Skyrim is still going strong after over a decade. Players keep coming back to the game for more and rightfully so. Whether it’s your first playthrough or your fifth, there’s always something to learn in the world of Skyrim.
There are many things you shouldn’t do in Skyrim, with one of them being to never ignore your armor. Your armor is a big part of your character because, not only does it defend you against enemy attacks, it’s a part of your aesthetic. These are the armor sets that will make you look like the coolest thief, mage, or warrior on Nirn.
Updated by Gabrielle Huston on March 26, 2023: We've added a few more of our favorite armor sets from Skyrim that keep things stylish!
13 Amor of the Old Gods
Forsworn armor may seem simple at first, but it's actually a carefully considered combination of items they can find in the wild. Pelts, bones, feathers, and other parts of animals have been carefully draped to protect these people. The ladies' garb is a little unnecessarily revealing, in our opinion, but they aren't losing points for style.
The Armor of the Old Gods is a special set of Forsworn armor that you can get during the quest No One Escapes Cidhna Mine. Each piece has a different enchantment on it. All together, they improve your Magicka as well as your Bow, Destruction, and Sneaking skills.
12 Wolf Armor
Wolf Armor is sleek, cool armor created specifically for members of the Companions' inner circle. It can't be crafted by the Dragonborn; you need to purchase it from Eorlund Gray-Mane after finishing the quest Proving Honor. However, it can be upgraded once you own it.
Most pieces have a wolf or an allusion to wolves, whether that's the fur under the shoulder pads or the wolf's head bearing its teeth on the breastplate. It alludes to the fact that the Companion's Circle are all werewolves, doomed to live forever in Hircine's hunting grounds.
11 Nordic Carved Armor
If you ever wanted to look like a steel polar bear, then the Nordic carved armor is the perfect armor set for you. On closer inspection, you could actually see the faces of a few animals carved into the armor. The helmet resembles a bear, the shoulder guards look like eagles, and the shield resembles a dragon.
The armor requires a smithing level of 50 and the Advanced Armors perk to craft along with 21 steel ingots, five quicksilver ingots, four ebony ingots, and ten leather strips. Overall, the Carved Nordic armor fits Skyrim perfectly, but there’s a little too much going on with the carvings for most people.
10 Ebony Armor
Ebony armor is a fairly stylish armor set in Skyrim. Unsurprisingly, the armor set is very dark, made up of graphite and black colors with noticeable carvings. One of the features players dislike about ebony armor is that it covers up your face, but other than that, it’s a really good-looking armor set.
Ebony armor is one of the best armor sets in Skyrim, so you’re going to want to know how to get ebony weapons and armor. You can craft ebony armor with a smithing level of 80 and the Ebony Smithing perk. You won’t need any materials other than ebony ingots and leather strips, but ebony ore veins are difficult to locate.
9 Stalhrim Armor
The color of Stalhrim armor is what makes it stand out from the crowd. While most armors are dark and gray, Stalhrim armor is bright, evoking the cool feeling of icy lands. The light blue color, the horned helmets, and the fur make it an ideal choice for the Skyrim adventurer.
To craft Stalhrim armor, you need a smithing level of 80 and the Ebony Smithing perk. In terms of materials, you need steel ingots, quicksilver ingots, ebony ingots, and Stalhrim, which can be mined in Solstheim. It may be a pain to craft, but Stalhrim armor is completely worth it.
8 Falmer Heavy Armor
The Falmer knew how to keep their opponents on their toes. This armor is straight-up terrifying. No better way to put it. A full set will have you looking like death itself, ready to wreak havoc on your enemies.
Like Wolf Armor, you can't craft this yourself - you need to earn it. If you have a full set, that means you've delved deep into the Earth and probably killed a Falmer Warmonger or Shadowmaster. Anyone who looks at your isn't going to forget these accomplishments, and they're certainly going to think twice about getting on your bad side.
