Best Armor Sets For Melee Builds

In Elden Ring, players are called the Tarnished, but that doesn’t mean they have to look the part. And while the game somewhat encourages that by mostly presenting players with Salvation Army duds, there are still numerous second-hand armor options that look great for melee characters.

All of them help players achieve or become a part of the true endgame in Elden Ring: Elden Bling. It’s where the most stylish and most glamorous of Tarnished gather which may or may not result in fight clubs or spiteful PVP, but hey, at least you look good while blaspheming or ganking others.

Updated August 7, 2025 by Erik Petrovich: In the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, Elden Ring armor sets expanded with a lot of new fashionable and useful options. Though many of the best armor sets in Elden Ring offer players set bonuses or passive stat buffs, some of the best sets for melee builds just need to provide great defenses. The Solitude Set, which can be found near the start of the DLC’s Realm of Shadow, has great physical defenses and very high poise, though its nearly 60 equip load will weigh down all but the strongest players. This list has been updated to include the impressive and intimidating Black Knight set and explain what makes it one of the best armor sets for melee builds in Elden Ring.

20

The Solutide Set

Go Absolutely Medieval On ‘Em

Part of a heavy armor set that covers the whole body in overlapping plates of steel.

The nameless mausoleums of the realm of shadow are said to hold the spirits of warriors who lost their names, or their hearts.

Rarely are FromSoftware fans given an armor set that offers both great stats and great fashion. Though it does not have any notable buffs or set bonuses like other armor sets in Elden Ring, the Solitude Set offers very high physical defenses and is one of the coolest-looking armor sets in the game.

The helmet alone raises the Elden Bling of many other sets, but it looks best when equipped alongside the matching cuirass, gauntlets, and greaves.

The Solitude Armor design is thought by some to be inspired by the Berserker set from Berserk, a series that FromSoftware games tend to reference.

With all pieces equipped, the Solitude Set provides higher poise and higher physical damage negation than many heavy armor sets in the base game. At a total 57.1 weight, though, you’ll still have to level Endurance quite a bit to stay within Medium Weight with a weapon equipped.

Solitude Set Location

To get the Solitude set, Elden Ring players must defeat the Blackgaol Knight in the Western Nameless Mausoleum, in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. From the spawn point in the Gravesite Plain, head north and hug the western wall to reach the Western Nameless Mausoleum surrounded by gravebirds. You can also go directly west from the Scorched Ruins.

19

Divine Beast Set

Boosts STR, DEX, And Storm Damage

Armor of feted horned warriors chosen to become divine beast warriors, adorned with a lion’s pelt.

Among the divine beast warriors, only those who truly excel at divine invocation become sculpted keepers, and are granted the honor of the lion dance.

Though most of the best melee armor sets Elden Ring players can get have a high weight and defensive properties, the Divine Beast Set is particularly good for players who want to keep their Equip Load low. At a Light Equip Load your Dodge Roll becomes improved with more i-frames and a longer distance, so having less defense can actually mean taking less hits – especially when one takes Scadutree Blessing bonuses into account.

The main draw of this set over other melee build armor sets in Elden Ring is its bonuses to Strength, Dexterity, and Storm-type spells and attacks. It does come at the cost of a slightly reduced Flask of Crimson Tears healing, and slightly lower Focus, but it’s a handy boost if you don’t plan on getting hit.

The Divine Beast armor set is also particularly good for Rune Level 1 builds, though it does require getting to the final zone of the DLC.

Divine Beast Set Location

To get the Divine Beast set, Elden Ring players must defeat Divine Beast warriors near the end of the DLC, in the final location unlocked after defeating Messmer the Impaler. These are very strong enemies, and they are few in number, so this set is relatively hard to farm efficiently.

18

Cleanrot Set

Great Style & Resistances

Armor of the Cleanrot Knights, celebrated for their undefeated campaign in the Shattering.

The Cleanrot Knights vowed to fight alongside Malenia, despite the inevitable, if gradual, putrefaction of their flesh.

Their acceptance of their fate made these battles fiercest of all.

Particularly in the early and middle portions of the players’ journey, the Cleanrot is a great set for safeguarding the Tarnished in a number of ways. The armor offers solid defense and resistance to Hemorrhage and Frostbite and can absorb both physical and elemental damage quite well.

It’s fairly versatile and well-rounded, making it a good option for beginner melee brawlers. Moreover, it’s just a “clean”, elegant set to admire while also striking a rather intimidating appearance with its rugged-knight mail design. It certainly helps that it’s fairly easy to get compared to some of the more exclusive sets that offer similar protection.

Cleanrot Set Location

To get the Cleanrot Set, you must farm Lesser Cleanrot Knights in Caelid, specifically in the Heart of Aeonia and in the Aeonia swamp in general.

17

Lionel’s Set

One Of The Highest Poise Sets In The Base Game

Worn by the Lionel the Lionhearted.

When this chivalrous dauntless knight met Fia, who had been driven from her home, he declared himself to be her father.

Sure, it may look a bit ridiculous, but looks can be deceiving — and this “robust” set from Lionel the Lionhearted makes this point emphatically. It’s also on the heavy side, to say the least, yet it’s worth the extra load, given its solid nature and great damage reduction as well as unshakable poise.

In fact, it’s so good in this area, that players can often attack right through certain enemy hits without being set back. Gamers will want to take the time to seek it out within the Lower Capital Church, which also yields a Site of Grace, where players hauling this heavy armor can get some brief respite.

Lionel’s Set Location

To get Lionel’s Set, you must go to the Lower Capital Church Site of Grace in Leyndell, and look on a bed in a nearby room within the same building for the armor set.

16

Malenia’s Set

Now You, Too, Can Cosplay The Goddess Of Rot

Armor made of unalloyed gold. Worn by Malenia, Blade of Miquella.

