It’s always the cool-looking weapons in the Final Fantasy series that get all the love, especially when it comes to standouts like Cloud’s Buster Sword, Barret’s Gatling Gun, and even Aerith’s staff weapons. However, while the armor pieces may not be not as flashy, they have just as much importance on the battlefield as the weapons in Final Fantasy VII Remake.

As one would expect from armor, selecting the correct pieces to keep that party protected and knowing their strengths and weaknesses will go a long way in deciding the outcome of the fight. There are a lot of items in the game to collect and it can take a long time to get them all, but knowing which ones are worth investing in will make the experience much smoother. Let’s take a look at the best armor pieces in the game.

14 Iron Bangle

  • The Iron Bangle can be purchased from the Sector 7 weapons shop in Chapter 2.

The Iron Bangle is a solid piece of armor that is described in the game as “an armband crafted from iron. A sophisticated accouterment with a reasonable price tag.”

It is has a slot for Materia and has well-balanced defense stats against magic and physical attacks, scoring 16 on each. While it is a pretty basic piece of armor it will likely stay attached to your chosen party members until at least Chapter 5, if not beyond. While the Midgar Bangle, Shinra Bangle, and the Corneo Armlet offer better stats, they can only be obtained via some promotional DLC codes, making the Iron Bangle more easily accessible.

13 Studded Bracer

  • The Studded Bracer is available in Chapter 8: The Budding Bodyguard and will be a reward for completing the side quest “Paying Requests.”
  • It will also become available in the Wall Market Weapons Shop for 3,200 Gil after Aerith has joined.

The Studded Bracer is a piece of armor that is described in the game as a “spiky bracer worn to express one’s inner rebel.”

While it has weaker magic defense stats than the Iron Bangle at a value of just 10, its physical defense of 40 makes it a great choice for Cloud, who has naturally good magic defensive stats in other areas.

12 Mythril Armlet

  • The Mythril Armlet is worn by
  • Aerith
  • by default when she joins the party during Chapter 8 in the “Budding Bodyguard” quest.
  • It can also be purchased at the Wall Market Weapon Shop after Chapter 8, and there is one that can be found north of the Sector 5 town at Station Way.

The Mythril Armlet is the magical opposite of the Studded Bracer. It has 40 magic defense and 10 physical defense and two Materia slots. It is the perfect choice for characters with lower magic defense stats.

11 Titanium Bangle

  • The Titanium Bangle is obtained as a reward for completing the boss fight in Chapter 7: A Trap Is Sprung.
  • It can also be purchased after the battle from the Sector 5 Slums Weapons Shop and the Wall Market Weapons Shop for 2,000 Gil.

The Titanium Bangle is described in the game as being a standard issue for all Shinra military units. Just like the Iron Bangle, it is perfectly balanced with its stats sitting at 25 for both physical and magic defense, making it one of the best items in the game.

10 Gothic Bangle

  • The Gothic Bangle will become available in Chapter 11: “Haunted from the Maintenance Hall” area on the east side of the Switchyard after interacting with crane consoles and obtaining it from a chest.
  • It can also be purchased from the Weapon Shops in the Sector 5 and 6 slums after completing the above quest.

Like the Iron and Titanium Bangles before it, the Gothic Bangle is designed to be perfectly balanced, offering the players equal protection. It has magic and physical defense stats of 33 and three single Materia slots.

9 Cog Bangle

  • The Cog Banglewill be available in Chapter 15: The Day Midgar Stood Still after defeating the Valkyrie.
  • It can be obtained from the item shop in the Shinra Combat Simulator Lounge for 4,000 Gil during Chapter 15: Belly of the Beast.
  • The Cog Bangle can be earned as a reward for winning the Cloud vs. SOLDIER Trainees battle on the Simulator.

The Cog Bangle is a well-balanced piece of armor with physical and magic defensive stats of 39 equally. It also has three open Materia slots that can help raise physical and magical stats even further.

8 Supreme Bracer

  • The Supreme Bracer is a piece of armor that will become available from the Shinra Tower Item Shop during Chapter 16: Belly of the Beast.
  • It can also be obtained as a reward for completing the Barret vs. SOLDIER trainees in the Shinra Tower’s battle simulator.

