Horizon Forbidden West BEST Armors [Top 20]

Our Horizon Forbidden West best armor guide is here to help you select the right armor that offers maximum protection.

Armors in Horizon Forbidden West play a great role in keeping Aloy alive. The enemies will get tougher as you play through the game, and they’ll eliminate you instantly if you don’t have good armor on you. Today, to help you out, we are going to create a Horizon Forbidden West best armor guide, thanks to which you’ll be able to survive longer in combat.

Key Takeaways
  • There are a total of 44 armor sets available in the game and I have chosen the best 20.
  • Equipping the right armor for Aloy is extremely important while playing Horizon Forbidden West.
  • Every player should know the best armor sets there are in the game, some of these include;
    • Carja Stalker Elite is the best trapping armor. It has six skills, two of which focus on traps. 
    • Nora Thunder Warrior has skills that help you take down enemies from a great distance. 
    • Carja Trader is another armor that utilizes traps. It has four skills, two of which help with traps.  
    • Carja Behemoth Trapper helps you place traps more quickly and efficiently. 
    • Oseram Vanguard is the one that allows Aloy to have impressive benefits, and you won’t have to worry about getting killed early in combat.
    • Osearm Artificer set is the best in the Horizon Forbidden West, which offers a great advantage in melee-based fights.

Horizon Forbidden West Best Armors

Let’s have a quick look at the comparison between the Armor Sets that Aloy can equip in the game:

ArmorBest ForClassRarityShock ResistaceMelee Resistance Impact ResistaceAcid ResistanceFrost Resistance
Nora AnointedBest Early Game Healing ArmorHunterUncommon13.0None0.012.00.0
Nora SentinelBest Early Game Defensive ArmorHunterRare8.010.023.0-20.00.0
Oseram WayfarerBest Melee And Healing ArmorWarriorRare-14.011.00.00.00.0
Utaru HarvesterBest Stealth And Ranged Combat ArmorInfiltratorRare-14.010.011.024.016.0
Utaru ThresherBest Heavy Weapon Mastery ArmorHunterVery Rare33.020.021.00.020.0
Tenakth Skirmisher Best Armor For Survival Against Powerful EnemiesHunterVery Rare21.021.035.0-24.0-24.0
Utaru RitesingerBest Endurance ArmorSurvivorVery Rare-24.021.021.021.021.0
Tenakth DragoonBest Armor For Machine ControlMachine MasterVery Rare0.018.017.035.0-23.0
Tenakth ReconBest Armor For Enhanced Machine MasteryMachine MasterVery Rare19.018.020.00.033.0
Utaru Hardweave Best Armor For Highly Defensive CombatInfiltratorVery Rare22.019.021.018.0-28.0
Nora TrackerBest Armor For Traps MasteryInfiltratorVery Rare32.017.021.0-27.020.0
Tenakth TacticianBest Armor For Stealthy AssassinationHunterLegendary35.036.035.0-40.033.0
Utaru WinterweaveBest Armor For Traps And Resource GatheringInfiltratorLegendary36.035.035.0-42.035.0
Tenakth VanquisherBest Armor For Surviving Low HP SituationsSurvivorLegendary37.033.034.050.036.0
Carja Stalker EliteBest Armor For Machine DominationTrapperLegendary35.032.030.0-38.050.0
Nora Thunder WarriorBest Armor For Stealth MasteryHunterLegendary33.034.050.035.0-40.0
Carja TraderBest Survival Mastery ArmorTapperVery Rare0.022.023.0-25.0-25.0
Carja Behemoth TrapperBest Traps Efficient ArmorTapperVery Rare20.021.020.018.00.0
Oseram VanguardBest Armor For Long-Ranged CombatSurvivorVery Rare-24.034.021.00.018.0
Oseram ArtificerBest Armor For Melee CombatWarriorLegendary33.051.035.036.0-40.0

The most powerful armors in Horizon Forbidden West are the legendary ones, but you’ll acquire them later on in the game. In our guide, I will mention armors belonging to most of the rarity levels so that you can select armors for the early and mid-game. Also, keep in mind that I will be discussing what the armors offer when they are at their maximum level.

Before I get to the list of the best armor, it is important to mention that the following list is based on my personal choice.

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Nora Anointed

Best Early Game Healing Armor
Description Well-worn armor with power source technology
Class Hunter
Rarity Uncommon
Resistance
  • Shock: 13
  • Acid: 12
Skills +1 Concentration Regen, +1 Potent Medicine
How to get Can be bought from Hunter for 85 Metal Shard
  • Why I Chose This: This armor for the early stages of the game provides a good amount of healing and protection.

Nora Anointed is the armor everyone starts the game with. You don’t have to worry about completing a side quest or collecting items to get this armor, as it is unlocked by default. However, even though it is the starting armor of the game, the Nora Anointed offers a good level of protection. 

Horizon Forbidden West best armor
Nora Anointed

The armor also has two skills, Concentration Regen and Potent Medicine. The first one makes concentration recover more quickly, while the other one increases the amount of healing Medicinal Berries do and makes the healing process faster.

