What is the best armor for duels in Ghost of Tsushima?

Armor is a fun way to customize how Jin looks in Ghost of Tsushima and get some much-needed boosts to help you defeat the Mongol invaders. No matter what play style you have, there is an armor set that will match and give you benefits that help further your experience in the game.

Some of these armors give massive health boosts, while some increase the amount of damage you deal. Today, we hope to answer which armor set you should be looking for, which ones are the best, and how you obtain them.

Updated August 22, 2021, by Aden Carter: Ghost of Tsushima has finally received a new DLC a little after a year since its original release back in July of 2020. The new Director's Cut gives players a brand new story on the Island of Iki. The Mongols, led by The Eagle, have invaded the Iki and now Jin must face his past while handling the new enemies. The DLC includes plenty of new collectibles, boss fights, and most importantly, a new armor set — which has been proven to be one of the best the game has to offer. It will take some time to get this new armor set, but once it is obtained, players are sure to fall in love with it.

10/10 Traveler's Attire

• Tracks artifacts with guiding wind
• Clears 10% more fog of war from the map
• The controller vibrates when Jin is within 30 meters of an artifact

As stated by the armor, it is "perfect for those with a long journey ahead." It is most likely given to you as your first armor set because all you need to do is talk to a merchant and they hand it over to you. It fits the appearance of a wanderer extremely well, while also giving the player bonuses that help them discover every artifact they can.

With this armor, players can set their guiding winds to track the different artifacts they can discover, while at the same time clearing more fog of war off the map and providing spider-sense-like artifact abilities that make the controller vibrate whenever one is close by.

9/10 Tadayori's Armor

• Increases nocking and reload speed by 15%
• Increases concentration time by 1 second
• Headshots restore 25% of the concentration meter

For players who enjoy using the bow to its fullest extent, Tadayori's Armor may be the right choice. All players know that the combat in Ghost of Tsushima doesn't really allow for all ranged combat, but this armor certainly helps by increasing concentration time, reload and draw speeds, and adding more time to the concentration meter with each headshot.

Watch out though, because this armor doesn't offer any increase to health or defense, so players will remain a little squishy with it. Those still interested in this amazing archer's armor can receive it for completing the Legend of Tadayori mythic tale.

8/10 Ronin Attire

• Reduces enemy detection speed by 10%
• Moderate increase to melee damage
• After leaving pampas grass, enemies take longer to detect Jin

For players who want to look like every other classic samurai movie protagonist, look no further than the Ronin Attire. It is perfect for players who want to charge into battle but still love to sneak around, since it gives bonuses to both stealth and melee damage.

Not only that, but it decreases the enemy detection speed whenever the player leaves tall grass. Now when players inevitably get caught sneaking around Mongol territory, they can fight their way out with style. This armor set is acquired by completing the mission Blood on the Grass, which is unlocked during act one.

7/10 Samurai Clan Armor

• Reduces all damage by a moderate amount
• Moderate increase to health
• Taking damage grants 15% resolve

The Samurai Clan Armor perfect for players who aren't so good at parrying and can't help but take damage. It provides some much-needed resolve each time the player takes damage, while at the increasing maximum health and reducing the damage taken. It's clear that Sucker Punch knew there would be people struggling to keep the Mongols from killing them.

This armor is given early in the game by Lady Masako, during the first mission the player completes for her.

6/10 Sakai Clan Armor

• Moderate increase to melee damage
• Moderate increase to health
• Increases standoff streak by 1 and gives a 10% chance to terrify enemies when winning a standoff

Gamers can all agree that there is something magical about standing off against an enemy, waiting for him to strike, then cutting him down with a single blow. It's a classical move in many samurai films that is beautifully brought to life in Ghost of Tsushima.

For those who love charging into battle with a family insignia in armor that may or may not bring back haunting memories of watching one's father die, then try out the Sakai Clan Armor. It increases the player's standoff streak up to five when fully upgraded, while also increasing maximum health and damage. Jin can receive it from the story mission Ghosts from the Past.

5/10 Kensei Armor

• 30% increase to resolve gains
• Ghost weapons deal more damage
• Hitting an enemy with a ghost weapon makes them take more damage and deal less damage

While similar in look to the Ronin Attire, this armor is slightly better and is more focused on giving bonuses to players who like to use ghost weapons. What makes this armor so useful is the devastating bonus that reduces the damage an enemy struck by ghost weapons causes.

That same ability also decreases the enemy's defense. On top of that bonus, this armor also increases all resolve gains and increases the damage dealt by all ghost weapons. Remember sticky bombs? Those can now pack a serious punch to a lot of enemies. This armor is found by completing the Six Blades of Kojiro mythic tale in act two.

4/10 Ghost Armor

• Reduces enemy detection speed by 25%
• Reduces the number of kills needed to enter ghost stance by 1
• Kills have a 15% chance to terrify nearby enemies

Prowl the night with the Ghost Armor and become the true stalker of the Mongol invaders. This armor decreases the enemy detection speed and the number of kills needed to enter the ghost stance. It also gives a chance for each kill to terrify enemies and have them running away in fear from Jin's menacing appearance. Wear this armor with pride in the memory of a good friend, and know that it is being put to good use. Players get this armor immediately after starting the Darkness story mission at the end of act two.

3/10 Gosaku's Armor

• Moderate increase to health
• Moderate increase to stagger damage
• Killing a staggered enemies restores 10% health

Upgrade this armor to the max, slap on a new color scheme, equip that Sly Tanuki sword kit, and go cosplaying as everyone's favorite thieving raccoon. This armor isn't just for cosplaying (though it is cool); it is also one of the most useful armor sets in the game. This armor gives health back each time the player kills a staggered enemy, so equip that Charm of Amaterasu that grants health from killed enemies and stack them.

This armor also grants bonus stagger damage and a great health increase. Be that immovable fortress just like Gosaku. Players get this armor from completing the Unbreakable Gosaku mythic tale and getting all of the keys to unlock it. The key locations are shown when the player receives the quest, but before that, Jin must get some of them on his own by clearing the Mongol territories that are taken over after act one.

2/10 Mongol Commander's Armor

• Major increase to health
• Reduces all damage by a major amount
• disguises Jin while out of combat and massively reduces Mongol detection speed

Some may not like it, but embracing the look of a Mongol leader is extremely helpful in the fight against the invaders. This armor lets players walk into Mongol territory much more easily, by disguising themselves as the enemy. It also offers the amazing benefits of increased health and reduced damage.

Let's call this armor easy mode, because of the major benefits it gives Jin against enemies. Players can get this armor by completing the Fit For the Khan side mission during act three.

1/10 Sarugami Armor

• Disables regular parry and perfect parry becomes a chain of two attacks
• All resolve gains are increased by a small amount
• Perfect parry and perfect dodge windows are increased by a small amount

The Sarugami Armor is perhaps the new best armor in Ghost of Tsushima. This is the best definition of risk and reward. The armor's special ability allows players to use a combo whenever they get a perfect parry against an enemy. This new counterattack can chain up to three times when the armor is fully upgraded.

The downside to this armor is that it only allows players to get perfect parries. This means that if a player isn't good at parrying, they might want to avoid wearing this armor. It does, however, increase the perfect parry window and the counterattacks are great in duels. To get this armor, players will need to complete the Legend of Black Hand Riku mission.

NEXT: Ghost Of Tsushima: Advanced Tactics Dark Souls Fans Can Use