Elden Ring: 21 Best Armor To Negate Fire Damage & Where To Find Them

Highlights

• Fire damage is a crucial mechanic in Elden Ring, catching players off-guard with its potency against overconfidence.
• Fire resistance armor is key to minimizing burn degree, allowing players to withstand common flame attacks and enemy tactics.
• From underrated sets like Blackflame Monk to top choices like Bull-Goat, armor selection plays a crucial role in surviving the game’s challenges.

Fire and Souls games have always had a successful marriage. And despite Fire being but a mere mistress in Elden Ring, it’s still a rather important mechanic in the game. Fire damage is no joke, and it can easily catch an overconfident Tarnished off-guard. Anything from the Magma Wyrm boss or even the dragons to those torch-wielding commoner enemies is bound to add fuel to the fire.

Luckily, there are ways to minimize the burn degree in Elden Ring. Armor is the most available and the least disruptive method of protecting oneself against Fire damage. Some players can probably guess an armor set’s Fire protection from appearance alone. Those flammable rags won’t do; for better fireproofing, these armor sets ought to keep the temperature down.

Updated August 12, 2024 by Vlad Mazanko: Fire has always been one of the most potent ways of killing one’s enemies. Such is the case for the older Dark Souls games, and Elden Ring continues this tradition to a certain extent. Players will want to avoid getting the same treatment from their enemies, which is why Fire resistance in Elden Ring is too important to ignore.

A lot of enemies in Shadow of the Erdtree are overly eager to wield flames, especially the notorious Furnace Golems. To defeat them and obtain new, powerful Hardtears, players must stack up on fire resistance armor in Elden Ring. This list has been updated to include the most valuable armor for mitigating fire damage across both the base game and the expansion.

21 Blackflame Monk Set

Fire Defense: 25.4

• Location: Drops from Blackflame Monk enemies near Temple of Eiglay in Volcano Manor or near Divine Tower of Caelid: Basement Site of Grace
• Physical Defense: 26.1
• Poise: 50
• Weight: 27

The Blackflame Monk Set is an underrated armor set because it’s quite hard to farm. It is, however, notably stylish, especially with the hood and the flowing robes. And of course, it has good Fire defense that allows players to withstand some common flame attacks.

These are worn by the titular priest enemies that players encounter all over Volcano Manor. Apparently, they seem to be in league with the Godskin enemies as they also possess the means to utilize and weaponize Blackflame to fight the gods.

20 Malformed Dragon Set

Fire Defense: 25.6

• Location: Defeat Draconic Tree Sentinel in Crumbling Farum Azula just outside of Maliketh, the Black Blade boss arena
• Physical Defense: 32.3
• Poise: 67
• Weight: 38

The Malformed Dragon Set thankfully isn’t a random drop but obtaining it is certainly a Herculean effort. It only drops from the Draconic Tree Sentinel mini-boss in Crumbling Farum Azula and he’s a tough fight because of the lightning attacks.

Funny enough, his armor is also one of the best when it comes to resisting Fire damage. That makes sense as Draconic Tree Sentinels are knights who specialize in fighting dragons. The added Fire defense makes good insurance for when their enemies decide to switch up.

19 Fire Monk Set

Fire Defense: 26.0

• Location: Dropped by Fire Monks (eastern Liurnia of the Lakes, Fort Laiedd in Mt. Gelmir, and Guardians’ Garrison in the Mountaintop of the Giants)
• Physical Defense: 27.1
• Poise: 46
• Weight: 27

The Fire Monk Set set is similar enough to the Blackflame Monk set. In fact, it looks like the orange or red variant of that armor. The stats are also somewhat similar between the two sets except the Fire Monk set gets the edge here a bit, especially in physical mitigation.

It has less poise, however, but the Fire Monk set makes up for that by being more accessible. It drops from Fire Monk enemies, and they’re more common than those blasphemous Blackflame Monk variants, so players shouldn’t have too much difficulty in farming all the pieces.

18 Royal Knight Set

Fire Defense: 26.1

• Location: Buy from Finger Reader Enia in the Roundtable Hold after defeating Loretta, Knight of the Haligtree
• Physical Defense: 31.0
• Poise: 53
• Weight: 36.9

The Royal Knight Set is a late-game armor that has goofy legs, so it’s understandable if it’s not that appealing as a fashion option. Stat-wise, the armor is pretty decent for something that doesn’t weigh too much. It has well-rounded defenses too.

Players can’t go wrong with this armor. It works well against any kind of Sorcery or Incantation and the high poise makes it ideal for trading hits, especially in PvP. In any case, do remember to grab this good armor after defeating Loretta’s original form.