Overall, the Nora Anointed is a decent armor that you can use in the game’s early stages. Considering it can help you heal quickly, this Horizon Forbidden West outfit can prove to be helpful in multiple situations. 

  • Obtaining it doesn’t require any side quest.
  • Good protection in the early stages of the game.
  • Good healing abilities.
  • Only good for the early game. Later on becomes useless in my opinion.

Nora Sentinel

Best Early Game Defensive Armor
Description Garb of a strong Nora sharpshooter
Class Hunter
Rarity Rare
Resistance
  • Melee: 10 
  • Impact: 23
  • Fire: 14
  • Shock: 8
  • Acid: -20
Skills +1 Concentration, +1 Stamina Regen, +1 Stealth Ranged
How to get Purchase from Hunter for 399 Metal Shard
  • Why I Chose This: I saw how this armor in the early stages of the game gave greater defense, stealth, and upgradeable options than the default armor.

Next up, we have the Nora Sentinel. If you’re someone who isn’t planning to use the Nora Anointed for a long time, then you can make a switch to this one. Compared to the armor mentioned above, the Nora Sentinel offers better protection. 

It comes with three skills. The first one increases the concentration limit, thus allowing Aloy to perform ranged kills more easily. The second one regenerates the weapon’s stamina faster, and the third one increases the impact damage when you’re in stealth mode. 

Nora Sentinel
Nora Sentinel

Overall, the Nora Sentinel is one of the best Horizon Forbidden West armors for the early game. When upgraded to the maximum level, the armor can protect you against multiple kinds of attacks. 

How To Get Nora Sentinel 

To get your hands on the Nora Sentinel, you will need to purchase it from the Merchant in Barren Light. It will cost you 399 Metal Shards and 1 Skydrifter Circulator. 

  • Provides better protection than the default armor.
  • Can be upgraded for better defense.
  • Not available by default. Has to be purchased.

Oseram Wayfarer

Best Melee And Healing Armor
Description Lightweight and flexible Oseram survivalist 
Class Warrior
Rarity Rare
Resistance
  • Melee: 11
  • Shock: -14
  • Purgewater: 26
  • Plasma: 8
Skills +1 Melee Damage, +1 Evader, +1 Potion Proficiency
How to get Purchase from Stitcher for 399 Metal Shard and 1 Wideman circulator
  • Why I Chose This: This armor provides great agility options, great melee damage, and healing on top of all that. Great for taking on a horde of enemies.

The Oseram Wayfarer is a Rare Warrior outfit perfect for those who like to take their targets down by using melee attacks. This is because it offers a skill that increases the damage dealt by Light and Heavy melee attacks.

Other than this, the Oseram Wayfarer has two other skills called Evader and Potion Proficiency. The first one allows Aloy to dodge roll more. As for the second one, it makes Health Potions heal more and faster. All of this makes the Oseram Wayfarer the type of outfit that can prove useful in every fight.

Horizon Forbidden West best armor
Oseram Wayfarer

Overall, the Oseram Wayfarer is a great outfit. Considering it can increase the amount of damage melee attacks do, it can help you clear an area quickly. 

How To Get Oseram Wayfarer 

To get this armor, you will need to purchase it from the Merchant located in Plainsong for 399 Metal Shards and 1 Widemaw Circulator. 

  • A rare warrior outfit best for players who enjoy melee style.
  • Great damage-dealing capabilities.
  • Versatile and great healing capabilities.
  • Has to be purchased, not available by default.

Utaru Harvester

Best Stealth And Ranged Combat Armor
Description Traditional Woven outfit dealing ranged combat while in stealth
Class Infiltrator
Rarity Rare
Resistance
  • Melee: 10
  • Impact: 11
  • Frost: 16
  • Shock: -14
  • Acid: 24
Skills +1 Low Profile, +1 Stealth Ranged, +1 Weapon Stamina
How to get Purchase from Stitcher for 399 Metal Shard and 1 Wideman circulator
  • Why I Chose This: I saw how after acquiring this armor it allowed for stealthily taking down enemies from range without needing any direct confrontations.

The Utaru Harvestor is another excellent armor that can provide good protection during the early and mid-game. If you’re someone who likes to have a stealthier approach toward taking down enemies, then this armor is for you.

When fully upgraded, the Utaru Harvester has a total of three skills to offer. The first one is called Low Profile, and it makes it difficult for the enemies to detect Aloy. On the other hand, the second skill is Stealth Ranged, which increases the amount of damage ranged impact attacks deal while in stealth. Finally, the third skill is called Weapon Stamina, and as its name suggests, it increases the stamina limit of your weapon.

Utaru Harvester
Utaru Harvester

Overall, the Utaru Harvester has everything you need in armor during the game’s early stages. At the maximum level, the armor offers a good amount of protection and can defend you from multiple attacks.

How To Get Utaru Harvester 

The Utaru Harvester can be purchased from the Merchants in Plainsong and Bulwark for 399 Metal Shards and 1 Shell-Walker Circulator. 

  • Great for a stealthy approach with great protection.
  • Great skills each offering great perks.
  • Not the best for direct combats.