7 Ancient Falmer Armor
It’s hard to believe the Falmer were once a thriving society but, as you can tell by the ancient Falmer armor, they were once skilled craftsmen back when they still had their sight. The designs at the bottom of the cuirass and on the boots are gorgeous, and this stylish set is much contrasted by the dark, grizzly armor their deformed descendants wear now.
Ancient Falmer armor can’t be crafted in Skyrim. The cuirass, gauntlets, and boots can only be obtained by defeating Arch-Curate Vyrthur at the end of the Dawnguard DLC’s Touching The Sky quest. As for the crown, it can only be acquired through console commands. That being said, the pieces of the armor set can be upgraded at a workbench with refined moonstone.
6 Dragonscale Armor
There’s no armor that showcases you’re the Dragonborn quite like Dragonscale armor. It’s made out of all the dragons you’ve slain and even looks awesome on top of that. The armor has arguably the coolest helmet in the entire game.
Dragonscale armor is one of the more difficult armors to craft in Skyrim because you have to max out your smithing to level 100. Other than that, it’s fairly easy to accumulate dragon scales, iron ingots, and leather strips throughout your journey, which makes Dragonscale armor the most cost-effective armor in Skyrim.
5 Vampire Royal Armor
Regardless of whether you’re a vampire in Skyrim or not, you have to admit that the vampire royal armor looks sleek, cool, and stylish. The wine red color makes the armor stand out, and the crest on the right side of the armor with the visage of Molag Bal is a nice touch.
You can’t craft the royal vampire armor as it can only be found in the Castle Volkihar Ruins during the Dawnguard DLC quest Chasing Echoes, or from Lord Harkon’s remains. The armor can be updated at a workbench as long as you have leather and the Arcane Blacksmithing perk.
4 Glass Armor
Glass armor is a bit controversial in the Skyrim fandom. Some players hate it, while others love it. You may have your opinion on the matter, but you can’t deny that the style of glass armor is unique. The gold and cyan colors work so well together.
To craft glass armor, you need a smithing level of 70 and the Glass Smithing perk. The materials you’ll need are refined moonstone, refined malachite, leather, and leather strips. It’s a bit of a process to get the materials, but you’ll have a gorgeous armor set for doing so.
3 Steel Plate Armor
Steel plate armor is simple, and that’s what makes it such a stylish armor set. After all, Coco Chanel supposedly said that anytime you leave the house you should take off one accessory. Although it has a helmet that covers your character’s face, the rest of the armor looks incredible. The carvings are intricate enough to be noticeable, but not be an eyesore.
You’ll need a smithing level of 50 and the Advanced Armors perk to craft steel plate armor, as well as corundum ingots, iron ingots, steel ingots, and leather strips. It’s easy to acquire these resources, and they’ll give you an armor set that won’t draw any attention to yourself. You’ll fit right in.
2 Daedric Armor
Daedric Armor has the best base stats of any heavy armor in Skyrim, so many players have crafted the armor once they’ve reached the endgame. It’s the darkest and most sinister armor in the game with the red and black color combo being the coolest in any armor set.
Getting Daedric armor and weapons won’t be easy, but it’s completely worth it. You’ll need a smithing level of 90 and the Daedric Smithing perk to craft Daedric armor. Daedra hearts, ebony ingots, and leather strips are the only necessary materials to craft the armor. Daedra hearts are quite rare, so you’re going to want to store them as you find them throughout your journey.
1 Nightingale Armor
Nightingale armor is one of the best armor sets in the game and also one of the coolest. Nothing screams stealth archer like a player wearing Nightingale armor. Many players go to Riften once the tutorial ends and fly through the Thieves Guild quests to acquire the armor, but they should wait until after level 32 so all its enchantments are at their strongest.
The armor can’t be crafted, but if you have the Arcane Smithing perk, you can upgrade the Nightingale armor at a workbench by using void salts. The hood and cape of the armor make you feel like Skyrim’s version of Batman. If that’s not cool, then we don’t know what is.
