In theMass Effecttrilogy, thousands of enemies are out to kill Commander Shepard. Offensive weaponry is, of course, necessary to prevent that from happening, but defense plays a vital role too. The player is going to need something reliable once the projectiles start flying.
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InMass Effect: Legendary Edition, armor fulfills the primary role of defense. Commander Shepard deserves the best, so not just any old armor will do when the fate of the galaxy is at stake. Knowing which sets to keep may just keep Shepard alive long enough to defeat the Reapers. Be sure to don these valuable boons whenever they are found.
Updated July 18, 2025 by Mark Hospodar:The Mass Effect trilogy puts a lot of freedom in the hands of the player. Uniquely, the type of armor a player wears can speak volumes regarding how they want their Shepard to be perceived. Armor is more than just stats and bonuses; it’s about aesthetics too. In fact, a quick search on the Internet showcases tons of creative ways fans have customized their version of Commander Shepard. Nevertheless, deciding early on what kind of armor to wear is highly recommended, particularly on the higher difficulty settings. Choosing thebest armor setsthat complement a Mass Effect player’s playstyle is a great way to ensure top effectiveness on the battlefield. Players can’t go wrong with these examples, whether it’s their first time or their hundredth.
15Inferno Armor
Produced by the nefarious Cerberus organization, the Inferno Armor represents a highly advanced piece of equipment. Not only does it augment Shepard’s combat abilities, but the player’s persuasion skills as well. Here’s the full breakdown of the stats from theMass Effect 2version:
The bonus to one’s Power Damage makes this set particularly useful for builds that rely on more than just brute force, such as Sentinels and Engineers. InMass Effect: Legendary Edition, players canresearch the Inferno Armoron the Normandy for2,500 Palladium.
The Mass Effect 3 Inferno Armor
The Inferno Armor set is also available to players inMass Effect 3. It’s still quite useful for those whoprefer to use Powers in combat. This version, however, doesn’t contain the bonus to one’s Paragon/Renegade abilities. The armor can bepurchased from the Kassa Fabrication terminalin the Presidium Commons for50,000 credits. Its stats are listed as:
14Terminus Armor
Aesthetically, the Terminus Armor is perhaps one of the most intimidating pieces of kit Shepard can don inMass Effect 2. It’s the quintessential assault armor, perfect for storming enemy positions quickly and annihilating them in short order. Its features include:
The extra Shield Strength can come in handy to give Shepard that extra staying power in a fight. This version of the Terminus Armor can bepurchased from Harrot’s Emporiumon Omega for12,000 credits. That price can be knocked down to10,000 creditsif players help resolve the issue between Harrot and Kenn as part of “Omega: Struggling Quarian.”
The Mass Effect 3 Terminus Armor
The Terminus Armor makes a return inMass Effect 3. It largely fulfills the same functions, albeit with slightly different stats. To procure this version of the Terminus Armor, players mustpurchase it from the Batarian State Arms terminalin the Citadel Holding Area for50,000 credits. Its features include:
13Ariake Technologies Armor
InMass Effect 3, the Ariake Technologies brand is one of the many customizable armor sets available to the player. Wearing the full set bestows some very powerful bonuses, especially for those with good aim. The full breakdown consists of:
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Obtaining the full set of Ariake Armor is fairly straightforward. Thegreaves can be acquiredfor free during"N7: Communication Hub.“The rest can simply be purchased from the various merchants in thePresidium Commonson the Citadel.
12Hahne-Kedar Armor
Similar to the previous entry, the Hahne-Kedar Armor is also a customizable set featured inMass Effect 3. This armor is a pure soldier’s dream. Instead of imparting small bonuses to different categories, the full set bestows a whopping+40% Weapon Damage.
The Hahne-Kedarcuirass can be foundduring"Tuchanka: Turian Platoon.“Furthermore, thegreaves can be acquiredin"Priority: Palaven.“Once again, the rest of the set can be purchased from the shopping terminals in thePresidium Commons.
11Phantom X
In the originalMass Effect, the wide array of armor choices isn’t limited to Shepard alone. Fan-favorite Garrus Vakarian has a few options too when it comes to protection. One of the better armor sets is the X-tier Phantom, the very same piece of equipment Nihlus wears at the beginning of the game. Here’s the breakdown:
Considering its light armor, these are largely respectable numbers. Garrus, unsurprisingly, will be able to stay in the fight longer with this kind of gear. To obtain this armor, players canpurchase a Serrice Council armory licensefrom Delan or Commander Rentola for30,000 credits.
10Predator X
The firstMass Effecthasno shortage of armor on offer. One of the best suits of armor a player can hope to acquire is the X-tier Predator set, which has the best tech/biotic protection stats in the game. Enemies will have a much tougher time disabling Commander Shepard during a battle if players wear this.
The Predator comes in light, medium, and heavy varieties:
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Players should purchase theArmax Armory licensefromExpat on the Citadelto acquire the Predator X.
9Mercenary X – Heavy
The X-tier Mercenary armor is perfect for Soldiers in the originalMass Effect, especially those who favor the heavy variety. It’s best utilized by tanks who enjoy wading into the thick of a battle. The Mercenary X possesses a respectableshield value of 390for the heavy version. Players can, of course, augment this even further through the use of mods they can find in-game.
The Mercenary X’s biggest strength, however, lies in itsdamage protection value of 58. The biggest drawback to this armor is itstech/biotic protection, which stands at a paltry10. Once again, the player may want to consider armor mods that make up for this deficiency. The player can eitherfind this item as lootor purchase anAriake Technologies licensefrom theC-Sec Requisitions Officer on the Citadel.
8Kestrel Armor
Commander Shepard has the ability to mix-and-match pieces of armor starting inMass Effect 2. One of the best sets, assuming it’s complete, is the Kestrel Armor. The bonuses of this piece to Shepard’s combat capabilities allow the player to be even deadlier on the battlefield. Wearing the full set imparts these stats:
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Mixing pieces of the Kestrel Armor with other sets waters down these effects. As such, players should wear the full suit in its entirety. The Kestrel Armor is available to purchase onIlliumfrom theSerrice Technology vendor. Players will need tocomplete the “Horizon” missionbefore the armor is offered for sale.
7Cerberus Assault Armor
Yet anotherMass Effect 2armor piece, this particular set makes Shepard deadlier as well as intimidating. The utility of this armor is to keep the wearer alive for as long as possible, hence its bulky nature. For shock troopers, the Cerberus Assault Armor is a handy item to keep in the equipment locker. Its stats are:
Commander Shepard can rest assured they will stay protected while decimating any assembled foes. Originally a DLC item, the Cerberus Assault Armor can be researched in theLegendary EditionforMass Effect 2. Just access theNormandy’s Tech Lab,and research the armor for5,000 Palladium.
6Cerberus Nightmare Armor
InMass Effect 3, Commander Shepard needs every advantagepossible to defeat the Reapers. One of the more impressive sets the player can acquire is the aptly named Cerberus Nightmare Armor. With both offensive and defensive attributes, this suit is useful for almost any playstyle. The armor’s stats include:
These numbers can make the player a veritable killing machine. However, obtaining the Cerberus Nightmare Armor is a bit of a hassle. In theMass Effect 3: CitadelDLC, the player must achieve over9,999 pointsin theArmax Arsenal Arena. With that done, they can claim the armor as a reward.
