What Are The Best Armor Sets in ESO?

In the world of Tamriel, gear makes the player. It’s important to find the best gear to fit your playstyle and to give you the best boosts as you face enemies and other players throughout the land.

With that in mind, here are our picks for the best armor sets to achieve the strongest builds in The Elder Scrolls Online. 

10. Mother’s Sorrow

Mother's Sorrow, a powerful magic-based set.

See Full Set Details

Mother's Sorrow is a light armor set found in Deshaan. It’s magicka focused and is solid across many magic-based builds in both PvE and PvP. A good choice for the Magicka Dragonknight and Magicka Sorcerer builds.

Why this set rocks:

• strong buff to max magicka
• huge bonuses to spell critical (over 3k)
• stat boost focus makes it easy to use with other sets

How to get this armor set:

• drops throughout the Deshaan zone and sold by guild traders
• treasure chests have a chance to drop any piece
• bosses have high chances to drop pieces

9. Berserking Warrior

Fans keep going berserk over the Berserking Warrior set, pictured far left and third from left. 

See Full Set Details

Berserking Warrior is a heavy armor set found in Hel Ra Citadel. It has a stamina focus and is ideal for tanking damage. You’ll want this set if you run the Stamina Dragonknight or Stamina Warden builds.

Why this set rocks:

• adds great weapon damage and weapon critical
• its five item bonus allows you to build up 2k critical strike, making critical hits far more effective.
• flexible set for multiple builds

How to get this armor set:

• drops in the Hel Ra Citadel
• normal mode will give you blue drops
• veteran mode gives purple drops and the last boss can drop gold jewelry

8. Burning Spellweave

A mage wearing Burning Spellweave.

See Full Set Details

Burning Spellweave is a light armor set found in the City of Ash dungeons. It has an effective  magicka focus, especially for those who use fire skills. Recommended for Magicka Dragonknight Burst  or Magicka Nightblade builds.

Why this set rocks:

• boosts total magicka, spell damage, and spell critical
• flame abilities have the chance to apply burn damage and increase spell damage for a short time
• the burn effect has up to 65% uptime with two or more flame-based damage abilities

How to get this armor set:

• drops in City of Ash I and City of Ash II
• all pieces can be found in either dungeon
• two unique armor pieces each drop in one dungeon

7. Perfect Mantle of Siroria

The Perfect Mantle of Siroria, an intimidating armor set your friends will be envious of.

See Full Set Details

Perfect Mantle of Siroria is a light armor set found in the Cloudrest Veteran trial. It is a magicka set with damage bonuses. A good fit for the Magicka Templar and Magicka Warden builds.

Why this set rocks:

• significant bonuses to spell damage and total magicka (over 2k)
• gives constant Minor Slayer, increasing damage to dungeon and trial monsters by 5%
• direct damage attacks create a ring of fire beneath you, giving up to 600 extra spell damage

How to get this armor set:

• drops in the Cloudrest Veteran trial in Summerset
• two versions of this set: perfect and imperfect
• the perfect version has slightly better stats, but the five piece bonus effects are the same

6. Necropotence

A mage donning the Robe of Necropotence, part of the power Necropotence set used by mages.

See Full Set Details

Necropotence is a light armor set found in Rivenspire. It’s magicka focused and has a bonus specific to summoned pets. This is a good set for Magicka Sorcerer Pet and Magicka Warden builds.

Why this set rocks:

• increases your max magicka with every piece of the set added, up to five pieces (up to 6k when you have a pet active)
• the bonus effect doesn’t stack, so one pet adds the same magicka as two pets
• the huge magicka buff gives you flexibility in choosing a second set to use with Necropotence

How to get this armor set:

• drops throughout the Rivenspire zone and purchasable from guild traders
• treasure chests have a chance to drop any piece
• bosses have high chances to drop pieces

5. Perfect Arms of Relequen

The Relequen set, another flashy light armor set to take down your enemies in.

