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Disambiguous This article is about the wearable type of equipment called armor in general. For upgrades that can augment armor in Mass Effect, see Armor Upgrades. For customization options in Mass Effect 2, see Armor Customization. For customization options in Mass Effect 3, see Armor Customization (Mass Effect 3).
Armor

Armor is a protective body covering intended to prevent injury in combat. Armor is usually customized for the species of the wearer.

See also: Codex/Weapons, Armor and Equipment#Body Armor

Mass Effect[]

See also: Combat, Upgrades

Overview[]

Turians, krogan, quarians and humans all have specific types of armor; asari use human armor. There are, however, three general armor categories. These rate armor based on the protection it provides. Armor can be customised with upgrades to give better shields or health regeneration, improve cooldown times for tech abilities, or protect against melee attacks depending on individual preference. All armor of levels I-VI have one upgrade slot and all armors of level VII and above have two upgrade slots.

Armor can be alternatively termed as combat hardsuit (or combat hard-suit). Aside from allowing its wearer to survive in environments like outer space, it is also reinforced with sheets of ceramic plating on non-flexible parts of the body. Each set of armor, regardless of its weight, has a kinetic barrier generator and an onboard computer that can give readouts on the environment, liaise with terminals to download data, and check local wildlife against the xenobiology database.

Armor Attributes[]

  • Damage Protection - This value represents a percentage reduction of the damage that successfully affects a character's health. Usually shields must be depleted first. Any damage inflicted on the character is reduced by the listed percentage. In the case of multiple effects such as Energized Plating (Armor Upgrade) and Immunity (Talents = Fitness) the percentages are calculated in a series. Example = (100 damage - 17% from the armor) = 83, (83 reduced damage - 15% Energized Plating) = 70.55, (70 reduced damage - 50% Immunity) = 35 points of final damage.
  • Shields - This is the character's first line of defense, and represents the total amount of damage that a character's armor will absorb before affecting their health.
  • Tech / Biotic Protection - Much like Damage Protection is a percentage reduction of physical damage sustained, Tech / Biotic Protection reduces the amount of time a character is affected by hostile abilities. Additionally, this stat reduces damage from enemy attacks that deal tech or biotic damage specifically, e.g. Warp or the electrical burst attacks of Husks.

Armor Types[]

Light Armor[]

Light armor offers a basic level of protection from enemy attacks and minimizes the movement penalties that affect weapon accuracy. All classes have the ability to use light armor from the start. Adept, Engineer, and Quarian Machinist classes will always be limited to light armor but can increase the effectiveness of armor with the Basic Armor talent. The Asari Scientist and Sentinel classes are limited to light armor and have no talents to improve armor use. Infiltrator, Vanguard, and Turian Agent classes can only use light armor unless they have invested enough points in Tactical Armor to unlock Medium Armor.

Medium Armor[]

Medium armor offers an increased level of protection, but also increases the movement penalties that affect weapon accuracy. The Soldier and Krogan Battlemaster classes have the ability to use medium armor from the start and will rely on it until they have invested enough points in Combat Armor to use Heavy Armor. The Infiltrator, Vanguard, and Turian Agent classes can use medium armor once they have invested enough points in Tactical Armor to unlock it.

Heavy Armor[]

Heavy armor offers the highest level of protection from enemy fire, but also has the highest movement penalties affecting weapon accuracy. The Soldier and Krogan Battlemaster classes are the only ones who can gain access to Heavy Armor, but only after acquiring 7 points in Combat Armor.

Heavy armor usually offers best damage protection and shields, but the most basic models offer very low protection against tech and biotic talents. Heavy armors that offer an acceptable amount of this protection are available only later on and are usually hard to find; heavy armor is rarely seen on non-combatants.

Armor Summary[]

Armor ratings can be calculated from a base value, plus an increase per level (I=1, II=2, III=3, etc.).