17 Preceptor’s Set

Fire Defense: 26.3

• Location: Dropped by Seluvis after he dies in Seluvis’ Rise in Liurnia of the Lakes, near the end of Ranni’s questline
• Physical Defense: 12.8
• Poise: 27
• Weight: 15.9

It’s not just good armor against Magic but also when fighting enemies that love to burn their victims. The Preceptor’s Set is Preceptor Seluvis’ armor. Despite being mere cloth, it’s actually a great countermeasure against elemental and magic damage in Elden Ring.

Getting one is quite the headache though since the Preceptor Set can only be obtained from Seluvis’ corpse after he gets killed by assassins near the end of Ranni’s questline. Killing him prematurely won’t yield the armor set, sadly. So to get this armor for sure, make sure to attend to Ranni’s questline with the help of this guide and periodically check back with Seluvis in Seluvis’ Rise in the Three Sisters area of Caria Manor.

16 Verdigris Set

Fire Defense: 26.3

• Location: Dropped by Moore either upon killing this NPC at the end of his questline or during his questline depending on the player’s choices.
• Physical Defense: 38.5
• Poise: 100
• Weight: 61.6

After the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, the Verdigris Set has earned its place among the heaviest armor sets available in Elden Ring. With its very high weight, it provides maximum Poise and physical defense. The armor also boasts some of the best fire resistance in the game, making it a top choice for melee tank builds that prioritize high defense and an intimidating appearance. Additionally, the Verdigris Set features the highest Robustness of any armor in the game.

Obtaining the Verdigris Set is closely tied to an NPC named Moore, who wears this armor. Players encounter Moore once they reach Belurat, the Tower Settlement. The set can be acquired by either killing Moore (he can invade if players kill a Forager Brood Pest) or by progressing through his questline, which ultimately results in Moore’s death. Players can then retrieve the armor from his corpse.

15 Noble’s Set

Fire Defense: 26.4

• Location: East Windmill Pasture in Altus Plateau
• Physical Defense: 11.9
• Poise: 21
• Weight: 14.0

It’s not the best armor when it comes to taking hits, but it soaks up elemental damage and magic pretty well for something so light. The Noble’s Set is also rather simple and unobtrusive as far as armor sets go. The individual pieces can be mixed and matched without much of an aesthetic fuss.

Getting it is also simple. Players can head over to the northernmost part of the Altus Plateau. They can grab the armor set near some dancing women which is also near a windmill located north of the Road of Iniquity Side Path Site of Grace (the one with the large broken bridge north of Altus Plateau).

14 Gaius’s Set

Fire Defense: 26.4

• Location: Three pieces of this set can be purchased from Finger Reader Enia at Roundtable Hold after defeating Commander Gaius at the back of the Shadow Keep. To get Gaius’s Greaves, players need to kill the lone Wolf Rider enemy found at the same location.
• Physical Defense: 30.7
• Poise: 75
• Weight: 44.3

The Gaius’s Set is another heavy armor set added in Shadow of the Erdtree and is among the best overall from a defensive standpoint. While it isn’t the heaviest set, it offers excellent protection against physical and fire damage, along with a high poise value. The only potential drawback is its specific appearance, which may not appeal to all players. Mixing parts of this set with other chest armor could be the way to go if fans are aiming for a more stylish Tarnished.

Obtaining this set is no easy feat, as it involves defeating Commander Gaius, a formidable boss encountered at the back entrance of Shadow Keep. Gaius charges at players almost immediately upon entering the arena, making for a menacing battle. Interestingly, after defeating Gaius, players can’t purchase the full set from Finger Reader Enia. To complete the set and obtain Gaius’s Greaves, players need to search the area accessible after the boss fight and defeat the lone Wolf Rider enemy, who drops the final piece.

13 Banished Knight Set

Fire Defense: 26.5

• Location: Drops from Banished Knight enemies (Stormveil Castle, Castle Sol)
• Physical Defense: 35.5
• Poise: 72
• Weight: 41.6

A great heavy armor set that players can obtain in two variants throughout the game, the Banished Knight Set offers robust Fire damage negation, very high poise, and serious physical defense. What’s even better is that this is one of the best armor sets in Elden Ring players can get very early in the game by farming Banished Knight enemies in certain areas, like the Cathedral of Dragon Communion in Caelid.

The chest and helmet of this set come in two variants: unaltered, with some cloth covering the metal base, and an altered variant, without any additional fabric on top. Whichever appearance fans prefer, they can be sure they’re decently protected when fully equipped in this notable set.

