Samurai Clan Armor
The defensive set from The Tale of Lady Masako — heavy damage reduction, more health, and Resolve generated by getting hit rather than by landing hits.
Overview
Most sets reward doing something well. This one rewards surviving something badly, which is why it is the best set to learn the game in.
Samurai Clan Armor reduces all incoming damage moderately to majorly, raises health moderately to majorly, and grants 15–30% Resolve whenever you take damage. That inverts the usual Resolve economy: normally you earn Resolve by killing well, but here a mistimed parry still pays for the heal that follows it.
It is available in Act 1, which makes it the set most players should be wearing while they are still learning stance switching and parry timing.
The set for standing and fighting. Being hit generates Resolve, so a long open battle feeds your own healing and techniques.
Where you get it
- The Tale of Lady MasakoMain Tale (Masako Tale 1 of 9) — awards this
Tales that call for it
- Shadow of The SamuraiMain Tale — the walkthrough calls for it
Upgrading it
Armour is improved at an armourer, paid for in linen, silk and leather gathered from the world and from tale rewards. Every set states its effects as a range, and the upper figure is what the set does only once it is fully upgraded — an unupgraded set is materially weaker than its description suggests.
Sources
Strengths and weaknesses
Strengths
- The most forgiving set while learning parry timing
- Resolve from damage taken keeps healing available in long fights
- Available early, in Act 1
Weaknesses
- No offensive bonus at all
- Outclassed later by sets that support a specific playstyle
Best uses
- Learning the combat system
- Long garrison fights such as the Act 1 finale