Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake: Best Early Game Armor

Key Takeaways

• Armor plays a crucial role in Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake, with different pieces offering defensive boosts and bonus effects.
• Players can find a variety of armor pieces in different locations, such as Leather Kilt in Norvik and Cloak of Evasion in Underground Lake.
• Equipping the right armor, like the Fizzle-Retardant Suit in Pyramid, is essential to optimize defense and abilities for different character classes.

Armor comes in all shapes and sizes in Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake literally and figuratively. Every character, no matter their Vocation, can equip a piece of body armor, a hat, and a shield to boost their defensive capabilities. Players can also equip one weapon and two accessories to their heroes.

Getting the right armor loadout ready is essential in any RPG let alone Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake. There are a lot of pieces of armor to find and buy early on, so here are some basic tips. There’s also a new equipment bag to help keep things more organized.

8 Leather Kilt

Defense 25

The Leather Kilt is a common item later but a rare one by the time players get to Norvik. Norvik is a town not connected to the story but there is a big side quest associated with it and players shouldn’t skip it. Side quest aside, players can find this piece of body armor in a dresser drawer in one of the houses. It has no special properties but it has a high defensive stat and many of Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake’s Vocations can equip it. It should hold some of the weaker party members together for a good portion of the early hours.

7 Cloak Of Evasion

Defense 28

• Bonus Effect: Extra Evasion
• Location: Underground Lake

The Cloak of Evasion has a good defensive stat too but more so than that it has a bonus effect. Characters that equip this piece of body armor have a high chance of evading enemies. Dodging enemy attacks completely is always going to be better in an RPG. Players will probably find their first version of the Cloak of Evasion in the Underground Lake. It’s a dungeon tied to the aforementioned Norvik side quest and there is tons of other good loot hiding out in this location too.

6 Magical Skirt

Attack Defense 29

• Bonus Effect: Reduces Magic-Based Damage
• Location: Asham

The Magical Skirt has a great bonus effect attached to it plus there is a good defensive stat. It can reduce Magic damage during battle. There are no percentages or numbers listed, but that’s what the in-game text clarifies.

It can be found in Asham’s barter shop which exists for players to haggle with a shopkeeper. Generally, if players refuse a sale three times then they can get a good deal. Keep that in mind during the haggling process.

5 Fizzle-Retardant Suit

Defense 46

• Bonus Effect: Prevents Magic Silence
• Location: Pyramid

The Fizzle-Retardant Suit can be found inside a chest within the Pyramid. That’s the simple name of one of the game’s bigger earlier dungeons. It looks like a typical pyramid players could find in any desert-heavy game from Assassin’s Creed Origins to Sand Land. The suit itself will prevent characters from being sealed off from using magic. It’s best to give this piece of body armor to a magic user then like a Mage or Priest or any party member that uses magic a lot.

4 Fur Hood

Defense 15

The Fur Hood is an example of a piece of head-based armor and it’s one of the better ones early on. Like the Leather Kilt though, this hat has no special properties. The defensive stat isn’t mind-blowing compared to other pieces of armor either but it is high for a hat. It can be found in a random desk drawer within the town of Khoryv, which is close to Norvik. There’s not a side quest connected to this town or a main quest but there are plenty of other things to find in this town besides the Fur Hood. For example, like most locations in Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake, Khoryv has Mini Medals hanging out in the houses too.

3 Scholar’s Cap

Defense 20/Wisdom 20

The Scholar’s Cap is absolutely one of the best hats in the early game if not one of the better pieces of armor overall. It’s not that expensive and it can be purchased at one of the item shops in Ibis. It will not only increase defensive power but it will also boost Wisdom.

Wisdom will increase the effectiveness of spells during battle which is common for most magic systems in RPGs. It’s best to give the Scholar’s Cap to Mages or Priests then but all Vocations will probably benefit from this hat’s stats.

2 Bronze Shield

Defense 15

The Bronze Shield is the best shield that players can purchase early in the game. Players can find it first in a chest within the Skyfell Tower. It will just boost defensive capabilities but that’s what most early shields are good for. The Skyfell Tower has a lot of good loot in it like the Boomerang which will attack all enemies at once. Depending on the player’s difficulty choice in Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake, any kind of weapon that can hit all enemies will speed up the process of grinding to get EXP and loot. All players need to find a good balance between a good defense and a high offense in battle.

1 Silver Platter

Defense 22

• Location: Aliahan (12 Medals)

The Silver Platter is actually the best shield early on but it’s not as easy to get as the Bronze Shield. One of the game’s bigger side quests involves collecting the aforementioned Mini Medals. There is a secret shop located in the first town, Aliahan, wherein players can exchange Mini Medals for prizes. If players get 12 Mini Medals then they can get the Silver Platter. Technically, it’s not much more than an oversized dinner plate that can actually block enemy attacks, so it’s a silly shield but strong all the same.