Shields & Armor — Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age Guide

Shields

Characters equipped with one-handed weapons can and should equip a shield. Shields greatly increase survivability in battle by allowing your characters to block incoming attacks, completely negating the damage they would otherwise sustain. They occasionally provide extra benefits as well; for example, immunity to certain elements or automatic status effects. One shield toward the end of the game even comes equipped with a variety of negative status ailments to compensate for its extremely high evasion rating!

Shields become especially potent when coupled with the Gauntlets accessory. However, one downside to using shields is you lose the option to use two-handed and ranged weapons, which tend to cause more damage than one-handed weapons. This really isn’t a huge obstacle when you consider that you could equip one character with a shield and keep the Decoy magick active on that character. This approach forces the character into a “tanking” role and frees up your remaining characters to focus on dealing damage.

LEather Shield

Buckler

Bronze shield

Round Shield

Golden Shield

Ice Shield

Flame Shield

Diamond Shield

Platinum Shield

Dragon Shield

Crystal Shield

Kaiser Shield

Aegis Shield

Demon Shield

Venetian Shield

Shell Shield

Ensanguined Shield

Zodiac Escutcheon

Gendarme

Light Armor

Light armor is the most basic armor type and it can be the most useful armor for a large part of the first half of the game. Light armor generally adds a very sizeable bonus to HP as well as moderate defense. When in doubt, light armor is usually a safe bet. Even near the end of the game, when heavy armor and mystic armor provide bonuses that can far outweigh that which light armor offers, the HP bonus can still prove useful when used with the Bubble spell or Bubble Belt accessory.