Utaru Thresher

Best Heavy Weapon Mastery Armor
Description Ideal for heavy weapons because of its durability and mobility
Class Hunter
Rarity Very Rare
Resistance
  • Melee: 20
  • Impact: 21
  • Fire: 3
  • Frost: 20
  • Shock: 33
  • Plasma: 21
Skills +2 Concentration, +1 Heavy Lifter, +1 Heavy Weapon, +1 Evader
How to get Purchase from Hunter for 945 Metal Shard, 1 Sunwing Circulator, and 1 Large Machine Core
  • Why I Chose This: The way this armor despite relying on heavy weapons had great mobility, damage, and defensive capabilities.

If you like to carry around Heavy weapons, then this armor is for you. This is because the Utaru Thresher is designed in such a way that Heavy weapons users can benefit a lot from it.

The Utaru Thresher comes with a total of four skills when fully upgraded. The first one increases the concentration limit of the user, while the second one allows Aloy to move faster while carrying a heavy weapon. On the other hand, the third skill increases the amount of damage dealt by heavy weapons. As for the fourth skill, it lets Aloy doge roll more times.

Horizon Forbidden West best armor
Utaru Thresher

Overall, the Utaru Thresher is easily one of the best armors in Horizon Forbidden West. Considering it greatly favors Heavy weapon users and offers excellent protection, the Utaru Thresher armor can defend you even when you’re facing some of the most fearsome machines. 

How To Get Utaru Thresher 

To get your hands on this fantastic armor, you will need to purchase it from the Merchant in Scalding Spear. Compared to the armor mentioned above, this one is a little expensive to get as you will need 945 Metal Shards, 1 Sunwing Circulator, and 1 Large Machine Core to purchase it. 

  • Provides the player 4 skills after fully upgraded.
  • Fast movement and high damage.
  • Good mobility.
  • Expensive to acquire.
  • Not so versatile.

Tenakth Skirmisher

Best Armor For Survival Against Powerful Enemies
Description Garb of Battle-tested archer for channeling pain and rage into deadly precision
Class Hunter
Rarity Very Rare
Resistance
  • Melee: 21
  • Impact: 35
  • Frost: -24
  • Shock: 21
  • Purgewater: 21 
  • Acid: -24
Skills +2 Low Health Ranged, +1 Low Health Valor, +1 Valor Surge Master, +1 Concentration Regen, +1 Weapon Stamina 
How to get Purchase from Hunter for 945 Metal Shard, 1 Sunwing Circulator, and 1 Large Machine Core
  • Why I Chose This: This armor provides you with a bunch of perks and skills that help you survive encounters with powerful enemies.

In Horizon Forbidden West, there can be times when you face pretty strong enemies. And by strong, I mean the ones you can’t take down quickly. Such enemies have potent attacks in their arsenal, and they can eliminate you instantly. This is where Tenakth Skirmisher comes in.

It has a total of five skills. The first one is called Low Health Ranged, which increases the damage of ranged attacks when Aloy is extremely low on health. The second one, called Low Health Valor, grants her more valor when her health falls below 25%.

Tenakth Skirmisher
Tenakth Skirmisher

As for the remaining three, they build up valor quickly, recover Aloy’s concentration faster, and increase the weapon’s stamina limit, respectively. All of this makes the Tenakth Skrimisher the kind of armor that won’t let you die quickly.

Overall, the Tenakth Skirmisher is ideal for players playing at a higher difficulty or those who struggle against powerful Machines. 

How To Get Tenakth Skirmisher 

You can purchase this armor from the Merchant in Scalding Spear for 945 Metal Shards, 1 Sunwing Circulator, and 1 Large Machine Core. 

  • Great for facing powerful enemies.
  • Versatile.
  • Provides 5 skills when fully upgraded.
  • Expensive and may not be for general use.

Utaru Ritesinger

Best Endurance Armor
Description Ensemble Augments stealth, survivability, and ranged combat
Class Survivor
Rarity Very Rare
Resistance
  • Melee: 21
  • Impact: 21
  • Frost: 21
  • Shock: -24
  • Purgewater: 36
  • Acid: 21
  • Plasma: -24
Skills +2 Stealth Ranged, +1 Second Chance, +1 Deep Concentration, +1 Food Duration
How to get Purchase from Hunter for 945 Metal Shard, 1 Sunwing Circulator, and 1 Large Machine Core
  • Why I Chose This: The endurance and survivability this armor provided during fights against powerful enemies are not to be taken granted for.

The Utaru Ritesinger is yet another armor in our Horizon Forbidden guide that prevents you from getting killed. It has a total of four skills, and each one of them has a benefit attached to it that focuses on keeping you alive.

The first skill is called Stealth Ranged, and it increases the ranged damage while in stealth. The second skill is called Second Chance, which will prevent you from getting eliminated by a killing blow if your health is below 25%. As for the third and fourth skills, they focus on making concentration drain slowly and making the effects of food last longer.

Horizon Forbidden West best armor
Utaru Ritesinger

Overall, the Utaru Ritesinger is an excellent armor designed for those who keep on getting killed during combat.

