Fallout 76: 10 Best Ghoul Armors Ranked

Discover everything you need to know about the 10 best Ghoul Armors ranked in Fallout 76 and what makes the best one for your build.

Fallout 76: 10 Best Ghoul Armors Ranked
Fallout 76: 10 Best Ghoul Armors Ranked (Source: Bethesda Studios)

Armor in Fallout 76, armor consists of 5 pieces – arms, legs, and a chest piece. Choosing the best armor for your ghoul build is crucial as your survivability mostly depends on it. They reduce the incoming damage and protect against various threats in the Appalachian Wasteland. Leather, Metal, Combat, Robot, and Marine are the standard armor sets. Power armor in Fallout 76 is the real game-changer because it offers huge protection and radiation resistance, but you need to enter the power armor frame to use it. Armors like Secret Service Armor and Brotherhood Recon Armor offer excellent protection and customization. Most of the armor can be obtained during the early stages that provide minimal protection to your character, while other effective armor is acquired in the endgame. In this guide, we’ll discuss the best 10 Ghoul Armors in Fallout 76 and why they’re useful to equip while progressing.

Top 10 Best Ghoul Armors in Fallout 76 Ranked

Below are the best Ghoul Armors in Fallout 76, ranked from best to worst:

  1. Strangler Power Armor- The best ghoul armor and a variant of the Ultracite Power Armor.
  2. Ultracite Power Armor- It provides robust protection against physical, energy, and radiation damage.
  3. T-60 Power Armor- A military-grade power armor offering balanced protection across several damage types.
  4. X-01 Power Armor- A high-tech power armor that offers superior energy resistance and is best suited for Commando Ghoul build.
  5. Brotherhood Recon Armor- A Lightweight armor that provides a balance between protection and mobility.
  6. Secret Service Armor- A commonly used armor in most builds, offering excellent damage protection along with radiation resistance.
  7. Thorn Armor- A unique armor set crafted from the Thorn plant, offering decent protection to the equipped ghoul.
  8. Bosmith Armor- This is basically a hybrid armor set that combines elements of the Brotherhood of Steel and Smith armor.
  9. Civil Engineer Armor- A good armor to equip if running a melee ghoul build.
  10. Vulcan Power Armor- The lower tier armor with the worst defensive stats.

10) Vulcan Power Armor

vulcan power armor fallout 76
vulcan power armor fallout 76
  • Damage Resistance: 84
  • Elemental Resistance: 90
  • Radiation Resistance: 30

Vulcan Power Armor is the worst power armor in our armor-ranked list due to poor overall stats. It has a set bonus of 25% AP regeneration and 25% fusion core duration. This makes it crucial for maintaining infinite VATS.  Vulcan Power Armor provides a 25% reduction in fusion core consumption and a 25% increase in AP regeneration. You can also add the Gimbal Bracers mod on the Vulcan Power Armor to increase VATS accuracy and damage output. It’s best to have a star-powered mod on the chest. It also benefits from the 25% AP regen rate and 25% Fusion core duration set bonus that the Vulcan amor set provides. Add plus 2 agility on all pieces except the chest, which is to have Max AP density.

9) Civil Engineer Armor

civil engineer armor fallout 76
civil engineer armor fallout 76
  • Damage Resistance: 144
  • Energy Resistance: 287
  • Radiation Resistance: 181

Civil Engineer is the best medium armor and 9th best armor in our list because it provides excellent protection to your character in the game. A complete set of this armor adds a 10% chance to deal 150 Fire damage over 3 seconds to melee attackers. You can find the plans of the Civil Engineer by completing quests like All the World’s a Stage, Honor Bound, and Sins of the Father. However, the armor type doesn’t really matter for a Ghoul. What matters are the mods that you put on your armor for your playstyle. You can have chameleon as your one star, strength as your two stars, and three-star burning. If you don’t have a flaming sword or another fire-dealing weapon, you don’t need to invest in the burning mod.

