Monster Hunter: World is an expansive action RPG that immerses players in a world filled with formidable beasts and deep crafting mechanics. Among the many ways to prepare for your hunting journeys, armor plays a crucial role in defining your survivability and effectiveness in battle. With dozens of armor sets available, determining the best armor for your unique playstyle can be overwhelming. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the best armor options in Monster Hunter: World, their unique benefits, crafting requirements, and strategies for selecting the perfect set for your adventures.
Understanding Armor in Monster Hunter: World
Before diving into specific armor sets, it’s important to grasp the fundamental mechanics of armor in Monster Hunter: World. Armor is essentially a protective gear that absorbs damage and provides various bonuses through skills. There are three primary attributes to consider:
Defense
The defense rating of an armor set significantly impacts your overall survivability. Higher defense stats mean more damage absorbed from monster attacks.
Skills
Each armor piece grants unique skills that can amplify your hunting capabilities. These skills vary widely, from enhancing your elemental resistance to boosting your damage output or healing capabilities.
Set Bonuses
Equipping multiple pieces from the same armor set can activate additional bonuses, further enhancing your combat efficiency. These bonuses often provide powerful effects that can be game-changing in tougher battles.
The Best Armor Sets in Monster Hunter: World
Now that we understand the basics, let’s explore some of the best armor sets in the game, tailored for different hunting styles and preferences.
1. High-Rank Armor Sets
High-rank armor offers superior defense and skills, making it essential for endgame content. Here are some top contenders:
1.1. The Safi’jiiva Armor Set
The Safi’jiiva armor set is arguably one of the most powerful in the game, providing impressive defense and extraordinary abilities.
- Special Skill: Invincible – This skill allows players to negate damage under certain conditions, making it invaluable for high-damage encounters.
- Defense: 60+ – With high base defense, it offers great protection against hard-hitting monsters.
To craft the Safi’jiiva armor set, players must hunt and carve from the Safi’jiiva, whose materials are found in the World’s endgame content.
1.2. The Xeno’jiiva Armor Set
This set is well-regarded for its balance of defense and useful skills.
- Special Skill: Xeno’s Grace – It boosts the player’s damage when health is full, making it a great choice for aggressive playstyles.
- Defense: 55+ – Provides solid protection while also ensuring your offensive capabilities remain high.
Crafting this armor requires materials from the Xeno’jiiva, the game’s challenging Elder Dragon.
2. The Classic Sets
While newer armor sets can be enticing, classic options still hold their ground, especially for various hunting styles.
2.1. The Nergigante Armor Set
Known for its powerful offensive capabilities, Nergigante armor is a favored choice for aggressive hunters.
- Special Skill: Nergigante Meal – This skill increases damage dealt to wounded monsters, providing a significant damage boost during hunts.
- Defense: 56+ – High defense is vital for surviving tough confrontations.
Players can acquire this armor by hunting Nergigante and collecting its parts to craft their desired gear.
2.2. The Rathalos Armor Set
The Rathalos armor set is a classic staple in the Monster Hunter series.
- Special Skill: Attack Boost – Increases overall attack power, making hunters more lethal.
- Defense: 54+ – Provides excellent protection against melee attacks while enhancing offensive capabilities.
Through hunting the Rathalos or its subspecies, players gain access to crafting materials essential for this iconic set.
3. Specialized Sets
Certain armor sets cater to specific niches or playstyles, providing unique advantages for niche hunters.
3.1. The Legiana Armor Set
Perfect for those who utilize ranged weapons, the Legiana armor is optimized for distance-based hunters.
- Special Skill: Free Element/Ammo Up – Increases the effectiveness of elemental weapons and ammunition, perfect for bow or gunner playstyles.
- Defense: 53+ – Offers respectable defense while maximizing ranged attack capabilities.
The Legiana set can be crafted by obtaining parts from Legiana, a monster frequently encountered in the Hoarfrost Reach.
3.2. The Kjárr Armor Set
This set is ideal for magic users and those who focus on elemental damage.
- Special Skill: Element Attack Boost – Significantly increases elemental damage, making it a top choice for elemental weapon users.
- Defense: 55+ – Suitable protection combined with exceptional offense.
The Kjárr set requires materials from the Behemoth, making it a challenging yet rewarding venture for hunters.
Choosing the Right Armor for Your Playstyle
When selecting armor, understand your personal playstyle. Here are a few considerations to help guide your choice:
1. Defensive Playstyle
If you prefer to prioritize survival, consider sets with high defense ratings and skills that enhance your resilience, such as Safi’jiiva or Nergigante armor.
2. Aggressive Playstyle
For those who enjoy dealing massive damage, look for armor sets that provide attack boosts or unique offensive skills. Sets like Rathalos and Nergigante are excellent options.
3. Supportive Playstyle
If you like supporting your team, consider sets that enhance healing or stamina recovery, such as the Kirin armor, which offers unique boosts to healing prowess.
Crafting and Upgrading Armor
Crafting armor in Monster Hunter: World requires meticulous attention to resource gathering. Here’s a comprehensive overview:
Crafting Requirements
To craft armor, players must collect specific monster materials, which can be obtained by hunting, gathering, and completing quests. The better the armor, the more challenging the materials will be.
2.1. Materials
Common materials include monster parts such as skins, claws, and scales. Always ensure you gather the necessary components following a hunt.
Upgrading Armor
Upgrading armor enhances its defense metrics and can unlock additional skills. Players need to gather more materials, including ores and rare monster parts, for upgrading.