  • Light: Base value, plus increase * level (i.e. I=1, II=2, III=3, etc.), round down.
  • Medium: Damage +6 ranks, Shields +1 rank, Tech/Biotic -5 ranks.
  • Heavy: Damage +14 ranks, Shields +2.5 ranks, Tech/Biotic -10 ranks.

Example[]

Scorpion IV – Medium (Hahne-Kedar) has the following stats:
Damage Protection = 10 + 2 * (4 + 6) = 30
Shields = 60 + 24 * (4 + 1) = 180
Tech/Biotic Protection = 18 + 2 * (4 – 5) = 16

Armor Table[]

Armor Manufacturer Damage Shields Tech/Biotic Levels Human Krogan Quarian Turian
Agent Aldrin Labs 3 + 2 * lvl 35 + 14 * lvl 10.2 + 2.2 * lvl 1+ No No No Yes
Assassin Elkoss Combine 10 + 2 * lvl 35 + 14 * lvl -6.2 + 2.6 * lvl 1+ Yes No No Yes
Battlemaster Geth Armory 46.4 + 1.2 * lvl 70 + 28 * lvl 51 + 1.2 * lvl 7+ No Yes No No
Berserker Geth Armory 46.4 + 1.2 * lvl 70 + 28 * lvl 51 + 1.2 * lvl 7+ No Yes No No
Colossus Kassa Fabrication 55 + 1 * lvl 75 + 30 * lvl 18 + 2 * lvl 7+ Yes Yes Yes Yes
Duelist Elanus Risk Control 0 + 2 * lvl 50 + 20 * lvl -6.2 + 2.6 * lvl 1+ Yes No No Yes
Explorer Devlon Industries 3 + 2 * lvl 40 + 16 * lvl 2 + 2.4 * lvl 1+ Yes Yes Yes Yes
Gladiator Elkoss Combine 10 + 2 * lvl 35 + 14 * lvl -6.2 + 2.6 * lvl 1+ Yes No No Yes
Guardian Elanus Risk Control 0 + 2 * lvl 50 + 20 * lvl -6.2 + 2.6 * lvl 1+ Yes Yes No Yes
Hydra Aldrin Labs 3 + 2 * lvl 35 + 14 * lvl 10.2 + 2.2 * lvl 1+ Yes No Yes No
Liberator Devlon Industries 3 + 2 * lvl 40 + 16 * lvl 2 + 2.4 * lvl 1+ Yes Yes Yes Yes
Mantis Hahne-Kedar 10 + 2 * lvl 60 + 24 * lvl 18 + 2 * lvl 4+ Yes Yes No Yes
Mercenary Ariake Technologies 10 + 2 * lvl 65 + 26 * lvl 10.2 + 2.2 * lvl 4+ Yes Yes No Yes
Onyx Aldrin Labs 3 + 2 * lvl 35 + 14 * lvl 10.2 + 2.2 * lvl 1+ Yes Yes Yes Yes
Phantom Serrice Council 28.4 + 1.6 * lvl 70 + 28 * lvl 51 + 1.2 * lvl 7+ No No No Yes
Phoenix Sirta Foundation 0 + 2 * lvl 35 + 14 * lvl 18 + 2 * lvl 1+ Yes Yes Yes Yes
Predator Hahne-Kedar 10 + 2 * lvl 60 + 24 * lvl 18 + 2 * lvl 4+ Yes Yes No Yes
Predator X Armax Arsenal 10 + 2 * lvl 90 + 36 * lvl 34 + 1.6 * lvl 7+ Yes Yes No Yes
Rage Geth Armory 46.4 + 1.2 * lvl 70 + 28 * lvl 51 + 1.2 * lvl 7+ No Yes No No
Scorpion Hahne-Kedar 10 + 2 * lvl 60 + 24 * lvl 18 + 2 * lvl 1+ Yes Yes No Yes
Silverback Hahne-Kedar 10 + 2 * lvl 60 + 24 * lvl 18 + 2 * lvl 1+ No No No Yes
Survivor Devlon Industries 3 + 2 * lvl 40 + 16 * lvl 2 + 2.4 * lvl 1+ Yes Yes Yes Yes
Thermal Devlon Industries 3 + 2 * lvl 40 + 16 * lvl 2 + 2.4 * lvl 1+ No No No Yes
Titan Rosenkov Materials 28.4 + 1.6 * lvl 50 + 20 * lvl 18 + 2 * lvl 4+ Yes Yes No Yes
Ursa Hahne-Kedar 10 + 2 * lvl 60 + 24 * lvl 18 + 2 * lvl 4+ Yes Yes No Yes
Warlord Elanus Risk Control 0 + 2 * lvl 50 + 20 * lvl -6.2 + 2.6 * lvl 1+ No Yes No No