8) Botsmith Armor

botsmith armor fallout 76
botsmith armor fallout 76
  • Damage Resistance:235
  • Energy Resistance: 110
  • Radiation Resistance: 110

Botsmith armor is decent armor to equip if you haven’t found Secret Service Armor in the game. This armor complements your Unarmed playstyle along with your build because it protects you from several threats in the area. Plans for Botsmith armor have a chance to be awarded from the Event Test Your Metal. This armor gives a robotic appearance, making it interesting in your build. It provides solid damage resistance, especially useful if you’re in close combat with high-level enemies. The helmet provides bonus Intelligence as well. Botsmith armor provides decent protection, especially for a non-endgame armor set. It is easier to obtain than other armor like Secret Service or Brotherhood of Steel Recon. Botsmith Armor is better than heavy Robot Armor.

7) Thorn Armor

thorn armor fallout 76
thorn armor fallout 76
  • Damage Resistance: 160
  • Energy Resistance: 120

Thorn armor is the 7th best armor in our armor ranked list due to its decent resistance stats. It grants set bonuses that make it harder to detect the player while sneaking. This causes the melee targets and attackers to bleed. Thorn Armor is a variant of Scout armor, a type of armor that provides a balance between damage and energy resistance. This armor is well-suited for stealthy and melee-focused builds. The armor is also known for its unique appearance with good damage resistance and energy resistance. The plans for crafting Thorn Armor can be purchased from Regs in Vault 79. While Thorn Armor is a good option for melee builds, it is not as good as Secret Service Armor for overall defense. However, this armor cannot be dropped, sold, or traded, but they can be exchanged for legendary scrip. If you’re running a Melee Ghoul build, then this armor is the best choice for you.

6) Secret Service Armor

secret service armor fallout 76
secret service armor fallout 76
  • Damage Resistance: 250
  • Energy Resistance: 220
  • Radiation Resistance: 220

Secret Service Armor is another good choice because it provides decent resistance to damage, energy, and radiation. It provides high damage resistance, especially for ballistic and energy attacks. You can choose the Shielded Lining on the Under Armor and Buttressed. It helps you stay alive longer in combat with its capability to reduce the effect of incoming attacks. You can improve the armor’s effectiveness with mods that increase damage resistance. It also gives you the ability to equip a jetpack. Secret Service armor provides good base stats and can be well-modded. Use Vanguard for boss fights and general survivability or Thru-Hikers for a good mix of poison resistance, strength, and AP acceleration.

5) Brotherhood Recon Armor

Ghoul Slayer’s Jet Pack Brotherhood Recon Chest Piece
Ghoul Slayer’s Jet Pack Brotherhood Recon Chest Piece
  • Damage Resistance: 300
  • Energy Resistance: 160
  • Radiation Resistance: 160

Brotherhood Recon Chest Piece is the 5th best armor for the players in Fallout 76. This armor is obtained through Daily Ops or purchased from Minerva. It offers a balance of agility and protection, making it ideal for skirmishes. Some players prefer Secret Service armor due to its radiation resistance and the ability to buy plans directly from Minerva, while others prefer Brotherhood Recon armor. You can craft the Brotherhood Recon Armor, but you cannot craft legendary versions of it. It boasts strong damage resistance, particularly against ballistic damage. This is one of the non-power armor sets that can be modified with a jetpack. This provides you with an extra layer of mobility and tactical advantage. You can craft the Brotherhood Recon Chest Piece at any armor workbench. Crafting requires specific materials, which vary depending on the armor’s level. The chest piece can be further modified with various upgrades.

