The armor system in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, works fairly similar to its predecessors but with some small refinements. It follows the old layered armor system, which is highly realistic, further adding to its unique and immersive feeling. Additionally each piece of loot can now be one of 3 different Tier (Bronze, Silver and Gold) further adding to the game's complexity. There is also a special fourth quality, called Henry´s quality, this is a unique quality only craftable after unlocking a perk.
Here is a basic breakdown of how armor works and what it does for you.
Layered Armor System
Armor is divided into multiple layers, allowing you to equip different types of protective gear simultaneously. This makes armor more functional and historically accurate. The layers include:
- Base Layer (Clothing): Undergarments, shirts, padded armor (gambeson, arming doublet)
- Chainmail Layer: Hauberks, coifs, and other chain armor for additional protection
- Plate Armor: Breastplates, pauldrons, greaves, and gauntlets for maximum defense
- Outer Layer (Surcoats and Tabards): Worn over armor for decoration or identification
- Helmets: Can be open-faced or closed, affecting visibility and protection
Tier System
- I - Bronze (the lowest tier of quality)
- II - Silver (the 2nd tier of quality)
- III - Gold (the 3rd tier of quality)
- IV - Henry´s quality (the best quality - can only be made by using the “Secret of Martin the blacksmith” perk)
Armor of higher quality gives you more resistance, is more durable and sells for a higher price.
Protection and Damage Resistance
Each piece of armor has different resistance stats:
- Stab (arrows, spears, daggers)
- Slash (swords)
- Blunt (maces, hammers)
Chainmail is great against slashes but weak against blunt attacks, while plate armor excels against all except powerful blunt force.
Weight and Mobility, Noise, Visibility and Conspicuousness
Heavy armor offers more protection but slows you down, increases stamina consumption, and makes noise (affecting stealth). Light armor or cloth allows for greater mobility but leaves you vulnerable. Certain armor also increases your Conspicuousness. Conspicuousness is a measure of how much the player stands out in a normal environment. Bright colored or unusual clothing will affect this. The higher your stat, the more likely you will be caught. This combined with Visibility can affect your success in pickpocketing and stealing.
Armor Wear and Repair (Condition)
Armor degrades over time and must be repaired by a blacksmith or using a repair kit. Damaged armor provides less protection. It is always cheaper to repair gear yourself with a kit, also you will level up your skills and unlock different perks.
Helmet Vision and Combat Impact
Closed helmets limit your field of view, but they provide extra protection. Some helmets also have visors you can raise or lower. Choose what suits your playstyle/build best.
Multiple Outfits
You can create up to 3 different outfits that can be interchanged anytime outside of combat. You should try to make 3 different outfits for different purposes. One for combat, one with high charisma for social interactions and one with high stealth for thievery and sneaking around.
Armor Types in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II – A Full Comparison
Armor in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II follows a layered system, where different types of armor provide varying benefits and drawbacks in terms of defense, weight, mobility, stealth, and durability. Below is a breakdown and comparison of each major armor type.
Armor Types & Comparison Table
| Armor Type | Defence | Weight | Mobility | Stealth | Durability | Best Against | Weak Against |
| Cloth / Padded Armor | Low | Very Light | High | Very High | Poor | Arrows, weak attacks | Swords, axes, maces |
| Leather Armor | Low-Medium | Light | High | High | Moderate | Arrows, cuts | Blunt weapons, axes |
| Chainmail Armor | Medium | Medium | Moderate | Low | Good | Swords, slashes | Maces, war hammers |
| Plate Armor | High | Heavy | Low | Very Low | Very High | Slashes, arrows, weak weapons | Maces, war hammers |
| Mixed (Hybrid) Armor | Balanced | Medium | Moderate | Medium | Good | Varies | Varies |
Armor Type Breakdown
Each armor type has strengths and weaknesses, making them better suited for different playstyles and encounters.
