Explanation of Armor Defense Compared to Weight, Poise, and Other Values

Some armor gives very high defense but is very heavy by comparison, causing the character to move very slowly. Also, some armor gives very high poise, allowing you to resist being interrupted by attacks, but does not protect against incoming damage very well. This page shows the effectivness of a piece of fully upgraded* armor (and entire armor sets) compared to its weight and the amount of poise it gives. As such, this list is intended to give an overall sense of how "good" the armor is when comparing its benefits (defense rating and poise) to its drawbacks (equip burden based on weight). This comparison only covers physical defense, and does not take into account elemental defense (magic, fire, and lightning) or conditional defense (poison, bleed, and curse). These attributes will be covered later.

( * The majority of the defense values listed below are not actually upgraded numbers.)

Please see the armor page for a complete listing of armor sets and their corresponding values.

This list is incomplete, and does not contain all armor sets.

Each entry is comprised of a defense per pounds rating ( def/lbs), which is the defense of a piece versus how heavy it is. In this value, a higher rating is better.
Entries also have a defense per poise rating ( def/poise), which is how well they defend versus how much poise they offer. In this value, a lower rating is better.

Best Def/Lbs Rating: Brigand Gauntlets, BrigandTrousers, and Tattered Cloth Armor, with a rating of 18.8 def/lbs.

Best Def/Poise Rating: Crystal Armor, with a rating of 1.75 def/poise

This list is organized as similarly as possible to armor page for easy cross-reference.

Starting Sets

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Wanderer Set	146	9.1	16	n/a
Wanderer Hood	22	1.4	15.7	n/a
Wanderer Coat	56	3.5	16	n/a
Wanderer Manchette	34	2.1	16.1	n/a
Wanderer Boots	34	2.1	16.1	n/a

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Thief Set	163	9.1	17.9	n/a
Thief Mask	22	1.2	18.3	n/a
Black Leather Armor	56	3.1	18.06	n/a
Black Leather Gloves	32	1.8	17.7	n/a
Black Leather Boots	54	3	18	n/a

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Bandit Set	146	7.9	18.4	n/a
Brigand Hood	22	1.2	18.3	n/a
Brigand Armor	56	3.1	18.06	n/a
Brigand Gauntlets	34	1.8	18.8	n/a
Brigand Trousers	34	1.8	18.8	n/a

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Hunter Set	133	11.5	11.6	n/a
Pharis's Hat	16.9	1.2	14.08	n/a
Leather Armor	58.1	4.7	12.4	n/a
Leather Gloves	29	2.8	10.4	n/a
Leather Boots	26	2.8	10.4	n/a

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)
Sorcerer Set	125.8	6	21
Sorcerer Hat	19.4	0.9	21.6
Sorcerer Cloak	48.4	2.3	21
Sorcerer Gauntlets	29	1.4	20.7
Sorcerer Boots	29	1.4	20.7

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Pyromancer Set	128.2	7	18.3
Tattered Cloth Hood	19.4	1.1	17.6	n/a
Tattered Cloth Robe	50.8	2.7	18.8	n/a
Tattered Cloth Manchette	29	1.6	18.1	n/a
Heavy Boots	29	1.6	18.1	n/a

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)
Cleric Set	118.6	7.9	15
Priest's Hat	19.4	1.2	16.2
Holy Robe	53.2	4	13.3
Travelling Gloves	12.1	0.7	17.3
Holy Trousers	33.9	2	16.6

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Poise	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Warrior Set	184	16.4	11.2	5	.02
Standard Helm	34	3.5	9.7	5	6.8
Hard Leather Armor	68	5.9	11.5	0	n/a
Hard Leather Gauntlets	41	3.5	11.7	0	n/a
Hard Leather Boots	41	3.5	11.7	0	n/a

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Poise	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Knight Set	217.7	25	8.7	46	4.7
Knight Helm	33.9	4.2	8.07	8	4.3
Knight Armor	89.5	10.9	8.2	20	4.5
Knight Gauntlets	41.1	3.5	11.7	6	6.9
Knight Leggings	53.2	6.4	8.3	12	4.4

Light Sets

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Shadow Set	90	6	15	n/a
Shadow Mask	14	0.9	15.6	/na
Shadow Garb	36.6	2.3	15.9	n/a
Shadow Gauntlets	20.2	1.4	14.4	n/a
Shadow Leggings	20.2	1.4	14.4	n/a