name	Piece	HP	MP	Def.	Mag. Res.	Str.	Mag. Pwr.	Vit.	Spd.	Add. Eff.	Location	Cost
Leather Cap	Head	10	—	—	4	—	—	—	—	—	Rabanastre	100
Leather Clothing	Body	10	—	4	—	—	—	—	—	—	Rabanastre	100
Headgear	Head	20	—	—	5	—	—	—	—	—	Lhusu Mines, Nalbina Dungeons	300
Chromed Leathers	Body	20	—	5	—	—	—	—	—	—	Garamscythe Waterway	200
Headguard	Head	30	—	—	6	—	—	—	—	—	Barheim Passage	300
Leather Breastplate	Body	30	—	6	—	—	—	—	—	—	Garamscythe Waterway	300
Leather Headgear	Head	40	—	—	8	—	—	—	—	—	Lhusu Mines	500
Bronze Chestplate	Body	40	—	8	—	—	—	—	—	—	Rabanastre, Nalbina, Bhujerba	500
Horned Hat	Head	50	—	—	10	—	—	—	—	—	Rabanastre, Bhujerba	700
Ringmail	Body	50	—	10	—	1	—	—	—	—	Rabanastre, Bhujerba	700
Balaclava	Head	90	—	—	12	1	—	—	—	—	Nam-Yensa Sandsea	1000
Windbreaker	Body	100	—	12	—	—	—	—	—	50% Wind resist	Ogir-Yensa Sandsea	1000
Soldier’s Cap	Head	110	—	—	14	—	—	—	—	—	Nam-Yensa Sandsea, Ogir-Yensa Sandsea, Phon Coast, Tomb of Raithwall	1400
Heavy Coat	Body	120	—	14	—	—	—	—	—	—	Nam-Yensa Sandsea, The Tomb of Raithwall	1400
Green Beret	Head	130	—	—	16	—	—	—	3	—	Giza Plains (Rains), Ozmone Plain	1900
Survival Vest	Body	140	—	17	—	—	—	5	—	—	Giza Plains (Rains)	1900
Red Cap	Head	150	—	—	19	—	—	3	—	—	Golmore Jungle, Paramina Rift	2500
Brigandine	Body	160	—	20	—	—	—	—	—	—	Henne Mines, Paramina Rift, Tchita Uplands	2500
Headband	Head	170	—	—	22	2	—	—	—	—	Barheim Passage, Paramina Rift	3200
Jujitsu Gi	Body	180	—	23	—	2	—	—	—	—	Barheim Passage, Paramina Rift	3200
Pirate Hat	Head	230	—	—	25	—	—	—	—	—	Mt Bur-Omisace	4000
Viking Coat	Body	240	—	27	—	—	—	—	—	Immune to Water	Dalmasca Estersands, Phon Coast	4000
Goggle Mask	Head	270	—	—	28	—	—	—	—	Immune to Blind	Tchita Uplands	4900
Metal Jerkin	Body	280	—	31	—	—	—	—	—	—	Mosphoran Highwaste, Tchita Uplands	4000
Adamant Hat	Head	310	—	—	31	—	—	—	—	Weak to Ice, 50% Fire resist	Salikawood, Tchita Uplands, Phon Coast	5900
Adamant Vest	Body	320	—	35	—	—	—	—	—	Weak to Ice, 50% Fire resist	Phon Coast, Tchita Uplands	5900
Officer’s Hat	Head	350	—	—	34	—	—	—	3	—	Tchita Uplands	7000
Barrel Coat	Body	360	—	38	—	—	—	—	—	—	Nabreus Deadlands, Tchita Uplands	7000
Chakra Band	Head	390	—	—	37	2	—	—	—	—	Necrohol of Nabudis, Feywood	8100
Power Vest	Body	400	—	41	—	2	—	—	—	—	Necrohol of Nabudis, Feywood	8100
Thief’s Cap	Head	460	—	—	40	—	—	—	4	—	Cerobi Steppe, The Great Crystal	—
Ninja Gear	Body	470	—	44	—	—	—	—	4	—	Cerobi Steppe, The Great Crystal	—
Gigas Hat	Head	530	—	—	43	—	2	—	—	—	Ridorana Cataract	10700
Gigas Chestplate	Body	540	—	47	—	—	2	—	—	—	Ridorana Cataract	10700
Chaperon	Head	600	—	—	46	—	—	—	—	—	Cerobi Steppe, Pharos - First Ascent	—
Minerva Bustier	Body	610	—	50	—	—	—	—	—	—	Cerobi Steppe, Pharos - Second Ascent, steal from monster Foobar	—
Crown of Laurels	Head	680	—	—	49	—	—	—	—	—	Cerobi Steppe, The Great Crystal	—
Rubber Suit	Body	700	—	53	—	—	—	—	—	Immune to Lightning	Cerobi Steppe, The Great Crystal	—
Renewing Morion	Head	370	—	—	52	—	—	4	—	Equip: Regen	Cerobi Steppe, Lhusu Mines, drop from Nightwalker in the Stilshrine of Miriam	—
Mirage Vest	Body	800	—	55	—	—	—	10	10	—	Cerobi Steppe, steal from rare monster 73, Disma	—
Dueling Mask	Head	800	—	—	55	2	—	—	—	—	Cerobi Steppe, Henne Mines	—
Brave Suit	Body	500	—	57	—	—	—	—	—	Equip: Bravery	Cerobi Steppe, Henne Mines	—

Heavy Armor

Heavy armor is commonly used by frontline fighters. Although it doesn’t usually offer the HP bonuses of light armor or the magick power benefits of mystic armor, it does offer plenty of strength and defense. As most weapons primarily factor in strength when determining damage, selecting the right armor class for damage dealers is often a no-brainer. For much of the game, heavy armor doesn’t really provide much benefit over light armor. However, toward the end of the game when enemies start striking much harder and offering up increasingly stalwart defense, heavy armor becomes a great option.

Early on in the game, HP is extremely important, so it makes sense to use light armor. However, as your characters level up and gain access to the Bubble spell, raw HP becomes less of a concern and reducing the damage your characters take per hit becomes more important. This is especially true when facing many of the game’s strongest adversaries. You should be aware that one specific encounter in the game penalizes the use of heavy armor through greatly increased charge time on actions.

