It really depends on the sets you're using. Monster sets are typically used for you off-wieght pieces simply because they're a part of most builds and they come in all three weight classes. Ideally chest and legs would be best for heavy because they offer the biggest boost to amor, waist and I think hands would be best if your off weights were light because they have the least impact on armor. So if your two 5 piece sets are both light or both medium then you monster set is the only choice.

If you have say a medium set and a heavy set you can use jewelry, chest and legs for the heavy. Most people don't bother with that since it's a small difference and not always worth the extra inventory (due to common farming practices). Of course, with the set collection system only farming specific sets in specific pieces is somewhat less of an issue.

If you're using crafted sets you can of course craft in whatever weight you like bypassing any complications.

Based on the responses so far, it seems that nobody fully understood my question. I really don't need to know about the set collection or about the game mechanics of monster sets. I only referenced it since online guides recommend monster set helm/shoulder as the heavy in 5/2 mixing.

I am trying to determine if it makes a difference if I have to choose helm/shoulder because of the monster set OR can I choose chest and my choice of helm/shoulder/leg/feet for the purpose of damage mitigation.

Firstmep wrote: »

Depends on what you have available.
Not every set is available in every weight, if you can get heavy chest piece, it's going to give you more mitigation than head or shoulders, but it doesn't make a massive difference in Pve, so head and shoulders are fine.

@Firstmep So are you saying that I can mix any of the 2 heavy with chest/head/shoulder/leg/feet?

Fyi head gives same as chest/legs. It is considered a "big" piece.

lyx10679 wrote: »

Based on the responses so far, it seems that nobody fully understood my question.

People did understand your question.
Usually you wear sets only available in the weight of the main resource of your character (stamina or magicka). Most of the magicka sets are only available in light armor and stamina sets only in medium. So if you want to receive the undaunted bonus, you have no choice but to use helmet and shoulder in a different weight - although in theory the chest pice would be better for resistance.

If you are a stamina build then heady heavy and shoulders light is Very close to optimal without being restricted by the armor types of the sets you are using.

If a magic build, head heavy is close to optimal again, but medium shoulders is not. But it is often worth going for imo for convenience again. Small amount of potential armor lost.

validifyedneb18_ESO wrote: »

...5/2 is not done..

It's rarely done too e.g. with Medusa or Elfbane

People keep repeating the same advice about monster sets because it is far more important to wear complete sets and 5 pieces of your primary armor type than to worry about what types are in your other two slots.

Most sets only come in one armor weight, so if you want to wear two complete 5-piece sets and a monster set (usually the optimal setup, unless you're running a mythic item or a unique weapon), the sets you choose usually dictate where your off-weights are going to go. If your 5 piece sets are both light armor, then you're going to be stuck with your heavy/medium pieces in the head and shoulder slots. On the other hand, if one of your 5 piece sets is already an off type for your build (or crafted), you have more flexibility to put your heaviest pieces in the chest and leg slots (which will give slightly more mitigation).

lyx10679 wrote: »

If you did read my question, you would understand that I already understand the weight of the main resource of my toons and that I already understand the Undaunted bonus. My question was pertaining to the off-weight pieces and whether it makes a difference to have those pieces be helm/shoulder because of the monster set or to focus on the defensive mileage.

Pardon, but I think you don't understand the answers. If you are e.g. a magicka character you usually use two light armor sets. Most of the people use Mother Sorrow + Siroria or Mother Sorrow + False God --> so the only options you have left for different weights are head and shoulders.

Of course you can drop monster sets completely, but you loose damage. You can also run around naked, if you want...

the1andonlyskwex wrote: »

Most sets only come in one armor weight, so if you want to wear two complete 5-piece sets and a monster set (usually the optimal setup, unless you're running a mythic item or a unique weapon), the sets you choose usually dictate where your off-weights are going to go. If your 5 piece sets are both light armor, then you're going to be stuck with your heavy/medium pieces in the head and shoulder slots. On the other hand, if one of your 5 piece sets is already an off type for your build (or crafted), you have more flexibility to put your heaviest pieces in the chest and leg slots (which will give slightly more mitigation).

Unless I am mistaken or that ZOS has radically changed their system, all Overland and Craftable sets come with 7 pieces that fill all armor slots as well as all types of jewelry and weapons. The only difference is that Overland sets are fixed in weight to their respective sets. We have to pick and choose our 5 pieces to get the bonuses. So I do not know how a player will only end up with head and shoulders as off-weight leftover if they happen to choose an Overland or Craftable piece in those slots.

So what pure 5-piece set that do not come with head and shoulders are you referring to?