How To Get Utaru Ritesinger  

To get your hands on this armor, you will need to visit the Merchant in Thornmarsh and purchase it from him for 945 Metal Shards, 1 Ragaer Circulator, and 1 Large Machine Core. 

  • Good range damage with the stealth ranged skill.
  • If hp is lower than 25% prevents elimination from a killing blow.
  • Made for survival only not good for offensive use.

Tenakth Dragoon

Best Armor For Machine Control
Description Ceremonial Lowland armor, selected to improve mounted combat
Class Machine Master
Rarity Very Rare
Resistance
  • Melee: 18
  • Impact: 17
  • Fire: 21
  • Frost: -23
  • Purgewater: 20
  • Acid: 35
  • Plasma: -23
Skills +2 Mounted Archer, +1 Efficient Repair, +1 Machine Health, +1 Mounted Defense
How to get Purchase from stitcher for 945 Metal Shard, 1 Sunwing Circulator, and 1 Large Machine Core
  • Why I Chose This: This armor provides effortless machine control and reduced repair costs which made it hard not to put on this list.

Now coming down to an armor that focuses on overriding machines. The Tenakth Dragoon armor possesses the capability of making your experience of overriding machines smooth.

The armor comes with a total of four skills. The first one is called Mounted Archer, and it lets you deal more damage while you’re riding a mount. The second one is Efficient Repair, and this one saves a lot of your resources by repairing overridden machines for fewer Metal Shards. As for the third one, it increases the health of the overridden machines, while the fourth skill decreases the amount of damage you take while riding a mount. 

Tenakth Dragoon
Tenakth Dragoon

Overall, the Tenakth Dragoon is an excellent armor for the mid-game, where you start facing tough machines. If you’re always using a mount, you should switch to this armor whenever you get the chance. 

How To Get Tenakth Dragoon

To get this armor, you will need to purchase it from the Merchants in Fall’s Edge and Legacy’s Landfall for 945 Metal Shards, 1 Stalker Circulator, and 1 Large Machine Core. 

  • Great for overriding machines.
  • The 4 skills granted at the max level enhance machine control.
  • Increased hp.
  • Not suited for combat.

Tenakth Recon

Best Armor For Enhanced Machine Mastery
Description Ideal for Overriding machines and Scouting herds
Class Machine Master
Rarity Very Rare
Resistance
  • Melee: 18
  • Impact: 20
  • Fire: 25
  • Frost: 33
  • Purgewater: -25
  • Shock: 19
  • Plasma: 21
Skills +2 Machine Damage, +! Machine Health, +1 Lasting Override, +1 Quiet Movement
How to get Purchase from Hunter for 945 Metal Shard, 1 Behemoth Circulator, and 1 Large Machine Core
  • Why I Chose This: The stealth this armor provided with great damage from overridden machines was hard to ignore.

Another armor on our Horizon Forbidden West best armor guide that focuses on mounts and overriding machines is the Tenakth Recon. Compared to the above one, this one has some better skills. 

Horizon Forbidden West best armor
Tenakth Recon

The Tenakth Recon also has four skills when fully upgraded. The first one, Machine Damage, increases the amount of damage overridden machines deal. On the other hand, the second one improves the health of overridden machines, thus providing them with the luxury of surviving longer in combat. As for the third and fourth skills, they let you keep an overridden machine longer and allow you to move around silently, something that prevents nearby enemies from detecting your movement. 

Overall, the Tenakth Recon is a pretty fantastic armor. You can choose it over the Tenakth Dragoon if you’re someone who’s not worried about spending more Metal Shards for repairing overridden machines. 

How To Get Tenakth Recon 

To get your hands on the Tenakth Recon, you can purchase it for 945 Metal Shards, 1 Behemoth Circulator, and 1 Lare Machine Core from the Merchant in Thornmarsh. 

  • The armor specializes in mounts and overriding machines.
  • Damage dealt with overridden machines is high.
  • Silent movement skill prevent getting detected by enemies.
  • Not suitable for combat scenarios.

Utaru Hardweave

Best Armor For Highly Defensive Combat
Description Employs a Resin-coated weave for extra protection
Class Infiltrator
Rarity Very Rare
Resistance
  • Melee: 19
  • Impact: 21
  • Fire: 36
  • Frost: -28
  • Purgewater: -25
  • Shock: 22
  • Acid: 18
  • Plasma: 20
Skills +2 Silent Strikes, +1 Stealth Ranged, +1 Vlor Surge Master
How to get Purchase from Hunter for 945 Metal Shard, 1 Stalker Circulator, and 1 Large Machine Core
  • Why I Chose This: The defense this armor provides is second to none and the skills at max level provide great damage.

When it comes to defensive stats, only a few Very Rare armors come close to the Utaru Hardweave. The protection it offers is impressive, something that will help you stay alive for a longer period.

Utaru Hardweave
Utaru Hardweave

When it comes to skills, the Utaru Hardweave has three. The first one is called Silent Strike, which increases the amount of damage Silent Strike deals. The second one, Stealth Ranged, allows you to deal more ranged impact damage while you’re in stealth. As for the third and final skill, it’s called Valor Surge Master, which builds up valor quickly. 