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Poise	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Black Sorcerer Set	34	4.5	7.55	0</span	n/a
Black Sorcerer Hat	5.0	0.7	7.14	0	n/a
Black Sorcerer Cloak	13.0	1.8	7.22	0	n/a
Black Sorcerer Gloves	8.0	1.0	8	0	n/a
Black Sorcerer Boots	8.0	1.0	8	0	n/a

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Poise	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Channeler Set	122	23 lbs.	5.3	27	4.51
Channelers Helm	20	3.9 lbs.	5.12	5	4
Channelers Robe	53	10.1 lbs.	5.24	12	4.41
Channelers Gloves	17	3 lbs.	5.66	3	5.66
Channelers Waistcloth	32	6 lbs	5.33	7

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Maiden Set	51	6.5	7.85	n/a
Maiden Hood	7.0	0.8	8.75	n/a
Maiden Robe	19.0	2.0	8.0	n/a
Maiden Gloves	11.0	1.2	9.16	n/a
Maiden Skirt	14.0	2.5	5.6	n/a

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Antiquated Set	42.0	5	8.4	n/a
Crown of Dusk	5.0	0.4	12.5	n/a
Antiquated Dress	14.0	1.0	14.0	n/a
Antiquated Gloves	8.0	0.6	13.33	n/a
Antiquated Skirt	15.0	3.0	5	n/a

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Hollow Thief's Set	41	5.6	7.32	n/a
Hollow Thief's Hood	8.0	1.1	7.27	n/a
Hollow Thief's Leather Armor	21.0	2.8	7.5	n/a
Hollow Thief's Tights	12.0	1.7	7.06	n/a

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Painting Guardian Set	62.23	7.1	8.7	n/a
Painting Guardian Hood	4.6	.6	7.6	n/a
Painting Guardian Robe	14	1.6	8.75	n/a
Painted Guardian Gloves	9.63	.9	10.7	n/a
Painted Guardian Waistcloth	34.1	4	8.5	n/a

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Poise	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Hollow Warrior Set	47	10.6	4.43	16	2.94
Hollow Warrior Helm	10.0	2.6	3.85	3.0	3.33
Hollow Warrior Armor	24.0	6.6	3.64	8.0	3.0
Hollow Warrior Waistcloth	13.0	1.4	9.29	5.0	2.6

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Poise	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Hollow Soldier Set	49.0	12.3	3.98	24	2.04
Hollow Soldier Helm	10.0	3.0	3.33	5.0	2.0
Hollow Soldier Armor	26.0	7.8	3.33	12.0	2.17
Hollow Soldier Waistcloth	13.0	1.5	8.67	7.0	1.86

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Dingy Set	123.5	7.5	16.5	n/a
Dingy Hood	14.5	0.8	18.13	n/a
Dingy Robe	55.7	3.0	18.57	n/a
Dingy Gloves	21.8	1.2	18.17	n/a
Blood-Stained Skirt	31.5	2.5	12.60	n/a

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Gwyndolin Moonlight Set	47	8.4	5.5	n/a
Crown of the Dark Sun	12	3	4	n/a
Moonlight Robe	20	3.1	6.45	n/a
Moonlight Gloves	3	.5	6	n/a
Moonlight Waistcloth	12	1.8	6.6	n/a

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Poise	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Big Hat Logan Set	143.2	10.2	0	n/a
Big Hat	21.7	3.0	0	n/a
Sage Robe	63.5	4.0	0	n/a
Traveling Gloves	29.0	1.6	0	n/a
Traveling Boots	29.0	1.6	0

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Gold-Hemmed Black Set	77	9.1	8.46	n/a
Gold Hemmed Hood	11	1.4	7.86	n/a
Gold Hemmed Cloak	31	3.5	8.86	n/a
Gold Hemmed Gloves	12	1.2	10.0	n/a
Gold Hemmed Skirt	23	3.0	7.67	n/a

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Crimson Set	80	9.7	8.25	n/a
Mask of the Sealer	12.0	1.5	8.0	n/a
Crimson Robe	32.0	3.9	8.21	n/a
Crimson Gloves	7.0	0.8	8.75	n/a
Crimson Waistcloth	29.0	3.5	8.29	n/a

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Black Set	62	11.0	5.63	n/a
Mask of Velka	12.0	2.5	4.8	n/a
Black Cleric Robe	23.0	3.9	5.90	n/a
Black Manchette	11.0	1.8	6.11	n/a
Black Tights	16.0	2.8	5.71	n/a

