Ranger armor is widely considered the best armor overall in Derelict on Roblox for offensive playstyles, offering an unconditional 12% enemy armor penetration perk that scales across both melee and ranged builds. For players prioritizing survivability, Exile's armor stands as the top defensive set in the game thanks to its unmatched, permanent damage resistances.
Because base defense numbers between mid-game and endgame gear differ very little in developer Scrambledly Studios' soulslike RPG, armor choice revolves almost entirely around passive perks rather than raw defensive statistics.
Derelict Armor Tier List
Community testing and tier rankings categorize Derelict armors based on their combat viability in boss encounters and player-versus-player (PvP) fights.
| Tier | Armor Set | Primary Role / Class | Key Perk Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | Ranger Armor | Physical / Archer / Greatsword | Ignores 12% of enemy armor for increased physical damage |
| S | Exile's Armor | Tank / Survivability | Highest permanent damage resistances in the game |
| S | Thrice Armor | Fire Mage | Fire spells grant 12 Combustion, heavily boosting fire attack scaling |
| A | Verdant Tempest | Archer | Basic attacks grant attack speed stacks (up to 12 stacks) |
| A | Shadowsilver Armor | Tank | Void Barrier absorbs 60% of damage for a few seconds (16s cooldown) |
| A | Apprentice Armor | General Mage | Basic attacks and abilities shoot three damaging magic projectiles |
| B | Rogue Armor | Hybrid Physical | Grants moderate perks; helmet features dual set bonuses |
| B | Lunar Mage Armor | Mage | Two basic attacks fire a lunar projectile and add a 30% Arcane buff |
| B | Solar Mage Armor | Mage | Three basic attacks launch a hammer and grant a 50% Arcane buff |
| B | Frostbound Armor | Agility / Mobility | Attacks boost agility and movement speed |
| B | Electrum Threaded | Mob Clearing / AoE | Attacks chain lightning damage through nearby groups of enemies |
| B / C | Serpent Armor | High-Risk Melee | Poison on hit; heavy attacks trigger a high-speed frenzy that poisons you |
| C | Brute Armor | Early Tank | Pure flat physical defense; quickly outclassed by mid-game options |
| C | Plasm Ghoul Armor | Ability Cooldowns | Basic attacks slightly reduce active ability cooldowns |
| F | Leather Armor | Starter Gear | Basic starter defense crafted from Pale Leather with no combat perk |
| F | Arderus Armor | Support / Healing | Healing grants a minor, short-lived boost to Power and Arcane |
S-Tier Armor Analysis
Ranger Armor (Best Overall Physical Armor)
Ranger armor dominates end-game loadouts due to its flat 12% armor penetration perk. High-level bosses carry heavy defensive stats, meaning ignoring a portion of their armor produces far greater effective damage than standard stat buffs.
Top players frequently optimize this setup by wearing the Ranger Armor chestpiece and Ranger Leggings while equipping the Rogue Hide Hat (or Rogue Knight Helm). The Rogue helmet is unique because it carries two perks at once—benefiting from both the Rogue set perk and the Ranger set synergy.
To craft the complete Ranger set, your character must meet specific stat thresholds and collect key regional materials:
- Stat Requirements: 80 Vitality, 25 Archery, and 25 Crafting.
- Roguide: Three units are required, looted from hidden chests located at the Insurgency Camp and the Hollow's Ark Bonsai checkpoint.
- Tough Leather: Obtained by farming Insurgency hostile NPCs around the Hollow's Pass area.
Players leveling up their Crafting skill to the level 25 requirement can do so efficiently by smelting iron ore into bars. Those maining melee weapons who need level 25 Archery can craft a basic Short Bow and defeat enemies around the Insurgency Camp or practice on the Avarus Captain boss.
Exile's Armor (Best Tank Armor)
Exile's armor provides the highest passive damage reduction in Derelict. Unlike temporary defensive shields, Exile's resistances remain active constantly. This makes it the safest choice for players learning late-game boss attack patterns or tackling encounters with high outgoing burst damage where parry timing is difficult.
Thrice Armor (Best Magic Armor for Fire Builds)
Thrice armor is mandatory for fire-focused spellcasters. Casting fire magic while wearing this set generates 12 Combustion stacks. As Combustion stacks accumulate, fire damage scales exponentially, turning early spells like Crashing Embers into devastating boss-melting attacks.
A-Tier Situational Sets
Verdant Tempest Set
Designed specifically for bow users, the Verdant Tempest set accelerates attack speed with every landed basic attack, up to a maximum cap of 12 stacks. When paired with the Verdant Tempest Bow and its weapon art, Surging Squall, an archer can reach maximum attack speed stacks almost instantly. Community builds often pair this set with the Holy Quiver to maintain free health regeneration while staying at range.
Shadowsilver Armor
Shadowsilver acts as an accessible alternative to Exile's armor. When all three pieces are equipped, taking damage activates a Void Barrier that negates 60% of incoming damage for a few seconds. The major drawback compared to Exile's armor is its 16-second internal cooldown. Once the barrier drops, you take unmitigated damage until the cooldown resets.
Apprentice Armor
For mages not running pure fire combustion, Apprentice armor offers consistent DPS. Landing any basic attack or spell automatically launches three tracking magic projectiles. Unlike the Solar and Lunar Mage variants—which require landing two or three basic weapon attacks to trigger their buffs—Apprentice activates freely off spells, fitting smoothly into spell-rotation gameplay.
Low-Tier Armors to Avoid
- Leather Armor: The earliest craftable pale leather set from Gideon’s Camp. It provides no perks and should be replaced as soon as you clear Vagrant Sigvard and reach the Feeding Grounds.
- Arderus Armor: Requires the user to cast healing skills to receive a minor boost to Arcane and Power. Because healing downtime reduces active damage windows, the buff does not compensate for lost combat tempo.
- Plasm Ghoul Armor: Ability cooldown reduction sounds useful on paper, but standard dungeon and boss encounters in Derelict rely more heavily on weapon attacks (M1 combos) and stamina management than spell spam.
Vanity Sets vs. Combat Armor
The Roblox store page for Derelict lists several high-cost armor sets under Game Passes, including Rampaging Dragon, False Sorcerer, Shrine Keeper, Bloodflame Ruler, Angel's Plight, Thunderous Flash, Rebel's Attire, Aristocrat's Garb, Blacksteel Armor, Ashen Rose, Plague Custodian, and Raging Tides.
These items belong to vanity cosmetic collections (such as the Supreme Divinity, Dark Defiance, and Fallen Warriors collections). They are purely visual skins and do not provide combat stats, armor ratings, or passive perks. Real combat progression requires finding materials and crafting physical gear at an anvil.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the single best armor set in Derelict?
Ranger armor combined with the Rogue Hide Hat is the best overall physical setup due to its 12% armor penetration and double-perk helmet. For pure survivability, Exile's armor is the strongest defensive set.
Should I upgrade my armor defense early in the game?
Upgrading armor grades early is generally not recommended. Base defense values provide minimal damage reduction compared to dodging and parrying mechanics. Players typically save their upgrade stones and crowns for weapon upgrades, such as high-grade greatswords or bows, until reaching late-game milestones.
How do I get the Rogue Hide Hat?
The Rogue Hide Hat is crafted using materials found in the mid-game regions around Hollow's Pass and the Insurgency outposts. It is valued because its helmet slot inherits set perks from both the Rogue and Ranger skill trees simultaneously.
