Armor provides damage reduction and resistances. While fashion is important, choosing armor that offers good protection without exceeding your equipment load is crucial.
Armor Categories:
- Light Armor: Low physical defense, good elemental resistance, low weight.
- Medium Armor: Balanced defense, moderate weight.
- Heavy Armor: High physical defense, high poise, heavy weight.
Key Stats:
- Physical Defense: Reduces physical damage taken.
- Strike/Slash/Thrust Defense: Specific physical damage reduction.
- Magic/Fire/Lightning/Dark Defense: Elemental damage reduction.
- Poise: Resistance to being staggered by enemy attacks. More poise means you can tank through hits without being interrupted.
- Weight: Contributes to your equipment load.
Armor cannot be upgraded in Dark Souls III, but some sets offer unique resistances or effects.