The best offense is a good defense. And in the case of Monster Hunter Rise, that defense often comes down to the player’s ability to craft increasingly better armor. This is done by using the various monster parts and resources acquired during a hunt, which in turn makes it possible to hunt even tougher monsters.

This basic gameplay loop is what has kept the games in the series so addictive over the years. And as the popularity of the latest entry in the series continues to grow amongst fans new and old. What follows is a ranking of the best armor currently available, with additional information about their stats and the materials required to forge them.

Nargacuga S

The Nargacuga S is the High Rank version of the Narcacuga armor set. It offers decent defense against ice, water, and dragon-based attacks and monsters, but is comparatively weaker against fire and thunder.

Defense values, Armor skills & Decoration slots:

  • Defense: 300 Fire: -10 Water: 5 Thunder: -15 Ice: 5 Dragon: 5 Evade Window Lv. 5 Critical Eye Lv. 4 Evade Extender Lv. 3 5x Lv. 1 Decoration slots 1x Lv. 2 Decoration slot 1x Lv. 3 Decoration slot

Required materials to forge:

  • 10,000 Zenny 16x Nargacuga Scale+ 7x Nargacuga Fang+ 2x Nargacuga Tail 2x Wyvern Gem 2x Nargacuga Tailspike 5x Narga Razor 2x Piercing Claw 1x Great Izuchi Tail+ 2x Monster Hardbone 1x Narga Medulla 2x Remobra Hide+

Brigade S

The High Rank Brigade S armor is currently comprised of just the head and chest portions of the set. Both can be unlocked by getting the Hunter King and Rajang coins, and the remaining pieces of the set are expected to be included as part of a future update.

  • Defense: 310 Fire: 5 Water: 0 Thunder: 10 Ice: 0 Dragon: 10 Botanist Lv. 4 Capture Master Lv. 1 Geologist Lv. 3 Good Luck Lv. 1 Carving Pro Lv. 1 2x Lv. 1 Decoration slots 1x Lv. 3 Decoration slot

  • 45,000 Zenny 7x Hunter King Coin 6x Ace Hunter Coin 5x Bazelgeuse Coin 4x Rajang Coin 7x Barioth Coin 11x Monster Hardbone

Jelly S

The Jelly S armor set is one of several secret armor sets in Monster Hunter Rise. It is unlocked through a Mewcenary expedition in the lava caverns and can be crafted once they are able to bring you some Gothjelly.

  • Defense: 310 Fire: 5 Water: 15 Thunder: 0 Ice: 10 Dragon: 0 Divine Blessing Lv. 3 Blast Attack Lv. 3 Partbreaker Lv. 3 5x Lv. 1 Decoration slots 2x Lv. 2 Decoration slots 2x Lv. 3 Decoration slots

  • 45,000 Zenny 5x Gothjelly 2x Tetranadon Hide+ 4x Monster Hardbone 1x Novacrystal 1x Somnacanth Fin+ 4x Torrent Sac 6x Gracium 2x Spongy Hide+ 8x Carbalite Ore 1x Mizutsune Fin+ 2x Tetra Carapace+

Rathalos S

The Rathalos is one of the tougher enemies in Monster Hunter Rise, and once it is defeated, players are granted the ability to craft the Rathalos armor set. The High Rank version of the set boosts its base defense up from 140 to 310.

  • Defense: 310 Fire: 20 Water: 0 Thunder: -10 Ice: 0 Dragon: -20 Attack Boost Lv. 7 Partbreaker Lv. 3 Windproof Lv. 2 5x Lv. 1 Decoration slots 2x Lv. 2 Decoration slots

  • 45,000 Zenny 17x Rathalos Scale+ 6x Rathalos Wing 10x Rathalos Carapace 2x Firecell Stone 2x Rathalos Tail 1x Rathalos Medulla 1x Rathalos Wingtalon+ 3x Inferno Sac 4x Uroktor Scale+ 1x Rathalos Ruby

Zinogre S

Speaking of tough enemies, the Zinorge is one of the earlier ones players have to face in Monster Hunter Rise. The fanged wyvern does some serious electricity damage but is weak against water and ice. This is reflected in the armor set players can forge with its part, with the High Rank version granting up to 20 points of thunder resistance.

  • Defense: 310 Fire: 0 Water: -5 Thunder: 20 Ice: -20 Dragon: -5 Latent Power Lv. 5 Weakness Exploit Lv. 2 Constitution Lv. 3 4x Lv. 1 Decoration slots 1x Lv. 2 Decoration slot 1x Lv. 3 Decoration slot

  • 45,000 Zenny 2x Zinogre Horn+ 9x Zinogre Electrofur 3x Fulgurbug 2x Bishaten Fur+ 10x Zinogre Carapace 5x Zinogre Claw+ 1x Zinogre Plate 6x Zinogre Shocker+ 3x Thunderbug 1x Zinogre Tail 1x Zinogre Jasper

Diablos S

The Diablos S is the High Rank version of the Diablos armor set, which is unlocked after hunting or capturing the Diablos, a flying wyvern in Monster Hunter Rise. It offers decent fire resistance (15 points) but it is also susceptible to water, ice, thunder, and dragon.

