Warning! Spoilers Ahead! |
This page lists all the different armor types (well, most anyways) that are available in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.. If you spot an error or something I have missed please do not hesitate to contact me or leave a post on the forums.
Each armor includes the official description, protection/resistance values, my personal description and opinion, as well as a list of places where you can find and/or buy that particular armor - this is list is not complete in the sense that doesn't list all the places where you may obtain that particular armor. You can click the images to see the full in-game description as well as what the armor actually looks like when worn.
Please note that the Average protection values are based on all eight different types protection - so for a Leather Jacket, for example, its average protection is 8.75% (and not 10%) since it doesn't provide any protection against radiation. The list is sorted by the Average protection values which means that the armor furthest down the list may not be your favorite - or the best for any given situation - but simply has the highest average.
Each armor that has nightvision also includes a comparison image showing what the nightvision in that armor looks like.
An ordinary thick jacket, one of the many. It slightly increases bullet and splinter protection. It does not protect from anomalies and other affects. Rupture |   | 30% | Average |   | 3.75% | Weight | 4.00 kg |
| | It seems that this is an "unfinished" armor that was left in the game. It has a unique look when you see it on the ground, but in your inventory it's just called "Leather Jacket", it looks like one as well, but the protection values are quite different, and the armor itself isn't visible when you actually wear it; it looks like it's supposed to be a military vest or similar. Click here to see what the armor looks like outside your inventory. |
| | This armor can be found inside a wooden crate on the attic of the largest building in the Army Outpost in Cordon. Refer to this page for instructions on how to get the armor. |
|
An ordinary thick jacket, one of the many. It slightly increases bullet and splinter protection. It does not protect from anomalies and other affects. Electric shock |   | 10% | Burn |   | 10% | Impact |   | 10% | Rupture |   | 10% | Chemical burn |   | 10% | Explosion |   | 10% | Bulletproof cap |   | 10% | Average |   | 8.75% | Weight | 3.00 kg |
| | You'll be wearing this type of armor when you start a new game. It's better than nothing for sure, but basically you'll want to replace it with something better as soon as possible since it only provides minimal protection. |
| | You'll be able to buy this type of armor from Sidorovich and you are likely to find it in various early stage stashes. The Leather Jacket does not have nightvision. |
|
They took this coat off of the body of one of the stalkers who died in the anomaly "Fruit Punch". Having laid a long time in the anomaly, the coat obtained the ability to speed up metabolism. Electric shock |   | 10% | Burn |   | 10% | Impact |   | 10% | Rupture |   | 10% | Chemical burn |   | 10% | Explosion |   | 10% | Bulletproof cap |   | 10% | Average |   | 8.75% | Weight | 3.00 kg |
| | I believe this armor slightly increases your health regeneration level. |
| | You can find this armor inside a stash located to the far west - just north of the railroad - in Cordon. |
|
Traditional outfit for a bandit - a leather jacket with kevlar elements. Provides protection highly insufficient for the Zone's severe conditions. Electric shock |   | 10% | Burn |   | 10% | Impact |   | 10% | Rupture |   | 15% | Chemical burn |   | 10% | Explosion |   | 10% | Bulletproof cap |   | 15% | Average |   | 10.00% | Weight | 3.00 kg |
| | Sure, a better alternative to the Leather Jacket but only very slightly. |
| | Bandit Jackets can be bought from the Sidorovich and can be found in various early stage stashes. The Bandit Jacket does not have nightvision. |
|
Common weak bandit body armor with mail plates sewn in its backing. Almost everyone can do it, but not everyone by far will have enough patience to. Electric shock |   | 10% | Burn |   | 10% | Impact |   | 10% | Rupture |   | 15% | Chemical burn |   | 10% | Explosion |   | 10% | Bulletproof cap |   | 28% | Average |   | 11.63% | Weight | 3.00 kg |