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Witch Set	117	9.3	12.5	n/a
Witch Hat	14	1.1	12.7	n/a
Witch Cloak	51	4	12.7	n/a
Witch Gloves	22	1.7	12.9	n/a
Witch Skirt	31	2.5	12.4	n/a

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Xanthous Set	100	15.2	6.58	n/a
Xanthous Crown	18.0	5.0	3.6	n/a
Xanthous Overcoat	32.0	3.9	8.21	n/a
Xanthous Gloves	18.0	2.3	7.83	n/a
Xanthous Waistcloth	32.0	4.0	8.0	n/a

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Poise	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Chain Set	72.0	17.2	4.19	26.0	2.77
Chain Helm	12.0	3.0	4.0	5.0	2.40
Chain Armor	30.0	6.0	5.0	9.0	3.33
Leather Gauntlets	12.0	3.6	3.33	5.0	2.40
Chain Leggints	18.0	4.6	3.91	7.0	2.57

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Great Lord Set	78.0	14.6	5.34	n/a
Crown of the Great Lord	16.0	3.0	5.33	n/a
Robe of the Great Lord	32.0	6.0	5.33	n/a
Bracelet of the Great Lord	15.0	2.8	5.36	n/a
Anklet of the Great Lord	15.0	2.8	5.36	n/a

Medium Sets

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Poise	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Eastern Set	128.8	22.5	5.7	36	3.5
Eastern Helm	26.4	4.7	4.7	8	3.3
Easter Armor	69.8	12.3	5.6	20	3.48
Eastern Gauntlets	9.3	1.5	6.2	2	4.6
Eastern Leggings	23.3	4	5.8	6	3.8

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Poise	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Adventurer's Set	90	25.4	3.5	38	2.3
Helm of the Wise	18	5.1	3.5	8	2.25
Armor of the Glorious	47	13.3	3.5	20	2.3
Gauntlets of Vanquisher	11	3	3.6	4	2.75
Boots of Explorer	14	4	3.5	6	2.3

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Poise	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Balder Set	90	25	3.60	36	2.5
Balder Helm	14.0	4.2	3.33	6.0	2.33
Balder Armor	37.0	10.9	3.39	16.0	2.31
Balder Gauntlets	17.0	3.5	4.86	5.0	3.4
Balder Leggings	22.0	6.4	3.44	9.0	2.44

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Poise	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Thorn Set	176.6	27	6.5	40	4.4
Helm of Thorns	26.4	4.1	6.43	6	4.4
Armor of Thorns	69.8	10.5	6.6	16	4.3
Gauntlets of Thorns	40.3	6.2	6.5	16	4.4
Leggings of Thorns	40.3	6.2	6.5	9	4.4

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Poise	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Dark Set	181.5	25.2	7.2	40	4.5
Dark Mask	27.9	3.8	7.3	6	4.6
Dark Armor	69.8	9.8	7.1	16	4.3
Dark Gauntlets	41.9	5.8	7.2	9	4.6
Dark Leggings	41.9	5.8	7.2	9	4.6

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Poise	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Elite Knight Set	215	26.8	8	46	4.6
Elite Knight Helm	36	4.5	8	12	3
Elite Knight Chest	94	11.7	8	20	1.95
Elite Knight Gloves	29	3.7	7.8	6	4.8
Elite Knight Leggings	56	6.9	8.1	12	4.6

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Poise	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Ornstein Set	116	28.5	4	45	2.5
Ornstein Helm	32	5.5	5.8	9	3.5
Ornstein Armor	70	12	5.8	19	3.6
Ornstein Gauntlet	24	4	6	6	4
Ornstein Leggings	40	7	5.7	11	3.6

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Poise	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Crystalline Set	73	27.9	2.6	40	1.8
Crystalline Helm	11	4.2	2.6	6	1.8
Crystalline Armor	28	10.9	2.5	16	1.75
Crystalline Gauntlets	17	6.4	2.6	9	1.8
Crystalline Leggings	17	6.4	2.6	9	1.8

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Poise	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Brass Set	150	27.8	5.3	41	3.6
Brass Helm	27.9	5.1	5.4	8	3.4
Brass Armor	57.4	10.9	5.2	16	3.5
Brass Gauntlets	29.5	5.4	5.4	8	3.6
Brass Leggings	35.6	6.4	5.4	8	3.6

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Poise	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Favor Set	178.3	28.1	6.3	47	3.7
Helm of Favor	27.9	4.5	6.2	8	3.4
Embraced Favor Armor	74.4	11.7	6.3	20	3.72
Gauntlets of Favor	32.6	5	6.52	8	4
Leggings of Favor	43.4	6.9	6.2	11	3.9

