Best Armor Sets In Fallout 4

Key Takeaways

• The best armor sets in Fallout 4 provide unique benefits and resistance for diverse combat scenarios.
• Unique armor sets like Mantis and Protectors offer specific bonuses against melee attackers and humans.
• Some sets like Wastelander’s or Champion armor boast stackable bonuses, enhancing a player’s defense capabilities.

Surviving Fallout 4‘s post-nuclear wasteland has quite a few requirements. Medical supplies, a trusty firearm or two, ammunition for said firearms, and – of course – a few good layers of armor to put between the survivor and the various claws, energy blasts, bullets, and otherwise harmful objects are must-haves. Of course, the operative term here is “good.”

Not every scrap of armor is made equal in the apocalyptic ruins of post-war America. And with so many options, a little advice can go a long way when it comes to making a selection. To that end, here are the best sets of armor that players can get in Fallout 4.

Updated on November 2, 2024, by Benjamin Joe: Despite being released almost a decade ago, Fallout 4 is still a very popular game that has thousands of daily players. The armor options in this game are vast. With so many legendary variations, unique pieces, and more, there’s almost no end to the possible armor combinations. While the previous list did contain a lot of the best armor sets in the game, there are a few sets that weren’t included. Because of this, it feels like a good time to bring in a few new entries to this list. From the iconic Silver Shroud armor set to some of the more powerful Power Armor sets, this update will showcase some more must-have sets.

25 Mantis Armor

Sold By The Traveling Caravan Merchant Lucas Miller

While there are stock armor sets that players will get while exploring the world at their own pace, the Sole Survivor can also be treated to a host of unique armor pieces that can be pretty great to use in their own right. One such set that only features two pieces is the Mantis Armor, which can be bought from a traveling merchant called Lucas Miller as players make their way through the Commonwealth.

The left arm gives players a small chance of disarming enemies upon hitting them, while the left leg gives a minor boost to the Sole Survivor’s Perception and Agility. The Mantis Armor may not be the strongest piece of equipment that players can use, but it’s a good armor set to have in the early game if players want to enjoy some decent benefits before moving on to bigger and better things.

Since there are only two pieces to this set, players can use pieces from other sets to create a full set of armor. While this armor isn’t great for the late stages of the game, when used with other pieces like the Apocalypse torso, it can be a surprisingly useful set.

24 Protector’s Armor

Sold By Arturo Rodriguez In Diamond City

Fallout 4 can be pretty challenging early on, with enemies hitting like a truck and forcing the Sole Survivor to either run for the hills or cheese the enemy AI to get past these encounters by the skin of their teeth. While these strategies can be fun to employ early on, it does get grating after a point to struggle against these basic enemies over and over again without any respite.

Players who have reached Diamond City and are struggling should head to the market and find a man named Arturo Rodriguez, who sells the Protector’s armor set. While it only consists of a left and right arm, the low weight coupled with the reduced damage from humans and Super Mutants makes it worth checking out for those who are genuinely struggling in combat.

While the left arm is quite niche, it can be very useful for those areas that are populated by Super Mutants. As for the right arm, human enemies are more common, so having an armor piece that reduces the amount of damage the player receives from human enemies can be very useful.

23 Wastelander’s Armor

Sold By Myrna, Percy, & Lucas Miller

Regardless of what kind of armor players find in Fallout 4, there’s no denying that wearing leather armor isn’t a sound strategy in the long run. After a while, gamers are bound to move on to better armor pieces that do a better job of protecting them from the many threats that stand in their way.

Still, that doesn’t mean that unique armor pieces like the Wastelander’s Armor don’t bring anything great to the table. The two pieces boost the Sole Survivor’s stats and reduce the damage incurred from Super Mutants, which are simple yet great boons that can help players out early on before they progress further into the game.

Something that is worth keeping in mind is that armor boosts from different sets stack. So, if the player is using both the Wastelander’s right leg and the Protector’s right arm, then they will receive a 30% reduction in the amount of damage they receive from Super Mutants instead of the 15% for a single piece.

22 Champion Armor

Sold By Becky Fallon & Lucas Miller

Metal Armor is a perfect mid-game set that players can use to go through the bulk of the game without facing too many problems. Still, using the boring regular variant of metal armor isn’t exactly the most stimulating way to go through a title that stretches on for hours on end. After a point, the same boring look for the Sole Survivor can get grating.

Thankfully, there are ways for players to curb this boredom. For starters, players can find unique variants of Metal Armor that come with a set of buffs to make things easier. This set, called the Champion Armor, can buff a player’s stats while reducing the damage they incur from robots. Given the prevalence of this enemy type in Fallout 4, it’s easy to assume that players will be more than happy to make the most of the Champion Armor if they get their hands on the set.

