Quick answer: the best heavy armor in Skyrim is Daedric armor, with a full set base rating of 108. Dragonplate and Stalhrim tie for second at 102, and Ebony is the best set you can realistically get before the late game.
Heavy armor is perfect if you want to stand in the middle of a fight and take hits. This guide ranks every major heavy armor set by base armor rating, explains how to get each one and covers the perks that make heavy armor builds work.
If you prefer to move fast and sneak around, check out our guide to the best light armor in Skyrim instead.
How Heavy Armor Works
A few basics before the rankings:
- Armor rating reduces the physical damage you take. The displayed rating caps at 567, which equals the maximum 80% damage reduction.
- Your Heavy Armor skill increases the rating of everything you wear.
- Smithing lets you improve each piece at a workbench, and it boosts your rating more than almost anything else.
- Heavy armor is heavy. Without the Conditioning perk, it slows you down and makes sneaking harder.
Heavy Armor Sets Ranked
These are base values for a full set (cuirass, boots, gauntlets and helmet) without shields, perks or smithing upgrades.
| Rank | Set | Full Set Rating | Smithing Perk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daedric | 108 | Daedric Smithing |
| 2 | Dragonplate | 102 | Dragon Armor |
| 2 | Stalhrim (Dragonborn) | 102 | Ebony Smithing |
| 4 | Ebony | 96 | Ebony Smithing |
| 5 | Nordic Carved (Dragonborn) | 93 | Advanced Armors |
| 6 | Orcish | 90 | Orcish Smithing |
| 7 | Steel Plate | 87 | Advanced Armors |
| 8 | Dwarven | 78 | Dwarven Smithing |
1. Daedric Armor
Full set rating: 108
Daedric armor is the strongest standard heavy set in the game, and it looks the part. To forge it, you need the Daedric Smithing perk at Smithing 90, plus Ebony Ingots and a Daedra Heart for each piece. Daedra Hearts are the bottleneck. You can buy them from some merchants, such as Arcadia in Whiterun, or loot them from Dremora.
You can also find Daedric pieces as rare loot on high level enemies once your character is around level 46 or higher.
2. Dragonplate Armor
Full set rating: 102
Dragonplate is made from the bones and scales of the dragons you kill, which makes it feel like a real reward. You need the Dragon Armor perk at Smithing 100. The cuirass uses Dragon Bone, while the other pieces use Dragon Scales. It has slightly lower armor than Daedric, but you farm the materials naturally just by playing the main quest and fighting dragons.
2. Stalhrim Armor (Dragonborn DLC)
Full set rating: 102
Stalhrim matches Dragonplate but only needs the Ebony Smithing perk, which makes it a great pick before Smithing 100. The catch: you need the Dragonborn DLC and must complete the quest A New Source of Stalhrim on Solstheim before you can mine Stalhrim and forge the armor. Stalhrim also gives a bonus to frost enchantments on weapons made from it.
4. Ebony Armor
Full set rating: 96
Ebony is the sweet spot for most playthroughs. You unlock Ebony Smithing at Smithing 80, and Ebony Ore is found in mines like Gloombound Mine near Windhelm. It looks clean, and once improved it gets very close to the top sets.
Bonus: the unique Ebony Mail cuirass, a reward from Boethiah’s quest, has a higher rating than a normal Ebony cuirass and muffles your movement while poisoning nearby enemies.
5. Nordic Carved Armor (Dragonborn DLC)
Full set rating: 93
A strong mid tier option from Solstheim that only needs Advanced Armors. It uses Quicksilver Ingots and Ebony, and it has a great Nordic look.
6. Orcish Armor
Full set rating: 90
Orcish armor is a solid mid game set that you can forge with Orcish Smithing at Smithing 50. You will need Orichalcum Ingots, which come from Orichalcum Ore in Orc strongholds and mines.
7. Steel Plate Armor
Full set rating: 87
Steel Plate is a dependable mid game choice that uses Corundum Ingots and the Advanced Armors perk. It is often found on enemies around the middle levels.
8. Dwarven Armor
Full set rating: 78
Dwarven armor is the first big upgrade for many heavy armor builds. Dwemer ruins are full of scrap metal you can smelt into Dwarven Metal Ingots, so it is easy to farm early on.
Best Heavy Armor Perks
The Heavy Armor perk tree matters as much as the armor itself.
- Juggernaut: increases armor rating for all heavy armor you wear. Take all five ranks.
- Well Fitted: a 25% armor bonus when wearing a full heavy set.
- Tower of Strength: reduces stagger when wearing only heavy armor.
- Matching Set: another 25% bonus for a full matching set.
- Conditioning: heavy armor weighs nothing and does not slow you down. This one is a must.
- Reflect Blows: a chance to reflect melee damage back at attackers.
How to Max Out Your Armor Rating
The fastest way to hit the armor cap is to stack these together:
- Level Smithing and take the matching perk for your chosen set.
- Improve every piece to Legendary at a workbench.
- Use Fortify Smithing potions and enchantments before you improve your gear. Our guide to Skyrim potion recipes covers the best ones.
- Take all Juggernaut ranks plus Well Fitted and Matching Set.
With all of that, even Ebony can reach the 567 cap, so you do not strictly need Daedric to become nearly unkillable.
FAQ
What is the best heavy armor in Skyrim?
Daedric armor, with a full set base rating of 108. Dragonplate and Stalhrim are close behind at 102.
Is Dragonplate better than Daedric?
Daedric has a higher base rating. Dragonplate is still excellent, and once both are improved to Legendary with good perks, either can hit the armor cap.
What is the best heavy armor early in the game?
Dwarven armor, because Dwemer ruins are full of materials. Steel Plate and Orcish are good next steps.
Can you mix heavy and light armor?
Yes, but you lose the full set bonuses from Well Fitted and Matching Set, so it is better to stick to one type.
Final Verdict
For the highest numbers, forge Daedric. For a more lore friendly look and materials you earn from dragon fights, go Dragonplate. If you have Dragonborn and want top tier armor before Smithing 100, Stalhrim is the smart choice. Want to go further with your build? Learn about Madness Ore and armor from the Creation Club content.
