Metaphor: ReFantazio is a game built on classes, which are referred to in this example as Archetypes. Like most RPGs with class-based systems, archetypes can only equip certain types of armour. Knights can equip heavier armour, while Mages need to equip cloaks and similar items.
Metaphor: ReFantazio – Best Early Game Armour
Atlus' Metaphor: ReFantazio is quite a difficult JRPG, so picking up the best early-game armour pieces can make a world of difference.
Those are examples of body armour, but players can also equip gear, which includes helmets, gloves, and footwear. Most of these pieces of armour are universal. That said, let's go through the late-game armour and gear that players should look for in Metaphor: ReFantazio. Let's rank them by their stats, bonus effects, and universal appeal.
8 Inferno Rock Cuirass
Defense 354/Evasion 4
- Bonus Effect: Resist Fire and Endurance +5
- Location: Grand Trad (St. Fermis Church)
To get the Inferno Rock Cuirass, players have to go through a small side quest of sorts in Metaphor: ReFantazio. First, they have to travel to Mt. Vulkano which will open up toward the latter part of the game.
Here players can fight a chimera-like enemy called the Lava Manjula. Players can steal the Red Lion Cuirass from the monster and then purify it in Grand Trad at the St. Fermis Church to create the Inferno Rock Cuirass. This is a great piece of body armour that all characters can equip, so be sure to steal at least seven Red Lion Cuirasses from the Lava Manjula.
7 Surgeon Greaves
Defense 150/Evasion 0
- Bonus Effect: Endurance +4 and Agility +4
- Location: Grand Trad (St. Fermis Church)
Getting the Surgeon Greaves also requires the process of purification in Metaphor: ReFantazio. First, players can steal the Medic Greaves from the Kokamordos enemy within the Manor of the Ascendant dungeon. Then players can purify that item to get the Surgeon Greaves which is a decent pair of boots for the gear slot.
They have a decent defense stat for a pair of boots and the addition of Endurance and Agility is a nice bonus. These would be great for any character that is slower in the turn roster.
6 Reverent Crown
Defense 155/Evasion 0
- Bonus Effect: Increase Will’s Turns By 1
- Location: N/A
If players know about this item and trick, then they can get the Reverent Crown relatively fast. All players have to do is get the hero, Will, as he canonically named in Metaphor: ReFantazio, to unlock the Trickster Archetype which is the second and final form of the Faker Archetype.
Metaphor: ReFantazio - 7 Weapon Types That Make It Easier To Kill Enemies In The Field
Don’t be caught dead in a dungeon without these weapons.
After unlocking it, this piece of head gear will be given to players and it’s only meant for Will. With it, he can gain an extra turn during battle which is a great boon but so is the defense stat for it.
5 Kaiser's Pickelhaube
Defense 200/Evasion 0
- Bonus Effect: Endurance +5, and Magic +5, Strength +5
- Location: Tyrant’s Star
The Kaiser's Pickelhaube is another piece of head gear but the stats are much larger and that’s the basic appeal of it. The defense stat is incredibly high for a piece of gear and it boosts three other stats to a mighty degree too including Endurance, Magic, and Strength.
It’s a good hat to give a character who excels at physical and magical combat, like someone cross-classing between Brawler and Mage Archetypes, for example. It can be found while exploring the very last dungeon of Metaphor: ReFantazio, the Tyrant’s Star.
4 Cardinal Dragon Raiment
Defense 360/Evasion 8
- Bonus Effect: Nullify Fire Damage
- Location: Tower of Insolence
When players unlock the final month of the game, they can go after a four-part side quest that begins with fighting three dragons at three towers within the world. The hardest dragon of the bunch, Devourer of Stars, is also one of the toughest bosses in Metaphor: ReFantazio. After defeating it, players will get the Cardinal Dragon Raiment which is a great piece of body armour that repels fire.
The other two dragons offer similar armor that repels fire including the Cardinal Dragon Robe and Cardinal Dragon Armour. All three pieces of body armour will offer some value to players in the game but the Cardinal Dragon Raiment rules the roost because of the balance between stats and versatility.
3 Great Sage's Thwab
Defense 350/Evasion 0
- Bonus Effect: 30% MP and All Stats +5
- Location: Disgraced Ruins
The Great Sage's Thwab can be found within the Disgraced Ruins, a side area toward the end of the game. This little number has two great things about it. First, it boosts all major stats by 5. Second and most important, it can raise MP by 30%.
Metaphor: ReFantazio - Every Major Death, Ranked
You’ll shed a few tears and shout a few jeers at these deaths.
That’s a huge boost and magic is the most important method of attack in Metaphor: ReFantazio as spells can gain players extra turns if they exploit enemy weaknesses. Give this to the strongest mage of the group.
2 Yggdrasil Crown
Defense 130/Evasion 0
- Bonus Effect: Prevents Status Ailments and Magic +5
- Location: Port Brilehaven (Arena)
The Yggdrasil Crown is the final reward for getting into the tournament arc within Port Brilehaven. Here, players can enter an arena and fight their way through Bronze, Silver, and Gold matches. There are a lot of great prizes, especially if players are looking for accessories in Metaphor: ReFantazio.
However, the best prize is this piece of head gear. The Yggdrasil Crown can raise the Magic stat but most importantly it can prevent some status ailments including Charm, Daze, Forget, Sleep, and Rage. The defense is weaker than most hats, but that’s okay because status ailment prevention is an important thing to consider in RPGs.
1 Divine Light Gloves
Defense 130/Evasion 0
- Bonus Effect: Prevents Status Ailments, Strength +4, and Magic +4
- Location: Skybound Avatar
The Divine Light Gloves are kind of tied for the best armour in the game with the Yggdrasil Crown. That’s because they can prevent the other remaining status ailments in the game including Burn, Hex, Frostbite, Malady, Paralysis, and Poison. The defense is the same but it does boost Strength along with Magic, giving it a slight edge even though the amounts are smaller.
It can be found while exploring the Skybound Avatar, which is the first part of the game’s final dungeon. However, players fall on the matter, both pieces of gear are essential for crafting a solid party in the final hours of the game.
Metaphor: ReFantazio
- Released
- October 11, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Studio Zero
- Publisher(s)
- Atlus
- Engine
- GFD
- Number of Players
- 1
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Playable
- PC Release Date
- October 11, 2024
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- October 11, 2024
- PS5 Release Date
- October 11, 2024
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- How Long To Beat
- 65 Hours
- How Long To Beat (Completionist Runs)
- 104 hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 81.15 GB
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