| | Has a nice bullet cap for an armor that's easy to come by; it is however also part of the optional mission Find the perfected suit given by Nimble. |
| | This armor can be found in the tunnel at the end of the road going through the car park (the place where you initially rescue Nimble as part of the mission Get information from the scout given by Sidorovich. Does not have nightvision. |
|
Stalker suit from the Merc faction. Its design is based on the suit used by the special forces of the Western armies. Due to a special treatment of the fabric, the armor has a strengthened stability during the physical movement of its plates. Its protective properties are slightly better then those of the PSZ-7 military bulletproof suits. Electric shock |   | 30% | Burn |   | 30% | Impact |   | 20% | Rupture |   | 30% | Radiation |   | 30% | Chemical burn |   | 20% | Explosion |   | 25% | Bulletproof cap |   | 20% | Average |   | 25.63% | Weight | 5.00 kg |
| | A much improved alternative to Leather and Bandit Jackets because of the overall increased protection (including radiation). A good armor for the early stages of the game. The Merc suit does not have nightvision. |
| | You can find the Merc Suit in the rookie village in Cordon (go here to learn how), and buy it from various vendors. |
|
There is chain mail sown into the lining of the coat, which raises the level of protection against firearm attack and monster bites. A PNV is also included in the set. Electric shock |   | 30% | Burn |   | 30% | Impact |   | 20% | Rupture |   | 60% | Radiation |   | 30% | Chemical burn |   | 20% | Explosion |   | 25% | Bulletproof cap |   | 20% | Average |   | 29.38% | Weight | 5.00 kg |
| | I have only found this armor in one place - namely a secret stash inside the housing of a crane at the Wild Territory. Unlike the regular Merc Suit the Reinforced Suit does have nightvision. |
|
A Berill-5M special forces suit modified for the Zone environment. It includes a PSZ-9a military bulletproof vest with beryllium coating and a Sphere-08 helmet. It is designed for assault operations in areas with high background radiation. Its level of anomaly protection is low. Electric shock |   | 30% | Burn |   | 30% | Impact |   | 20% | Rupture |   | 40% | Radiation |   | 30% | Chemical burn |   | 30% | Explosion |   | 40% | Bulletproof cap |   | 45% | Average |   | 33.13% | Weight | 7.00 kg |
| | This armor can be found inside X16 in the room with the psi-emitter, and it can also be found inside a caravan in the west/noth-west part of Red Forest (near the road going from east to west). It is also given as a reward for the Find the Night Star artifact given by the Barkeep. After the 1.0004 patch, the armor can also be bought from the Barkeep (either after you've done enough missions for him or when you've progressed far enough into the main plot). |
|
The fabric of the suit is saturated with a streptozoidal lotion, which speeds up the healing of wounds. Electric shock |   | 30% | Burn |   | 30% | Impact |   | 20% | Rupture |   | 40% | Radiation |   | 30% | Chemical burn |   | 30% | Explosion |   | 40% | Bulletproof cap |   | 45% | Average |   | 33.13% | Weight | 7.00 kg |
| | With a bullet protection of 45% this is not a bad armor. If it will come in handy, though, depends on what stage of the game you're into when you find it. Useful or not, still a good armor. The armor is part of a mission given to you by Lukash, the leader of the Freedom faction. |
| | This armor can be found on a body near the entrance to X16 in Yantar. I haven't had a chance to test it yet, but I think the armor prevents you from (or protects against) bleeding. |
|
Light stalker suit produced by the gunsmiths of the Freedom faction. It consists of a light military bulletproof vest with reinforced kevlar plates. It can protect from weak weapons. The fabric of the suit is treated with a special mixture which increases anomaly activity resistance. Electric shock |   | 50% | Burn |   | 30% | Impact |   | 50% | Rupture |   | 30% | Radiation |   | 50% | Chemical burn |   | 50% | Explosion |   | 25% | Bulletproof cap |   | 30% | Average |   | 39.38% | Weight | 3.00 kg |
