Light armor placement

Tariq9898

I realized that almost every optimal build has 6 medium pieces and 1 (sometimes 2) light pieces for penetration.

But why is it always the head that’s light??

Isn’t it better to have light waist because there’s less armor sacrificed???

UNSeki

You are correct that waist (followed by gloves) are the most logical choice to use for light armor.

But people choosing headgear instead might be a habit of the time when outfit styles didn't exist and you could at most hide your helmet, meaning: there could people who valued the aesthetic of their outfit enough to sacrifice some armor only to keep a congruent belt with their armor (the non-matching head piece could be hidden instead).

tsaescishoeshiner

Might help if you shared the build you're looking at.

For example, if someone is wearing two sets that only come in medium (ie Deadly and Pillar of Nirn) and using a mythic jewelry piece, then they'd need to have 6 medium pieces minimum.

And since Monster helm & shoulders give a bonus for only having 1 piece equipped, they're often used to fill an extra item slot leftover. Since they drop in any weight, it can be your 1 light item. And helms are easier to come by than shoulders (they give the same armor amount, so either works).

Tariq9898

tsaescishoeshiner wrote: »

Might help if you shared the build you're looking at.

For example, if someone is wearing two sets that only come in medium (ie Deadly and Pillar of Nirn) and using a mythic jewelry piece, then they'd need to have 6 medium pieces minimum.

And since Monster helm & shoulders give a bonus for only having 1 piece equipped, they're often used to fill an extra item slot leftover. Since they drop in any weight, it can be your 1 light item. And helms are easier to come by than shoulders (they give the same armor amount, so either works).

Head: Valkyn skoria (medium)
Shoulders: Tzogvin (medium)
Chest: Orders wrath (medium)
Hands: Orders wrath (medium)
Waist: Orders wrath (light)
Legs: Orders wrath (medium)
Feet: Orders wrath (medium)
Necklace: Tzogvin
Ring 1: Pale order
Ring 2: Tzogvin

Rather than have Valkyn skoria be light, I gave the “lightness” to OW waist.

the1andonlyskwex

Tariq9898 wrote: »

tsaescishoeshiner wrote: »

Might help if you shared the build you're looking at.

For example, if someone is wearing two sets that only come in medium (ie Deadly and Pillar of Nirn) and using a mythic jewelry piece, then they'd need to have 6 medium pieces minimum.

And since Monster helm & shoulders give a bonus for only having 1 piece equipped, they're often used to fill an extra item slot leftover. Since they drop in any weight, it can be your 1 light item. And helms are easier to come by than shoulders (they give the same armor amount, so either works).

Head: Valkyn skoria (medium)
Shoulders: Tzogvin (medium)
Chest: Orders wrath (medium)
Hands: Orders wrath (medium)
Waist: Orders wrath (light)
Legs: Orders wrath (medium)
Feet: Orders wrath (medium)
Necklace: Tzogvin
Ring 1: Pale order
Ring 2: Tzogvin

Rather than have Valkyn skoria be light, I gave the “lightness” to OW waist.

Sure, but you asked why other people make their head the light piece. The answer is that they aren't wearing crafted sets (like order's wrath), so they don't have the flexibility to make one piece of a five piece set a different weight. With that limitation in place, they're better off with the 1 piece bonus from a monster set than with the small amount of extra armor they would get from putting their light armor in the waist slot (which doesn't have any options with good one piece set bonuses).

Tariq9898

the1andonlyskwex wrote: »

Tariq9898 wrote: »

tsaescishoeshiner wrote: »

Might help if you shared the build you're looking at.

For example, if someone is wearing two sets that only come in medium (ie Deadly and Pillar of Nirn) and using a mythic jewelry piece, then they'd need to have 6 medium pieces minimum.

And since Monster helm & shoulders give a bonus for only having 1 piece equipped, they're often used to fill an extra item slot leftover. Since they drop in any weight, it can be your 1 light item. And helms are easier to come by than shoulders (they give the same armor amount, so either works).

Head: Valkyn skoria (medium)
Shoulders: Tzogvin (medium)
Chest: Orders wrath (medium)
Hands: Orders wrath (medium)
Waist: Orders wrath (light)
Legs: Orders wrath (medium)
Feet: Orders wrath (medium)
Necklace: Tzogvin
Ring 1: Pale order
Ring 2: Tzogvin

Rather than have Valkyn skoria be light, I gave the “lightness” to OW waist.

Sure, but you asked why other people make their head the light piece. The answer is that they aren't wearing crafted sets (like order's wrath), so they don't have the flexibility to make one piece of a five piece set a different weight. With that limitation in place, they're better off with the 1 piece bonus from a monster set than with the small amount of extra armor they would get from putting their light armor in the waist slot (which doesn't have any options with good one piece set bonuses).

That makes sense!! 👍🏼