Malenia awaited Miquella at the foot of the husk.

“My brother will keep his promise. He possesses the wisdom, the allure, of a god – he is the most fearsome Empyrean of all.”

While it’s a rather lightweight set, Malenia’s lavish armor can be surprisingly effective even for more melee-focused fighters. Players will still want to tread somewhat carefully when in close combat, though the solid Robustness and excellent Immunity (108) more than make up for any lack of poise or vitality.

In fact, weighing in its strengths, Malenia’s Set is one of the best armor sets in the game as a whole statistically. Provided players are fine with a little bit of risk with close-up brawling, this is a great (and flashy) set that offers several defensive and resistance benefits. It’s certainly solid given its lightweight nature.

Malenia’s Set Location

To get Malenia’s Set, you must purchase each piece for a total of 56,000 runes from Enia in Roundtable Hold after besting Malenia and turning in her Remembrance of the Rot Goddess.

15

Tree Sentinel Set

An Ornate Set That’s Hard To Get

Golden armor of the heavy cavalry Tree Sentinels who serve the Erdtree.

Adorned with a cape featuring the mark of the sacred tree.

Imposingly sturdy and nigh unbreakable, the grace of old yet lingers.

Players get a glimpse of one of the best and most stylish heavy armor sets in the game as soon as they step into Limgrave. The Tree Sentinel actually has a good armor set but sadly, he doesn’t drop it. Players will have to head over to Auriza Heroes Grave in Altus Plateau and destroy the Chariots in order to get this armor.

The effort is well-rewarded though since the Tree Sentinel armor has about the same defensive stats and poise as Radahn’s Set. It’s also bulky yet glamorous as it’s also one of the few armor sets in the game that looks well-kept and maintained.

Tree Sentinel Set Location

To get the Tree Sentinel Set, you must go to the Auriza Hero’s Grave and break the Chariots, all three of them Once destroyed, the Tree Sentinel set should automatically be added to your inventory.

14

Raptor’s Set

Boosts Jumping Attack Damage

Worn by the assassins of Ravenmount.

A ritual implement for transforming into a Deathbird, if only by imitation.

“We are birds of prey, bringers of death.”

The Raptor’s set is a considerable upgrade from the default Bandit’s set worn as starting armor by the Bandit class. It’s more special, however, as the body armor, Raptor’s Black Feathers, enhances jump attack damage by a noticeable amount.

Furthermore, this buff stacks with the Claw Talisman for an even bigger jump attack increase. So it’s pretty much a build-enabling armor set, especially for those that use twinblades or dual greatswords (or heavier). The defensive stats are decent enough and the style is impeccable.

Raptor’s Set Location

To get the Raptor’s Set, you must head to the Sage’s Cave in the Altus Plateau and look behind an illusory wall to find two chests that contain the Skeletal Mask and the Raptor’s Black Feathers, the two unique pieces to this set.

13

War Surgeon Set

Part Of A Nutritious, Balanced Bleed Build

Of the surgeons that were abducted by the Lord of Blood none were able to tame the accursed blood.

None but Varré, that is; though he was an exception.

Ever wanted to have revenge against Varre’s creepy, judgmental kind? Well, apart from killing them, one can also wear their clothing as some kind of trophy. It’s not half-bad. The War Surgeon Set is dropped by the invaders in Mogwhyn Dynasty Mausoleum’s bloody lake. They look like Varre.

The set itself is unimpressive when it comes to defense by the helmet or mask gives a good damage boost for Bleed builds. The mask gives a buff to Attack Rating once it detects a nearby Bleed proc. Players can even trigger this themselves using the Seppuku Ash of War.

War Surgeon SetLocation

To get the War Surgeon Set, you must go to the Mohgwyn Dynasty Mausoleum and be invaded by Nameless White Masks in the central pools. One of these invaders will drop the entire set.

12

Fire Prelate Set

Highest Fire Resistance

Attire of the Fire Prelates, commanders of the Fire Monks.

The weighty frames of the Prelates symbolized the onus of their grave vows as guardians of the flame.

“Etch this sight upon thine breast. Of my thunderous gravity.”

Those who wear the Fire Prelate set likely won’t do so for style. It’s more likely that the Fire Giant or some fire-breathing dragon is starting to get on their nerves. Because this armor set is a desperate countermeasure against fire damage.

It boasts the highest fire resistance in the game and the difference compared to other sets is significant, meaning the fire damage mitigation is a lifesaver here. Apart from that, the poise is one of the highest in the game.

Fire Prelate Set Location

To get the Fire Prelate Set, you must defeat the Prelate in Guardian’s Garrison in Mountaintop of the Giants, or farm it from any other Fire Prelate enemy – like the one outside the Giant-Conquering Hero’s Grave.

11

Malformed Dragon Set

A Bizarre Set With High Resistances

Adorned with various dragon imagery and worn by the misshapen Tree Sentinels.

After the great ancient dragon Gransax attacked, the sentinels had an epiphany.

The only way to truly protect the Erdtree was to become dragons themselves.

Apart from fire, lightning is another damage source that’s frequently dealt by dragons, especially in late-game. Enemies in Crumbling Farum Azula also love to use lightning against players. So to counteract these cretins, the Malformed Dragon Set is the second-best option.

The best is the Bull-Goat set, but that thing weighs a ton and the lightning mitigation isn’t that much higher. The downside, of course, is that it looks like a misshapen dragon egg so like the Fire Prelate set, this is also another desperate but effective attempt to survive certain bosses.

Malformed Dragon Set Location

To get the Malformed Dragon Set, you must defeat the Draconic Tree Sentinel world boss standing outside the entrance to Maliketh’s boss arena, at the very end of Crumbling Farum Azula.