Best armor for a standard 2H build?

[Nobby]

So I'm planning on going with a 2H build. I think I'm eventually going for Lancelots sword but I was wondering what the best armor is?

I don't really like all the you have to be below x health or some such buffs but I was just wondering if lancelots armor is also worth it in that case?

I also don't really using heavy armor, I'm more focussed on dodging.

So far I think the duelist cloak & gloves are very good, but I was wondering which pieces are best for the other slots?

[Commisar Jon Fuklaw]

I will (again) recommend the Arcanist's set for 2H (or any other melee build). You don't get anything offensive out of it, but it's the undisputed best defensive armor set in the game. Upgrade each piece to +8 and you can face tank all but half a dozen enemies in the game on Veteran.

[Sven Bloodhowl]

Originally posted by Commisar Jon Fuklaw:

I will (again) recommend the Arcanist's set for 2H (or any other melee build). You don't get anything offensive out of it, but it's the undisputed best defensive armor set in the game. Upgrade each piece to +8 and you can face tank all but half a dozen enemies in the game on Veteran.

Even more hilarious if you buy the defensive spell from Maggot that gives you another flat % damage reduction for a generous duration. Might as well use all that Spirituality for something other than the armour set while you're at it.

[Commisar Jon Fuklaw]

Originally posted by Burusagi:

snip

I mean, there's a good chance you will find the first (of two) free Stone Skin spells before talking to Maggot unless you are beelining the main quests.

As an addendum to my original response:
Pairing a Priestess' Cape (and upgrading it to an unhealthy extent) with the Arcanist's armor set can reduce the number of enemies in the game that are capable of killing you from six to one. It's the Green Knight. But, like, you have to TRY to get hit by his axe in order to take a hit in that fight.

[Cy]

I am using a mix of crit chance, crit damage and melee damage increase parts. The duel knight gives good gloves and cloak, Lancelots breasplate for nice melee damage increase, Boots and pants that also either increase crit chance or damage. But I agree with Commisar Jon Fuklaw. Armor Value and health are as important as damage increase. Then there is also stamina to care about. Overall it really depends on how you want to play your 2h build/ what is most comfortable for you

[Sven Bloodhowl]

Originally posted by Commisar Jon Fuklaw:

Originally posted by Burusagi:

snip

I mean, there's a good chance you will find the first (of two) free Stone Skin spells before talking to Maggot unless you are beelining the main quests.

I wasn't aware it was available before act 2...?

[Nobby]

I'm mainly playing as a lightweight nut job zipping around, bonking people on their heads before they get a chance to do anything. So what om going for is more of a dodgey glass canon. So for me the priority is being lightweight and being able to dish out a ton of damage fast.

[JACKHAMMER RAGE]

Originally posted by Nobby:

I'm mainly playing as a lightweight nut job zipping around, bonking people on their heads before they get a chance to do anything. So what om going for is more of a dodgey glass canon. So for me the priority is being lightweight and being able to dish out a ton of damage fast.

Look into Lancelot's equipment. Stuff is amazing and is the weight is so freaking low.

[dande48]

I've had a lot of fun with two-handed heavy armor. There are a couple of crit-focused two-handed weapons, that you can combine with the lifesteal-on-crit and life-steal-on-heavy-attack perks, allowing you to stay at top health while just heavy attacking.

In general though, the best equipment is going to be "whatever is in the next area".

[Sven Bloodhowl]

Personally, I'm really enjoying the Hollow Sun set (aka "The Bleed set") because Bleed is the absolute goat.

[Blackdragon]

Originally posted by Commisar Jon Fuklaw:

I will (again) recommend the Arcanist's set for 2H (or any other melee build). You don't get anything offensive out of it, but it's the undisputed best defensive armor set in the game. Upgrade each piece to +8 and you can face tank all but half a dozen enemies in the game on Veteran.

All Arcanist does is give you mana shield, i.e. you tank hits with your mana instead of your health. And, well, obviously melee types tend to have no Spirituality, i.e. no mana beyond starting 100 and no mana regen to speak of.

Yes, you can use the Priestess cape, but it gives you regen based on your total mana. So with small total mana, you get small regen. Even at +20 upgrade.

And if you pump Spirituality to get a larger "health" pool and higher "health" regen, then you're gimping your melee combat stats.

So basically, it's a vicious circle where you get from bad to worse. Yeah, you can think you're doing well (because the game is easy even on Veteran), but in reality, it sucks.

The answer to defense issues is very simple - Armor Rating.

Every armor upgrade increases Armor Rating. Upgrade any armor to +20 (each piece) and you are basically invulnerable to damage.

I've got over 150 armor rating from my upgrades on the Royal and Usurper armor pieces (it's mage cloth armor with miniscule initial armor rating), and there is nothing that can damage me. I could have a total of 10 hitpoints, I'd still survive any encounter without any healing, even boss battles.

So, upgraded Armor Rating is the best defense.

Next, when choosing what to upgrade, the important thing to consider is that things can't damage you when they're dead. Since melee is so much more stunted than magic, you better make every strike count. Thus, in my opinion, best armor for melee is the one that gives damage bonuses. So when upgrading it, you're increasing both defense (Armor rating) and offense (Damage rating).

Of all the sets I've seen in the game so far, Lancelot's set is something you can get as early as Act 1, immediately upgrade, and get a huge damage bonus straight away without any conditions. Also, it's very light (important with recent weight reduction nerf), allowing you to comfortably get into light armor weight limit, giving you faster speed, more dashes, higher regen, etc.

TL/DR: Upgrading an offense-focused armor set, you're getting both defense (armor rating) and offense (extra damage). After a certain critical point, your armor gets so high nothing can damage you, and then it doesn't matter how high your health is, and there's no point to have mana shield.

[Arngrim]

Halfway through act 2 I just went with whatever gave me the most damage.
The hidden skill tree, life leech and two handers ability to stunlock most enemies in the game made most things a non threat.

[pathmax232]

Lancelot's set (Tomb 1 act) - best set armour in game for any melee

[Nobby]

I respecced and sold pretty much all I had gathered and got about 1.5 mil (largely thanks to wyrdbone arrows). So now I'm using Lancelot's sword (with 2* +10% gems) with, Lancelot helmet, pants & boots and using the duelist gloves, cape and I crafted a revenant chest piece of +9 which was still cheap to upgrade to like 16 which gave me +50% melee & weak spot damage.

Using the 7% crit ring and the 5% melee damage one and the crit necklace.

Think I'll be pretty much steam rolling through the game from now on.... don't even have my crit tree sorted yet and wooped the floor with the act 2 wyrdknight...

Oh and I haven't used any shrine yet. Want to wait for my second respec (to restock on money) before I gather all of them because I read somewhere you lose the shrine bonus if you respec.

[HelldayT]

I wanna try a Lancelot build. Massive Health pool, massive buffs at 20% HP + other proc from skill. Playing on Veteran. I just got it on lvl 21 but I need to wait for lvl35 to get the bonus. It seems to be the best offensive (but risky) build for 2H. Oh and it will stack with Laments.... Madness. I will use either the Cheese spell to lower my health or just gravity and see how it goes.

[jonoliveira12]

Titan Armour, which even upgrade the extra HP with every upgrade level. You get it in Act 2, from Beor.