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Of course, the operative term here is “good.” Not every scrap of armor is made equal in the apocalyptic ruins of post-war America. And with so many options, a little advice can go a long way when it comes to making a selection. To that end, here are five of the best sets of armor that caps can buy in Fallout 4, alongside five that should be avoided at all costs. As a note, this list refers exclusively to actual armor sets. Clothing modified with ballistic weave worn underneath is usually a given, and power armor is in a league of its own.
Updated February 18, 2022 by Russ Boswell: Fallout 4 continues to stand the test of time as a fan-favorite in the Fallout series. Thanks to its entertaining DLC and janky-yet-fun building mechanics, many players find themselves flocking back to Fallout 4 in favor of Fallout 76. Those that are just starting their adventure for the first time or are hopping back into the wasteland for a second (or more) playthrough will definitely want to know the best armor in Fallout 4. To answer that question, the following list has been updated with even more entries.
8 Operators Heavy Armor
It might not be the prettiest set of armor on this side of the wasteland, but it certainly gets the job done when less fashionable sets aren’t immediately accessible. Providing an even split of high-grade protection from both ballistic and energy damage sources, players could do much worse.
The Operators set can be picked up in the Nuka-World DLC, either from vendors or Operators members that gamers have decided to take out. There are two stylistic variants that differ only in appearance, and while neither looks particularly fetching, it’s nice to have the option.
7 Rescue Diver Suit
This fancy suit is a must-have for players that have unlocked the Far Harbor DLC. Not only is it extremely mobile compared to the Power Armor but it will allow players to explore underwater areas to their heart’s content without the need to come up often and refill their breath meter.
It doesn’t offer much in terms of Damage and Energy Resistance, but it does provide a hefty 250 Resistance to Radiation. This boost is incredibly helpful for players who are trekking through high-radiation areas and dirty underwater zones.
Players that want the Rescue Diver Suit will need to complete The Changing Tides quest.
6 Apocalypse Armor
Players who find themselves knee-deep in stressful combat situations will definitely want to consider the Apocalypse Armor. This set only features two separate pieces, a chest plate and a left greave, but their effects and benefits are so strong that players can increase their combat presence two-fold just by wearing the two pieces alone.
The chest plate comes with the Martyr effect, which will actually slow down time during combat whenever the player drops to 20 percent health or lower. This is combined with the Bolstering effect of the left greave that helps increase the player’s energy and damage resistance the lower their health falls (this can stack up to 35).
The Apocalypse armor chest can be grabbed from a Scribe (once assigned to an armor emporium) and the helmet can be snagged from a Vault-Tec Rep that has been given a job as a general trader.
5 Combat Armor
Combat armor is the definitive “middle of the road” set that can be relied upon to consistently provide decent protection at almost any point in the game, so long as players swap out the pieces for their higher-tiered variants as they become available.
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The pieces are commonly found, and they provide sturdy protection from both ballistic and energy damage. The heavy variant of the torso slot kind of makes the survivor look like a weird bipedal turtle, but there are worse things to look like when it comes to the Fallout universe.
4 Mechanist’s Armor Set
Those that want a little more flair with their armor set can opt for the charismatic Mechanist’s Armor set, which will transform the player into a strange 1950’s Sci-Fi-inspired robot. It’s akin to an old toy and very reminiscent of the Science Fiction films of that era.
It offers pretty good protection too. The armor set and helmet combine to give the player a healthy 85 Damage and Energy Resistance. That makes it the perfect armor to engage in hectic firefights with enemies. It also boosts the players Intelligence and Charisma by 1. It’s not a huge boost by any means, but a welcome one.
Those that want to get their hands on this awesome-looking armor will need to complete the Restoring Order quest.
3 Synth Armor
Synth armor, with its sleek, futuristic aesthetic, occupies the same middle ground as combat armor. But it manages to pull out just a bit ahead, offering slightly preferable protection from all sources.
If this wasn’t obvious enough from the title and look of it, the armor can be obtained from synth soldiers. But for those that prefer spending their hard-earned caps over embarking on a robot murdering spree, setting up a fourth-tier armor vendor in one of their settlements, or paying a visit to The Institute’s synth requisition officer will also suffice. Feel free to download an immersive mod because the Synth armor will fit right in.
2 Disciples Metal Armor
Peculiarly, the Disciples’ metal armor doesn’t share the same weakness to energy weapons that typical metal armor does. In fact, it has slightly better energy resistance than the other two raider clan-specific armor sets introduced with the Nuka-World DLC, sacrificing very, very little in terms of ballistic defense in trade.
As it might be imagined, the Disciples Metal Armor is best pulled off of dead disciples, though it can also be purchased from Nuka-World vendors if one would rather avoid stepping on anyone’s toes. But really, what fun is that? Find a few fusion cores and watch this armor get to work.
1 Marine Armor
Marine Armor is the absolute cream of the armored crop when it comes to providing protection of all kinds, barring power armor, naturally. Offering superior damage resistance from all sources as well as a bit of radiation resistance on top, this is the set to shoot for if the best is the goal.
This one can be acquired in the Far Harbor DLC, with a full set provided by running through DiMA’s Best Left Forgotten questline. It can also be purchased bit by bit from vendors in the Nucleus, or for the less scrupulous, taken off the corpses of Children of Atom zealots. When it comes time to apply the best power modifications, this is the suit to put it on.
Fallout 4 was released on November 10th, 2015, and is available for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
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