The Supreme Bracer doesn’t have very high magic defense stats at just 16, but it’s a great piece of armor in the physical department with a defensive stat of 62. It is a bangle that is designed to be used by Shinra’s elite guards and has three Materia slots. It’s a good fit for Aerith due to her natural role as the team’s magic caster.

7 Chthonian Armlet

  • The Chthonian Armlet is available as part of the story content found in the INTERmission expansion.
  • It is obtained after defeating Don Corneo’s thugs in Chapter 1.

The Chthonian Arlmet is balanced with its magic and physical defensive stats at 42. However, aside from its perfectly acceptable defensive properties, it provides the wearer with a strength boost. This effect is further enhanced when the user also has the Gozu or the Mezu Drive accessories equipped.

Thanks to its strength-boosting properties, it would help make Sonon a tank fighter when combined with his natural physical strength and his best performing weapon the Indurate Staff, which features the Fighting Spirit ability.

6 Firebird Armlet

  • The Firebird Armlet is exclusively available in the INTERmission DLC mission.
  • It can be obtained after defeating Scarlet in INTERmission Chapter 2.

The Firebird Armlet is only available in the DLC chapter INTERmission as part of Final Fantasy VII Remake: Intergrade featuring Yuffie.

It’s a useful piece of armor that can be equipped to either Yuffie or Sonon. It has physical and magical defensive stats of 46. In addition to its strong stats, it prevents the user from incapacitation for one turn in battle. With Yuffie as the default lead, it’s a good piece of armor for her, to ensure she stays active.

5 Iron Maiden

  • The Iron Maiden is a powerful armor that is obtained from the Shinra Towers in chapter 16: Belly of the Beast after the party has obtained the keycard.
  • It can also be stolen from the M.O.T.H Unit miniboss.

The Iron Maiden has excellent physical defensive stats at 124 but its magic defense is a more conservative 20. However, its biggest drawback is that it has no Materia slots at all. It’s a solid choice for Tifa as she’s a close-quarters fighter that lands multiple combos.

4 Astral Cuff

  • The Astral Cuff can be obtained in Chapter 17: Deliverance from Chaos in Sector 0, Shinra Electric Power Company. It is on level 4 behind a glass window that Barret needs to shoot.
  • It will also be given as a reward for defeating the boss Jenova Dreamweaver.

The Astral Cuff armor piece is the opposite of the Iron Maiden in that it has massively high magic defense at 124 and its physical defense is 20.

Unfortunately, the Iron Maiden has no Materia slots at all. As a result, It’s a good fit for Barret as he has the highest natural HP in the party. Alternatively, it could be equipped to Tifa if her HP stats have been upgraded via the weapons upgrade menu (or attached HP boosting Materia).

3 Ninja Armlet

  • The Ninja Armlet is an armor piece that is only available as part of the INTERmission expansion featuring Yuffie.
  • It is equipped to Yuffie by default from the opening chapter.

The Ninja Armlet is Yuffie’s starting weapon for the INTERmission expansion content. It would be easy to assume that its stats aren’t that great with its defensive capabilities sitting at 38 for both physical and magic.

However, it’s one of the best pieces of armor in the game because it allows the wearer to double their AP for all the Materia that is attached to it. Furthermore, it has three available Materia slots, two of which can be combined. So, the potential for leveling up a Materia’s power is very high indeed.

2 Volant Armor

  • The Volant Armlet is exclusively available in the INTERmission DLC mission.
  • It can be found in a chest inside Shinra Building, in B14 Advanced Weaponry: Maintenance INTERmission during Chapter 2: Covert Ops.

The Volant Armlet is exclusive to the DLC chapter INTERmission as part of the Final Fantasy VII Remake: Intergrade.

It is one of the best items in the INTERmission DLC because it triples the amount of AP earned for all Materia that is set into the armor. In addition, the Volant Armlet is perfectly balanced with both its physical and magic defense stats at 44 each.

1 Chain Bangle

  • The Chain Bangle can be obtained at level 5 in the Shinra Tower after winning the battle against the Sledgeworm. After a scene with Professor Hojo, it can be found by walking into the next room and looting the chest in the corner.

The Chain Bangle armor piece has the most balanced defensive stats in the game. It has physical and magic defensive stats of 50, along with four Materia slots or two paired slots.

NEXT: Final Fantasy VII Remake: Every Summon Materia In The Game, Ranked Worst To Best