Cloth / Padded Armor (Gambeson, Doublet)
Very lightweight, allowing for fast movement
Excellent for stealth, as it makes little noise
Offers low durability and degrades quickly
Can be worn under heavier armor for extra padding
Best for: Stealth, civilian disguise, comfort
Weakness: Almost no real protection in battle
Leather Armor (Brigandine, Hardened Leather)
Good mobility, slightly heavier than cloth
Offers better protection than padded armor
Some variants include metal rivets for additional defense
Still useful for sneaky approaches but noisier than cloth
Best for: Stealthy combat, early-game armor
Weakness: Weak against blunt weapons and heavy strikes
Chainmail Armor (Hauberk, Coif, Chain Vest)
Solid protection against slashing attacks
Still light enough for mobility
Can be worn under plate armor for additional layering
Moderate stealth, but metal jingles when moving
Best for: General protection, balanced defense
Weakness: Struggles against blunt weapons
Plate Armor (Kastenbrust, Noble Plate Legs)
Nearly impervious to slashes and arrows
Significantly reduces mobility and stealth
Most expensive armor type, requiring regular maintenance
Can resist many attacks but vulnerable to maces and war hammers
Best for: Ultimate defense, noble duels, heavy combat
Weakness: Very heavy, loud, expensive
Mixed / Hybrid Armor (Combination of different pieces)
Players can mix light, medium, and heavy armor to balance mobility and defense
Example: Chainmail with a plate breastplate for protection but without heavy leg armor for speed
More variety in aesthetics and stats
Best for: Customization, adapting to different situations
Weakness: Lacks specialization in any one area
Outfit Setups with Combat Builds
Since you can have multiple outfits in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II I would suggest making 3 different outfits each with a unique use case. One for your mischievous activities (Thievery Outfit), one for your social interactions (Charisma Outfit), and one for fighting (Combat Outfit). Especially for Combat, many different Builds could work and I'm eager to see what the community comes up with. Here are some general ideas and suggestions for different outfits and combat builds:
Rogue (Thievery Outfit)
Best Armor: Light armor that's dark.
Weapons: Daggers, bows, short swords.
Strategy: Move fast, steal items without getting noticed, engage if necessary from behind.
Avoid: Getting caught stealing or breaking in.
Nobleman (Charisma Outfit)
Best Armor: Fine Clothing (Noble Hood, Gloves).
Weapons: Rapier, Dagger.
Strategy: Stay clean and well dressed, use speech and if necessary bribe people.
Avoid: Carrying stolen goods in town.
Knight (Combat Build)
Best Armor: Full plate armor with chainmail underneath.
Weapons: Longswords, polearms, maces.
Strategy: Tank hits, engage in duels, overpower enemies in close combat.
Avoid: Running long distances.
Soldier (Combat Build)
Best Armor: Chainmail Hauberk, mail hood, padding underneath.
Weapons: Warhammer, Swords, Crossbows.
Strategy: Adaptive and agile playstyle.
Avoid: Narrow spaces against plate wearing enemies.
Bandit (Combat Build)
Best Armor: Mixed armor (chainmail with leather over it).
Weapons: Crossbows, Axes, Bows.
Strategy: Hit-and-run tactics, ambushes, looting gear.
Avoid: Full plate (not agile enough) in close quarter.
Early Priorities: What Stats to look for
Keep in mind what you want to accomplish with your gear and different outfits. A lot of early content doesn´t require heavy armor.
Affordability: You won’t have much money, so start with cheap but effective gear.
Mobility & Stamina: Heavy armor drains stamina faster, so avoid overloading yourself.
Protection: Light armor won’t save you in a real fight.
Stealth, Noise & Conspicuousness: For lower chance to get caught stealing or pickpocketing
Charisma: For better chances at good trades and other interactions with NPCs.
Armor Progression: What to Upgrade First?
When you have spare money or loot, upgrade in this order:
Body Armor: Your torso gets hit the most—upgrade it first.
Helmet: A good helmet prevents quick deaths from headshots.
Leg & Arm Armor: These matter more as fights get harder.
Boots & Gloves: Upgrade last, as they affect stamina less.
Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing Early Armor
Wearing heavy armor too soon: It drains stamina, slows movement, and makes stealth impossible.
Ignoring layered protection: A padded gambeson under chainmail gives way better defense.
Spending too much gold on armor: Save money for weapons, training, and supplies.
Forgetting about maintenance: Damaged armor loses effectiveness—use repair kits or visit a blacksmith.
Not improving your crafting skills: Some of the best gear is unlocked by crafting, start early to stay on top of it.
Where to Find Good Armor Early
My recommendation for combat armor would be to find and defeat the Thief near Zhelejov. He offers a good opportunity for some strong loot early on in the game. He can drop different Helmets (such as a Mail coif or a Kettle hat), Body Armor (Gambeson´s and a cuirass), pants, boots and other useful items. You can even get a weapon from him, although you might not yet be able to use it yet. You can repair it and sell it in town.
How to find and defeat the thief: Take the southern road leading away from Zhelejov until you reach the forest. The thief´s camp is well hidden within the forest. Be careful not to make too much noise, so that you don't alert the thiefs dog. Try to lure the dog away or wait for it to walk away. Ambush and kill it. Try to sneak up behind the thief and knock him out. Loot everything he has on him. Don't forget to loot the chest with the key he dropped.
How to find powerful Early-Game charisma gear: A great source of gear early on is to steal from the tailor's shop in Troskowitz. Wait till its night, steal the shopkeeper's key and break into the shop. Take anything you can.
Pro Tip: Strip naked to be as quiet as possible.
