Best Light Armor In Baldur's Gate 3

Understanding how all the components of Baldur's Gate 3 work can be difficult, especially for new players to the genre or DnD. For example, players might not know that AC stands for Armor Class and is the minimum number enemies must roll to hit the target. Light Armor in BG3, tends to have low AC, but a character's Dexterity Modifier is also added to this value.

Baldur's-Gate-3-Best-Cloaks-(&-How-To-Get-Them)-b

Baldur's Gate 3: All Cloaks, Ranked (& How To Get Them)

Cloaks may be somewhat overlooked in Baldur's Gate 3, but these choices can offer some decent benefits - or at least a few style points.

Posts

By Joe Grantham

Characters must also have Light Armor Proficiency to wear it, but thankfully, most classes and a few races have this by default. This armor selection includes all the key stats, as well as the overpowered effects that can be found on the best BG3 Light Armor.

Updated January 30, 2025, by Joe Grantham: Game of the Year winner Baldur's Gate 3 is a colossal RPG full to the brim with hundreds of items, including a healthy selection of Light Armor options. While some Light Armor is very clearly the best, some niche options only benefit a specific subclass, albeit often tremendously. As the game is fairly evenly spread across its three Acts, the best Armor is often inaccessible until later stages of the game, and so, for example, the best Act 1 armor is just as valuable as the best Act 3 armor.

16 Leather Armor +1

A Slight Buff To Stealth Checks

AC	Rarity	Effects
12 + Dexterity Modifier	Uncommon	Gain a +1 bonus to Stealth Checks.

Location: Bought from traders while between Levels 4 and 6.

For players exploring Act 1 and with a preference for sneaking around, Leather Armour +1 can be a good option. It provides a +1 bonus to Stealth Checks, which means the character is less likely to be spotted when sneaking. This can allow for surprise attacks, escapes, and other creative plays.

To get this Light Armor, players simply need to reach Level 4, and then find a nearby trader who should sell it for a reasonable price. Roah Moongow at the Shattered Sanctum and Dammon and the Emerald Grove are two solid options. If the items don't appear at first, try a Long Rest to reset things.

15 Padded Armor +1

A Decent Option Very Early On

AC	Rarity	Effects
12 + Dexterity Modifier	Uncommon	Take 1 less Bludgeoning damage.

Location: Bought from merchants between Levels 2 and 4.

If players are looking for an easy upgrade to their Armor at the very start of the game, Padded Armour +1 is likely to be among the best options. This is because it can be bought from merchants upon hitting Level 2. A good trader to go to would be Dammon in the Emerald Grove.

Padded Armor +1 provides a slight buff to AC compared with the most basic Light Armor in BG3 and also reduces incoming Bludgeoning damage by 1. Although seemingly small, this bonus can make a difference in tough fights, especially on harder difficulty modes.

14 Drow Studded Leather Armor

A Superior Stealth Bonus Than Most Gear

Baldur's Gate 3 Drow Studded Leather Armour

AC	Rarity	Effects
12 + Dexterity Modifier	Rare	+1 Stealth

Location: Near the entrance of the Festering Cove in the Underdark, Act 1.

There are a number of Armor items that grant players a + 1 bonus to Stealth Checks, but often these cannot stack with effects from some of BG3's best cloaks, for example, as it is the same "Stealthy" bonus. Drow Studded Leather Armour, however, grants +1 to the actual Stealth stat, meaning it can stack.

A collage of the best boots in Baldur's Gate 3 and Astarion facing away

Baldur's Gate 3: Best Boots (& How To Get Them)

Choosing the right footwear can offer players massive advantages in Baldur's Gate 3. Here are the best boots the game has to offer.

Posts

By Joe Grantham

To acquire this Armor, players will need to enter the Underdark during Act 1 and find the Festering Cove. Near the entrance to this hidden location, players will see a chest.

13 Studded Leather Armor +1

Decent AC For The Early Game

Baldur's Gate 3 Studded Leather Armor +1

AC	Rarity	Effects
13 + Dexterity Modifier	Uncommon	Superior Padding: Take 1 less Bludgeoning damage.

Location: Sold by merchants while between levels 6 and 8.

Studded Leather Armor +1 isn't anything to write home about, but for Light Armor early on it has a solid AC of 13, meaning enemies will have a harder time landing their attacks. Taking 1 less Bludgeoning damage is also a nice bonus in fights where it is relevant, but there will also be plenty of times when this passive is useless.

To get hold of Studded Leather Armor +1, players will need to reach level 6, and at this point, merchants in Act 1 and 2 will begin to sell it along with other gear. Examples of Act 1 merchants include Damon at the Emerald Grove, Roah Moonglow at the Shattered Sanctum, and A'jak'nir Jeera at the Githyanki Creche.

12 Leather Armor +2

Solid AC, A Stealth Bonus, & Dexterity Bonuses

AC	Rarity	Effects
13 + Dexterity Modifier	Rare	Stealthy: Gain a +1 bonus to Stealth Checks. Balance: Gain a +1 bonus to Dexterity Saving Throws and Ability Checks.

Location: Bought from Act 1 & 2 traders.

