Wearing armour lowers damage received. Two numbers are important here: absorb and max. Absorb is the relative % of damage the armour takes. However, the max determines the maximum amount of damage per hit the armour can absorb. If the % of the damage to be absorbed is greater than the max, only the max is absorbed.

Armour Types

The basic armour come in four types: cloth, soft leather, rigid leather, chain mail, and metal.

These types come in three levels (except cloth): normal, sturdy, and fine. Sturdy and fine provide less penalties and more protection than normal, fine being the best.

Cloth

Cloth adds to db (dodge bonus), but has no bonus to armour. Most plain clothes are as good as they can get, but of note are grey tunic (higher than average db) and white robe (db+spellsave).

Leather

Soft leather has low abs percent and low max absorb values. Rigid leather has high abs percent and low max absorb values. Certain leather items gives an offensive bonus, some warriors keep an offensive set for those occasions when high offensive bonus is a must and can switch from metal to leather very quickly.

Chain

Chain mail has low abs percent and high max absorb value. There are also a few other armour items of note. Scale mail has similar max absorb to chain mail but higher abs percent. White chain mail has similar abs percent to chain mail but higher max absorb value. Shining chain mail has lower abs percent than normal chain mail but significantly higher max absorb value.

Metal

Plate armour has high abs percent and high max absorb value. Also of note: metal sets do not have a particular helmet. Good choices of metal plate helmets are a large visored helmet (semi-artifact), a horse-crested helm, a great helm, a spiked metal helmet, or a full metal helmet or ancient metal helmet. Shining plate mail has the highest protection of any of the armour.

Magic Armour and Sanc

The following spells also reduce incoming damage:

• Armour: Works as a separate layer of absorption. Magic armour has an absorption percent but unlike physical armour it has no max per hit. Rather there is a cumulative capacity, i.e. after a certain amount of damage the effect of the spell will expire.
• Sanctuary: Sets an upper limit of damage per hit

Miscellaneuous

The way how incoming damage is processed appears to be as follows:

• reduce by the absorption of the armour spell (if present)
• the remainder is capped against the sanctuary spell (if present)
• the remainder is reduced by the absorption of the physical armour

There is a modifier that increases the chance to hit weakly armored body parts vs better armored ones. The modifier depends mostly on the perception stat of the attacker. This mechanism means that the average effect of mixing strong and weak armour is less than the average of its parts, because the weak armour spots are primarily hit. It is thus recommended to wear similar armour on all body parts.

Armor Stats

• PR - parry bonus (for shields and bucklers) in %
• OB - offensive bonus in %
• DB - dodge bonus in %
• Abs. - absorb % of incoming damage
• to - maximum HP absorbed for each hit

Identified Gear

Spoiler

Fine metal = crimson, black, green and white metal

Shields

Shield	Weight	PB	Other
Ancient dwarven shield	880	31	Magic, Anti-evil
Defiled dwarven shield	880	31	Evil magic, Anti-good, Anti-neutral, Eff vs light
Tower shield	1715	35	Magic
Smelly piece of worm hide	880	30	Magic, Saving Spell -10
Bejewelled shield	880	30	Magic, Saving Spell -10
Large metal wall shield	1450	30
Metal wall shield	1275	27
Sun-emblazoned shield	1275	27
Gilded round shield	750	25
Leaf-embossed shield	437	25
Large wooden wall shield	1190	25
Zaugurz shield	1275	25
Shield of Arthedain	705	24
Wooden wall shield	1100	23
Shield of Cardolan	705	22
Dark shield	925	21	Magic, Anti-good
Large metal full shield	925	20
Reinforced oaken shield	570	20
Full metal shield	835	18
Large wooden full shield	705	16
Blackened shield	705	16	Evil, Anti-good, Anti-neutral
Isengard shield	620	15
Round shield of the Mark	620	15
Black metal shield	660	15	Evil, Anti-good, Anti-neutral
Full wooden shield	616	14
Large metal shield	530	13
Spiked shield	485	12
Metal shield	450	11
Red-skull shield	440	11
Large wooden shield	395	10
Small metal shield	350	9
Wooden shield	310	8
Small wooden shield	265	6