See Full Set Details

Perfect Arms of Relequen is a medium armor set found in the Cloudrest Veteran trial. It’s a stamina set designed for quick attackers. Recommended for use in the Stamina Nightblade, Stamina Templar, and Werewolf builds.

Why this set rocks:

• grants constant Minor Slayer, increasing damage to dungeon and trial monsters by 5%
• light and heavy attacks apply harmful winds, doing 200 extra damage with a 20x max stack
• stamina and weapon critical bonuses (almost 2k)

How to get this armor set:

• drops in the Cloudrest Veteran trial in Summerset
• two versions of this set: perfect and imperfect
• the perfect version has slightly better stats, but the five piece bonus effects are the same

4. Deadly Strike

A large warrior repping the Deadly Strike armor.

See Full Set Details

Deadly Strike is a medium armor set purchased in Cyrodiil from a PvP Vendor in the town of Vlastarus. With useful stamina focus and extensive ability damage increases, this is a good PVP oriented set for Stamina Dragonknight builds.

Why this set rocks:

• bonuses to weapon damage and critical
• set bonus increases the damage of physical, bleed, poison, and disease over-time abilites by 14%.
• good base set which gives flexibility to other sets combined with it

How to get this armor set:

• purchased from a vendor in Vlastarus in Cyrodil
• the set is located in the southwestern area, so be on the lookout if your covenant doesn’t control the region
• can also be earned from quest rewards in Vlastarus

3. Perfect Vestment of Olorime

The Perfect Vestment of Olorime, the perfect gear for a stylish mage looking to maximize combat efficiency.

See Full Set Details

Perfect Vestment of Olorime is a light armor set found in the Cloudrest Veteran trial. It’s a magicka-oriented set and an optimal choice for any healer. Recommended for  Templar Healer, Warden Healer, and Nightblade Healer.

Why this set rocks:

• exceptional for increasing healer’s magicka recovery
• allows for 100% uptime of Major Courage, which increases weapon and spell damage
• permanent Minor Aegis reduces damage from all dungeon and trial monsters by 5%

How to get this armor set:

• drops in the Cloudrest Veteran trial in Summerset
• two versions of this set: perfect and imperfect
• the perfect version has slightly better stats, but the five piece bonus effects are the same

2. Spinner’s Garments

The Spinner's Robe, part of the Spinner's Garments set. Don't be fooled by this seemingly-innocent name, this set packs a punch.

See Full Set Details

Spinner’s Garments is a light armor build found in Malabal Tor. This is a magicka-centered set and works for multiple builds in both PvE and PvP.  A must-use it in the Magicka Nightblade Bomb and Magicka Nightblade builds.

Why this set rocks:

• adds max magicka (2k), spell damage, and spell penetration (over 3k)
• lets you cast powerful attacks more often
• good base set which gives flexibility to other sets combined with it

How to get this armor set:

• drops throughout the Malabal Tor zone and purchasable from guild traders
• treasure chests have a chance to drop any piece
• bosses have high chances to drop pieces

1. Ebon Armory

The monstrous Ebon Amory set, ideal for striking fear into the hearts of your enemies.

See Full Set Details

Ebon Armory is a heavy armor set found in the Crypt of Hearts dungeons. This set boosts health and gives wearers increased survivability in combat. This a good set for Warden Tank and Dragonknight Tank builds.

Why this set rocks:

• Optimal for PvE and PvP
• increases your health by over 3k
• the 1k health buff with a full set equipped applies to you and up to 11 group members near you

How to get this armor set:

• drops in Crypt of Hearts I and Crypt of Hearts II
• all pieces can be found in either dungeon
• two unique armor pieces each drop in one dungeon

You may also be interested in:

• ESO Summerset Classes from Best to Worst
• Elder Scrolls Online Classes: The Most Important Tips You Need To Know
• Ranking The Top 5 Best ESO Builds (2019 Edition)