How To Get Utaru Hardweave 

To get this armor, you will need to acquire it from the Merchants in Lowland’s Path and Thornmarsh in exchange for 945 Metal Shards, 1 Stalker Circulator, and 1 Large Machine Core. 

  • Great defensive stats.
  • Great combat capabilities.
  • Very rare.
  • Expensive to acquire.

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Carja Behemoth Trapper

Best Armor For Traps Mastery
Description Armor crafted from Behemoth Components for the elite trappers
Class Trapper 
Rarity Very Rare
Resistance
  • Melee: 21
  • Impact: 20
  • Fire: 21
  • Shock: 20
  • Purgewater: -25
  • Acid: 18
  • Plasma: -23
Skills +1 Quiet Movement, +1 Skilled Salvager, +2 Trap Limit 
How to get Purchase for 945 Metal Shards, 1 Large Machine Core, 1 Rollerback Circulator
  • Why I Chose This: Great trap usage to take down enemies. Silently hunt down your enemies by using traps of different kinds.

If you’re looking for armor that can help you utilize traps more efficiently, then we suggest you go with the Carja Behemoth Trapper. This one can be acquired later in the game, and it can help you place traps more quickly and efficiently. 

There are a total of four skills offered by this trap. The first one, called Smoke Bomb Capacity, allows you to carry more Smoke Bombs. The second skill is called Trap Limit, and it enables you to place more traps and tripwires.

Horizon Forbidden West best armor
Carja Behemoth Trapper

On the other hand, the third skill focuses on granting you more resources as you’ll recover more resources while dismantling traps and tripwires. As for the fourth one, it’s called the Quiet Movement which allows you to move around quietly.

Overall, the Carja Behemoth Trapper is an ideal armor for those who like to play around with traps and tripwires. Also, if you’re someone who likes to use a lot of Smoke Bombs in combat, then this armor can prove to be helpful to you.

How To Get Carja Behemoth Trapper 

The Carja Behemoth Trapper can be purchased from the Merchant in Thornmarsh for 945 Metal Shards, 1 Rollerback Circulator, and 1 Large Machine Core. 

  • Specializes in trap usage.
  • Each skill given at max level enhances trap capabilities.
  • Quiet movement skill allows for traversing without getting detected.
  • Trap-focused armor. It is not versatile.

Nora Tracker

Best Armor For Stealthy Assassination
Description Allow Stealthy movement and improved Silent Strikes
Class Infiltrator
Rarity Very Rare
Resistance
  • Melee: 17
  • Impact: 21
  • Frost: 20
  • Shock: 32
  • Plasma: 17
  • Acid: -27
  • Purgewater: -25
Skills +2 Low Profile, +1 Quiet Movement, +! Quiet Spear, +1 Silent Strike
How to get Purchase from Hunter for 945 Metal Shard, 1 Dreawding Circulator, and 1 Large Machine Core
  • Why I Chose This: The use of stealth to take down enemies without them knowing has a really nice feel to it.

The Nora Tracker is yet another armor that should be used by players who like to take their targets down silently. There are only a few armors in Horizon Forbidden West that are excellent for stealth play, and the Nora Tracker is one of them.

The armor has a total of four skills to offer. The first one is called Low Profile, and it makes you less visible to your enemies. As for the second one, it’s called Quiet Movement, thanks to which you can move around silently. The third and fourth skills, on the other hand, are called Quiet Spear, and Silent Strike, which reduce the noise melee attacks make and increase the Silent Strike damage.

Nora Tracker
Nora Tracker

Overall, the Nora Tracker armor is perfect for those who want to get the Assassin’s Creed feeling in Horizon Forbidden West. With this armor equipped, you won’t need to worry about getting into unnecessary fights again and again. 

How To Get Nora Tracker

The Nora Tracker armor can be purchased from the Merchant in Thornmarsh for 945 Metal Shards, 1 Large Machine Core, and 1 Dreadwing Circulator. 

  • Specializes in stealth gameplay.
  • Does great damage and proves deadly for enemies.
  • Stealth focused. Lacks in direct confrontations.

Carja Trader

Best Armor For Traps And Resource Gathering
Description Sophisticated apparel armor for highbrow trappers
Class Tapper
Rarity Very Rare
Resistance
  • Melee: 22
  • Impact: 23
  • Fire: 21
  • Frost: -25
  • Purgewater: 21
  • Acid: -25
  • Plasma: 35
Skills +1 Food Duration, +1 Shard Salvager, +1 Skilled Salvager, +1 Trap Limit
How to get Purchase for 945 Metal Shards, 1 Large Machine Core, 1 Sunwing Circulator
  • Why I Chose This: The use of a plethora of traps to take down your enemies by surprise is one of the best skills in the game.

The Carja Trader armor is yet another armor that is perfect for those who like to use traps. It offers some amazing skills and can protect you from different types of attacks.

To begin with, the Carja Trader has a total of four skills. The first one increases the number of traps and tripwires you can place on the ground. The second one grants you the luxury of gaining more resources by dismantling traps and tripwires. As for the third and fourth skills, they provide you with more Metal Shards from dismantling and make the effects of food last longer.