Bucklers

Shield	Weight	PB	Other
The Black Buckler	265	15	Magic, Nosell, Eff vs spell, Saving Spell -10, DB +5
Metal buckler	350	7
Wooden target shield	220	5
Small metal target shield	175	4
Spiked horsehide buckler	395	3	OB +3
Small wooden target shield	175	3

Head

Object	Weight	OB	DB	Abs.	to	Other
Dragonhelm	395			100%	100	Magic, Bless, Eff vs fire/spell
Silver morion	265			92%	15	Magic, Bless (max 4 in game)
Ancient, jewelled helmet	265			92%	14	Magic, Bless, Anti-evil, Anti-neutral, Nosell, Focus
Winged metal helmet	310	-1		90%	13
Large visored helmet	340			95%	12	Magic, Eff vs fire, Dwarves can use to bless/+2 str dwarves in gr
Horse-crested helm	350	-2		95%	12
Crown of bones	14			90%	12	Magic, Anti-good, Anti-neutral, Dark nature (free rent for orcs)
Great helm	310	-1		90%	12
Spiked metal helmet	310		-1	85%	12
Full metal helmet	310	-2		85%	12
White chain mail coif	265			65%	12
Ancient metal helmet	175			85%	11	Magic
Horse-tail helm	315	-1		85%	11
Metal helmet	310	-2	-1	80%	11
Fine chain mail coif	190			65%	10
Blood-encrusted helm	350			75%	10
Sturdy chain mail coif	180			60%	9
Strange black helmet	220			100%	9	Eff vs darkness, Ineff vs fire/light, Wizlight
S-rune helmet	220			78%	9
Chain mail coif	180			55%	8
Basinet	220	-1		75%	8
Horned helmet	220	1	-1	60%	8
Pot helm	175			55%	7
Fine reinforced leather helmet	130			80%	6
Silver circlet	65			45%	6
Silvery crown	65			100%	5	Magic, Bless, Anti-evil, Nosummon
Sturdy reinforced leather helmet	130			75%	5
Fine leather helmet	90			50%	5
Reinforced leather helmet	180			55%	4
Sturdy leather helmet	90			45%	3
Leather helmet	90			40%	2
Finely woven hood	90		2			Magic, Anti-evil
Soft cloth cap	15		1
Plain hood	20		1
Feathered hat	20		1
Silk cap	25		1
Plain hat	25		1
Straw hat	45		1
Pointy hat	90		1
Raccoon fur hat	90		1
Grey wool hat	22

Neck

Object	Weight	OB	DB	Abs.	to	Other
Leather collar	30					Magic, Nosummon
Plain scarf	35					Eff vs cold
Studded leather collar	45
Spiked collar	130

Body

Object	Weight	OB	DB	Abs.	to	Other
Shining breastplate	310	-1		95%	17	Magic, Bless
Shining chain mail shirt	175			55%	14
Fine metal breastplate	705	-2		90%	13
Sturdy metal breastplate	705	-2	-1	85%	12
White chain mail jerkin	485		-1	65%	12
Blood-encrusted breastplate	660	-1	-1	90%	11
Metal breastplate	705	-3	-1	80%	11
Fine chain mail hauberk	360	-1		65%	10
Scale shirt	440			73%	9
Sturdy chain mail hauberk	350	-1		60%	9
Chain mail hauberk	350	-1	-1	55%	8
Fine rigid leather breastplate	320			80%	6
Hardened leather breastplate	350			90%	5
Sturdy rigid leather breastplate	310			75%	5
Rigid leather breastplate	310	-1		70%	4
Fine soft leather jerkin	220			50%	4
Sturdy soft leather jerkin	220			45%	3
Soft leather jerkin	220			40%	2
Grey tunic	45		3			Magic, Anti-evil
Fine plain dress	45		2
Soft plain dress	45		2
Embroidered blouse	45		2
Fine tunic	45		2
Coarse dusky robe	77		2			Magic, Attack Spell +20 for Fear and Blindness
White robe	90		2			Magic, Anti-evil, Anti-neutral, Saving Spell -10
Enruned robe	90					Magic, Saving Spell -10
Black and red robe	90		2
Plain blouse	90		2
Plain shirt	90		2
Chequered shirt	90		2
Guardsman's shirt	90		2
Soft woollen shirt	90		2
Red vest	90		2
Stained dark shirt	90		2
Immaculate white tunic	130		2
Wool tunic	175		2			Eff vs cold
Wolf fur vest	175		1
Goat skin jacket	130
Thick wool vest	175
Old plain dress	45
Black robe	90
Daedeltiri robes	90