Usually Dropped As Random Loot By Raiders

The inclusion of Metal Armor on this list might be quite puzzling for some since this armor is commonplace and can be found pretty easily after the player gains a few levels and starts battling tougher human enemies or looting containers in high-level areas. However, this doesn’t negate the fact that players who get a piece of this armor for the first time will still be wowed by its high rating.

A full set of Metal Armor early in the game is a great way to bolster the Sole Survivor’s defense, even if the set itself may be somewhat unremarkable. Players may replace this set of armor later on, but there’s no denying that the effectiveness and common nature of the Metal Armor makes it a widespread and safe choice for many.

20 Sturdy Combat Armor

Randomly Found In The Game World

The middle variant of Combat Armor is a pretty serviceable set that players can equip if they’ve leveled up enough to encounter enemies who wear this armor. The resistances are worthwhile for those who are climbing up the ranks and encounter tougher enemies along the way.

The best part about this set of armor is how easily available it is, meaning that players can easily complete a set in no time. There’s nothing overly remarkable about this set, but there aren’t many drawbacks to speak of either.

19 Robot Armor

Can Be Looted From Rust Devils

The Automatron DLC is a great add-on that players can enjoy in Fallout 4. This expansion pack adds a ton of new content that players will find exhilarating to explore. The enemies introduced in this DLC are imposing as well. One notable raider gang added via this expansion pack is the Rust Devils.

This gang is obsessed with finding robot parts, going so far as to make an entire armor set from salvaged mechanical parts. What’s even more surprising is that this robot armor is extremely effective and does a great job of negating most of the damage that players incur. The entire set’s rating is respectable indeed.

18 Operators Armor

Worn By Members Of The Operators

Nuka-World is an excellent add-on that adds more life to the world of Fallout 4. There are three major raider gangs operating in this DLC, with one of them being the Operators. The Operators are a disturbed group of individuals. While they are somewhat less crazy than the Disciples and the Pack, the Operators are still very dangerous and murder-obsessed individuals who thrive on violence.

The regular variant of the Operators armor is pretty useful in its own right and a great armor set to rely on when times get tough. Sure, they may not boast any extra benefits that players can rely on, but the inherent boosts in damage resistance more than makeup for this minor inconvenience.

17 Pack Armor

Worn By Members Of The Pack

Nuka-World has one of the more engaging side quests, where players end up ruling over three entire gangs and deciding how they rule the Nuka-World Amusement Park. Following this, players can go so far as to take over the entire Commonwealth if they wish with the help of one of Nuka-World’s gangs.

This DLC also introduces the Pack Armor, which comes in both light and heavy variants. It’s the latter that players should seek out if they want the highest level of protection possible. Still, there’s something about the rather goofy-looking light armor that also makes it quite fun to use if players wish to go down that route.

16 Operators Heavy Armor

Worn By Members Of The Operators

It might not be the prettiest set of armor on this side of the wasteland, but it certainly gets the job done when less fashionable sets aren’t immediately accessible. Providing an even split of high-grade protection from both ballistic and energy damage sources, players could do much worse.

The Operators set can be picked up in the Nuka-World DLC, either from vendors or Operators that gamers have decided to take out. Two stylistic variants differ only in appearance, and while neither looks particularly fetching, it’s nice to have the option.

15 Rescue Diver Suit

Complete The Changing Tides Quest

This fancy suit is a must-have for players who have unlocked the Far Harbor DLC. Not only is it extremely mobile compared to the Power Armor, but it will allow players to explore underwater areas to their heart’s content without the need to come up often and refill their breath meter. For players who enjoy exploring places in depth, there are lots of cool Easter eggs and bits of treasure located in various bodies of water throughout the wasteland.

It doesn’t offer much in terms of Damage and Energy Resistance, but it does provide a hefty 250 Resistance to Radiation. This boost is incredibly helpful for those who are trekking through high-radiation areas and dirty underwater zones.

14 Silver Shroud Armor

Head To The Top Floor Of Hubris Comics

The Silver Shroud Armor suit has one of the most interesting and wacky stories behind it. When players first come across this set, it isn’t called Silver Shroud Armor. Instead, it is called the Silver Shroud Costume. In its costume form, the Silver Shroud outfit offers virtually no protection.

However, if the player heads to the Memory Den in Goodneighbor and speaks to Kent Connolly, then they can follow a questline that will allow them to upgrade the set to Silver Shroud Armor. Keep in mind, for players to get this upgrade, Kent Connolly will need to survive during the end stages of the quest line. This crime-fighting set is a must-have for those who want to hear some interesting and unique dialogue options.

13 Apocalypse Armor

Each Piece Sold By A Different Merchant

Players who find themselves knee-deep in stressful combat situations will want to consider the Apocalypse Armor. This set only features two separate pieces, a chest plate, and a left greave, but their effects and benefits are so strong that players can increase their combat presence two-fold just by wearing the two pieces alone.