12 Bull-Goat Set

Fire Defense: 26.5

• Location: Defeat Great Horned Tragot in Magma Wyrm boss room in Ruin-Strewn Precipice (accept Patches’ Volcano Manor quest first)
• Physical Defense: 38.5
• Poise: 100
• Weight: 63

Not every Tarnished will be capable enough to put on the entire Bull-Goat Set in Elden Ring, as it is by far the heaviest armor in the original game, granting the highest Poise value and unparalleled physical defense. It is also quite potent when facing fire-damaging enemies, although one might consider better options with lesser weight.

The appearance of this set is quite something, with two giant horns stretching from the armor chest, covering the wearer’s shoulders, and serving as additional guards. The design of the bearded helmet is based on an ancient Greek Phrygian helmet, with several minor differences.

11 Beast Champion Set

Fire Defense: 27.0

• Location: Defeat Recusant Bernahl in Crumbling Farum Azula, near Beside the Great Bridge Site of Grace
• Physical Defense: 33.5
• Poise: 72
• Weight: 41.6

The Beast Champion Set is a beautiful metal armor in Elden Ring, engraved with beast motifs and complete with a blue decorated cape (which players can choose to remove). However, beyond its looks, this set offers excellent defense properties, including very high Fire damage negation.

What’s even better is that players can obtain this armor very early in the game by killing Knight Bernahl at the Warmaster’s Shack in central Stormhill. Of course, players will miss out on his questline and won’t be able to summon him to help deal with some bosses, like the nasty Godskin Duo.

10 Scaled Set

Fire Defense: 27.6

• Location: Defeat Old Knight Istvan near the Limgrave Colosseum as part of the Volcano Manor contract quest
• Physical Defense: 31.0
• Poise: 71
• Weight: 38

Now for heavy armor. Well, not so heavy as the Scaled Set is still quite light and manageable compared to others in its weight class. It’s no slouch despite the lower weight as the Fire defense for the Scaled Set is quite stellar. All those scales in the armor give the wearer quite an advantage as they add up to all the defense. Overall, it’s a well-rounded armor with little to no drawbacks.

To get it, players will have to go to the Volcano Manor and join the Recusants by talking to Tanith and agreeing with her (just play along). Tanith will then give players a letter detailing an assassination target (it’s on the table in one of the locked rooms). Players can simply follow the marker on the map and kill Old Knight Istvan (the target) to obtain the Scaled Set.

9 Dane’s Set

Fire Defense: 27.6

• Location: Can be found under a waterfall below Bonny Village, in an area players can only reach via the Ruins of Unte area, by using the ladder in Shadow Keep to get down to a special teleport coffin.
• Physical Defense: 11.0
• Poise: 21
• Weight: 12.1

The Dane’s Set is one of the best light armor sets introduced in the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, offering impressive elemental defenses. Its fire resistance is almost unmatched, even by much heavier sets. For players who prefer not to wear bulky armor or who can’t afford the weight, the Dane’s Set is an excellent choice, surpassing most other armors in its class.

This set is worn by Dryleaf Dane, but surprisingly, it isn’t obtained by killing this NPC or completing Dryleaf Dane’s questline. Instead, players must make their way to the secret Ruins of Unte area by interacting with a teleport coffin hidden in Shadow Keep castle. The set can be found under a waterfall, requiring a careful descent from the cliffs.

8 Veteran’s Set

Fire Defense: 27.6

• Location: Buy from Finger Reader Enia after killing Commander Niall at Castle Sol Rooftop
• Physical Defense: 35.5
• Poise: 80
• Weight: 45

As visually appealing as it is heavy, the Veteran’s Set ranks among the top choices for defense in Elden Ring. It offers great poise and very good physical and Fire damage negation. With its huge helm and lavish cape (that some may wish to remove), it is a fitting set for the mightiest melee builds, even though this armor is available only during the game’s final stretch. To get this set, players need to buy it from Finger Reader Enia after defeating Commander Niall at Castle Sol.

For fun (and totally not silly!) results, try pairing this armor with Radahn’s Helmet with its dense red crest in PvP. Some opponents just might not stand the menacing look of such a Tarnished approach.

7 General Radahn Set

Fire Defense: 27.6

• Location: Buy from Finger Reader Enia in the Roundtable Hold after defeating Starscourge Radahn
• Physical Defense: 35.6
• Poise: 72
• Weight: 41.6

One simply can’t go wrong with General Radahn Set . Like the Scaled Set, it’s also one of the most well-rounded armor sets in the game. The weight is also manageable, and it has better poise compared to the Scaled Set. Of course, the physical defense is stellar since a demigod wore this armor.

Obtaining it is easy. Radahn is semi-mandatory and is just wandering on the beach overlooked by Redmane Castle. Players can simply walk into the castle and join the Radahn Festival to get a free ticket to the concert where Radahn gets dogpiled by a bunch of weaker warriors. Once Radahn is defeated, players can head back to Enia in Roundtable Hold to buy his armor.