Name	Piece	HP	MP	Def.	Mag. Res.	Str.	Mag. Pwr.	Vit.	Spd.	Add. Eff.	Location	Cost
Leather Helm	Head	—	—	—	5	2	—	—	—	—	Rabanastre	250
Leather Armor	Body	—	—	6	—	2	—	—	—	—	Rabanastre	300
Bronze Helm	Head	—	—	—	6	2	—	—	—	—	Nalbina Dungeons	450
Bronze Armor	Body	—	—	7	—	2	—	—	—	—	Barheim Passage	500
Sallet	Head	—	—	—	7	3	—	—	—	—	Rabanastre, Bhujerba	750
Scale Armor	Body	—	—	9	—	3	—	—	3	—	Rabanastre, Bhujerba	800
Iron Helm	Head	—	—	—	9	3	—	—	—	—	Dreadnought Leviathan	1250
Iron Armor	Body	—	—	11	—	3	—	—	—	—	Rabanastre, Bhujerba	1300
Barbut	Head	—	—	—	11	4	—	—	—	—	Ogir-Yensa Sandsea	1800
Linen Cuirass	Body	—	—	14	—	4	—	—	—	—	Ogir-Yensa Sandsea	1800
Winged Helm	Head	—	—	—	14	5	—	—	3	—	Nam-Yensa Sandsea	2400
Chainmail	Body	—	—	17	—	3	—	—	—	—	Ogir-Yensa Sandsea, Nam-Yensa Sandsea, Zertinan Caverns, Ozmone Plain	2300
Golden Helm	Head	—	—	—	17	5	—	—	—	—	Giza Plains (Rains)	3100
Golden Armor	Body	—	—	21	—	4	—	—	—	—	Giza Plains (Rains)	2900
Burgonet	Head	—	—	—	20	4	—	—	—	—	Golmore Jungle, Paramina Rift	3800
Shielded Armor	Body	—	—	25	—	5	—	—	—	Equip: Protect	Henne Mines, Paramina Rift	3800
Close Helmet	Head	—	—	—	23	5	—	—	—	—	Barheim Passage, Paramina Rift	4900
Demon Mail	Body	—	—	30	—	5	—	3	—	—	Barheim Passage, Phon Coast	4700
Bone Helm	Head	—	—	—	26	6	—	—	—	Weak to Holy, 50% Dark resist	Dalmasca Estersands	5900
Bone Mail	Body	—	—	35	—	6	—	—	—	Weak to Holy, 50% Dark resist	Dalmasca Estersand	5700
Diamond Helm	Head	—	—	—	29	7	—	3	—	—	Dalmasca Estersands, Tchita Uplands	7000
Diamond Armor	Body	—	—	40	—	7	—	5	—	—	Tchita Uplands, Mosphoran Highwaste	6600
Steel Mask	Head	—	—	—	32	7	—	—	4	—	Phon Coast, Tchita Uplands	8100
Mirror Mail	Body	—	—	44	—	6	—	—	—	Equip: Reflect	Tchita Uplands, Phon Coast	7500
Platinum Helm	Head	—	—	—	35	8	—	—	—	—	Tchita Uplands	9300
Platinum Armor	Body	—	—	49	—	7	—	—	—	—	Tchita Uplands	8500
Giant’s Helmet	Head	150	—	—	38	8	—	—	—	—	Necrohol of Nabudis, Feywood	11000
Carabineer Mail	Body	—	—	53	—	8	2	—	—	—	Feywood, Necrohol of Nabudis	9600
Dragon Helm	Head	70	—	—	41	9	—	—	—	—	Cerobi Steppe, Pharos - First Ascent	—
Dragon Mail	Body	100	—	57	—	8	—	—	—	—	Cerobi Steppe, Pharos - Second Ascent	—
Magepower Shishak	Head	—	—	—	47	11	5	—	—	—	Cerobi Steppe, Lhusu Mines	—
Maximillian	Body	—	—	64	1	9	—	—	6	—	Cerobi Steppe, Lhusu Mines, drop from Elvoret in the Necrohol of Nabudis	—
Grand Helm	Head	—	—	—	50	12	—	10	—	—	Drop from rare monster 26, Tower; Cerobi Steppe, Henne Mines	—
Grand Armor	Body	—	—	67	—	12	—	—	—	—	Drop from rare monster 38, Helvinek; Henne Mines, Cerobi Steppe	—