About body

Object	Weight	OB	DB	Abs.	to	Other
Fine grey cloak	195		10			Magic, HP regen -1
Black hooded cloak	310		10			Magic, Anti-good, Saving Spell +10
Roughly stitched cloak	90		7			Magic, Move regen +3
Embroidered surcoat	265		7
Mottled cloak	310		7			Magic, Anti-good, Nosell
Finely woven cloak	45		6			Magic, Anti-evil, Move regen +5
Forest green cloak	95		5			Magic, Move regen +5
Ragged, blackened cloak	90		5			Magic, Move regen +5
Russet cloak	90		5			Magic, Move regen +5
Black and silver surcoat	265		5			Magic, Anti-evil, Saving Spell -10
Black cape	135		5			Magic, Saving Spell -10
Buttoned cassock	220		5			Eff vs cold/water
Sacred cloak	45		3			Magic, Anti-evil, Saving Spell -10, Eff vs spirit
Dark-blue cloak	45		3
Guild-guard uniform	90		3
Plain cloak	130		3
Fine lion pelt	310		3			Eff vs cold
Fine sable cloak	310		3
Guardsman's cloak	450		3			Nosell
Huge black bear fur	1145	7				Eff vs fire/cold, Nosell
Soot-black bear hide	308	5
Black warg fur	350	5
Cave-bear fur	570	5				Eff vs cold
Imposing, golden mantle	175	3				Magic, Move regen +5
Scorched, grisly fur	310	3				Magic, Move regen +5
Woollen traveller's cloak	395		3			Magic, Move regen +2
Tawny bear fur	840	3				Eff vs cold
Majestic, golden fur	350	2				Move regen +2
Brown bear fur	925	2				Eff vs cold
Warg fur	310	1
White wolf fur	530	1
Brown fur	90
Tattered blanket	130					Eff vs cold
Warm blanket	130					Eff vs cold
Dirty apron	130
Heavy wool coat	220					Eff vs cold
Soft, thick white fur	970

Arms

Object	Weight	OB	DB	Abs.	to	Other
Shining vambraces	220	-1		95%	17	Magic, Bless
Shining chain mail sleeves	125			55%	14
Fine metal vambraces	530	-2		90%	13
Sturdy metal vambraces	530	-3		85%	12
White chain mail sleeves	280	-1		65%	12
Plate vambraces	440		-1	90%	11
Metal vambraces	530	-4		80%	11
Fine chain mail sleeves	230	-1		65%	10
Scale sleeves	310	-1		73%	9
Sturdy chain mail sleeves	220	-1		60%	9
Chainmail sleeves	220	-2		55%	8
Fine rigid leather sleeves	220			80%	6
Sturdy rigid leather sleeves	220	-2		75%	5
Rigid leather sleeves	220	-1		70%	4
Fine soft leather sleeves	175			50%	4
Sturdy soft leather sleeves	175			45%	3
Soft leather sleeves	175			40%	2
Cotton sleeves	45		1
Plain sleeves	45		1
Black arm wrapping	10					Magic, Eff vs poison