Hidden Properties[]

Some armors have certain properties not shown in the inventory screen. Armor manufactured by Devlon Industries provides immunity to environmental hazards on dangerous worlds. Phoenix Armor, made by the Sirta Foundation, regenerates health when worn.

Each armor has also a hidden multiplier that affects all external sources of shielding (Omni-tools' Shield Bonus, Electronics passive buff, Barrier and various Armor Upgrades). This multiplier ranges from 0.84 (making said bonuses weaker than their listed stats) to 2.2. In general higher quality armor tends to have higher multipliers, top choices are: Battlemaster, Berserker, Rage and Phantom (1.6), Colossus (1.7), Predator X (2.0) and - if you're comfortable using PC Tweaks - Hazard and Crisis (2.2).

Some armors can be accessed only via console commands, such as the aforementioned Crisis and Hazard armors. These are functional for the most part, although unlike regular armors their helmets do not suppress the hair display on character models, noticeable on characters like Ashley Williams or a long-haired female Commander Shepard. This is only a cosmetic issue and can be remedied by going helmetless, or simply wearing another armor when that's not possible such as on inhospitable worlds.

Recommendations[]

The best shields (and great armor overall) come from Predator L/M/H Armor, while the highest damage protection comes from Colossus Armor (Kassa Fabrication); both are found at level 7+ versions. The various Geth Armory armors (krogan) and the Phantom (turian), both 7+ versions, along with Mercenary Armor (Ariake Technologies), also have a slight edge over HK.

Generally, the various Hahne-Kedar armors (all models have the same stats), are the best in class of common armor, usually 1-2 levels better than the remaining manufacturers. The only other armor worth looking at is Titan Armor (Rosenkov Materials), which has higher damage protection than HK, but lower shields.

Other manufacturers are usually worse, even if a higher level or weight category, and once you outfit with HK you will probably stick with it until you find a higher level HK or one of the premium armors (Predator X/Colossus or Geth/Phantom/Mercenary).

Equip Any Armor Glitch[]

This glitch results in equipping any armor you have on any character in the party, regardless of restrictions. In the equipment menu, on armor selection, find the armor you wish to equip (greyed out or not). Count from that armor down to the bottom of the list of armor. Press X to enter upgrade selection. Select any upgrade, and hit Y to convert to Omnigel, but almost simultaneously press and hold A, and don't release. Once the prompt to confirm conversion to Omnigel appears, release A and press B. The selection screen will appear different - as if selecting armor, but with upgrades in the selection list, and the Icons describing the selection will appear strange (1 icon, then 3 other repeating icons) if done correctly. Scroll to the bottom of the list of upgrades, then scroll up the number you previously counted down from armors. Equip the 'upgrade', and the armor you previously picked will be equipped instead.

Note: This glitch does not appear to be able to forcibly give any armor with less than 3 upgrade slots, additional slots through upgrade-transferring.

Also note: To be able to select all armors from the list, you need to have an equal or greater number of upgrades to armor.

Equip Any Armor Glitch (PC)

This glitch requires the armor you want to equip to be at the top of the armor list. To perform it, open the armor upgrade window by clicking on an upgrade, then double-click the equip button rapidly. Inventory management is left as an exercise to the reader, but remember that any new armor is at the top of the list.

