The key to any hunt, either in the main series Monster Hunter games or in Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflectionis your charge. Every piece of equipment is crucial to surviving the wild monsters you encounter.
While it's simplistic compared to the main games, it makes accurate loading that much more important. Armor comes as a lot, although its various resistances and skills are incredibly important to consider, and these are the best.
Each armor shown here has its level three values.
Sinister Armor – Magnamalo
- Defense – 162
- Decoration Slots – 3
The Sinister armor set is made from Magnamalo's materials and draws heavily from its aesthetic inspirations, and it's amazing, especially for how easily you can get it. No fancy materials needed.
In addition to respectable defense and three great decoration slots, it also comes with Hth Master (XL), which fills the affinity meter much more after winning a Head-to-Head, Blightproof (L) to negate Blastblight, and Fortify (M) to increase your Attack and Defense when you only have one heart left.
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection – 9 Best Late Game Monsters
Mutations apparently only make you stronger.
Death Garon Armor – Ebony Odogaron
- Defense – 164
- Decoration Slots – 1
Like the Sinister set, the Death Garon set is very easy to make, requiring only the Ebony Odogaron and materials that you probably already have plenty of from other monsters.
Its resistances aren't great overall, though it makes up for it with its skill. Salt In Wound (L), Fortify (L) and Dragon Attack Boost (L) all make you a tougher opponent when backed into a corner while making it easier to damage the enemy.
Goss Harag Armor – Goss Harag
- Defense – 164
- Decoration Slots – 3
Even though the Goss Harag set is a full ten points in defense over some of the other endgame sets, it still holds up amazingly well against these armors, much of it due to its versatility.
In addition to respectable resistances and three decoration slots, the set also comes with Heroics (L), Dragon Buster (L) and Health Boost (M) skills, making it even easier to stay alive in tougher battles.
Zinogre U Armor – Stygian Zinogre
- Defense – 168
- Decoration Slots – 1
Crafted from the materials of the Stygian Zinogre, this armor set lives up to the legacy of the monster it came from. The Zinogre U set, while having fairly average resistances, has good defense.
You only get a single decoration slot, but the skills help alleviate this. Dragon Atk Boost (XL), Dancer (L) and Partner (M) all ensure you always hit hard, provided you can keep dodging attacks.
Rath Soul Armor – Azure Rathalos
- Defense – 168
- Decoration Slots – 2
Ratha and Ratha V aren't the only Rathalos in the game, with both regular and mutated versions roaming Serathis. And Azure Rathalos even comes with its own armor set, the Rath Soul armor.
The defense and decoration slots are good, and the resistances are decent, but the skills are where it really shines. Critical (XL), Critical Affinity (XL) and All-Out (L) ensure that you take massive damage, provided you can handle the stamina cost.
Arkvulcan Armor – Arkveld
- Defense – 170
- Decoration Slots – 1
Taken straight from Monster Hunter Wilds, the Arkvulcan set doesn't offer the same build versatility as the Arkveld weapons do, instead giving you the benefits of the Arkveld itself. Which means you get incredible resistance coverage.
In addition to the very good 170 Defense, the Arkvulcan set also comes with Synchronize (XL), Stamina Surge (L), and Tenacity (M) Skills, giving you stronger dual attacks, better stamina regen, and the ability to survive a fatal attack.
Malzeno Armor – Malzeno
- Defense – 170
- Decoration Slots – 1
In addition to already being one of the coolest monsters the series has introduced in recent years, the Malzeno also comes with a plethora of very attractive gear, both aesthetically and functionally.
While you only get a single decoration slot, you get decent resistances and very good skills. Self-Heal (XL), Weak Point (L) and Crit-Heal (M). You get Crits easier and you heal no matter what.
Gravios U Armor – Black Gravios
- Defense – 170
- Decoration compartment – 2
Despite being a relatively unassuming monster, Black Gravios is strangely one of the best in the game in every respect. They are awesome as a Monstie, they offer awesome weapons, and you can make awesome armor out of them too.
In addition to decent customization with the two decoration slots, you also get the Potential (L), Antiburn (L), and Dragon Buster (M) skills, making you generally more robust while increasing your Wyvernfell damage.
Tentacle Armor – Namielle
- Defense – 174
- Decoration compartment – 1
Namielle is quite an enticing battle, a clash between Thunder and Water. And while their gear never offers quite the same excitement, they're still some of the best in the game for a variety of reasons.
The tentacle set is tied for the highest defense value, but its skills really make up for it. All-Out (XL), Stamina Boost (L), and Stamina Surge (L) give you much more powerful attacks while functionally negating the extra Stamina cost.
Rimeguard Armor – Velkhana
- Defense – 174
- Decoration compartment – 1
Despite their fearsome nature as Iceborne's flagship monster, Velkhana are incredibly manageable in combat here, with numerous Fire attacks more than enough to take them down and allow you to make their very powerful armor set.
The Rimeguard armor is tied for the highest defense value. As is usually the case with armor with only a single decoration slot, it's the skills that steal the show. Kinship SKill+ (XL), Panacea (L) and Divine Blessing (L) help you resist damage and status effects, while making Kinship attacks even more powerful.
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection – 10 Monsties that need to be added as DLC
There's a lot to choose from, but here are some of our favorite monsters we'd love to see!
