Pieces of Armor are items that reduce the amount of damage taken by the player by increasing a player's defense. The damage reduction is equal to half of the total defense of the armor worn, rounded up to the nearest whole number. However, the damage taken can never be reduced to less than one point. Each set of armor offers a bonus when the complete set is worn. All armor is crafted at either an Iron Anvil or a Mythril Anvil.

Defense Calculation: If a player wearing full Iron Armor (+2 for the Helmet, +2 for the Greaves, +3 for the Chainmail, and a final +2 for the set bonus which totals at +9 defense) took a hit that would normally do 12 damage, it would only inflict 7 damage (12-4.5=7.5 truncated to 7). However, if they took a hit that would normally do 4 damage, it would not negate the damage completely. Instead, the player would take one damage (As of 1.0.4).

Armor items will not grant any defense when placed in the social equip slots, although visual effects created by the armor will still occur (e.g., flames created by Molten Armor). This does not include light given off from the mining helmet. As of the 1.0.6 patch, the Molten Armor and the Meteor Armor no longer glow.

When using a female character in 1.1, the appearance of the chestplate is different, however the helmet and greaves are still the same.

Tier 0: Mining armor

• Mining Helmet (1 defense)
• Mining Shirt (1 defense)
• Mining Pants (1 defense)

Set bonus: +20% mining speed

Total: 3 Defense

Tier 1: Copper Armor

• Copper Helmet (1 Defense)
• Copper Chainmail (2 Defense)
• Copper Greaves (1 Defense)

Set Bonus: +2 Defense
Total: 6 Defense

Tier 2: Iron Armor

• Iron Helmet (2 Defense)
• Iron Chainmail (3 Defense)
• Iron Greaves (2 Defense)

Set Bonus: +2 Defense
Total: 9 Defense

Tier 3: Silver Armor

• Silver Helmet (3 Defense)
• Silver Chainmail (4 Defense)
• Silver Greaves (3 Defense)

Set Bonus: +3 Defense
Total: 13 Defense

Tier 4: Gold Armor

• Gold Helmet (4 Defense)
• Gold Chainmail (5 Defense)
• Gold Greaves (4 Defense)

Set Bonus: +3 Defense
Total: 16 Defense

Tier 5: Meteor Armor

• Meteor Helmet (3 Defense, 5% Increased Magic Damage)
• Meteor Suit (4 Defense, 5% Increased Magic Damage)
• Meteor Leggings (3 Defense, 5% Increased Magic Damage)

Set Bonus: 3 Defense and Space Gun Mana Cost Reduced to 0
Total: 13 Defense; %15 Increased Magic Damage; Space Gun Mana Cost Reduced to 0

Tier 6:

Jungle Armor

• Jungle Hat (4 Defense, Increases Maximum Mana By 20, 3% Increased Magic Critical Strike Chance)
• Jungle Shirt (5 Defense, Increases Maximum Mana By 20, 3% Increased Magic Critical Strike Chance)
• Jungle Pants (4 Defense, Increases Maximum Mana By 20, 3% Increased Magic Critical Strike Chance)

Set Bonus: 16% Reduced Mana Usage

Total: 13 Defense; Increases Maximum Mana By 60; 9% Increased Magic Critical Strike Chance; 16% Reduced Mana Usage

Necro Armor

• Necro Helmet (5 Defense; 4% Increased Ranged Damage)
• Necro Breastplate (6 Defense; 4% Increased Ranged Damage)
• Necro Greaves (5 Defense; 4% Increased Ranged Damage)

Set Bonus: 20% chance to not use ammo while firing a weapon.
Total: 16 Defense; 20% chance to not use ammo while firing a weapon; 12% Increased Ranged Damage.

Shadow Armor

• Shadow Helmet (6 Defense, 7% Faster Melee Speed)
• Shadow Scalemail (7 Defense, 7% Faster Melee Speed)
• Shadow Greaves (6 Defense, 7% Faster Melee Speed)

Set Bonus: 15% Faster Movement Speed
Total: 19 Defense; 15% Faster Movement Speed; 21% Faster Melee Speed

Tier 7: Molten Armor

• Molten Helmet (8 Defense)
• Molten Breastplate (9 Defense)
• Molten Greaves (8 Defense)

Set Bonus:+ 17% Extra Melee Damage
Total: 25 Defense; 17% Extra Melee Damage

Tier 8: Cobalt Armor

Tier 9: Mythril Armor

Tier 10: Adamantite Armor

Tier 11: Hallowed Armor

Crafting

The Hallowed Armor is crafted by using each of the new 1.1 armors (Cobalt, Mythril, Adamantite)

To craft the Hallowed 'mask' for the melee set you'd need to have all 3 of the previous armors' mentioned, helmets. Therefore to create the Hallowed mask you'd need - Cobalt Helmet, Mythril Helmet, Adamantite Helmet + 20 souls of sight obtained by The Twins.

The Greaves and Plate Mail are crafted in the exact same way but for the plate mail you will need 20 Souls of Might obtained from The Destroyer and for the Greaves you will need 20 Souls of Fright obtained from Skeletron Prime.

Note

• The highest defense you can get is 85 by wearing the full Hallowed Melee set with full warding (+4 Defense) Accessories (with Obsidian Skull, Shackle, Cobalt Shield, Moon Charm (during full moon) and Obsidian Shield), Bowl of Soup buff and Ironskin Potion.