In this guide, I will showcase the best armor set to build in Monster Hunter Now. From Grade 1 to Grade 4, and then the late game Grade 8 here is the Armor to use.
From the beginning of the game to the late-game challenges, you will need the right armor pieces to complement you on that journey.
I will go over all the Grades, and which armor sets you should be building. Being prepared will make most of the challenges easier to handle.
If you want to know how to get better at the game, check out our guide on tips and tricks to play better for Monster Hunter Now.
Monster Hunter Now: Grade 1 to Grade 4 Armor Builds
When first starting out it can be a struggle to figure out which armor piece to use, and even more as you upgrade to higher Grades.
I will break down from the beginning of Grade 1 all the way to Grade 4, and what to equip as you experiment. These Grades are considered the early to mid-game and the Armor pieces will help you find out how you want to build your hunter.
- Grade 1
These are the Armor pieces you will want to equip at Grade 1.
| Name | Set Equipment | Defense | Skills |
| Headgear | Kulu Headpiece | 20→182 | N/A |
| Leather Mail | 20→182 | N/A | |
| Gloves | Leather Gloves | 20→182 | N/A |
| Belt | Leather Belt | 20→182 | N/A |
| Trousers | Kulu Greaves | 20→182 | N/A |
The Kulu Headpiece needs to be crafted to complete one of the story missions, and you can also craft the Kulu Greaves.
- Grade 2
These are the Armor pieces you will want to equip at Grade 2.
| Name | Set Equipment | Defense | Skills |
| Headgear | Kulu Headpiece | 20→182 | Lock On Lv.1 |
| Leather Mail | 20→182 | Attack Boost Lv.1 | |
| Gloves | Leather Gloves | 20→182 | N/A |
| Belt | Leather Belt | 20→182 | Health Boost Lv.1 |
| Trousers | Kulu Greaves | 20→182 | Critical Eye Lv.1 |
In Grade 2, you will first start getting skills for the first time. Health boost is extremely important, though it works differently from the rest of the franchise.
Each level of Health Boost gives you 10 more HP but it also contributes to a faster HP Recovery. Attack Boost is quite a good skill for the beginning of the game because it’s a flat attack increase.
- Grade 3
These are the Armor pieces you will want to equip at Grade 3.
| Name | Set Equipment | Defense | Skills |
| Headgear | Kulu Headpiece | 20→182 | Lock On Lv.1 |
| Leather Mail | 20→182 | Attack Boost Lv.1 | |
| Gloves | Paolumu Vambraces | 49→182 | Concentration Lv.1 |
| Belt | Paolumu Coil | 49→182 | Divine Blessing Lv.1 |
| Trousers | Kulu Greaves | 20→182 | Critical Eye Lv.1 |
At Grade 3, you will want to craft two new Armor pieces. They offer great skills, that will synergize with the build, and this is the last Grade before completely upgrading your Armor as a whole.
- Grade 4
These are the Armor pieces you will want to equip at Grade 4.
| Name | Set Equipment | Defense | Skills |
| Headgear | Kulu Headpiece | 20→182 | Lock On Lv.1 Critical Eye Lv.1 |
| Anjanath Mail | 65→182 | Special Boost Lv.1 | |
| Gloves | Paolumu Vambraces | 49→182 | Concentration Lv.1 Divine Blessing Lv.1 |
| Belt | Paolumu Coil | 49→182 | Divine Blessing Lv.1 |
| Trousers | Rathian Greaves | 65→182 | Health Boost Lv.1 |
Grade 4 is when players will be able to craft the Anjanath Mail and the Rathian Greaves. They complement Divine Blessing which has a chance to reduce incoming damage by half from monster attacks.
Health Boost allows players to minimize the need for potions, and better manage their defenses.
Monster Hunter Now: Grade 8 Armor Build
Grade 8 is this game’s, up to the current release, late game. Most players will want to have the best build to go against the challenges they will face.
Here is a breakdown of how you should equip yourself while figuring out what works best for you.
- Grade 8
These are the Armor pieces you will want to equip at Grade 8.
| Name | Set Equipment | Defense | Skills |
| Headgear | Kulu Headpiece | 20→182 | Lock On Lv.1 Critical Eye Lv.1 |
| Rathalos Mail | 82→182 | Weakness Exploit Lv.2 | |
| Gloves | Paolumu Vambraces | 49→182 | Concentration Lv.2 Divine Blessing Lv.1 |
| Belt | Paolumu Coil | 49→182 | Divine Blessing Lv.2 |
| Trousers | Rathian Greaves | 65→182 | Health Boost Lv.2 |
At Grade 8 this is the best build you can start off with. With the combination of skills, you will be able to deal with almost everything the game has to throw at you while better managing the damage you get dealt.
Final Thoughts
Armor pieces can help with customization, and making builds more personal. Having an Armor build set out can allow players to experiment, and end up figuring out what works for them best.
If you want to get the full effect of the best armor, and the best weapon type, check out our guide on the best weapon type of the game in Monster Hunter Now.
With the best Armor set laid out, you will have a blast exploring both what the game has to offer, and the areas around you. Share your thoughts on what Armor skills are your favorite, and which ones you fit in all your builds.
With thousands of hours played on Nintendo systems since the original Gameboy, Nikiforos is happy to share his endless passion for Nintendo franchises and everything he can get his hands on.
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