Note: On PC the same effect can be achieved via the console. Any armor you give to yourself is equipped on your character, even if it is invalid.

Mass Effect 2[]

For the enemy protection called armor in Mass Effect 2, see Combat (Mass Effect 2)#Armor.
See also: Upgrades
In Mass Effect 2, Armor is changed at the Armor Locker in the Captain's Cabin

In Mass Effect 2, Commander Shepard starts with the default N7 Armor. The N7 Armor can be customized or swapped out for any of the other armor sets: Blood Dragon Armor, Terminus Assault Armor, Collector Armor, Inferno Armor, Cerberus Assault Armor or Kestrel Armor, which are available as downloadable content. While the bonus stats for the DLC armors are relatively high, only the Kestrel Armor can be customized in the same way as the N7 Armor.

Armor sets for your squadmates are pre-determined in appearance and provide no gameplay benefit. Alternate appearances can be unlocked by completing the squadmate's loyalty mission, or by downloading an Alternate Appearance Pack DLC.

Armor Sets[]

Name Image Acquisition Enhancements Notes
Blood Dragon Armor ME2 Blood Dragon Armor Dragon Age: Origins Bonus

Legendary Edition: Omega Market

+15% Power Damage
+10% Shield Strength
Cerberus Assault Armor ME2 Cerberus Assault Armor Cerberus Network

Legendary Edition: Research

+10% Heavy Weapon Ammo Capacity
+10% Shield Strength
+10% Health
Collector Chitin Armor ME2 Collector Armor Collectors' Edition Bonus

Legendary Edition: Research

+10% Faster Health Regeneration
+10% Storm Speed
+20% Health
Inferno Armor ME2 Inferno Armor Pre-Order Bonus
Equalizer Pack

Legendary Edition: Research

+10% Paragon/Renegade Bonus
+10% Power Damage
+10% Storm Speed
Kestrel Armor ME2 Kestrel Armor Aegis Pack

Legendary Edition: Serrice Technology

+30% Melee Damage
+5% Headshot Damage
+11% Weapon Damage
+25% Shield Strength
+5% Spare Heavy Weapon Ammo Capacity
Customizable
N7 Armor N7Armor Default +3% Power Damage
+3% Weapon Damage
+3% Health (+8% with helmet)
+3% Shield Strength
Customizable
Terminus Armor ME2 Terminus Assault Armor Pre-Order Bonus

Legendary Edition: Harrot's Emporium

+10% Storm Speed
+15% Shield Strength
+10% Weapons Reserve Ammunition

Armor Customization[]

Main article: Armor Customization

Commander Shepard's armor can be customized by swapping out pieces of the default N7 Armor for pieces purchased from merchants, or made available as downloadable content, by using the armor locker aboard the Normandy SR-2. Not just augmenting the armor's physical appearance, these pieces also have varying effects on various aspects of Shepard's combat effectiveness. Additionally, the player can further customize the armor's appearance by changing its color, reflectiveness or applying a pattern.

In addition to the many available options for Shepard's armor, the Commander can choose from a selection of casual outfits to wear when armor is not required.

Upgrades[]

See also: Upgrade Guide, Research

Cybernetic Upgrades[]

  • Heavy Bone Weave (Skeletal Lattice)
Shepard takes -50% Damage to health from melee attacks.
  • Heavy Muscle Weave (Microfiber Weave)
Shepard does +25% Melee damage.
  • Heavy Skin Weave 1 - 7 (Lattice Shunting)
Shepard gains +10% Health per upgrade.

Medical Upgrades[]

  • Emergency Shielding (Shield Harmonics)
Unity restores squad member shields to full strength.
  • Medi-Gel Capacity 1 - 6 (Microscanner)
+1 Medi-gel capacity.
  • Trauma Module (Medical VI)
Unity heals your squad to full health.

