Armour Guide

Starter Armour
When you create a new PVE character it will already have low level started armour equipped, with no runes or insignia. Each armour piece will afford you a certain amount of protection, the lower the armour, the lower the protection. Armour rating is referred to as ‘AL’.


Upgrading Armour
There are two ways to upgrade your armour as you progress through the game.

Collectors
Collectors are located throughout the game and trade armour pieces in exchange for a number of specific items.
Links to Collectors by Campaign:
Prophecies:
Factions:
Nightfall:
Eye Of The North:
This is the cheapest way to upgrade your armour although each collector will only offer one armour piece so this method will be more time consuming to upgrade all 5 pieces of your armour.

For a full list of collectors see: http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Collector_armor

Armourer
Located in various Towns/Outpost. Armour pieces can be purchased for materials and gold. The amount of gold needed each time you upgrade increases. The maximum AL armour for each profession cost 1.5k plus materials
Links to Armourers by Campaign:
Prophecies:
Factions:
Nightfall:
Eye Of The North:

For a full list of armourers see here: http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Armorer


Armour Ratings (AL)
Upgrading your armour will afford increased protection through increased AL on each armour piece. Different professions have varying maximum armour ratings:

Assassin: Maximum AL per armour piece = 70
Elementalist: Maximum AL per armour piece = 60
Dervish: Maximum AL per armour piece = 70
Mesmer: Maximum AL per armour piece = 60
Monk: Maximum AL per armour piece = 60
Necromancer: Maximum AL per armour piece = 60
Paragon: Maximum AL per armour piece = 80
Ranger: Maximum AL per armour piece = 70
Ritualist: Maximum AL per armour piece = 60
Warrior: Maximum AL per armour piece = 80

For a full list of armour ratings and bonuses see: http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Basic_armor


Runes
Runes can be attached to each piece of your armour, one Rune per armour piece.

With the exception of Survivor & Attunement there are 3 types of each Rune:
Minor (Blue) +1 to attribute (no minus health penalty)
Major (Purple) +2 to attribute (-35 health penalty)
Superior (Gold) +3 to attribute (-75 health penalty)

Some runes are common and can be used by all professions:
Vigor: Minor +30 health, Major +41 health, Superior +50 health
Survivor: +10 health
Attunement: +2 Energy

Each profession has a specific range of Runes to compliment their attribute line and the type of build you want to run.

For a full list of profession specific Runes see: http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Rune


Insignia
Insignia can be attached to each piece of your armour, one Insignia per armour piece.
Some Insignia are common and can be used by all profession. The majority are profession specific and can provide additional protection, increase/decrease effects/conditions etc….

For a full list of Insignia see: http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Insignia


Armour Style
There are many different armour styles for each profession across the 4 campaigns.

With Collectors armour you do not have a choice.

Different Armourers offer a choice of styles, (more common as you progress thought he game).

For full armour pictures by profession see:

Assassin: http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Assassin_armor
Elementalist: http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Elementalist_armor
Dervish: http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Dervish_armor
Mesmer: http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Mesmer_armor
Monk: http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Monk_armor
Necromancer: http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Necromancer_armor
Paragon: http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Paragon_armor
Ranger: http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Ranger_armor
Ritualist: http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Ritualist_armor
Warrior: http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Warrior_armor
Common: http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Common_armor


Basic Armour
From both collectors and Armourers the maximum armour ratings are as shown above. Maximum rated armour will become available as you progress through the game.

Basic maximum rated armour cost 1.5k plus materials per piece.


Elite Armour
Elite armour is only available in the latter stages of each campaign and is always maximum rated.

Elite armour cost 15k plus materials per piece.


Obsidian Armour
Obsidian armour is only available by completing a number of quests in the Fissure Of Woe.

This is the most expensive armour in the game and at current prices will cost between 850k – 1000k.


Armour Aesthetics
Maximum Basic, Elite and Obsidian armour all have the same armour rating. The difference in cost is purely aesthetic, (how the armour looks).


Applying Dye to Armour
All armour can be dyed. Only certain parts of the armour will change by applying the dye.

To apply dye to your armour open up your Inventory (I). Click on a dye and then click on one of your armour pieces. A ‘Dye Preview Window’ will appear showing your character and the effect the dye will have on that armour piece. Press ‘Apply’ or ‘Cancel’.

If you want to change the colour of your armour you need to apply a ‘Gray Dye’ first. This will remove the existing dye colour and then you can apply the new dye colour.