  • Defense: 320 Fire: 15 Water: -5 Thunder: -5 Ice: -3 Dragon: -5 Guard Lv. 4 Stamina Surge Lv. 2 Offensive Guard Lv. 3 4x Lv. 1 Decoration slots 2x Lv. 2 Decoration slots

  • 50,000 Zenny 9x Diablos Carapace 4x Diablos Fang 3x Majestic Horn 1x Wyvern Gem 1x Diablos Medulla 2x Kestodon Caracape 9x Diablos Ridge + 4x Monster Hardbone 1x Diablos Marrow 2x Diablos Tailcase 2x Monster Keenbone

Sinister S

The Sinister armor set is unlocked once players beat the flagship monster in Monster Hunter Rise, Magnamalo. Defeating him opens up the endgame portion of the game. The High Rank version of the armor set players can forge with its monster parts has a base defense of 320 and some good fire resistance.

  • Defense: 320 Fire: 15 Water: -15 Thunder: -10 Ice: 5 Dragon: 5 Resentment Lv. 3 Handicraft Lv. 3 Flinch Free Lv. 2 Hellfire Cloak Lv. 4 2x Lv. 1 Decoration slots 1x Lv. 2 Decoration slot 1x Lv. 3 Decoration slot

  • 50,000 Zenny 2x Magnamalo Horn+ 11x Magnamalo Shell+ 9x Magnamalo Scale+ 1x Great Izuchi Tail+ 3x Magnamalo Scute+ 4x Magnamalo Soulprism 2x Monster Hardbone 5x Magnamalo Blade+ 1x Purple Magna Orb 1x Magnamalo Tail 1x Magnamalo Plate 1x Narga Razor

Ibushi

The Ibushi set is an endgame armor set with no elemental buffs. On the flip side, it is susceptible to both fire and dragon. What it does offer though is a base defense of 330, which maxes out at 401 points, making it strong enough to complete Hunter Rank 7 even while playing solo.

  • Defense: 330 Fire: -5 Water: 0 Thunder: 0 Ice: 0 Dragon: -10 Wind Alignment Lv. 5 Focus Lv. 1 Evade Extender Lv. 1 Guard Lv. 1 Flinch Free Lv. 1 Constitution Lv. 1 Stamina Surge Lv. 1 Power Prolonger Lv. 1 Evade Window Lv. 1 Slugger Lv. 1 Guard Up Lv. 1

  • 70,000 Zenny 2x Ibushi Horn+ 3x Ibushi Carapace 5x Ibushi Bluespike 6x Rathian Webbing 2x Ibushi Windsac 10x Ibushi Hide+ 4x Ibushi Claw+ 1x Wind Serpent Orb

Rakna-Kadaki

The Rakna-Kadaki armor set is another one with good fire resistance (20 points). This also makes it weak against water and ice, but it makes up for that with a base defense of 330. It is unlocked by defeating or capturing the Rakna-Kadaki, a large spider monster found in the Lava Caverns.

  • Defense: 330 Fire: 20 Water: -10 Thunder: -5 Ice: -15 Dragon: 0 Spread Up Lv. 3 Reload Speed Lv. 2 Constitution Lv. 4 Stamina Surge Lv. 3 3x Lv. 1 Decoration slots 4x Lv. 2 Decoration slots

  • 50,000 Zenny 12x Rakna-Kadaki Silk 13x Rakna-Kadaki Carapace 9x Rakna-Kadaki Sharpclaw 4x Rachnoid Silk 3x Monster Broth 2x Rakna-Kadaki Spike 2x Rakna-Kadaki Glowgut

Narwa

The thunder serpent Narwa is the final boss in the endgame portion of Monster Hunter Rise. Once defeated, players are rewarded with the ability to forge the powerful Narwa armor set. With a base damage of 380, it is currently considered the strongest armor set in the game.

  • Defense: 380 Fire: 10 Water: 5 Thunder: 10 Ice: -15 Dragon: -20 Thunder Alignment Lv. 5 Rapid Morph Lv. 1 Offensive Guard Lv. 1 Constitution Lv. 1 Critical Draw Lv. 1 Guard Lv. 2 Partbreaker Lv. 1 Artillery Lv. 1 Evade Window Lv. 1 Marathon Runner Lv. 1

  • 70,000 Zenny 2x Narwa Horn+ 13x Narwa Carapace 6x Narwa Tentacle 1x Thunder Serpent Orb 3x Narwa Sparksac 9x Narwa Hide+ 2x Zinogre Electrofur 5x Narwa Tentacle 5x Narwa Claw+ 3x Thunder Sac 2x Tobi-Kadachi Electrode+ 2x Elder Dragon Bone

NEXT: Monster Hunter Rise Complete Guide And Walkthrough