The chest plate comes with the Martyr effect, which will slow down time during combat whenever the player drops to 20 percent health or lower. This is combined with the Bolstering effect of the left greave that helps increase the player’s energy and damage resistance the lower their health falls (this can stack up to 35). The Apocalypse armor chest can be grabbed from a Scribe (once assigned to an armor emporium), and the helmet can be snagged from a Vault-Tec Rep once has been given a job as a general trader.

These pieces work very well together and are perfect for those who enjoy running into dangerous situations regularly.

12 Mark 3 Synth Armor

Sold By The Synth Requisition Officer In The Institute

There are some armor sets that players can only get a few pieces of. With enough mixing and matching, players can get their hands on a varied armor set that accounts for every weakness and vulnerability. One such set is the Mark 3 Synth armor.

The energy resistance afforded by this unique armor makes it well worth acquiring. As long as players haven’t angered the Institute, they’ll be able to purchase this unique armor from the requisition officer here. If the player decides that they want to destroy the Institute, then they should definitely pick up these pieces first.

11 Devastator’s Armor

Sold By KL-E-0 In Goodneighbor

Goodneighbor is a great location in Fallout 4 that players will spend a lot of hours in as they explore the area, complete quests, recruit John Hancock as a companion, and interact with the merchants to see what they have to offer. Funnily enough, the best equipment sold here is by an Assaultron named KL-E-0, who sells two pieces of the Devastator’s Armor.

The resistances are pretty great in their own right, but what makes this armor set so great are the buffs attached to each piece. The main chest armor reflects a portion of all melee damage back on an unsuspecting foe, while the right leg’s perk helps players survive when their health is below 20% by slowing down time, allowing them to unleash a few critical shots or use a stimpak quickly.

10 Mark 4 Synth Armor

Sold By The Scribe After Assigning Him To A Level 3 Armor Stand

It’s a shame that players can’t obtain a full set of the Mark 4 Synth armor. Given its immense armor metrics, it’s easy to see why a full set could easily establish itself as one of the best suits of armor in the game.

Even then, the chest and left leg pieces are well worth the caps and let players fight against the toughest enemies without breaking a sweat. Players need to assign the Scribe to a Level 3 Armor Bench to gain access to these powerful armor pieces.

9 Heavy Combat Armor

Randomly Found, Usually Worn By High-Level Enemies

Combat armor is the definitive “middle of the road” set. Fallout 4 players can rely on it to consistently provide decent protection at almost any point in the game, so long as they swap out the pieces for their higher-tiered variants as they become available.

The pieces are commonly found, and they provide sturdy protection from both ballistic and energy damage. The heavy variant of the torso slot kind of makes the survivor look like a weird bipedal turtle, but there are worse things to look like when it comes to the Fallout universe.

8 Mechanist’s Armor

Obtained From The Mechanist In The ‘Restoring Order’ Quest

Those who want a little more flair with their armor can opt for the charismatic Mechanist’s Armor set. This armor will transform the player into a strange 1950s sci-fi-inspired robot. It’s akin to an old toy and very reminiscent of the science fiction films of that era.

It offers pretty good protection, too. The armor set and helmet combine to give the player a healthy 85 Damage and Energy Resistance. That makes it the perfect armor to engage in hectic firefights with enemies. It also boosts the player’s Intelligence and Charisma by 1. It’s not a huge boost by any means, but it is a welcome one. If players want to get their hands on this awesome-looking armor, they will need to complete the “Restoring Order” quest.

7 Synth Armor

Found On Gen 1 & Gen 2 Synths Throughout The Commonwealth

Synth armor, with its sleek, futuristic aesthetic, occupies the same middle ground as combat armor, but it manages to pull out just a bit ahead, offering slightly preferable protection from all sources.

If it wasn’t obvious enough from the title and appearance, the armor can be obtained from synth soldiers. But for those that prefer spending their hard-earned caps over embarking on a robot murdering spree, setting up a fourth-tier armor vendor in one of their settlements or paying a visit to the Institute’s synth requisition officer will also suffice. With some immersive mod, the Synth armor will fit right in, too.

6 Freefall Armor

Obtained In The Mass Fusion Building

Like with most open-world video games, players enjoy getting to the highest point in the game before jumping off and falling toward the ground. While fall damage can be eliminated by wearing Power Armor, there are also some regular armor pieces that can prevent players from receiving fall damage.

Getting these pieces can be a bit of a challenge as they are hidden in an office safe towards the top of the Mass Fusion building. Players will either need to use a combination of a jetpack and jet or a levitation bug to make their way up to the top of the building’s interior. In order for the fall damage effect to work, players will need to wear both the left and right leg. Unfortunately, wearing just one part of this set will not prevent the player from receiving fall damage.

While the set isn’t powerful in the traditional sense, it does allow players who enjoy climbing up onto the tall buildings of Boston to climb without having to worry about falling to their death.