Picking up the best armor set can trouble many Elden Ring players, especially in the early game. This is because when you just start, your character is very weak and most enemies can obliterate them easily. And this makes the process of progressing the game even slower. But worry not; below is a list of some recommended armor sets that you can use to improve your defense and handle fights better.
Best Early Game Armors & Sets in Elden Ring
The 5 best Elden Ring Armor Sets that you can get relatively early as armors are:
- Knight Set
- Godrick Knight Set
- Banished Knight Set
- Raya Lucarian Soldier Set
- Carian Knight Set
Here is why they are recommended and how to get them:
Knight Set
I am starting with the most convenient set to get on this list. You can buy the Knight Set from the Twin Maiden Husks at Roundtable Hold. But you will need to farm runes for it. As this armor set costs a total of 10,500 Runes to get all its pieces.
It is nothing too special of a set, but it is on this list for two reasons. The first one is it is easy to purchase. And secondly, its stats are good enough to defend you from several early enemies. And it is also decent to be used when fighting bosses like Margit, the Fell Omen, or Godrick the Grafted. Its stats are:
- Weight: 25.3
- Physical damage negation: 24.6
- VS Strike damage negation: 23.6
- VS Slash damage negation: 26.5
- VS Pierce damage negation: 26.5
If you start as the Vagabond class, then its default equipment is a better option, and you shouldn’t change it.
Godrick Knight Set
The next set on this list is the Godrick Knight set. This is another set that you can get fairly early into the game. But the problem with this set is that it will require you to do a lot of farming. You can get this set’s pieces as drops by killing the Godrick Knight soldier. One can be found outside the Gatefront Ruins. Its stats are:
- Weight: 26.5
- Physical damage negation: 24.6
- VS Strike damage negation: 23.6
- VS Slash damage negation: 27.4
- VS Pierce damage negation: 25.5
Alternatively, you can also try getting the Godrick Soldier set. The process is almost the same as for getting the Godrick Knight set. Just this time you will be killing Godrick Soldiers instead. The good thing is they are available in abundance so you have a better chance of getting them.
Banished Knight Set – Best Early Game Armor in Elden Ring
Another armor set that you can get by farming a powerful enemy is the Banished Knight set. The earliest Banished Knight you can find is at Stormveil castle. Kill them, and they can drop the set pieces. Do remember though this is the heaviest set on this list and may not exactly be optimal for classes like Warrior, Bandit, or Prisoner. Its stats are:
- Weight: 41.6
- Physical damage negation: 35.5
- VS Strike damage negation: 29.2
- VS Slash damage negation: 36.4
- VS Pierce damage negation: 33.5
But don’t worry, while it may be heavy, and it gives you higher poise and better damage negation than the sets listed here.
Raya Lucarian Soldier Set
Just like the Godrick Knight or Soldier sets. You can get the Raya Lucarian Soldier set by farming Raya Lucaria Soldiers. They can be easily found outside the Raya Lucaria academy. This is an option to consider if you are more interested in how your armor looks. Because most of its stats are pretty similar to the Knight Set. Its stats are:
- Weight: 41.6
- Physical damage negation: 35.5
- VS Strike damage negation: 29.2
- VS Slash damage negation: 36.4
- VS Pierce damage negation: 33.5
Carian Knight Set
Finally, the last set on this list is the Carian Knight Set. It combines the best of having lightweight and high defense. And the best part neither do you have to farm enemies nor buy this set as you can get the entire set for free. Simply head to the graveyard from the Church of Cuckoo. Go right from the entrance and jump on the platform, where you can find some enemies worshipping a tombstone. Eliminate or ignore them and pick up the set from the tombstone. Its stats are:
- Weight: 25.1
- Physical damage negation: 23.5
- VS Strike damage negation: 21.6
- VS Slash damage negation: 24.5
- VS Pierce damage negation: 23.5
Now when using these armor sets, you should have no problem handling several early-game enemies or bosses in Elden Ring. Since you are here you should also check out our Elden Ring section for more.