Compliment your weapon of choice with this Horizon Forbidden West best armor guide.
Step into the shoes of Aloy, a tenacious hunter navigating a post-apocalyptic world overrun by colossal machines.
Taking them down requires both skill and preparation. Every encounter is a test of strategy and resilience, which means that strong armor is a vital ally against these mechanical beasts.
It’s time to gear up with our Horizon Forbidden West best armor guide to find your best fit.
List of Horizon Forbidden West best armor
Armor in Horizon Forbidden West is more than just a new appearance and defensive stats.
Each outfit is equipped with powerful skills and bonuses that benefit different playstyles, learn what the best sets do and find your perfect suit of armor.
Hunter Armor
Nora Thunder Warrior (Base Game)
Considered the best all-rounder armor in the game, the Nora Thunder Warrior set alone can carry you all the way to the endgame and into New Game+ territory.
| ARMOR SKILLS |
| Concentration+ |
| Deep Concentration |
| Concentration Regen |
| Stamina Regen |
| Stealth Ranged+ |
| Heavy Weapon+ |
| WEAVES |
| Weapon Stamina+ |
| Valor Surge Master |
The Nora Thunder Warrior armor is popular because it provides so many beneficial quality-of-life skills and weaves.
It massively improves upon Aloy’s powerful Concentration ability. The bonus time slow duration and quicker regeneration will give you more time to accurately land big shots on components and weak spots.
The stamina regeneration and Weapon Stamina+ Weave boosts and speeds up stamina recovery allowing you to use even more powerful Weapon Techniques much more frequently.
Pick up the Nora Thunder Warrior armor set from the Arena shop for 54 Arena Medals. Completing the main story quest called “The Kulrut”, then completing the side quest called “Opening the Arena” will make the Arena and its challenges available to you.
Machine Master Armor
Tenakth Tactician (Base Game)
If you love playing with Horizon Forbidden West’s machines, then you need to see the Tenakth Tactician armor set.
| ARMOR SKILLS |
| Lasting Override |
| Machine Elemental+ |
| Machine Health |
| Quiet Movement |
| Mounted Archer |
| Mounted Defence |
| WEAVES |
| Low Profile |
| Machine Damage |
This set is a dream for those who like fighting alongside and on Horizon’s stunning yet dangerous machines.
The Tenakth Tactician provides big offense and defensive bonuses to overridden machines and even allows you to pump out even more damage if you enjoy the mounted archer lifestyle.
Additionally, the set provides some cool stealth bonuses with Quiet Movement and Low Profile so you attract less attention when traversing the world, allowing you to sneak towards or move past sensitive machines.
One big downside to this set is that it does absolutely nothing for you if no machines are nearby, so you’ll want to have something prepared in case you find yourself machineless at any time.
You can purchase the Tenakth Tactician from an outfit merchant in Thornmarsh for 2,000 metal shards, a Thunderjaw Circulator, and an Apex Slitherfang Heart
Trapper Armor
Carja Stalker Elite (Base Game)
Trappers unite! The Carja Stalker Elite armor set is a must if traps are your thing.
| ARMOR SKILLS |
| Trap Limit |
| Quick Trapper |
| Smoke Bomb Capacity |
| Nimble Crafter |
| Low Profile |
| Quiet Movement |
| WEAVES |
| Skilled Salvager |
| Resilient Trapper |
No longer are traps slow, tedious, and expensive, thanks to the existence of the Carja Stalker Elite armor.
The increased trap limit, quicker deployment, and faster crafting speed will have you littering the environment with hazards at lightning quick speed.
You won’t have to worry so much about wasting resources anymore thanks to the Skilled Salvager Weave which helps you recover more resources whilst disarming traps.
Keep in mind that this set does not provide any benefits to ranged or melee combat so you’ll either need to consider supplementing this armor with offensive Weaves or simply make do with what you have.
The Carja Stalker Elite armor can be bought at the Arena for 54 Arena Medals. Completing the main story quest called “The Kulrut”, then completing the side quest called “Opening the Arena” will make the Arena and its challenges available to you.
Warrior Armor
Oseram Artificer (Base Game)
Melee combat enthusiasts will want to opt for the Oseram Artificer and its powerful bonuses.
| ARMOR SKILLS |
| Power Attack+ |
| Resonator Buildup |
| Resonator Damage |
| Valor Surge Master |
| Resonator Blast+ |
| Energized Duration |
| WEAVES |
| Melee Damage |
| Critical Strike+ |
If you prefer the way of the Spear, you need to check out the Oseram Artificer set.
The key system for melee combat is the Resonator, and the serious Resonator buffs that come with this armor set should tell you how much more powerful those blasts will be once detonated.
Paired with additional boosts in melee attacks and even an additional Critical Strike Weave, you’ll feel the power with each strike and explosion.
This set isn’t exclusive to melee playstyles either, this outfit can be customized into a hybrid set where arrow and spear work hand in hand, being a great melee alternative to the Nora Thunder Warrior set.
This outfit is given as a quest reward after completing the “Keruf’s Salvage Unlimited” questline. Simply complete all Salvage Contracts to unlock the Oseram Artificer outfit.
Infiltrator Armor
Quen Deadeye (Burning Shores DLC)
Exclusive to the Burning Shores DLC, the Quen Deadeye armor is perfect if stealth is your go-to strategy.
| ARMOR SKILLS |
| Low Profile |
| Stealth Ranged+ |
| Stealth Tear+ |
| Concentration+ |
| Concentration Regen |
| Quiet Movement |
| WEAVES |
| Empty Slot |
| Empty Slot |
Compared to the Utaru Winterweave which focuses on Silent Strike, the Quen Deadeye outfit plays much better with Horizon’s combat system.
The point to this set is to surprise with powerful shots that aim to kill or rip off components. Once the enemy is aware of your presence, you can either slip back into the shadows with a smoke bomb or transition into normal ranged combat.
The Quen Deadeye set is also one of the few Legendary outfits that is resistant to Plasma and is often kept in the back for encounters with Plasma elemental machines.
Complete the DLC quest “The Splinter Within”, to receive the Quen Deadeye armor set.
Survivor Armor
Tenakth Vanquisher
The Tenakth Vanquisher will have you living life on the edge whilst cutting through rogue machines like butter.
| ARMOR SKILLS |
| Low Health Valor |
| Low Health Melee |
| Low Health Defense |
| Evader |
| Low Health Ranged |
| Valor Surge Master |
| WEAVES |
| Second Chance |
| Power Attack+ |
Trading health for a variety of stat bonuses, the Tenakth Vanquisher is a beast of a set in the hands of a well-aimed hunter.
To get the most out of the Tenakth Vanquisher, you’ll need to stay below a certain health threshold to feel the benefits of all Low Health Skills. Once everything kicks in however, you’ll feel the effects immediately.
With two Weave slots available once fully upgraded, you have plenty of options to customize this armor to suit your playstyle as it works for both ranged and melee builds.
This outfit is not recommended for those who rely on Concentration to aim arrows, so steer clear if your aim isn’t up to scratch.
Trade in 54 Arena Medals at the Arena store to claim the Tenakth Vanquisher armor set. Completing the main story quest “The Kulrut”, then completing the side quest “Opening the Arena” will make the Arena and its challenges available to you.
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