Shield Upgrades[]

  • Damage Protection 1 - 6 (Ablative VI)
Provides +10% Shields, +10% Barriers, or +10% Armor as appropriate
  • Hard Shields (Nanocrystal Shield)
Effects: -20% Damage to Shepard's shields.
  • Redundant Field Generator (Burst Regeneration)
Increased chance of Shepard's shields fully restoring instantly when depleted.

Squad Member Upgrades[]

  • Geth Shield Strength 1 - 2 (Cyclonic Particles)
+25% Shields for squadmates with geth shield technology.
  • Krogan Vitality 1 - 2 (Microfiber Weave)
+25% Health for krogan squadmates.

Mass Effect 3[]

For the enemy protection called armor in Mass Effect 3, see Combat (Mass Effect 3)#Armor.
See also: Upgrades

In Mass Effect 3, Commander Shepard starts with the default N7 Armor. The N7 Armor can be customized or swapped out for any of the other armor sets: Blood Dragon Armor, Terminus Assault Armor, Collector Armor, Inferno Armor, Cerberus Armor, N7 Defender Armor or Reckoner Knight Armor. N7 Defender Armor and Reckoner Knight Armor are only available via downloadable content.

Armor sets for your squadmates are pre-determined in stats and appearance. However, unlike Mass Effect 2, squad armor sets in Mass Effect 3 have effects on gameplay in the form of a bonus to the squadmate (e.g. +25% power damage) that varies depending on the set. Note that some armor sets have the same effects, even those available to the same squadmate (e.g. two of Ashley Williams' outfits give the same bonus, +25% weapon damage). New alternate appearances can be acquired through downloadable content.

Armor Sets[]

Name Image Acquisition Enhancements Notes
Ariake Technologies Armor ME3 ariake technologies set N7: Communication Hub (legs)
Store Purchase (all other parts)
+40% Melee Damage
If Kuwashii Visor equipped;
+5% Weapon Damage
+10% Headshot Damage
Customizable, manufacturer's assembled set.
Armax Arsenal Armor ME3 armax arsenal set Rannoch: Admiral Koris (chestplate)
Priority: Palaven (shoulders)
N7: Cerberus Attack (arms)
Priority: Sur'Kesh (legs)
Store Purchase (chestplate, shoulders, arms)
+20% Ammo Capacity
+20% Headshot Damage
+10% Weapon Damage
Customizable, manufacturer's assembled set.
Blood Dragon Armor ME3 Blood Dragon Armor Kanala Exports +10% Power Recharge Speed
+30% Power Damage
+20% Shields
Cerberus Ajax Armor ME3 Cerberus Ajax Armor Alternate Appearance Pack 1 +25% Ammo Capacity
+10% Weapon Damage
+10% Power Damage
+10% Shield Regen Speed
+25% Shields
Cerberus Armor ME3 Cerberus Assault Armor Elkoss Combine Arsenal Supplies +10% Ammo Capacity
+20% Weapon Damage
+10% Shields
+20% Health
Cerberus Nightmare Armor Cerberus shade Score over 9999 points in the Armax Arsenal Arena +20% Ammo Capacity
+20% Headshot Damage
+20% Weapon Damage
+10% Shield Regen Speed
+10% Shields
Mutually exclusive with Cerberus Spirit and Shade armors
Cerberus Shade Armor Cerberus shade Score over 9999 points in the Armax Arsenal Arena +10% Melee Damage
+10% Ammo Capacity
+10% Weapon Damage
+10% Power Damage
+20% Shield Regen Speed
+20% Shields
Mutually exclusive with Cerberus Nightmare and Spirit armors
Cerberus Spirit Armor Cerberus shade Score over 9999 points in the Armax Arsenal Arena +30% Power Recharge Speed
+30% Power Damage
+10% Shield Regen Speed
+10% Shields
Mutually exclusive with Cerberus Nightmare and Shade armors
Collector Armor ME3 Collector Armor Nos Astra Sporting Goods +20% Shield Regen Speed
+20% Shields
+20% Health
Hahne-Kedar Armor ME3 hahne kedar set Tuchanka: Turian Platoon (chestplate), Priority: Palaven (legs)
Store Purchase (all parts)
+40% Weapon Damage Customizable, manufacturer's assembled set.
Inferno Armor ME3 Inferno Armor Kassa Fabrication +30% Power Recharge Speed
+30% Power Damage
Kassa Fabrication Armor ME3 kassa fabrication set Priority: Mars (chest)
Priority: Rannoch (arms)
Arrae: Ex-Cerberus Scientists (legs)
Store Purchase (shoulders and legs)
+30% Shields
+10% Shield Regen Speed
Customizable, manufacturer's assembled set.
N7 Armor ME3 N7 Armor Default +50% Health Customizable
N7 Defender Armor ME3 N7 Defender Armor Pre-order Bonus +10% Health
+10% Shields
+10% Weapon Damage
+20% Ammo Capacity
Reckoner Knight Armor ME3 Reckoner Knight Armor Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning Demo Bonus (or Legendary Edition) +10% Health
+10% Shields
+10% Weapon Damage
+20% Melee Damage
Rosenkov Materials Armor ME3 rosenkov materials set N7: Fuel Reactors (chest)
Priority: Horizon (shoulders)
Store Purchase (all parts except chest)
+40% Power Recharge Speed Customizable, manufacturer's assembled set.
Serrice Council Armor ME3 serrice council set Grissom Academy: Emergency Evacuation (chest)
Kallini: Ardat-Yakshi Monastery (shoulders)
Store Purchase (all parts)
+40% Power Damage Customizable, manufacturer's assembled set.
Terminus Assault Armor ME3 Terminus Assault Armor Batarian State Arms +15% Melee Damage
+15% Ammo Capacity
+30% Shields