| | You can find this armor on the back of a truck just outside the fence near the entrance to the mobile lab in Yantar. You can also find it sitting on a couch inside a house at the Duty outpost in Army Warehouses. It can also be found inside a blue box stash in the armory at the Freedom headquarters. Finally, you can also find the armor inside a caravan just before the anomaly filled tunnel in Wild Territory; the caravan has a blue box stash outside of it. |
|
Stalker suit manufactured by "folk craftsmen". It is an effective combination of a light military bulletproof vest and of a rubberized fabric suit. It is reinforced with inserted kevlar plates and provides good protection from weak gunfire. All in all it is highly ineffecient for carrying out deep raids and serious operations in the knots of the Zone. Electric shock |   | 50% | Burn |   | 50% | Impact |   | 50% | Rupture |   | 40% | Radiation |   | 50% | Chemical burn |   | 50% | Explosion |   | 30% | Bulletproof cap |   | 30% | Average |   | 43.75% | Weight | 5.00 kg |
| | A good armor for the earlier stages of the game. Once you go beyond the Bar area you're likely to come upon better armors though. |
| | You'll be able to find the Stalker Suit in various stashes and it can also be bought from the Barkeep at the Bar area. You can also find the armor inside a wooden crate in Strelok's stash in the Agroprom Underground. |
|
Rumor has it that the ghost stalker never carries a first aid kit with him. Everything heals on him like on a dog. They say that he has an unusual suit that he got on an anomaly. Electric shock |   | 50% | Burn |   | 50% | Impact |   | 50% | Rupture |   | 40% | Radiation |   | 50% | Chemical burn |   | 50% | Explosion |   | 30% | Bulletproof cap |   | 30% | Average |   | 43.75% | Weight | 5.00 kg |
| | Although the Ghost Suit has the same protection values as a regular Stalker Suit it comes with a healing boost. If you are wearing a regular Stalker Suit (or worse) when you find this, this may be the armor to replace that. This armor is part of an optional mission given by Sakharov who will reward you with a SSP-99M Suit for bringing him the Ghost Suit. |
| | You will only encounter this armor in one place, namely in X16 when you locate the body of Ghost. I haven't had a chance to test it yet, but I think the Ghost suit prevents you from (or protects against) bleeding when worn. |
|
The former owner of this thing was a real tourist and, it seems, often went on very difficult, on the verge of human endurance, hiking trips. He knew how to distribute correctly the weight that he carried, and which things to give preference to. The coat pockets and the educated choice of the backpack allow its owner to carry a heavy weight. Electric shock |   | 50% | Burn |   | 50% | Impact |   | 50% | Rupture |   | 40% | Radiation |   | 50% | Chemical burn |   | 50% | Explosion |   | 30% | Bulletproof cap |   | 30% | Average |   | 43.75% | Weight | 5.00 kg |
| | This armor resembles a regular stalker suit except it allows you to carry up to 70 kilos worth of equipment. |
| | Reward given by Sidorovich for an optional mission that requires you to bring him a Night Star artifact. |
|
Metal wire mesh is integrated into the suit for protection from electric and magnetic fields. The set also includes an instrument for night vision. Electric shock |   | 90% | Burn |   | 30% | Impact |   | 50% | Rupture |   | 30% | Radiation |   | 50% | Chemical burn |   | 50% | Explosion |   | 25% | Bulletproof cap |   | 30% | Average |   | 44.38% | Weight | 3.00 kg |
| | You can find this armor inside a blue box stash in the armory at the Freedom headquarters. |
|
Stalker suit from the Monolith faction. The producer is unknown. Its protective properties are slightly worse then those of the PSZ-9a military bulletproof vest. Its structure is similar to the suit popular with neutral stalkers which combines a bulletproof vest and a radiation protection suit. It provides good protection from gunfire. Its level of anomaly protection is low due to the absence of an air filtering system. Electric shock |   | 60% | Burn |   | 50% | Impact |   | 50% | Rupture |   | 40% | Radiation |   | 40% | Chemical burn |   | 50% | Explosion |   | 40% | Bulletproof cap |   | 40% | Average |   | 46.25% | Weight | 5.00 kg |