Horizon Forbidden West best armor
Carja Trader

Overall, the Carja Trader is a solid armor that can be used to increase the number of traps and gain more resources. 

How To Get Carja Trader

The Carja Trader armor can be bought from the Merchant in Legacy’s Landfall for 945 Metal Shards, 1 Sunwing Circulator, and 1 Large Machine Core. 

  • Specializes in trap usage.
  • The 4 skills acquired at the max level enhance trap usage.
  • A trap-based armor that may be lacking in other combat situations.

Oseram Vanguard

Best Armor For Surviving Low HP Situations
Description Armor made for Sun-King Avad’s personal guard with the qualities of durability and strength in melee combat 
Class Survivor
Rarity Very Rare
Resistance
  • Melee: 34
  • Impact: 21
  • Fire: -27
  • Frost: 18
  • Purgewater: 20
  • Shock: -24
  • Plasma: 22
Skills +1 Low Health Melee, +1 Potion Proficiency, +1 Power Attack, +1 Valor on Impact
How to get Purchase for 945 Metal Shards, 1 Large Machine Core, 1 Snapmaw Circulator
  • Why I Chose This: The way this armor helped in survival when on low HP is something not to miss out on. Enhanced damage and healing capabilities.

The Oseram Vanguard is the armor type that grants Aloy impressive benefits whenever she’s low on health. Thanks to it, you won’t have to worry about getting killed quickly in combat, as the armor will help you stay on your feet. 

When it comes to skills, the Oseram Vanguard has four of them. The first one is called Low Health Melee, and it increases the amount of damage melee attacks deal when you are low on health. The second skill focuses on increasing valor whenever you get hit by enemy attacks, while the third one makes Health Potions heal more of Aloy’s health. As for the fourth skill, it increases the damage of Power Attacks. 

Oseram Vanguard
Oseram Vanguard

Overall, the Oseram Vanguard armor is meant for those players who want something that can help them stay alive in combat for a longer time. 

How To Get Oseram Vanguard

The Oseram Vanguard armor can be purchased from the Merchant in Legacy’s Landfall for 945 Metal Shards, 1 Large Machine Core, and 1 Snapmaw Circulator. 

  • Great perks unlocked when on low hp.
  • Great survival capabilities.
  • Not so many great perks when on normal HP.

Tenakth Tactician

Best Armor For Machine Domination
Description Ultimate armor for controlling machines
Class Hunter
Rarity Legendary
Resistance
  • Melee: 36
  • Impact: 35
  • Fire: 50
  • Frost: 33
  • Purgewater: -38
  • Shock: 35
  • Acid: -40
  • Plasma: 35
Skills +2 Low Profile, +2 Machine Damage
How to get Purchase from Hunter for 945 Metal Shard, 1 Dreawding Circulator, and 1 Large Machine Core
  • Why I Chose This: This armor has everything you need in order to achieve mastery in machine control, durability, and silent movement.

The first legendary armor I would like to mention is the Tenakth Tactician. This is the type of armor that focuses on letting you take control of machines quickly. It also has a skill that lets you move around silently. 

The Tenakth Tactician armor comes with six skills when fully upgraded. These include;

  • Quiet Movement.
  • Mounted Defense.
  • Mounted Archer.
  • Machine Elemental+
  • Machine Health.
  • Lasting Override.
Tenakth Tactician
Tenakth Tactician

Overall, the Tenakth Tactician is one of the best armors to use in Horizon Forbidden West. When it comes to overriding machines, there isn’t any other armor that helps more than it. 

How To Get Tenakth Tactician 

To get this legendary armor, you will need to purchase it from the Merchant in Thornmarsh. It will cost you 2000 Metal Shards, 1 Apex Slitherfang Heart, and 1 Thunderjaw Circulator to craft it. 

  •  A legendary armor with 6 powerful skills at max level.
  • Great for quick machine control.
  • Expensive to acquire.

Utaru Winterweave

Best Armor For Stealth Mastery
Description Ultimate Armor outfit for Stealthy master
Class Infiltrator
Rarity Legendary
Resistance
  • Melee: 35
  • Impact: 35
  • Fire: -39
  • Frost: 35
  • Purgewater: 34
  • Shock: 36
  • Acid: -42
  • Plasma: 50
Skills +2 Low Profile, +1 Quiet Movement, +1 Quiet Spear, +1 Silent Strike
How to get Purchase for 2000 Metal Shard, 1 Tremortusk Circulator, 1 Apex Dreadwing Heart
  • Why I Chose This: The best armor anyone could ask for if they are looking for stealth-based combat.

The Utaru Winterweave legendary armor in Horizon Forbidden West is easily the best stealth armor in the entire game. This is because it will boost all of your stealth capabilities.

It has a total of six skills, which include Silent Strike, Smoke Bomb Capacity, Silent Strike Heal, Quiet Movement, Low Profile, and Quiet Spear. These skills reduce your movement and attack sounds. Furthermore, they also boost the damage of Silent Strike and allow you to carry more Smoke Bombs. All of this helps with staying undetected.