Armor Customization[]

Main article: Armor Customization (Mass Effect 3)
See also: Mass Effect 3 Multiplayer/Character Customization/Equipment, Mass Effect 3 Multiplayer/Character Customization/Gear

Commander Shepard's armor can be customized by swapping out pieces of the default N7 Armor for pieces purchased from merchants, or made available as downloadable content. Not just augmenting the armor's physical appearance, these pieces also have varying effects on various aspects of Shepard's combat effectiveness. Additionally, the player can further customize the armor's appearance by changing its color, reflectiveness or applying a pattern.

In addition to the many available options for Shepard's armor, the Commander can choose from a selection of casual outfits to wear when armor is not required.

Mass Effect: Andromeda[]

Main article: Armor (Mass Effect: Andromeda)

In Mass Effect: Andromeda, changes have taken place to the armor system seen in prior Mass Effect games. A greater amount of customization is now possible with armor in Mass Effect: Andromeda.

  • Much like in Mass Effect, armor comes in increasing iterations, from rank I to X.
  • Similar to Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3, most of these armors' components are interchangeable. The player can swap out arms, chest, helmets, and legs.

Armor Customization[]

Main article: Augmentations
Main article: Fusion Mods

Armor can now be customized with interchangeable items like weapons seen in prior Mass Effect games. These customization items are known as Augmentations and Fusion Mods.

Augmentations are semi-permanent items that are added during crafting of armor pieces.

  • Once placed into crafted armor, augmentations can't be changed and can only be returned to the player when the armor piece is dismantled.
  • Each armor pieces has differing amounts of hexagonal-shaped sockets for augmentations.

Fusion Mods work on the principle of Mods for weapons in Mass Effect: Andromeda.

  • Fusion Mods are powerful items can be changed at any time.
  • Fusion Mods can only be used with Chest armor pieces. Each Chest piece uses circular socket(s) for fusion mods.
  • Arms, Helmets, and Legs can't use fusion mods.
  • Only Pathfinder Ryder can use fusion mods.

See Also[]

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