4) X-01 Power Armor

  • Damage Resistance: 398
  • Energy Resistance: 453
  • Radiation Resistance: 453

The X-01 power armor is a set of power armor that is the best choice for all players. It offers high energy and radiation resistance and is a popular choice among players. It allows the players to mitigate the incoming attack’s effectiveness, increasing their survivability in the game. You can learn the plans to craft X-01 while doing the Enclave questline. It is also matched for energy resistance by the T-51b and outclassed by the T-65. You can craft the X-01 in both level 40 and 50 versions. When crafted, the X-01 will appear yellow and can be repainted. It protects against energy and radiation, with energy resistance matched by the T-51b. This armor has access to a variety of unique and powerful mods, including the Jetpack and Calibrated Shocks for increased carry weight.

3) T-60 Power Armor

t-60 power armor set fallout 76
t-60 power armor set fallout 76
  • Damage Resistance: 400
  • Energy Resistance: 370
  • Radiation Resistance: 415

T-60 Power Armor stands in the 3rd position in our ranked list due to its excellent resistance to physical damage and energy. However, this armor is best to use to defend your character from radiation resistance. T-65 Power Armor is a good choice to gain maximum protection, and it can also boost your damage resistance. Use this armor to gain a massive boost in survivability and armor protection. This is perfect for tanking damage in close combat, especially with the Onslaught perk card. It provides good radiation protection, stronger than the T-45, T-51, and Ultracite. Use it with effective mods to make this armor even more powerful, increasing your survivability in the game. T-60 excels at protecting against radiation damage, making it a valuable choice in irradiated areas. T-60 is easier to find and acquire, making it a good choice for players who are still leveling up. It offers decent ballistic protection, though not as high as T-51, T-65, or Ultracite.

2) Ultracite Power Armor

ultracite armor fallout 76
ultracite armor fallout 76
  • Damage Resistance: 453
  • Energy Resistance: 393
  • Radiation Resistance: 393

The Ultracite Power is the 2nd best armor on the list because it grants the highest damage and energy resistance in the game, similar to Strangler Power Armor. The Ultracite Power Armor is a powerful, level 50+ power armor model. This is similar to T-51b, offering high ballistic protection and protection against waterborne diseases. You can obtain it from the main questline or craft with plans. You can obtain a full set of Ultracite Power Armor by completing the “Belly of the Beast” quest in the main questline. Plans for crafting the armor can be found at Taggerdy’s terminal at Fort Defiance. Ultracite Power Armor can only be worn at level 50 or higher. This armor is considered one of the most powerful power armor models in the game, with high damage resistance. Some players have noted that repairing Ultracite Power Armor can be more expensive than creating new pieces. It does not have a set bonus, so you do not get any benefits from wearing a full set. The Ultracite helmet protects against contracting waterborne diseases.

1) Strangler Heart Power Armor

strangler heart power armor
strangler heart power armor
  • Damage Resistance: 453
  • Energy Resistance: 393
  • Radiation Resistance: 500

The Strangler Heart Power Armor is the best armor in our ranked list due to the protection it provides to the player during combat or while exploring. It is a set of Ultracite power armor that, when fully equipped, grants the wearer a set bonus. This armor adds acid damage to all armed attacks and makes nearby enemies take acid damage. It has significantly higher rad resistance than the Ultracite Power Armor, making it the best armor in-game from a resistance perspective. It has a distinctive appearance, making it a good choice for players who value visual variety. However, the crafting requires Vault Steel, which can be a resource bottleneck. It uses Ultracite mods and some valuable mods, like Calibrated Shocks. If you enjoy collecting all types of power armor, then the Strangler Heart PA is a good choice for any player.

FAQs about Ghoul Armors in Fallout 76

Which is the best armor in Fallout 76?

Strangler Power Armor is the best armor in Fallout 76 because it provides the maximum damage, energy, and radiation resistance that no other armor offers.

Which is the best armor for Commando Ghoul Build in Fallout 76?

The X-01 power armor is a set of power armor that is the best choice for all the players who are running the Commando Ghoul build. It offers high energy and radiation resistance and is a popular choice among players.

Which is the best armor for a Melee Ghoul build in Fallout 76?

Civil Engineer is the best medium armor in Melee Ghoul build because it provides excellent protection to your character in the game.

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