Hands

Object	Weight	OB	DB	Abs.	to	Other
Lobstered steel gauntlets	310			90%	15
Fine metal gauntlets	220	-1		90%	13
Sturdy metal gauntlets	220	-2		85%	12
White chain mail gloves	135	-1		65%	12
Metal gauntlets	220	-3		80%	11
Fine chain mail gloves	135			65%	10
Sturdy chain mail gloves	130	-1		60%	9
Chainmail gloves	130	-2		55%	8
Fine rigid leather gloves	90	1		80%	6
Sturdy rigid leather gloves	90			75%	5
Rigid leather gloves	90			70%	4
Fine soft leather gloves	60	3		50%	4
Sturdy soft leather gloves	45	2		45%	3
Soft leather gloves	45	1		40%	2
Warm wool gloves	35					Eff vs cold
Supple leather gloves	30	2	2	60%	5

Legs

Object	Weight	OB	DB	Abs.	to	Other
Shining greaves	265		-1	95%	17	Magic, Bless
Shining chain mail leggings	130			55%	14
Fine metal greaves	570		-2	90%	13
Sturdy greaves	570		-3	85%	12
White chain mail leggings	380		-1	65%	12
Plate greaves	440		-1	90%	11
Metal greaves	570		-4	80%	11
Fine chain mail leggings	270			65%	10
Scale leggings	350		-1	73%	9
Sturdy chain mail leggings	265		-1	60%	9
Chain mail leggings	265		-1	55%	8
Fine hard leather trousers	220			80%	6
Sturdy hard leather trousers	220			75%	5
Hard leather trousers	220			70%	4
Fine soft leather trousers	175			50%	4
Sturdy soft leather trousers	175			45%	3
Soft leather riding skirt	265	1		50%	3
Soft leather trousers	175			40%	2
Plain flowing skirt	75		2
Plain pants	90		2
Cotton pants	90		2
Plain trousers	132		2
Guardsman's pants	90

Feet

Object	Weight	OB	DB	Abs.	to	Other
Fine metal boots	265		-1	90%	13	Move cost -3%
Sturdy metal boots	265		-2	85%	12
Metal boots	265		-3	80%	11
Pair of knee-high hunting boots	90			60%	7	Move cost -16%, Magic
Fine rigid leather boots	175			80%	6	Move cost -12%
Sturdy rigid leather boots	180			75%	5	Move cost -9%
Rigid leather boots	175			70%	4	Move cost -6%
Fine soft leather boots	90			50%	4	Move cost -16%
Black padded boots	25			50%	3	Move cost -16%
Sturdy soft leather boots	90			45%	3	Move cost -12%
High boots	130			30%	3	Move cost -11%
Heavy shoes	265			20%	3	Move cost -6%
Soft leather boots	90			40%	2	Move cost -9%
Soft padded boots	45					Move cost -20%, Magic, Notrack
Smooth black boots	30					Move cost -16%, Sheath
Shoes	90					Move cost -14%
Rabbit fur shoes	90					Move cost -12%
Sandals	90					Move cost -6%
Snowshoes	90		-5			Move cost +4%, Eff vs cold
Soft, sequinned slippers	45

Belts

Object	Weight	OB	DB	Abs.	to	Other
Gleaming belt	19		2			Magic, Move regen +3
Broad silver belt	25		3			Magic
Golden belt	11					Magic, Move regen +3, Saving Spell -10
Belt of fell hide	39					Magic, Move and HP regen +3
Belt of pearls and crystals	6
Plain silken sash	10
Snakeskin belt	25
Plain leather belt	25
Studded leather belt	90
Broad girdle	90

Items

Armour: Head · Neck · Body · Arms · Hands · Legs · Feet · Shield · Back · Waist · Wrist · Finger · Light

Weapons: Cleaving · Piercing · Slashing · Smiting · Whipping · Ranged

Other: Containers · Food · Keys · Plants · Quest items