With a good Armor Class for Light Armor and lots of small bonuses, Leather Armor +2 is one of the best options for the early and mid-game, although it is best utilized by those who incorporate stealth into their gameplay. This is because one of the bonuses improves Stealth Checks.

To obtain Leather Armor +2, players will need to reach level 7, and from then on they will be able to purchase it from various merchants. While it doesn't unlock as early as Padded Armor +2 for example, players can still reach level 7 later on in the game's opening Act.

11 Padded Armor +2

Solid AC & Take Less Bludgeoning Damage

AC	Rarity	Effects
13 + Dexterity Modifier	Rare	Superior Padding: Take 2 less Bludgeoning damage

Location: Bought from Act 1 & 2 traders.

While the Padded Armor +2 isn't anything to write home about, it is nonetheless a solid option for the early and mid stages of the game. It has a relatively high Armor Class of 13, and whenever players face off against enemies who deal Bludgeoning damage, Padded Armor +2 really comes into its own.

To purchase Padded Armor +2 from merchants in Act 1 or 2, players will need to be level 5 or higher, but after passing level 8 the armor will no longer be sold and better options will become available.

10 Shadeclinger Armor

Gain A Bonus To Stealth & Be Safer While Obscured

Baldur's Gate 3 Shadeclinger Armor (Light Armor)

AC	Rarity	Effects
12 + Dexterity Modifier	Rare	Shadeclinger: While Obscured, the wearer has Advantage on Saving Throws. Stealth +1

Location: Bought at the Last Light Inn, Act 2.

Shadeclinger Armor is a solid option for stealth builds in Baldur's Gate 3, and Rogues, for example, may want to take advantage of it in Act 2, becoming one with the Shadow-Cursed Lands. Having Advantage on Saving Throws while Obscured makes the character more resilient to AOE attacks, which don't require a visible target to click on.

Thankfully, Shadeclinger Armor is very easy to acquire in most playthroughs, as it can be purchased at the Last Light Inn, at the start of Act 2. Here, it is sold by Quartermaster Talli.

9 Armor Of The Sporekeeper

Perfect For Circle Of The Spores Druids

Baldur's Gate 3 Armor of Landfall (Light Armor)

AC	Rarity	Effects
13 + Dexterity Modifier	Very Rare	Malefic Funghi: The wearer gains a +1 bonus to Spell Save DC and when dealing Necrotic damage, they deal an additional 1 Necrotic Damage. Spore Sacks: While imbued with Symbiotic Entity, the wearer can spread Bibberbang Spores, Timmask Spores, and Haste Spores.

Location: Looted from Philgrave's Mansion, the Lower City, Act 1.

For most characters, Armor of the Sporekeeper is fairly useless, although Necrotic damage dealers can boost their damage. However, its true purpose is for members of the Druid subclass, Circle of the Spores. For these characters, this piece of Light Armor is without a doubt their best option, as it provides many benefits to the niche playstyle.

As a Very Rare item, players will have to wait till Act 3 to don the Armor of the Sporekeeper, which can be bought or looted from Mystic Carrion in Philgrave's Mansion. This is a house inside the Lower City, near the Counting House.

8 Blazer Of Benevolence

Perfect For Bards

AC	Rarity	Effects
11 + Dexterity Modifier	Uncommon	Remedial Rhymes: When the wearer inspires an ally using Bardic Inspiration, they gain 4 temporary hit points.

Location: Rewarded for saving Volo at the Shattered Sanctum, Act 1.

In addition to being an example of peak Baldurian fashion, the Blazer Of Benevolence has a very interesting effect. It provides the wearer with Remedial Rhymes, which means that when the player inspires an ally, using Bardic Inspiration, they gain 4 temporary hit points.

Baldur's Gate 3: Best Weapons In Act 3 & How To Get Them

The weapons in Act 3 are typically the best in Baldur's Gate 3, and this is how you can find them.

Posts

By Joe Grantham

This is perfect for Bards or players who have multiclassed into the Bard class. The Blazer of Benevolence can be found in the Rescue Volo Quest, as a reward, at the Shattered Sanctum.

7 Armor Of Moonbasking

Perfect For Circle Of The Moon Druids

AC	Rarity	Effects
11+ Dexterity Modifier	Very Rare	Lunar Beastial Vitality: The wearer gains 22 temporary hit points after casting Wild Shape. While those temporary hit points are active, reduce all incoming damage by 1. Lunar Bestial Fortitude: The wearer has a +2 bonus to Armor Class. They also have Advantage on Saving Throws against spells. This effect persists while using a druidic Wild Shape ability.

Location: Bought in the Undercity Ruins of the Lower City Sewers, Act 3.

Armor of Moonbasking is one of the best defensive Light Armor pieces, but only on the back of Circle of the Mood Druids. This is because they gain an impressive 22 temporary HP after casting Wild Shape. Incredibly, this is far from the only defensive boon granted while in Wild Shape.

Armor of Moonbasking can be found in the Undercity Ruins, a region of the Lower City Sewers. Here it is sold by Voiceless Penitent Bareki. The fact that it is only found so late in the game is a downside, but for users of Wild Shape, the wait is more than worth it.