Utaru Winterweave
Utaru Winterweave

Overall, if you’re looking for a specific armor that can significantly enhance your stealth capabilities, then you should definitely get the Utaru Winterweave. 

An Interesting Read: Horizon Forbidden West Tallnecks

How To Get Utaru Winterweave 

To get your hands on this stealth armor, you will need to purchase it from the Merchant in Thornmarsh for 2000 Metal Shards, 1 Tremortusk Circulator, and 1 Apex Dreadwing Heart. 

  • A legendary armor made just for stealth combat situations.
  • All skills at max level help in stealthy assassinations.
  • Quite expensive to acquire.

Tenakth Vanquisher

Best Survival Mastery Armor
Description Ultimate Reavvor Armor
Class Survivor
Rarity Legendary
Resistance
  • Melee: 33
  • Impact: 34
  • Fire: -40
  • Frost: 36
  • Purgewater: 35
  • Shock: 37
  • Acid: 50
  • Plasma: -40
Skills +1 Evaader, +1 Low Health Defense, +1 Low Health Melee, +2 Low Health Valor
How to get Purchase for 54 Arena Medals, 900 Metal Shard
  • Why I Chose This: This armor is the best when it comes to surviving deadly situations when you’re low on HP.

Out of all the armors in Horizon Forbidden Best, the Tenakth Vanquisher is the best when it comes to keeping Aloy alive. Its skills focus greatly on granting benefits whenever you’re low on health.

The skills offered by the Tenakth Vanquisher include Valor Surge Master, Low Health Ranged, Low Health Defense, Low Health Melee, Low Health Valor, and Evader. The first one helps increase valor quickly, while the next one increases the amount of damage ranged attacks deal when you’re low on health. As for the remaining skills, they focus on helping you resist more damage when your health falls below 25%, making your melee attacks do more damage, and so on. 

Horizon Forbidden West best armor
Tenakth Vanquisher

Overall, the Tenakth Vanquisher is easily one of Horizon Forbidden West’s most elite armors that are designed for those who are always getting killed by their enemies. 

How To Get Tenakth Vanquisher 

Compared to the armors mentioned above, this one is a little difficult to get as you will need to spend some time in the Hunting Grounds and Arena to gather a total of 54 Arena Medals. After that, you can purchase it from the Merchant outside the Arena in exchange for the Arena Medals you acquired. 

  • Powerful perks when on low HP.
  • The best armor for survival.
  • Acquiring it can be time consuming.

Carja Stalker Elite

Best Traps Efficient Armor
Description Armor Outfit for trapper’s art, fitted with planting from a Stalker
Class Trapper
Rarity Legendary
Resistance
  • Melee: 32
  • Impact: 30
  • Fire: -38
  • Frost: 50
  • Purgewater: 33
  • Shock: 35
  • Acid: -38
  • Plasma: 30
Skills +1 Low Profile, +1 Nimble Crafter, +1 Quick Trapper. +1 Quiet Movement
How to get Purchase for 54 Arena Medals, 900 Metal Shard
  • Why I Chose This: The armor provides unmatch trap efficiency coupled with faster crafting and increased trap capacity.

The Carja Stalker Elite is easily the best Horizon Forbidden West armor when it comes to trapping. We have mentioned some other ones in our list as well, but this one is better than all of them.

When fully upgraded, the Carja Stalker Elite has a total of six skills to offer. One of them is called Quick Trapper, and as its name suggests, it allows you to place traps faster on the field. It has another skill called Nimble Crafter, thanks to which you’ll be able to craft tools, traps, and potions faster.

Carja Stalker Elite
Carja Stalker Elite

The remaining skills offered by the Carja Stalker Elite focus on placing more traps on the field, increasing the Smoke Bombs capacity, and allowing Aloy to move around quietly.

Overall, the Carja Stalker Elite is the best Trapper armor. If you like to play around with traps, then this one is for you.

How To Get Carja Stalker Elite 

This is yet another armor that is a little difficult to acquire as you will need to gather 54 Arena Medals for it, after which you’ll be able to buy it from the Arena’s Merchant. 

  • The best armor for trapping.
  • Improved trap efficiency with the skills provided at max level.
  • Acquiring the armor is time-consuming.

Nora Thunder Warrior

Best Armor For Long-Ranged Combat
Description Ultimate Ranged Combat armor, fearsome as the Thunderjaw
Class Hunter
Rarity Legendary 
Resistance
  • Melee: 34
  • Impact: 50
  • Fire: 38
  • Frost: -40
  • Purgewater: 35
  • Shock: 33
  • Acid: 35
  • Plasma: -38
Skills +1 Concentration Regen, +1 Deep Concentration, +1 Heavy Weapon, +1 Stamina Regen, +1 Stealth Ranged
How to get Purchase for 54 Arena Medals, 900 Metal Shard
  • Why I Chose This: One of the best armors for long-ranged attacks that deal great damage and has faster recovery than any other armor.

