by Dom's Roundtable
Armour in Shadow of the Erdtree isn’t just about defence, it’s about style, lore, and hidden mechanics that can completely change how you play.
Whether you’re looking for the most powerful resistances, game-changing passive effects, or just want to look like an absolute badass, these are the top 10 armour sets you need to hunt down immediately in the Elden Ring DLC.
Each set has its own strengths, unique bonuses, and in some cases, hidden farming methods to make acquiring them easier. So let’s jump straight in!
Shadow Militiaman Set – The Creepiest Jester You’ll Ever Wear
Why You Need It: High Immunity which is perfect against poison and rot.
Where to Farm: Specimen Storehouse – First Floor (farm the first few enemies by the site of grace, then rest and reset).
The Shadow Militiaman Set is one of my personal favourites, not for its stats but for its unusual aesthetic. It’s one of the rarest farmable sets since not all militia enemies drop it.
💡Bonus Tip: Boost item discovery using the Silver Scarab talisman and Silver Horn Tender item to increase drop rates.
Black Knight Set – The Ultimate Mid-Tier Heavy Armor
Why You Need It: It has excellent damage negation and high robustness (great vs. bleed and frost).
Where to Farm:
Scadu Altus (In the big camp north of the first Site of Grace) – Five Black Knights spawn here.
Castle Ensis (Black Knight near the Grace at the entrance for easy resets).
The Black Knight armour isn’t just stylish, it’s one of the most well-balanced armour sets in the DLC. If you’re running a tank build, it’s fantastic for PvE and boss fights.
💡 Bonus Tip: Combine this with the Black Knight Great Hammer and Shield for the ultimate Black Knight cosplay.
Divine Bird Warrior Set – Hidden Buffs & Stylish Design
Why You Need It: It has multiple hidden effects for martial arts builds.
Where to Farm: Enir-Ilim – First Site of Grace (farm the Divine Bird Warrior at the top of the first stairs).
This armour grants hidden buffs:
Greaves - Boosts all kick attacks (synergizes perfectly with Dane’s Footwork martial art).
Helmet - +3 Strength, +4 Dexterity, buffs Divine Bird Feathers but slightly reduces flask healing.
💡 Bonus Tip: If you love hand-to-hand combat, this is one of the best armour choices in the game.
Divine Beast Set – The Perfect Balance of Style & Power
Why You Need It: It's a smaller version of the Divine Beast Head which you acquire from the Divine Beast Dancing Lion boss, with similar buffs.
Where to Farm: Found near the Spiral Spell-casting Priests in Enir-Ilim (farm the Divine Beast enemy just down the stairs, back from the site of grace).
The Divine Beast Helm and Chestpiece:
Increases storm-related attack damage.
Boosts Strength & Dexterity.
Reduced flask healing but offers solid resistances.
💡 Bonus Tip: If you love storm magic or lightning builds, this set pairs perfectly with those playstyles.
Fire Knight Set – Mini Erdtree’s Favour Bonus
Why You Need It: It grants a mini Erdtree’s Favour effect, boosting health, stamina, and equip load.
Where to Farm: Dropped by Fire Knights throughout the DLC.
The Fire Knight Helm is the star here, offering:
+2% Max HP, +5% Stamina, +4% Equip Load.
Perfect for tank builds.
💡 Bonus Tip: Combine with Messmer’s Set to maximize fire damage and spell buffs.
Curseblade Set – The Best Light Armor in the DLC
Why You Need It: Insane damage negation for its weight.
Where to Farm: Any Curse Blade enemy. The best farming area is Gravesite Plain and the first Curseblade is near the start).
Weighs only 8.5, but offers high resistances against magic and fire.
Perfect for light roll builds.
💡 Bonus Tip: Farming this set is brutal because Curseblade enemies are rare and aggressive so prepare for a tough fight until you learn their movesets.
Messmer Soldier Set – Basic, But Stylish & Iconic
Why You Need It: The helmet is one of the coolest designs in the game.
Where to Farm: Dropped by Messmer Soldiers, NOT Common Soldiers.
No special effects, but great for fashion builds.
Comes with both a spear and axe to complete the Messmer Soldier cosplay.
💡Bonus Tip: Don’t confuse this with the Common Soldier Set—look for the heavier-armoured Messmer warriors.
Night Set – The Easiest Set to Obtain
Why You Need It: The Classic Swordhand of Night look is easy to obtain.
Where to Find: Bonny Gaol – Upper Level (after using the Jar Lift, ride it up again to find the full set).
No farming is required; just loot and go!
Includes the Knight’s Shield.
💡 Bonus Tip: Pair with Jólan and Anna’s weapons for full Night roleplay.
Gravebird Set – Unique Buffs for Spellcasters
Why You Need It: It buffs ring-based spectral spells and jump attacks.
Where to Find:
Main armour is found north of Gravesite Plain, near the first Ghostflame Dragon.
Black Quill variant can be found in Temple Town Ruins in Lower Rauh.
Helmet is in the final tower, hidden on a ledge during descent.
Helm: Boosts ring-shaped spectral spells by 15%.
Black Quill Armor: Boosts jump attack damage (stacks with Claw Talisman!).
💡 Bonus Tip: If you use ring/spectral magic, the helm is a must-have.
Rakshasa Set – The Best DPS Armor in the Game
Why You Need It: It boosts damage dealt without increasing damage taken.
Where to Find: Castle Watering Hole → Recluses’ River Downstream → Mausoleum (defeat Rakshasa).
It increases all outgoing damage (~10%).
It does NOT increase incoming damage, despite the description.
Great for high-skill players who are confident in their abilities.
💡 Bonus Tip: If you’re confident in dodging and want insane damage output, this is the best armour set in the DLC.