| | Compared to the Stalker Suit the Monolith Suit does come with some advantages, namely improved Burn, Explosion and Bulletproof protection. Its disadvantages include reduced protection against radiation and a lack of nightvision. |
| | You can find a Monolith Suit in the locker room in X18, and you'll also come across two in Red Forest near the entrance to the Brain Scorcher facility. |
|
Produced by one of Kiev's defence research institutes and commissioned by the Duty faction. It is as simple and reliable as the standard PSZ-9 mode, but due to the new materials, it provides good protection from various harmful impacts, including firearm damage. The vest still needs some work because it has no breathing protection system. Electric shock |   | 50% | Burn |   | 50% | Impact |   | 50% | Rupture |   | 50% | Radiation |   | 50% | Chemical burn |   | 50% | Explosion |   | 40% | Bulletproof cap |   | 40% | Average |   | 47.50% | Weight | 5.00 kg |
| | This armor can be found on the same platform as the first Monolith sniper you come upon when entering the Red Forest from the Army Warehouses. |
|
Reinforced stalker suit produced by the gunsmiths of the Freedom faction. It is made up of a medium military bulletproof vest plated with reinforcing zirconium elements which provide good protection from rifle bullets and splinters from medium and long range. The material of the suit consists of two layers: specially treated leather and fabric with asbestos yarn. The suit provides good protection from radiation and various weak anomalies. Electric shock |   | 50% | Burn |   | 50% | Impact |   | 60% | Rupture |   | 50% | Radiation |   | 50% | Chemical burn |   | 50% | Explosion |   | 45% | Bulletproof cap |   | 40% | Average |   | 49.38% | Weight | 6.00 kg |
| | This armor is given to you by Lukash as a reward for the Bring the bulletproof vest mission. You can also find it inside a blue box stash in the armory at the Freedom headquarters. It can also be found inside a caravan in Red Forest near the entrance to the Brain Scorcher facility. |
|
Duty armor suit with enhanced parameters of protection against bites and cuts. Electric shock |   | 50% | Burn |   | 50% | Impact |   | 50% | Rupture |   | 70% | Radiation |   | 50% | Chemical burn |   | 50% | Explosion |   | 40% | Bulletproof cap |   | 40% | Average |   | 50.00% | Weight | 5.00 kg |
| | This armor can be found in a stash in the Bar area. |
|
A SSP-99 chemical protection suit specially designed for the Zone conditions. It is used by scientific expeditions and the eco-stalkers who cooperate with them. It has an integrated air-filtering and air-conditioning system. It is heat and electricity resistant, provides good protection from radiation and biological anomalies. It is resistans to chemically aggressive environments. It is not designed for combat, so it provides neither bullet, nor splinter protection. Electric shock |   | 90% | Burn |   | 90% | Impact |   | 50% | Rupture |   | 15% | Radiation |   | 90% | Chemical burn |   | 90% | Explosion |   | 40% | Bulletproof cap |   | 20% | Average |   | 60.63% | Weight | 4.00 kg |
| | Although this suit has a high average mainly due to the high Electric shock, Burn, Radiation, and Chemical Burn protection, it suffers from decent protection against Rupture and bullets. May prove useful when exploring dangerous areas that are clear of enemies, but otherwise I personally don't think it's an ideal armor to use. |
|
A military exoskeleton prototype. It never went into serial production, because of extreme cost and some design flaws. It is however produced in small batches in small illegal factories outside of Ukraine. This is a third generation exoskeleton. The design defects which used to decrease its mobility were eliminated and the armor was reinforced. It provides excellent bullet and splinter protection. It has a low level of anomaly protection. Electric shock |   | 50% | Burn |   | 50% | Impact |   | 90% | Rupture |   | 80% | Radiation |   | 30% | Chemical burn |   | 50% | Explosion |   | 80% | Bulletproof cap |  |
|
|