Fashionable fits can make anyone feel powerful, but what if that fit is covered with Briars? Or maybe it's adorned with a helmet of antlers? Perhaps it's an outfit made of wolf pelts and worn by a half-human-half-wolf warrior? Elden Ring has plenty of options when it comes to how the player chooses to dress. Most sets have unique abilities while others offer only statistical advantages. In choosing what armor set to where, however, there is one factor that stands above all else: how cool does it look?
With a wide variety of different looks for sword and board players as well as magic users, Elden Ring provides all sorts of options for accessorizing. Care to wear the armor of the esteemed and honorable General Radahn? That's an option. Want to follow in the footsteps of the Snow Witch Renna? Players can obtain her outfit after her questline. Wherever one goes in Elden Ring, there will be new armor found and new looks to serve.
Blaidd's Set
There is no doubt that the part-human, part-wolf warrior Blaidd is one of the most memorable characters in Elden Ring, and the proof lies in the armor set. Blaidd may have the demeanor of a well-mannered warrior, but the intimidation factor in the wolf pelt cape and the demi-human's howl is not to be taken lightly.
Bearing banded mail and a cape of pelts, Blaidd's armor is dark, gritty, and intimidating. It's a look that pairs well with large weapons, such as the game's staple Great Sword. In fact, some fans have even brought up theories about Blaidd's look being inspired by the late Kentaro Miura's iconic character, Guts, from the manga Berserk. An impressive suit of armor and a love letter to an inspirational dark fantasy writer, Blaidd's set stands among the best in the game.
General Radahn's Set
General Radahn represents many virtues of the staple honorable leader: brave, persevering, inspirational and powerful. It's no wonder why his followers hold a festival to give him an honorable death. Players, however, may be more interested in the armor set reward of the boss fight.
Radahn's set mixes the deep maroon of the demigod's hair with the shining gold plate that he wears. Add in massive tusks on the helmet and players have an armor set worthy of a general. It is an armor set that shows its long history in its wear; plus it gives the player Radahn's lion redmane, the best haircut in the game.
Bull-Goat Set
Fans of the Souls series know the true power of poise. Few players fan forget their first play-through of Dark Souls, fighting the Four Kings in Havel's suit. In Elden Ring, players have the Bull-Goat set to fill a similar niche.
The Bull-Goat does not only shine as one of the best utility armor sets in the game, it has a unique look that contends with the most visually pleasing. The chest piece braces the player with two large goat horns wrapping the body, while the hat has the flair of an ancient Greek warrior. The Bull-Goat set shines in a battle of strength and fashion.
Briar Set
Another homage to a beloved set from the Souls series, the Briar set reflects the mix of beauty and destruction present in much of Elden Ring's visual design. Similar to the Thorns armor in Dark Souls, the Briar set damages enemies that the player rolls in to.
The appearance of the armor is close to a standard soldier's armor, save for the red thorns that entwine the wearer. Leaning more into the subtleties of intimidating fashion, the Briar set sneaks into the top-looking armors with its enticing simplicity. Subtle and deadly is the look of the Briar set, a powerful combination in both combat and fashion in the Lands Between.
Fia's Set
Even those who have not played Elden Ring have most likely seen a meme regarding Fia, the deathbed companion. Fia is a deceptively kind NPC with one of the best side quests in Elden Ring, and her robes are a dark fit for Tarnished fighters.
Another set grounded in simplicity, Fia's robes hold a look of depth and deceptiveness. Akin to the Nazgul robes in Lord of The Rings, Fia's robes are long flowing shadows enwrapping the wearer. These robes fit perfectly onto an assassin or dark sorcerer, hiding their true intentions behind the casting shadows of a dark hood and flowing sleeves.
Goldmask Set
At times, the best-looking armor is the armor with the least to look at. The Goldmask does not intimidate with wolf pelts or thorn wrappings; its power is in the wearer's confidence. A radiant mask covering the face and hardly much else, the Goldmask set is a unique set among the rest.
Confidence makes fashion. A character that can wear braces and rags to fight demigods and dragons wields both a great look and the intimidation factor to move mountains. The Goldmask set is one of the best by being true to itself: a set that has the best helmet in the game and nothing else. Nothing else is needed.
Lusat's Set
Many armors in Elden Ring feature head wraps and large crowns, but among the most eccentric is Lusat's set. Featuring deep blue colors that juxtapose the many red and gold themes throughout the game, Lusat's set makes itself known among the rest.
A scholar's clothes fit for a wizard, Lusat's set intimidates and awes with its main feature: a massive blue orb worn as a crown. Rich and enticing, the elegance of the set stands out from the many darker themes of Elden Ring's fashion. Of course, there is something comical as well in wearing a crown five times the size of the wearer's head.
Mushroom Set
When ranking the best sets, intimidation and elegance don't mean everything. Much of a game is about the joy outside the realms of reality. That is where the Mushroom Set finds its audience.
The Mushroom set doesn't seem to offer much compared to the steely plates of other protective wear. Hardly armor, the Mushroom set sprouts mushrooms out of the wearer's entire body. Boasting a unique statistical array leaning more towards the status-effect side of protection, the Mushroom set provides a unique look and playstyle.
Snow Witch Set
Ranni the Witch provides the player with both a fantastic questline and the elegant Snow Witch set. Those players who wish to take on the true look of a witch find their answer through Ranni's storyline and facing the notorious Astel, Naturalborn of the Void. The Astel fight is best handled in co-op for its difficult nature, but the Snow Witch set may be worth the trouble.
Similar to Fia's set, the snow Witch set finds its likeability in its simplicity. The boost to cold resistance comes in handy itself, but the true appeal of the armor is in its bright flowing robes and fantastical hat. Witches and warlocks alike find their typical fantasy look in the Snow Witch set.