WrathOfInnos wrote: »

Chest > Head = Shoulder = Legs = Boots > Gloves > Belt

So yes from a mitigation perspective your best option is heavy chest. The difference is pretty small though, so not a big dealership if sets force you into light chest with heavy or medium on head and shoulders.

You can check armor for any piece here: https://elderscrollsonline.wiki.fextralife.com/Armor

Only this person got the weights right. Go for heavy chest and light belt when possible. For magicka builds always go 5L/2H. Medium armor is more versatile and tanky, so you can afford to go 5/2, 6/1 or even 7M.

Athan1 wrote: »

WrathOfInnos wrote: »

Chest > Head = Shoulder = Legs = Boots > Gloves > Belt

So yes from a mitigation perspective your best option is heavy chest. The difference is pretty small though, so not a big dealership if sets force you into light chest with heavy or medium on head and shoulders.

You can check armor for any piece here: https://elderscrollsonline.wiki.fextralife.com/Armor

Only this person got the weights right. Go for heavy chest and light belt when possible. For magicka builds always go 5L/2H. Medium armor is more versatile and tanky, so you can afford to go 5/2, 6/1 or even 7M.

Yes, I am doing that right now until I can afford or acquire a monster set. I do a lot of solo PvE because I like Zone Story and map clearing, etc.

the stats gain is insignificant between 5/1/1 to 5/2 or even better 6/1. It is just 2%-4% max stats. If instead you wear nothing different, you get different bonuses for your actual build type of what you need.
for example light armor 5/1/1, you get 0% mag recovery and 0% mag cost reduction, for 4% max mag. You do this only if mag sustain is no issue to you
for example light armor 6/1, you get 4% mag recovery and 2% mag cost reduction, for 2% max mag. Again if you need some sustain you put more light armor.
for example light armor 7/0, you get 8% mag recovery and 4% mag cost reduction. for 0% max mag. This is the best because actually you can put more damage glyphs or sets on you.
Note that i specified those above values as only added to the default 5 pieces (20% mag recovery, 10% cost reduction, 2% max mag). (see https://eso-skillbook.com/skill/evocation and https://eso-skillbook.com/skill/undaunted-mettle ).
You don't care for 2%-4% max health and max stam as a magicka damage dealer (apply everything opposite for stam).
So if you have no sustain problems, you get insignificant damage boost that you could get elsewhere by moving the sustain into the armor pieces.

and for those about the type of armor heavy to be chest legs or whatever, chest is the biggest armor piece, followed by legs head shoulders boots all equal, then gloves and then belts. Just check for yourself here https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Special:EsoBuildEditor (go to items tab and place heavy pieces everywhere and compare armor added). This is also insignificant armor increase which you don't care about either as a damage dealer.

if for solo content or unoptimized groups, it's better to run 5/1/1 because you will be using all stats, but you can also alter it depending on your sustain and needs, for example i run 5/2 just for the extra armor from 2 pieces heavy, i don't care for cost reduction and sustain from my other resource. If i am in 5 light, i don't care to have 2% stamina cost reduction or 4% stamina recovery, it's totally useless to me, but i actually use some of the heavy armor stats.
.

lyx10679 wrote: »

Sergykid wrote: »

if for solo content or unoptimized groups, it's better to run 5/1/1 because you will be using all stats, but you can also alter it depending on your sustain and needs, for example i run 5/2 just for the extra armor from 2 pieces heavy, i don't care for cost reduction and sustain from my other resource. If i am in 5 light, i don't care to have 2% stamina cost reduction or 4% stamina recovery, it's totally useless to me, but i actually use some of the heavy armor stats.

As you have probably read from the previous responses, there is a focus on the extra 1/1 or 2 heavy to be in the head/shoulder slots for the monster set builds. Do you see any difference if those slots were in some other combination like chest followed by legs/head/shoulders/boots? In other words, should the 5 be slotted a certain way in your opinion?

since chest is the best piece for heavy with highest armor stat, it would be better to run chest if possible, but if u use 2 light sets u can't do that. However the armor gain is insignificant, especially if you play a damage dealer for example in light armor, you care to do damage not have 300 extra armor, that's 0.5% damage reduction (yes, not even 1%).
so since the extra armor is not important to be on chest, you pick head and shoulders because it's the most versatile. You may change your sets over time or depending on the content. Having monster helms in the different weight type will help you alternate between the other sets you wear. And while the 5pc sets are locked to an armor type, monster helms can be held in any weight, so it's just about utility.
but it may be better to specialize in what you are doing. Going full 7 pieces can give u better benefits for your role, but that depends on your sustain.