Don't let its status as starting armor fool you: it's well worth upgrading Shepherd's basic armor, since it was designed as the only full armor set that would be available to players who went into ME2 without any add-ons installed. Mass Effect 2 does away with light, medium, and heavy armor in favour of customisable and non-customisable armor sets, as well as a variety of bonus sets that were originally DLC.īecause of this, there's a lot to be said for the game's default N7 Armor set. And when it comes to tech and biotics protection, the (again identical) Freedom and Hoplite Armors are unparalleled, though they're firmly middle-of-the-road in other areas. Meanwhile, the Crisis and Hazard Armor sets (which have identical stats) boast the best shield stats. The Colossus Armor has the highest damage protection of all armors in the game, and is often mentioned in the same breath as the Predator types as the joint-best armors across all types in ME1. The Predator L(ight) type is perhaps the best option if you're playing as a class that's limited to light armor, but characters who can access more powerful armor types would still do well to track down the Predator M/H for their strong shields and unusually high tech/biotics protection.īeyond these notable armors, choosing the best armor for you is a case of identifying what effect you most want to promote in your build. This is available from the Normandy Requisitions Officer once your Shepherd reaches Level 50 or so. However, if you're looking to change things up later in the game you might want to hunt down the Predator Armor. Available relatively early in the game, it sits comfortably on the higher end of all light armor sets in terms of stats. The Scorpion Armor is a staple in the first half of the game, particularly for the classes who need to stick to light armor.
There aren't a lot of duds, with nearly every set having its plus-points, but how useful you personally find each piece will depend on your Shepard and your preference of playstyle. With so much premium protection on offer in the Mass Effect series, trying to recommend the best armor for each game can be tough.