Final Thoughts on the Best Armor in Monster Hunter: World
With the vast variety of armor sets in Monster Hunter: World, the best armor ultimately depends on your preferred playstyle and the type of challenges you face in the game. Whether you choose the defensive prowess of the Safi’jiiva, the offensive capabilities of the Nergigante, or the specialized attributes of the Legiana, making informed selections is key to mastering your hunting skills.
Remember to constantly adapt your armor and strategies as you face new monsters and challenges. Happy hunting, and may your path through the New World be paved with victories and legendary loot!
What are the key factors to consider when choosing armor in Monster Hunter: World?
When selecting armor in Monster Hunter: World, one of the key factors to consider is the armor’s defense rating. A higher defense rating means that you will take less damage from enemy attacks, which is crucial for survival in tougher hunts. Additionally, the type of armor you choose can significantly enhance your gameplay, depending on the weapon you wield and your playstyle, such as a focus on offense or defense.
Another critical aspect to evaluate is the armor skills that come with each piece. Skills can provide various benefits, such as boosting your attack power, increasing your health recovery, or enhancing your evasion capabilities. It’s important to create an armor set that not only maximizes your defense but also tailors to your unique strategy in battle.
What are some of the best armor sets for beginners?
For beginners in Monster Hunter: World, the best armor sets include the Leather Armor and the Chainmail Armor. The Leather Armor, which can be earned early in the game, offers a decent defense rating while providing essential skills like Handicraft, which can help improve your weapon performance. This makes it a solid choice for those just starting their hunting journey.
The Chainmail Armor is another great option as it provides increased defenses and can serve as a stepping stone to more advanced sets. It comes with skills that can help new players build their confidence and understanding of the game’s mechanics without being overwhelmed. These sets allow beginners to gain experience and craft better armor later on.
What armor sets are recommended for experienced players?
Experienced players often gravitate towards armor sets like the Zorah Magdaros set and the Vaal Hazak set, both of which offer high defense and powerful skills. The Zorah Magdaros set is exceptional for those looking to boost elemental resistance and offers skills like Load Up, which increases the effectiveness of ammunition. This is particularly beneficial for ranged weapon users.
The Vaal Hazak armor set is particularly advantageous for melee and support roles, as it enhances health recovery and provides excellent survivability against status ailments. Its skills like Devour offer health restoration based on the environment’s conditions, allowing players to sustain themselves longer in battle. These sets are highly favorable due to their effectiveness against the game’s more challenging monsters.
How do I optimize my armor for specific monster hunts?
To optimize your armor for specific monster hunts, start by researching the monster’s elemental strengths and weaknesses. Every monster has particular elemental attributes, and selecting armor with high resistance to those elements can greatly improve your chances of survival. For example, if you’re hunting a fire-based monster, choosing armor that provides fire resistance will be beneficial.
Furthermore, consider the unique skills your armor offers in relation to the hunt. Some monsters may inflict status conditions like poison or paralysis, so armor that provides bonuses against those statuses will enhance your ability to sustain damage. Being adaptable and willing to switch armor sets depending on the hunt will ensure you maximize your effectiveness in battle.
Are there set bonuses worth aiming for in armor sets?
Yes, many armor sets in Monster Hunter: World provide set bonuses when equipped with multiple pieces from the same set. These bonuses can significantly enhance specific abilities or provide additional enhancements that can be crucial in battle. For example, some sets may offer increased damage output or improved survivability, making them highly desirable for endgame content.
To take full advantage of these set bonuses, you should aim to equip at least three pieces from the same set, as many bonuses require this to activate. Planning your armor build around these set bonuses can turn the tide in challenging hunts, leading to more efficient monster takedowns and a smoother overall hunting experience.
What materials do I need to upgrade my armor?
Upgrading your armor in Monster Hunter: World requires a variety of materials that can be obtained by hunting monsters, gathering resources, and exploring the environment. Each armor piece will need specific monster parts, like skins, scales, or claws, which are harvested from the creatures you defeat. Alongside these parts, you will also need generic upgrade materials such as ores and crafting items, which can be found in the field.
In addition to monster parts, you might also require a certain amount of zenny (the game’s currency) to complete the upgrade. As you progress in the game, it’s essential to balance your resources and prioritize hunting specific monsters to gather the necessary materials for upgrading your preferred armor sets, ensuring that you are always ready for your next hunt.
Can I customize my armor further beyond the basic upgrades?
Yes, beyond basic upgrades, you can further customize your armor in Monster Hunter: World by utilizing the skill system and decorations. As you gather materials, you’ll also come across crafting components that can be used for creating decorations—these are enhancements that provide additional skills when slotted into your armor. Combining these skills with your armor pieces allows for a high degree of customization that can cater to your specific playstyle.
Additionally, you can exchange charms and talismans that complement your armor skills. These items add another layer of customization, allowing you to create a personalized and well-rounded character build capable of tackling any challenge the game throws your way. Experimenting with different combinations of armor, decorations, and charms is key to finding the most effective setup for your hunting endeavors.
Is there a difference between low-rank and high-rank armor?
Yes, there is a significant difference between low-rank and high-rank armor in Monster Hunter: World. Low-rank armor is typically easier to obtain and offers basic protection along with fundamental skills. It’s designed to help players adapt to the early game and provides a good foundation for understanding mechanics and monster behaviors. As a player progresses, low-rank armor becomes less effective against tougher monsters.
High-rank armor, on the other hand, is more durable and provides higher defense ratings along with additional and more powerful skills. These sets are crucial for late-game content and challenging monster hunts, where higher damage outputs and survivability are essential. Upgrading to high-rank armor enhances your overall effectiveness in combat, allowing you to tackle the toughest monsters the game has to offer.