Your armor in Palworld decides whether you survive the desert heat, the snowy peaks and tough bosses — it’s just as important as your weapon. This guide ranks every armor set by Defense, lists the exact unlock levels, and explains the heat- and cold-resistant variants you need for extreme biomes.
Pair your armor with the right gun from our best weapons guide.
Palworld armor tier list (all sets & Defense values)
| Armor | Defense | Resistance | Unlock level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloth Outfit | 15 | — | 4 |
| Tropical Outfit | 25 | Heat | 9 |
| Tundra Outfit | 25 | Cold | 9 |
| Pelt Armor | 35 | — | 12 |
| Heat Resistant Pelt Armor | 45 | Heat | 16 |
| Cold Resistant Pelt Armor | 45 | Cold | 18 |
| Metal Armor | 70 | — | 23 |
| Heat Resistant Metal Armor | 70 | Heat | 25 |
| Cold Resistant Metal Armor | 70 | Cold | 27 |
| Refined Metal Armor | 150 | — | 37 |
| Heat Resistant Refined Metal Armor | 180 | Heat | 40 |
| Cold Resistant Refined Metal Armor | 180 | Cold | 41 |
| Pal Metal Armor | 220 | — | 46 |
| Heat Resistant Pal Metal Armor | 250 | Heat | 48 |
| Cold Resistant Pal Metal Armor | 250 | Cold | 50 |
The Home Sweet Home / Sakurajima content added Plasteel Armor as an even higher-tier top set — it pushes Defense above Pal Metal while reducing weight, and comes in Lightweight, Heat Resistant and Cold Resistant variants. If you’re on the latest version, Plasteel is the new endgame best; otherwise Pal Metal is the peak.
The best armor to aim for
For most players, Pal Metal Armor (Defense 220) is the realistic endgame target, with the Heat/Cold Resistant Pal Metal variants (Defense 250) being the strongest sets when you also need temperature protection. On the latest patch, upgrade further to Plasteel. The jump from Metal (70) to Refined Metal (150) to Pal Metal (220) is enormous, so prioritise reaching the next tier over min-maxing within one.
How to craft Pal Metal Armor
Pal Metal Armor unlocks at level 46 and costs 20 Pal Ingots, 20 Leather, and 4 High Quality Cloth. Pal Ingots and High Quality Cloth are the bottleneck, so a steady ore-mining and ranch operation feeds directly into your best armor — see our resource farming guide.
Why heat & cold resistance matters
Extreme temperatures drain your health over time no matter how much Defense you have. As the table shows, resistant variants usually match (or beat) the Defense of the base set, so there’s no real downside to wearing them in the right biome. Carry a heat set for the desert/volcano (where you farm Sulfur, Coal and Blazamut) and a cold set for the snowy Astral Mountains (Pure Quartz), and swap based on your destination.
Gear your whole crew
Crafting full high-tier sets for a team is a grind — far faster on a shared world. A Palworld dedicated server keeps your base and farms running 24/7 with full PC and Xbox crossplay, so everyone’s geared and ready for the next boss. Power up your Pals to match with our condensing & souls guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best armor in Palworld?
Pal Metal Armor (Defense 220), or its Heat/Cold Resistant variants at Defense 250. On the latest update, Plasteel Armor surpasses it with higher defense and lower weight.
What level is Pal Metal Armor?
It unlocks at level 46 and costs 20 Pal Ingots, 20 Leather and 4 High Quality Cloth to craft.
Do resistant armor sets have less Defense?
No — heat and cold resistant variants generally match or exceed the base set’s Defense, so wear them freely in the matching biome.
What armor do I need for hot areas?
A Heat Resistant set (Pelt early, then Metal, Refined Metal, or Pal Metal). It protects against heat damage on top of its Defense.
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