Mystic Armor

While mystic armor lacks the versatility and HP bonuses of light armor and the defense and strength of heavy armor, it compensates for these deficiencies by offering large bonuses to magick power. This has a marked effect on all magick actions, whether it’s using magicks like Firaga to damage the enemy, magicks like Curaja to heal your party, or magicks like Slowga to enfeeble your opponents.

The magick power statistic also comes into play with certain specialized weapon types (staves, katana, and maces) when determining melee damage, so mystic armors can be indirectly useful in this area as well. Several of them also offer terrific bonuses, like the complete absorption of harmful elements. For example, getting hit with Holy while wearing a White Mask will heal instead of harm. This diversity in mystic gear makes different pieces worth carrying around to give you options in counteracting harmful magicks, should the need arise.

The main drawback to mystic armor is its lack of physical defense when compared to heavy or even light armor. To counter this, consider setting one character up specifically as a “tank,” using the “Decoy” spell to keep the enemy’s attention off the character sporting the mystic armor.

Name	Piece	HP	MP	Def.	Mag. Res.	Str.	Mag. Pwr.	Vit.	Spd.	Add. Eff.	Location	Cost
Cotton Cap	Head	—	5	—	4	—	2	—	—	—	Dalmasca Westersand	100
Cotton Shirt	Body	—	3	4	—	—	1	—	—	—	Dalmasca Westersand	100
Magick Curch	Head	—	11	—	5	—	2	—	—	—	Rabanastre	200
Light Woven Shirt	Body	—	7	5	—	—	2	—	—	—	Garamscythe Waterway	200
Pointy Hat	Head	—	16	—	6	—	2	—	—	—	Barheim Passage, Phon Coast	300
Silken Shirt	Body	—	8	6	—	—	2	—	—	—	Garamscythe Waterway, Nalbina Dungeons	300
Topkapi Hat	Head	—	20	—	8	—	3	—	—	—	Lhusu Mines	500
Kilimweave Shirt	Body	—	16	8	—	—	3	—	—	—	Rabanastre, Bhujerba	500
Calot Hat	Head	—	25	—	10	—	3	—	—	—	Phon Coast	700
Shepherd’s Bolero	Body	—	20	10	—	—	3	—	—	—	Dreadnought Leviathan	700
Wizard’s Hat	Head	—	47	—	12	—	4	—	—	—	Nam-Yensa Sandsea, Ogir-Yensa Sandsea	1000
Wizard’s Robes	Body	—	32	12	—	—	4	—	—	—	Ogir-Yensa Sandsea	1000
Lambent Hat	Head	—	36	—	15	—	4	—	3	—	Nam-Yensa Sandsea, Ogir-Yensa Sandsea, The Tomb of Raithwall	1400
Chanter’s Djellaba	Body	—	35	15	—	—	4	5	—	—	Nam-Yensa Sandsea, Tomb of Raithwall, Zertinan Caverns	1400
Feathered Cap	Head	—	40	—	18	—	5	—	—	—	Giza Plains (Rains)	1900
Traveler’s Vestment	Body	50	30	18	—	—	5	—	—	—	Giza Plains (Rains)	1900
Mage’s Hat	Head	—	50	—	21	—	5	—	—	—	Golmore Jungle, Paramina Rift	2500
Mage’s Habit	Body	—	50	21	—	—	6	—	—	—	Henne Mines, Paramina Rift	2500
Lamia’s Tiara	Head	—	48	—	25	—	4	7	—	—	Barheim Passage, Paramina Rift, Phon Coast	3200
