: Ancient Hero’s Vambraces, Vrakhiric Bracers, Wolven Bracers, and Enhanced Bracers of the Arbiter for Hands; Mercenary’s Greaves, Isbrand’s Greaves, Ancient Greaves, and Enhanced Shin Guards of the Arbiter for Legs; and Ancient Footwear plus Enhanced Boots of the Arbiter for Feet.
Armor by Build
| Build direction | Representative targets | What to prioritise |
|---|---|---|
| Human / sword | Pieter’s Garb, Mercenary’s Greaves | Human health, weapon criticals, stamina economy, and melee consistency. |
| Vampire / claw | Isbrand’s Plate, Wolven Bracers | Vampiric health, claw criticals, blood interaction, and night combat. |
| Balanced / flexible | Enhanced Arbiter pieces | Broad utility across forms and slots without over-specialising. |
Bakir’s Armour
Bakir’s Armour is a named medium chest piece obtained around the end of The Lunar Game. Guides disagree on whether choosing Kill is strictly required or whether the remains can still be looted after Drain. Check the body or ashes after the encounter rather than treating either claim as absolute; the full boss route is in the Bakir guide.
Early Legendary Gear: Why Guides Disagree
Some guides recommend collecting legendary gear as early as possible because a named effect can be powerful immediately. Other experienced guide makers warn that legendary drops can be randomized or level-scaled, so claiming them too early may leave them at an awkward level or with less useful effects than later alternatives. Both positions describe a real trade-off.
There is no absolute early-pickup rule
Take an early legendary when its current effect solves a problem for your build; delay it when level scaling or randomization would make a later version more valuable. Rarity alone cannot decide the timing.
How to Choose Armour for a Run
- Choose whether the build mainly needs human melee, vampire claws / blood, stamina, critical chance, or flexible cross-form effects.
- Compare each item in its own slot and weight class instead of treating a named chest piece as a complete set.
- Use Enhanced Arbiter as the all-round target; switch to Pieter’s, Isbrand’s, or another named piece when its effects match the build better.
- Plan Infamy Level 4 and the four ritual materials if you want the complete Arbiter set.
- Treat exact stats in databases as level- and patch-sensitive; verify the item tooltip in your current game.
Sources
Related Guides
Recipes & Crafting
Consumables that pair with your gear.
Beginner Guide
Equip what the game gives you early.
Walkthrough
Where armour rewards are found.
Quests & Rewards
Quests that pay armour.
FAQ
What is the best armour in The Blood of Dawnwalker?
There is no single best for every build. Enhanced Armour of the Arbiter is a strong all-round complete set, while Pieter’s Garb and Isbrand’s Plate are representative human/sword and vampire/claw alternatives.
How many armour slots are there?
Four: Chest, Hands, Legs and Feet. Each is independent, so you can mix pieces from different sets.
How do you get the Bulwark Against Darkness armour?
It is a blacksmith ritual at Uriashi, not a drop. You need Infamy Level 4 and four materials: Relic of a Saint, Bundle of Silk Threads, Flask of Quicksilver, and Moult of a Large Lizard.
Is the Enhanced Armour of the Arbiter worth using?
As a balanced all-rounder, yes — especially if you have not committed to a specialist build. It is a default, not a ceiling; a focused set can beat it in a specific niche.
Should I collect legendary armour as early as possible?
Guides disagree. Early named effects can help immediately, but randomized or level-scaled legendary gear may be more valuable later. Base the decision on the current tooltip and your build, not rarity alone.