If you’re someone who likes to take their targets down from a great distance, then the Nora Thunder Warrior armor is for you. This is because the Nora Thunder Warrior armor has skills that help significantly in taking down enemies that are far away quickly and easily.

The armor has a skill called concentration which boosts your concentration limit to a great extent. Another skill called Deep Concentration prevents the concentration from draining quickly.

As for the other skills, they focus on recovering concentration faster, regenerating the weapon’s stamina faster, and increasing the amount of damage of attacks executed while in stealth. There is also a skill called Heavy Weapon that increases the amount of damage heavy weapons deal.

Nora Thunder Warrior
Nora Thunder Warrior

Overall, if you want something that can help you become the master of ranged kills, then you should opt for the Nora Thunder Warrior armor. 

How To Get Nora Thunder Warrior 

Just like the armor mentioned above, you can purchase the Nora Thunder Warrior armor for 54 Arena Medals from the Merchant sitting outside the Arena. 

  • Excels in long-range combat.
  • Great damage and a bunch of other skill buffs at max level.
  • Lacks in close-combat and is time-consuming to acquire.

Oseram Artificer

Best Armor For Melee Combat
Description Ultimate armor with built-in buffs to Aloy’s melee attacks
Class Warrior
Rarity Legendary 
Resistance
  • Melee: 51
  • Impact: 35
  • Fire: 33
  • Frost: -40
  • Purgewater: 35
  • Shock: 33
  • Plasma: -40
  • Acid: 36
Skills +1 Power Attack, +1 Resonator Damage, +1 Resonator Buildup, +1 Resonator Blast +2 Melee Damage, +2 Critical Strike 
How to get Complete all Oseram contracts.
  • Why I Chose This: The best armor when it comes to melee combat dealing massive damage with powerful attacks and skills.

Now, it comes down to the best armor. In the game, most of your fights are going to be melee-based. And if you have the Osearm Artificer armor equipped, then you’ll be able to end the conflicts quickly. 

Just like all the other legendary armors in Horizon Forbidden West, the Oseram Artificer also has a total of six skills to offer. The first one can increase the damage of Power Attacks, the second one helps energize the spear faster, and the third one deals more damage when energizing a target. There is also a skill called Resonator Blast that allows you to deliver a powerful attack that deals a lot of damage. 

Horizon Forbidden West best armor
Oseram Artificer

Overall, the Oseram Artificer is Horizon Forbidden West’s best set. If you want something that can help you dominate every fight, then you should get the Oseram Artificier without wasting a single second. 

How To Get Oseram Artificer 

To get your hands on this legendary armor, you will need to complete all of the Oseram contracts. The process may be pretty time-consuming, but it will be worth it as you’ll get the best armor in the game.

  • Excels in melee-based combat scenarios.
  • All skills acquired at max level enhance melee combat.
  • Great damage-dealing capabilities.
  • Acquisition of this armor can be time-consuming.
  • Lacks in long-ranged combat.
  • Updated: 20th March 2023.
  • Added: Armor Stats.
  • Alternative Armor Sets 
  • Here are some other Armor Sets in Horizon Forbidden West that can help you survive longer in combat and provide maximum protection.
  • Blacktide Quen Commander: Specializes in Resonator Strikes, enhanced damage, speed, and duration, but vulnerable to fire attacks.
  • Quen Deadeye: Stealth-oriented Legendary outfit that improves your ranged attacks.
  • Nora Thunder Warrior: Excels in ranged combat with significant bonuses, but is vulnerable to frost attacks.

Alternative Armor Sets 

Here are some other Armor Sets in Horizon Forbidden West that can help you survive longer in combat and provide maximum protection.

  • Blacktide Quen Commander: Specializes in Resonator Strikes, enhanced damage, speed, and duration, but vulnerable to fire attacks.
  • Quen Deadeye: Stealth-oriented legendary outfit that improves your ranged attacks.

My Opinion On The Best Armor

horizon forbidden west hours
My hours in HFW (PSN: Liontamer55460)

If you ask me, in terms of stats and viability, the Nora Thunder Warrior is easily the best armor you can use. Furthermore, if you’re reading this in 2023, Transmog is finally a feature in the game. So, if you want to make Aloy look good and stylish while slaying machines, my favorite aesthetically pleasing armor is definitely between either the Carja Stalker Elite or the Tenakth Vanquisher, with the latter giving me Monster Hunter Armor vibes.

The Nora Thunder Warrior’s Concentration perks really helped for the endgame, not to mention it gave me an edge during my NG+ Playthrough as well, so you just can’t go wrong with it if you’re using a ranged build.

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Usama Mehmood is a Games Specialist, and writer on eXputer who's either hunting for the richest loot in Destiny 2 or endlessly playing his favorite games such as Yakuza or Final Fantasy. Usama has been gaming for 15+ years during which he has accumulated 4000+ hours on Destiny 1 & 2. His constant adoration for video games has allowed him to pursue eXputer as a platform to showcase his striving talents in writing helpful articles. Get familiar with Usama's extensive gaming library on his Steam, PSN, and Xbox profiles.

Experience: 2+ Years || Mainly Covers Reviews And Guides || Education: Bachelors in Physiotherapy.

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