In other words, they don’t only offer fantasy worlds to lose yourself in, but the opportunity to be an awesome badass in these unexplored lands. Skyrim is notorious for how much of an overpowered badass you can become – if you put in the time. Alternatively, you can get some mods to help with the process. So let’s push your cool factor to the next level with these incredible custom sets of armor matching the legend of the Dragonborn.
1. Stormlord Armor
Check Out This Mod Armor in Skyrim tends to have a dark and gritty edge, that almost lets you feel how cold they must be just by looking at them. Well this Stormlord Armor by Christian Paskota achieves the same kind of chilly appeal, with dark metal and subdued dyes. It looks like something ancient Stark lords would wear in Game of Thrones – or what I would expect a Nord king like Ulfric would wear to battle against the Empire. With this armor on, the large pauldrons give you a buff look, regardless of your actual size. It projects the might and authority of a bear, and it’s undeniably badass.
2. Klear – Odin Valhalla Rising Rogue
Check Out This Mod If you’re not afraid to step away from Skyrim’s familiar style, consider this gorgeous divine warrior armor by Klear. The Odin Valhalla Rising Rogue armor combines a roguish style with materials and grandeur worthy of the Norse pantheon. Plus this outfit can be worn in different ways for different effects. Whereas the full suit looks decidedly mystical and almost alien, take away the helmet and the armored boots, and you’re looking like a powerful witch. Who says you can’t be sexy and badass at the same time?
3. Black Sacrament Armor
Check Out This Mod Another excellent option for badass roguish women is the Black Sacrament Armor by AmethystDeceiver. This skin-tight cuirass protects the wearer without restricting movement. Plus the optional hood and mask can hide your identity and help you overcome nasty weathers like blizzards or sandstorms. Once you’ve put this armor together, it’ll be the only one you want to wear – but first, you’ll have to retrieve each part from different areas of the map, all protected by powerful creatures. Can’t be a badass if you don’t earn it!
4. Imperial Tribune Armor
Check Out This Mod Imperial loyalists among you will love the Imperial Tribune Armor – a flashy and gloriously ornamented high-ranking military armor the Romans would be proud of. The high-quality materials, rich red dyes, and detailed adornments project an image of a wealthy nation – and power doesn’t get more explicit than an eight-pack sculpted onto your chest piece. Creator Gypsymama included heavy and light armor versions to accommodate a broader range of playstyles.
5. Wind Ruler Armor
Check Out This Mod Dark Souls veterans or Elden Ring hypebeasts will love 4thUnknown’s Wind Ruler Armor. It’s an ancient-looking set fit for a mighty knight from a fading era. The full-face cover, curly horns, and the white hair flowing from the helmet into a braid give it a mysterious and almost surreal aura. You also get a badass sword with obscure markings on the blade – surely in the language of a forgotten culture. I’d imagine this would pair nicely with some other Dark Souls-esque mods. But you can also check out the HDT SMP Patch to give every little string of tattered cloth (and your magnificent braid) physics-based movement that’ll make you look next-gen as hell.
6. Alternate Daedric Armor
Check Out This Mod Say what you will about dealing with Daedra – but if there’s one thing you can expect from most Daedric lords, it’s unbridled badassery. This also applies to Daedra-related items like the Masque of Molag Bal or the vanilla Daedric armor set. But mods exist to take everything one step further, and 4thUnknown’s alternate Daedric Armor turns the badassery up to eleven when it comes to sinister Daedra champion gear. The mod also changes the look of the two-handed sword and dagger of the Daedric set to match the new armor.
7. Kynreeve Armor
Check Out This Mod Another decidedly cool take on the Daedric concept is the Kynreeve Armor – created for the classic custom Dremora follower, Kynreeve Kahl. This plated armor gives the wearer a full-metal look that feels futuristic, despite featuring lore-friendly materials and crafting styles. Any character wearing this alternate Daedric armor has the menacing aura of a scorpion, and an outer shell like a turtle’s. Modder Elleh made this available in light and heavy armor versions, though it’s human male-only. But you can find a version with female support right here.
8. Armors of the Velothi
Check Out This Mod I’m a sucker for weird armor. It’s easy to look cool with a glistening silver plate, rich colors, and pointy horns on your helmet – but it takes courage to try something new. Armors of the Velothi by Pulcharmsolis lets us explore the culture of the Velothi Mountains just north of Riften, a region inhabited by the direct descendants of the ancient Chimer. The mod includes 8 new Velothi armors that bring the aesthetic sensibilities of Morrowind into Skyrim. These armors are inspired by insects, which looks alien in Skyrim, but makes a lot of sense in the strange land the Dunmer call home. Tap into your enemies’ fear of the unknown with these exotic fits.
9. Archmage Khadgar’s Robes
Check Out This Mod Until now, most of the armor sets we’ve featured were meant for close-quarters melee combat. While magic users are in no way obligated to forego the protection of plate and chain mail in favor of delicate robes, some of you might want something that makes your magic proficiency evident. Archmage Khadgar’s Robes are perfect for masters of Magicka who’ve already claimed fame and respect from the College of Winterhold and seek to prove themselves in more dangerous adventures. This set comes in both “Armored” (light armor) and “Mage Friendly” (cloth) versions. So you can choose which one works better with your specific perks.
10. King Crusader Mega Pack
Check Out This Mod Rounding out our list here sits a menacing suit of armor fit for a Demon Lord – a spiky and somber dark Templar outfit complete with a crown of thorns. Fans of LotR might find it familiar – and that’s because it looks an awful lot like the Witch-king of Angmar’s armor. Initially, I thought it couldn’t get any more badass than this. Then I found these Heavy War Regalia accessories for the King Crusader armor. But in addition to looking immensely powerful, this King Crusader Modpack also grants you a new spell with the ominously biblical name of “Locust Storm”, and several blades matching the style of your new threads.