6 Black Knight Set

Fire Defense: 28.2

• Location: Pieces of the set are dropped by the Black Knight enemies found throughout the Lands of Shadow. The best way to farm this set is to kill Black Knight after taking the elevator down from the Castle-Lord’s Chamber Site of Grace in Castle Ensis.
• Physical Defense: 31.8
• Poise: 60
• Weight: 32.7

Black Knights are among the most dangerous new enemies (and minor bosses) introduced in Shadow of the Erdtree, and they’re worth battling for their impressive armor set. The Black Knight Set offers moderate Weight and Poise values, along with excellent damage resistances, including fire. It’s also a stylish set, featuring a spectacular helm and chest pieces — though, for some reason, the set is only available without a cape. The armor can be mixed and matched with other knight sets in the game for a unique look.

Each Black Knight has a chance to drop a piece of the set upon defeat. However, because these enemies are relatively rare, players may need to farm them to collect the full set. The most convenient farming location is near the elevator by the Castle-Lord’s Chamber Site of Grace in Castle Ensis. Taking the elevator down allows players to backstab the nearby Black Knight. Additionally, farming Black Knights can yield plenty of Smithing Stones.

5 Omen Set

Fire Defense: 28.3

• Location: Finish Dung Eater’s questline or kill him in his prison in the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds at the Leyndell Royal Capital
• Physical Defense: 34.9
• Poise: 91
• Weight: 55

Worn by Dung Eater, whom players are introduced to in the very first Elden Ring cinematic, this armor set is not an easy one to obtain but is definitely among the best (and heaviest) players can lay their hands on. To get this set, players need to find and free Dung Eater in his prison, located at the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds at the Leyndell Royal Capital.

With its striking design, nearly peak poise value, and great Fire damage negation, this armament stands out visually and is hard to match with any other heavy armor sets in the game. Additionally, each piece of the Omen Set increases the damage of Omen Bairn and Regal Omen Bairn by 5%, for a total of 20% extra damage — something not too many armor sets in the game can offer.

4 Solitude Set

Fire Defense: 28.3

• Location: Dropped by Blackgaol Knight found in the Western Nameless Mausoleum, west of the Scorched Ruins Site of Grace.
• Physical Defense: 35.6
• Poise: 96
• Weight: 57.1

The Solitude Set is one of the most formidable and heaviest armor sets introduced in the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. It offers exceptional defense against nearly all damage types, including fire. Its brutal appearance speaks to its design, appealing to heavy melee knights who favor wielding colossal weapons and dominating enemies through sheer Strength. Players can even alter the Solitude Set’s appearance by removing its cape, giving it an even more imposing, all-metal look.

One of the great things about this set is that it can be obtained relatively early after reaching the Shadow Realm. However, acquiring it involves a challenging boss battle against the Blackgaol Knight, located in the Western Nameless Mausoleum. It’s advisable to gather some Scadutree Fragments before this fight to increase one’s chances of survival.

3 Lionel’s Set

Fire Defense: 28.9

• Location: Lower Capital Church Site of Grace in Leyndell, Royal Capital
• Physical Defense: 33.5
• Poise: 86
• Weight: 50.5

There’s nothing middle-of-the-road about this armor set. Lionel’s Set , apart from being well-rounded both literally and figuratively, is also built for players who like to tank hits like a sumo wrestler. The armor’s defense values thus favor lots of Fire protection along with an impressive amount of physical.

But the real star here is the poise value. This protects the players from getting staggered by torch-wielding enemies. Players can find the armor on the bed next to the Lower Capital Church Site of Grace in Leyndell, Royal Capital. It’s on the streets on the ground level, near the main street of the city.

2 Tree Sentinel Set

Fire Defense: 32.9

• Location: Auriza Hero’s Grave dungeon in Altus Plateau after completing the chariot puzzle
• Physical Defense: 35.5
• Poise: 82
• Weight: 45

The Tree Sentinel Set is the very armor that the Tree Sentinel wears but sadly, he doesn’t drop these shiny gold duds. Players will have to go to the Auriza Hero’s Grave dungeon in Altus Plateau to the east outside the inner walls of Leyndell, Royal Capital. Unlocking this dungeon requires a Stonesword Key.

Getting the Tree Sentinel Armor is also hard and doesn’t involve a boss fight but rather, dismantling the chariots through a puzzle. Players will have to drop down to the floor openings along the chariots’ paths to find the passage that leads to the puzzle that can destroy the chariots. Once they have solved this puzzle, the Tree Sentinel Set is automatically given.