Build dependable early protection
Follow the crafting chain for accessible protection:
| Station | Early equipment route |
|---|---|
| Copper Anvil | Wood and copper armor |
| Tin Anvil | Bronze armor |
| Iron Anvil | Iron armor |
When materials are limited and you are taking too much damage, completing repairable crafted protection is more controllable than waiting for a rare set drop.
Match a set to your attacks
For sets you already own, read the bonuses against the weapon route you use. Warrior supports physical melee, Ranger physical ranged attacks, Apprentice magic and magic-barrier abilities, and Witch Doctor minion-related abilities.
The largest armor number on one piece does not automatically make the whole set the best choice. Compare your actual equipment and the conditions of its set bonuses.
Equip and repair
Put armor into the character’s head, chest and leg equipment slots. An item in your backpack or an appearance slot is not equivalent to an active combat item.
At zero durability, a piece’s bonuses and set effects stop working. Repair it at the Salvage and Repair Station. Reinforcement improves attributes and durability, but consider whether the cost makes sense for equipment you may soon replace.
Use rankings with care
The 1.3 update changed existing armor and added equipment comparison features. This page does not reproduce a 1.2 tier list as a current ranking, or promise acquisition routes for every class set. Its scope is crafted early protection and choosing among sets you already have.