Armor Guide: Strengths & Weaknesses

This guide details the strengths and weaknesses of each armor type against some damage types.

Each armor type has different protective qualities, making some highly resistant to certain attacks while vulnerable to others.

📌Please note only the 6 most conventional armour types are listed. Onward has 14 different types.

✅ To learn more about the unique qualities of other game specific armour types such as Calkbark, have your character speak to your local smithy.

Cloth Armor (Robes, Padded Garments)

🔹 Lightweight and flexible but provides minimal protection.
🔹 Typically worn by crafters or commoners.

Weak vs:

_{❌ Stab & Pierce – Easily penetrated by knives, arrows, and spears.}
_{❌ Slash & Chop – Blades cut through cloth effortlessly.}
_{❌ Bludgeon – Offers no impact resistance; bones will break easily.}
_{❌ Burn – Highly flammable; fire will quickly consume it.}
_{❌ Tooth & Claw – Can be ripped apart easily by animal attacks.}

Resists:

^{✅ Freeze – Provides slight insulation against cold.}

Neutral vs:

_{➖ Water – Cloth soaks up water but does not degrade structurally.}
_{➖Lightning – Conducts no electricity, but the wearer can still suffer burns.}

_{📌 Best Use: Worn by civilians who prioritize movement over protection.}

Leather Armor (Hardened Hide, Studded Leather)

_{🔹 Tougher than cloth, but still vulnerable to strong impacts.}
_{🔹 Common among scouts, hunters, and light fighters.}

Weak vs:

_{❌ Chop – Axes can break or tear leather easily.}
_{❌ Burn – Highly flammable; fire will ruin it quickly.}
_{❌ Bludgeon – While it might cushion the blow slightly, the force is still transmitted through the leather and can cause bruising, broken bones, and internal injuries.}

Resists:

_{✅ Stab & Pierce – Leather slightly reduces the impact of knives and arrows.}
_{✅ Slash – Leather offers fair protection against slashing attacks. It's better than no armor at all, as it can help to deflect glancing blows and reduce the severity of cuts.}
_{✅ Tooth & Claw – Provides resistance against animal attacks.}

Neutral vs:

_{➖ Freeze – Does not stiffen immediately, but prolonged exposure makes it brittle.}
_{➖ Water – Water soaks into leather, making it stiff and heavy.}
_{➖ Lightning – Not an electrical conductor but provides no special resistance.}
_{❌ Note: Claw & Tooth – Animals can tear through leather over time so repair your armour often.}
_{📌 Best Use: Ideal for scouts, archers, and agile warriors}

Brigandine Armor

_{🔹 A reinforced armor type featuring metal plates riveted inside a cloth or leather jacket.}
_{🔹 Stronger than standard leather armor while still maintaining some flexibility.}
_{🔹 Provides excellent protection against slashes and moderate defense against piercing attacks.}

Weak vs:

_{❌ Bludgeon – Maces and hammers can dent the plates and transfer impact to the wearer, making blunt force a major weakness.}
_{❌ Burn – The cloth or leather outer layer is flammable, making brigandine vulnerable to fire.}
_{❌ Lightning – The hidden metal plates can conduct electricity, increasing the risk of electrical burns.}

Resists:

_{✅ Slash & Chop – The metal plates prevent deep cuts, making swords and axes far less effective.}
_{✅ Pierce & Stab – Much better than leather at stopping arrows and thrusts, though still vulnerable at joints or seams.}
_{✅ Tooth & Claw – Very effective against wildlife.}
_{✅ Freeze – The layered design provides insulation, helping to mitigate cold exposure.}
_{✅ Water – More resistant than leather to water damage, as the plates prevent total saturation.}

Neutral vs:

_{➖ Water – While not as vulnerable as leather, brigandine still becomes heavy when soaked, reducing mobility.}
_{📌 Best Use: Worn by soldiers and mercenaries who want more protection than leather without the weight of full metal armor.}

📌 Notes:

_{🔹 Flexibility: More flexible than plate but less than leather. The rigid plates limit certain movements, though the fabric backing allows for some flexibility.}
_{🔹 Cost: More expensive than plain leather armor due to the added metal reinforcement. Repairing brigandine can be tedious since plates are riveted inside and difficult to replace.}
_{🔹 Weight: Lighter than plate but heavier than leather. The metal plates add weight, which can tire the wearer over time, though it is still more manageable than full metal armor.}

Scale Armor (Layered Metal Plates)

_{🔹 Overlapping metal scales provide better protection than ring mail.}
_{🔹 Still retains flexibility but is heavier.}

Weak vs:

_{❌ Burn – Fire rapidly heats the scales, making them dangerous to wear.}
_{❌ Water – Rusts faster than chainmail due to numerous small plates.}

Resists:

_{✅ Slash & Chop – Designed to deflect cutting weapons effectively.}
_{✅ Stab – Small gaps exist, but scale armor is highly resistant to piercing weapons.}
_{✅ Bludgeon – The overlapping scales distribute the force of the blunt blow, similar to ringmail, but with increased dispersion due to the more solid surface area.}
_{✅ Tooth and Claw – Very effective against wildlife.}

Neutral vs:

_{➖ Pierce – Smaller weapons like thin daggers and arrows can slip between the rings}
_{➖ Freeze – Cold can stiffen the armor, but does not damage it.}
_{➖ Lightning – Conducts electricity well, making it risky to wear in storms.}
_{📌 Best Use: Frontline warriors who need more protection than ringmail.} _📌Notes:

_{🔹Flexibility: While more flexible than plate, scalemail is less flexible than mail or leather. This can restrict movement to some degree, particularly in certain directions.}
_{🔹Cost: Depending on the materials and craftsmanship, scalemail can be expensive to produce, making it less accessible than some other forms of armor. If a scale is damaged or broken, it can be time-consuming to replace it and re-secure it to the backing.}
_{🔹Weight: While not as heavy as plate armor, scalemail can still be relatively heavy, especially if it's made of metal. This can tire the wearer over time and potentially hinder mobility, though less so than full plate.}

Chainmail Armor (Chain Mail, Reinforced Leather)

_{🔹 Leather armor reinforced with interlocking rings for extra protection.}
_{🔹 More durable than standard leather but still has gaps.}

Weak vs:

_{❌ Conditional Pierce – Smaller weapons like thin daggers and arrows can slip between the links}
_{❌ Burn – Fire warps and weakens the rings.}

Resists:

_{✅ Slash & Chop – The rings help prevent deep cuts.}
_{✅ Bludgeon – Can distribute some impact from blunt weapons.. The rings can absorb and distribute the force of the blow, reducing the impact on the wearer.}
_{✅Stab - A thicker blade or a weapon with a wider head like a spear will have a harder time penetrating ring armour.}
_{✅ Tooth and Claw – Very effective against wildlife.}

Neutral vs:

_{➖ Freeze – Rings do not shatter but get extremely cold.}
_{➖ Water – Rings can rust over time, but it does not instantly weaken them.}
_{➖ Lightning – Highly conductive—wearers are at risk of serious electrical burns.}
_{📌 Best Use: Worn by mid-tier fighters who need moderate protection.}

_📌Notes:

_{🔹 Flexibility: - Highly flexible compared to scale and plate armor due to its interwoven ring structure.}

_{🔹 Rust is a major issue, requiring regular oiling and maintenance to prevent deterioration.}
_{🔹Labor-intensive to repair—damaged rings must be cut and replaced carefully.}
_{🔹Lighter than plate but heavier than brigandine and scale mail . Can cause fatigue over long battles}

Plate Armor (Full Plate, Heavy Metal Plating)

_{🔹 The most protective armor type, but also the heaviest.}

Weak vs:

_{❌ Bludgeon – Maces and warhammers can dent and crush the plating.}
_{❌ Burn – Fire heats metal rapidly, cooking the wearer alive.}
_{❌ Lightning – Extremely conductive—wearers will be electrocuted in storms.}

Resists:

_{✅ Slash & Chop – Swords and axes struggle against the solid plating.}
_{✅ Freeze – Does not absorb moisture, preventing ice buildup.}
_{✅ Tooth and Claw – Very effective against wildlife.}
_{➖ Stab & Pierce – Only effective when aimed at weak points (joints, visor slits, etc.).}

Neutral vs:

_{➖ Water – While does not rust as fast as mail, prolonged exposure can weaken joints.}
_{📌 Best Use: Elite warriors, knights, and heavy fighters prioritizing maximum defense.}

_📌Notes:

_{🔹 Mobility: The biggest drawback of plate armor is its weight and bulk. It significantly restricts movement, making it difficult to run, jump, or perform agile maneuvers. This can be a major disadvantage in combat, especially against faster or more maneuverable opponents.}
_{🔹 Vulnerability at Joints: Plate armor has gaps at the joints (shoulders, elbows, knees) to allow for movement. These areas are often protected by mail or leather, but they are still more vulnerable than the fully plated areas. A well-aimed attack can exploit these weaknesses.}
_{🔹 Weight and Fatigue: The sheer weight of plate armor can tire the wearer quickly, especially in hot climates or during prolonged combat. This can lead to exhaustion, reduced combat effectiveness, and even heatstroke.}
_{🔹 Cost: Plate armor is the most expensive type of armor, reflecting the high cost of materials and craftsmanship. This makes it inaccessible to many characters.}
_{🔹 Maintenance: Plate armor requires regular maintenance to prevent rust and damage. Dents and other damage can be repaired, but this requires specialized tools and skills.}

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