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Poise	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Catarina Set	227.9	30	7.59	55	4.1
Catarina Helm	34.1	4.5	7.5	8	4.2
Catarina Armor	88.4	11.7	7.5	21	4.2
Catarina Gauntlets	52.7	6.9	7.6	13	4
Catarina Leggings	52.7	6.9	7.6	13	4

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)
Silver Knight Set	195.4	28.8	6.8
Silver Knight Helm	32.6	4.8	6.8
Silver Knight Armor	80.6	12	6.7
Silver Knight Gauntlets	38.8	5.5	7.1
Silver Knight Leggings	43.4	6.5	6.8

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)
Black Knight Set	207.8	31	6.7
Black Knight Helm	32.6	5	6.5
Black Knight Armor	88.4	13	6.8
Black Knight Gauntlets	40.3	6	6.7
Black Knight Leggings	46.5	7	6.6

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Poise	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Paladin Set	234.2	33.1	7	52	4.5
Paladin Helm	34.1	5	5.82	8	4.2
Paladin Armor	91.5	12.9	7	20	4.5
Paladin Gauntlets	54.3	7.6	7.1	12	4.5
Paladin Leggings	54.3	7.6	7.1	12	4.5

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Poise	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Way of White Set

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Poise	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Steel Set	261.3	36	7.3	60	4.4
Steel Helm	38.7	5.4	7.2	9	4.3
Steel Armor	101.6	14	7.3	23	4.4
Steel Gauntlets	60.5	8.3	7.3	14	4.3
Steel Leggings	60.5	8.3	7.3	14	4.3

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Poise	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Solaire Set	208	23.1	9	56	3.7
Iron Helm	33	4.5	7.3	11.2	2.9
Armor of the Sun	84	9	9.3	22.4	4.1
Iron Braclet	41	4.3	9.5	9.8	4.1
Iron Leggings	50	5.3	9.4	12.6	3.9

Heavy Sets

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Poise	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Black Iron Set	271.3	40	6.7	79	3.4
Black Iron Helm	41.9	6	6.9	12	3.4
Black Iron Armor	105.4	15.6	6.7	31	3.4
Black Iron Gauntlets	63	9.2	6.8	18	3.5
Black Iron Leggings	62	9.2	6.7	18	3.4

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Poise	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Giant Set	280.7	42.1	6.6	91	3
Giants Helm	41.9	6.3	6.6	14	2.9
Giants Armor	111.6	16.4	6.8	35	3.1
Giants Gauntlets	63.6	9.7	6.5	21	3
Giants Leggings	63.6	9.7	6.5	21	3

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Poise	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Havel's Set	236	50	4.75	111	2.1
Havels Helm	36	7.5	4.8	18	2
Havels Armor	92	19.5	4.7	47	1.8
Havels Gauntlets	54	11.5	4.6	28	1.9
Havels Leggings	54	11.5	4.6	28	1.9

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Poise	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Smough's Set	268	45.1	5.9	91	2.9
Smoughs Helm	40	6.8	5.8	14	2.8
Smoughs Armor	106	17.5	6	35	3
Smoughs Gauntlets	61	10.4	5.8	21	2.9
Smoughs Leggings	61	10.4	5.8	21	2.9

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Poise	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Iron Golem Set	234	42.1	5.5	86	2.7
Golem Helm	35	6.3	5.5	13	2.6
Golem Armor	91	16.4	5.5	33	2.7
Golem Gauntlets	54	9.7	5.5	20	2.7
Golem Leggings	54	9.7	5.5	20	2.7

Armor Name	Defense	Weight	Def/Lbs (Higher = Better)	Poise	Def/Poise (Lower = Better)
Stone Knight Set	234	45.2	5.3	100	2.34
Stone Helm	35	6.8	5.1	15	3
Stone Armor	91	17.6	5.1	39	2.3
Stone Gauntlets	54	10.4	5.1	23	2.3
Stone Leggings	54	10.4	5.1	23	2.3

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- Anonymous
  16 Jun 2016 10:55
  There's an error in the warrior set def/poise column. You've got poise/def instead. Also why are you doing def/poise in the first place? Wouldn't it make more sense to do poise/lbs (higher is better)? If not, why?
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Explanation of Armor Defense Compared to Weight, Poise, and Other Values | Dark Souls Wiki