Dark Souls 2 is a game that puts you in the shoes of an Ashen One as they battle their way through hordes of enemies and bosses. With the right gear, players can create powerful builds to help them better survive the game’s myriad challenges. As such, it is important for players to select the best armor sets for their playstyle in order to maximize their effectiveness. When seeking a heavy armor set, players should look for the highest possible defense rating while also taking into account weight and how much it negatively impacts stamina regeneration and movement speed. Based on these criteria, we have selected our top picks for the best heavy armor sets in Dark Souls 2. From characters seeking heavy defense without sacrificing mobility to those wanting complete metal protection, this guide will provide our top picks of Heavy Armor Sets that can offer superior protection and survivability no matter your chosen class or build.
The Best Heavy Armor Sets in Dark Souls 2
Dark Souls 2 is filled with a variety of challenging enemies, but with the right armor set, you can make yourself a bit safer. Heavy armor sets in Dark Souls 2 are some of the best since they provide a good balance of defense and offense. In this article, we’ll be taking a look at the best heavy armor sets in the game, so you can find one that fits your playstyle.
Havel’s Set
Havel’s Set is a heavy armor set that is best suited to the player who is willing to go toe-to-toe with the toughest enemies in Dark Souls 2. It’s the sort of armor you put on when you’re feeling confident, and it can make a big difference in a fight. The bulky look of Havel’s Set provides plenty of protection, it has excellent resistances across the board and also gives you increased stamina regeneration. On top of that, as an added bonus, you get an extra +100 equipment burden on top of all its other benefits. If you’re looking for some great protection and want something that looks impressive too, then Havel’s Set may be the perfect choice.
Smough’s Set
Smough’s Set is one of the few Heavy Armor sets in Dark Souls 2 that offer a balance between defense and mobility. This set is perfect for any character who wants to tank and also be able to move freely on the battlefield. The set pieces are obtainable from two different enemies, Smough in the Anor Londo level and Ornstein in the Undead Parish level. Each piece offers good resists against physical attacks, fire and lightning damage. The set bonus offers players a substantial increase to their stamina regeneration rate, making them better suited for long fights. In addition, wearing all five pieces grants players a 10% increase to their maximum health and 9% damage reduction on top of the physical resist offered by each individual piece. The amount of protection provided by this armor should be enough for any build looking for high defensive stats without sacrificing mobility too much.
Black Iron Set
If you’re looking to build a sturdy and formidable tank, then the Black Iron Set should be one of your primary choices. This heavy armor provides the highest physical defense in the game and it looks great with its distinctive dark color. The Black Iron Set also grants a moderate amount of fire defense and with its low weight of 11.6 units, it’s one of the best sets for those who want to maximize their mobility. The set comes with five pieces including chest, arms, helm, gauntlets and leggings – all made from an alloy known as Dark Stone(Bara). Although this set may not boast any special effects or stat bonuses, it is one of the longest-lasting armors in Dark Souls 2 and can help you beat some tough battles.
Stone Set
The Stone Set is known as one of the best heavy armor sets in Dark Souls 2. This armor set comes from the Ancient Dragon and is designed for players who want to play a more defensive style of play. This set has very high physical protection, providing a decent amount of block absorption and resistances to many elements such as fire and lightning. The most distinctive feature about this set is its weight – it’s one of the heaviest sets in the game. Wearing it will slow you down and prevent you from rolling frequently, but the added defense more than makes up for it. The Stone Set can be upgraded twice with Titanite, making it easily one of the most defensive armors in all of Dark Souls 2.
Old Iron King Set
The Old Iron King Set is a heavy armor set in Dark Souls 2. It is one of the most heavily protective armors available, providing exceptional physical and elemental defense. The set includes pieces from the legs to head, along with a weapon and shield combination. Its appearance is characteristic of what could be expected from an old, metal suit of armor: large metallic scales and plates guard the body with spikes for extra protection. The Old Iron King Set provides incredibly high defense ratings that are some of the highest available from any armor set in the game, with only few others (like Smelter Demon and Alonne Knight) surpassing it. Its impressive defense values come at the cost of tremendous weight – the amount it takes to equip this entire set is hard for even those in peak physical fitness to cope with, though it may be worth it if you’re looking for maximum protection. Aside from its impressive defense ratings and bulkiness, the Old Iron King Set also has decent resistances to fire, lightning and magic type attacks – though they’re not as good as other sets on this list (like Smelter Demon). If you’re looking for good all-around defense while still maintaining mobility, this may be a good fit for you.
Alonne Knight Set
The Alonne Knight Set is one of the best heavy armor sets available in Dark Souls 2. Players who choose this set will be rewarded with an impressive amount of physical defense, lowering the amount of damage taken from physical attacks. While it sacrifices its Poise, which allows players to remain standing without staggering throughout its roll animations, it can be compensated with a good shield that also has high stability. The Alonne Knight Set features pieces from three sets; The Alonne Captain Helm, which can be found as a rare drop from wooden chests near Heide’s Tower of Flame bonfire; The Alonne Knights Armor and Gauntlets that are obtainable by defeating the Spider Nest Region Bosses; and lastly, the Alonne Knight Leggings which can be acquired by sacrificing four Boss Souls to Weaponsmith Ornifex. This well-balanced set is ideal for players who specialize in stamina management and blocking techniques while their enemies only focus on exploiting their weaknesses. With its impressive protection against physical attacks and decent Pierce protection, this is one Heavy Armor set that provides great value for money.
Silver Knight Set
The Silver Knight Set is an iconic heavy armor set from Dark Souls 2. It was initially found in the Undead Burg and is recognized for its stylish silver finish and majestic white banner on the back. Weighing in at 41.2 pounds, it’s considered a middle-of-the-road set as far as weight, allowing for decent mobility with its medium range poise and excellent defense against physical attacks (48.4 stability). This makes it a popular choice for those looking to trade between heavier tanks and lighter builds with better mobility. The Silver Knight Set also provides similar resistances to bleed and poison, along with featuring high elemental resistances. While fire defense may seem lacking when compared to some armors of a similar weight class, this can be augmented using various spells or consumable items (Homeward Bone, Violet Moss Clump). The helmet has relatively low visibility but can be upgraded further if necessary with an Eye of Death emblazoned by any Firekeeper or by Andrei of Astora in the Sactified Chamber in Shrine of Amana. Finally, it’s important to consider that while aesthetics are definitely subjective when choosing an armor set, few pieces compare to the grandiosity and flavor of the Silver Knight Set!