Enchanter’s Habit	Body	—	45	25	—	—	7	10	—	—	Barheim Passage, Tchita Uplands	3200
Sorcerer’s Hat	Head	—	70	—	29	—	6	—	—	—	Mosphoran Highwaste, Mt Bur-Omisace	4000
Sorcerer’s Habit	Body	—	63	29	—	—	8	—	—	—	Phon Coast	4000
Black Cowl	Head	—	60	—	33	—	5	—	4	—	Dalmasca Estersands	4900
Black Garb	Body	—	38	33	—	—	6	—	3	—	Mosphoran Highwaste, Tchita Uplands	4900
Astrakhan Hat	Head	—	65	—	37	—	6	—	—	—	Tchita Uplands, Phon Coast	5900
Carmagnole	Body	—	40	37	—	—	7	—	—	—	Tchita Uplands, Phon Coast	5900
Gaia Hat	Head	90	70	—	41	—	7	—	—	—	Tchita Uplands	7000
Maduin Gear	Body	—	46	41	—	1	8	—	—	—	Nabreus Deadlands, Tchita Uplands	7000
Hypnocrown	Head	—	75	—	44	2	7	—	—	—	Necrohol of Nabudis, Feywood	8100
Jade Gown	Body	—	53	44	—	—	8	—	—	—	Feywood, Necrohol of Nabudis	8100
Gold Hairpin	Head	—	80	—	47	—	7	8	—	—	Cerobi Steppe, The Great Crystal	—
Gaia Gear	Body	150	10	47	—	—	8	—	—	—	Cerobi Steppe, The Great Crystal	—
Celebrant’s Miter	Head	—	90	—	50	—	6	—	5	—	Ridorana Cataract	10700
Cleric’s Robes	Body	—	70	50	—	—	9	—	—	—	Ridorana Cataract	10700
Black Mask	Head	—	81	—	53	—	8	—	—	Absorbs Dark element	Cerobi Steppe, Pharos - First Ascent	—
Black Robes	Body	—	66	56	5	—	10	—	—	—	Cerobi Steppe, Necrohol of Nabudis	13500
White Mask	Head	—	81	—	56	—	8	—	—	Absorbs Holy element	Cerobi Steppe, Necrohol of Nabudis	—
White Robes	Body	100	66	53	—	—	10	—	4	—	Cerobi Steppe, Pharos - Third Ascent	—
Golden Skullcap	Head	—	107	—	58	—	10	—	3	—	Lhusu Mines, drop from Dead Bones in the Pharos	—
Glimmering Robes	Body	—	120	59	—	—	12	10	—	—	Lhusu Mines, Cerobi Steppe	—
Circlet	Head	—	151	—	60	2	10	—	—	—	Cerobi Steppe, Henne Mines	—
Lordly Robes	Body	—	100	61	—	5	15	—	—	—	Cerobi Steppe, Henne Mines	—

Genji Armor

A set assembled from legend and belonging to an ancient man of mystery, Genji armor offers many of the benefits of advanced heavy armor sets with a few twists thrown in. The entire set requires only one license and only one set of this armor exists in the game! During your time in Clan Centurio, you may well come across an opportunity to claim this unique set—don’t let it slip away!

Name	Piece	def.	Mag. Res.	eva.	mag. eva.	Str.	Mag. Pwr.	Add. Eff.	location
Genji Shield	Shield	—	—	30	5	—	—	—	Steal during “Battle on the Big Bridge” clan hunt
Genji Helm	Head	—	46	—	—	9	4	When attacked, automatically counter with weapon in hand.	Steal during “Battle on the Big Bridge” clan hunt
Genji Armor	Body	63	—	—	—	9	3	Improves chance to counter.	Steal during “Battle on the Big Bridge” clan hunt
Genji Gloves	Accessory	—	—	—	—	—	3	Improves chance of scoring multiple hits.	Steal during “Battle on the Big Bridge” clan hunt