Summary
Games have long featured historical and fantasy settings that either take place in or are inspired bythe Medieval era of Europe.These games take players back to a time when feudalism was the standard, wars could be fought over minor differences, and a ruler’s word was law. While certainly not as primitive as modern day people would like to believe, it wasn’t a nice time to be alive.
Perhaps the most iconic image of the Middle Ages is that of a knight: a towering noble in gleaming armor, often seen riding to battle on horseback, or fighting some mythical beast in a fantasy setting. In that situation, most people would want that kind of protective armor, given that most of these settings show people living in a world where an infected cut means almost certain death or disability. In the world of gaming, these armor sets are some of the best Medieval-inspired pieces.
The Warhorse set would realistically bethe most protective setof armor inKingdom Come: Deliverance,as it is the only one in the game to feature everything but a coif and hose. It’s composed of plate, but comes complete with a red and white tabard and torse, keeping the armor stylish.
The armor struggles in some respects. Its durability is poor, but it can be repaired cheaply. It’s also a very loud set, making a lot of noise when worn, meaning any thief player should steer clear. Lastly, it is a DLC armor. Players need to purchase theTreasures Of The Pastexpansion to use the armor at all.
The Witcher 3: Wild Huntis an excellent RPG. For players who want a tankier Geralt, the Ursine Armor set is an extremely heavy mix of leather, mail, and plate. The armor can be obtained and upgraded through treasure hunts, with the final grandmaster tier being available during theBlood & Wineexpansion.
The armor is perfect for witchers, with the hauberk and coattails protecting the legs while still providing maneuverability. The added cloth and leather protections help to soften blows that might crumple normal armor, while the chainmail and plate protect against even the sharpest of stabbing weapons.
The Black Priors were introduced toFor Honoras a true sword-and-board hero trope, but without the archetypically noble feel. The Black Priors are knights who once fought for the Warlord Apollyon. Now, they fight as penance for their actions under her rule.
Black Prior armor is a marriage of the low-fantasy setting ofFor Honorand an aesthetic inspired by the crusaders. However, unlike their real-life counterparts, the Black Priors wear their dark and sordid past on their sleeve. Clothed in a mixture of cloth tabard, chainmail, and a small amount of metal plate for that fantasy zing, the Black Priors are a unique part of the game.
Warhammer Fantasy
Warhammer
Grail knights are the supersoldiers of the Bretonnian realms, living avatars of the Lady Of The Lake’s will. Infused with the goddess’ power, they plow through enemy ranks like a scythe through wheat. Able to manifest the archetypical paladin abilities of vanquishing undead and unholy alike, the Grail Knights are the ultimate defenders of Chivalry.
Their armor reflects their status. Covered in colorful tabards, great plumes, and gilded decorations, the Grail Knights' armor is about as over-the-top as they come. But it also sends a message across the battlefield.
While the game certainly features some more fantastical elements, the Steel Armor fromSkyrimis perhaps the best plate armor for the average adventurer, especially early in the game. While there are better sets out there,especially with mods, they tend to lean less on the medieval aesthetic and more towards the fantastical elements of theElder Scrollsuniverse.
The armor perfectly communicates that medieval style while keeping with the Nordic fantasy aesthetic of the game. With runic embossing all across the armor and a helmet reminiscent of a Valkyrie, the armor is a brilliant homage.
5Sigmarite Priest
The Sigmarite priests are the preachers of the Warrior god Sigmar, the primary god worshiped in the Empire,one of the settings' strongest factions. They go into battle wielding hammers much like their lord, and brandishing their shields emblazoned with the twin-tailed comet, Sigmar’s symbol.
Their armor is formed of heavy plate, topped with an armored gorget to protect the neck and lower face. The only real criticism is the lack of a helmet; rather, a circlet is used as a badge of office. However, they’re able to go toe to toe with Orcs, Chaos Warriors, and all kinds of other horrors in the night, so they must be doing something right.
4Lawbringer
For Honor
This heavy plate armor is worn by those who enforce justice in knight territory. The Lawbringer’s armor is as imposing as it is protective, featuring thick metal plates and a raised gorget to protect the neck. The Lawbringers are a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield, wielding a poleaxe that serves as a practical weapon of war and a grim reminder of their peacetime roles.
It’s fitting that for someone in such heavy armor, the Lawbringer’s in-game playstyle revolves around defensive parrying, requiring a skilled player to properly use them.
3Cuman Armor
Kingdom Come: Deliverance
While there are many varieties of Cuman armor inKingdom Come: Deliverance, they remain some of the most iconic parts of the game, with a sculpted faceplate and peaked helmet. The sets are visually distinct from traditional plate armor.
The Cumans thatKingdom Comeplayers face so regularly are actually a Turkic people that settled in Hungary following the Mongol Invasions, so it’s no surprise that their armor differs in appearance. Regardless, it’s one of the most interesting armors to look at and can offer a bevy of decent stats.
One aspect of historical plating that’s overlooked when talking about it today is the practice of embossing. In the modern day, armor is looked at as a solely practical thing, with form never taking precedence over function. However, people in the past often saw it as a way for those who could afford it to show off.
The Faraam Armor is pretty practical compared to some historical examples of a knight’s armor, and it certainly is protective given the monsters its wielder would be battling. A nice bit of attention to detail is the open chainmail skirt rather than leg armor, which presumably allows the wearer to run faster, a useful advantage when fighting the horrors of theDark Soulsseries.
1Armor of Morkar
Thousands of years old and worn by the first Everchosen of Chaos, Morkar the Uniter, the Armor Of Morkar is now wielded by the Marshall of the Apocalypse himself, Archaon the Everchosen. It was with this armor that Archaon brought down the World Of Legend and ushered in Armageddon.
Aesthetically, at least outside itsWarhammer: Age Of Sigmarform, The Armor Of Morkar is as historically faithful as armor can get in a fantasy setting, which makes it all the more impressive a design. Archaon’s armor is basically late medieval plate with a barbute, although that itself is another relic of chaos. The helmet is the only fantastical bit about his armor, but in such a way as to tie it to a fantasy setting without making the rest of the armor look ridiculous.
