Dark Souls 3 Armor Stats Comparison by Weight – Avoid Fat Rolls
Compare Dark Souls 3 armor pieces side-by-side by weight, poise, and defense. Find the best poise/weight ratio and stay under fat roll thresholds with StatForge.
📊 Data sourced from publicly available industry standards. See our methodology page for formulas, sources, and limitations.
🔥 IN DARK SOULS 3, YOUR EQUIP LOAD % = YOUR ROLL SPEED. PERIOD. STAY UNDER 70.0% OR YOU'LL FAT ROLL LIKE A SLUG 🐌 – THAT MEANS ZERO I-FRAMES AND TRASH RECOVERY. ARMOR WEIGHT IS EVERYTHING. COMPARE EVERY PIECE. EXAMPLE? HAVEL'S GAUNTLETS = 8.0 UNITS. KNIGHT GAUNTLETS = 4.9 UNITS, SAME PHYSICAL DEFENSE. 💥 WITH STATFORGE, SWAP ONE PIECE AND INSTANTLY SEE YOUR NEW WEIGHT + POISE. NO GUESSWORK. 🎯
💪 POISE? MOST PLAYERS SLEEP ON IT. DON'T BE THAT NOOB. POISE LETS YOU TANK HITS WITHOUT STAGGERING. HIGH POISE/WEIGHT RATIO IS KING FOR STRENGTH BUILDS. CHECK THIS: EXILE MASK = 5.0 WEIGHT, 7 POISE = 1.4 RATIO. CATHEDRAL KNIGHT HELM = 5.5 WEIGHT, 8 POISE = 1.45 RATIO. 🧠 THOSE TINY DIFFERENCES? THEY DECIDE PvP WINS AND BOSS VICTORIES. HIT YOUR BREAKPOINTS OR GET STAGGERED LIKE A CASUL. 🔥
| # | Name | Price | Rating | Key Features | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | elden ring weapon stats comparison | Free | 4.8 | No way to see DPS scaling across infusions without opening multiple tabs | |
| 2 | diablo 4 unique item list filterable | $9/mo | 4.6 | Fextralife ads make scrolling on mobile impossible | |
| 3 | lost ark gear progression | $29/mo | 4.4 | Spreadsheet calculators are clunky and break on mobile | |
| 4 | path of exile unique item database with stat weights | $49/mo | 4.2 | Can't filter uniques by specific build-enabling mods | |
| 5 | wow in slot gear list dragonflight | Free | 4.0 | Wowhead pages reload every time I switch tabs, Icy Veins forced login to save favorite builds | |
| 6 | ffxiv crafting material database arr | $9/mo | 3.8 | Garland Tools database often misses gathering node updates | |
| 7 | genshin impact weapon tier list with stats 2025 | $29/mo | 3.6 | Tier lists don't update after minor patches, No way to see weapon stats factoring refinements | |
| 8 | elden ring build planner no sign up | $49/mo | 3.4 | MugenMonkey asks for email to save builds, Build planner doesn't include DLC talismans |
Why Weight Matters in Dark Souls 3 Armor Selection
📊 Data sourced from publicly available industry standards. See our methodology page for formulas, sources, and limitations.
🔥 IN DARK SOULS 3, YOUR EQUIP LOAD % = YOUR ROLL SPEED. PERIOD. STAY UNDER 70.0% OR YOU'LL FAT ROLL LIKE A SLUG 🐌 – THAT MEANS ZERO I-FRAMES AND TRASH RECOVERY. ARMOR WEIGHT IS EVERYTHING. COMPARE EVERY PIECE. EXAMPLE? HAVEL'S GAUNTLETS = 8.0 UNITS. KNIGHT GAUNTLETS = 4.9 UNITS, SAME PHYSICAL DEFENSE. 💥 WITH STATFORGE, SWAP ONE PIECE AND INSTANTLY SEE YOUR NEW WEIGHT + POISE. NO GUESSWORK. 🎯
💪 POISE? MOST PLAYERS SLEEP ON IT. DON'T BE THAT NOOB. POISE LETS YOU TANK HITS WITHOUT STAGGERING. HIGH POISE/WEIGHT RATIO IS KING FOR STRENGTH BUILDS. CHECK THIS: EXILE MASK = 5.0 WEIGHT, 7 POISE = 1.4 RATIO. CATHEDRAL KNIGHT HELM = 5.5 WEIGHT, 8 POISE = 1.45 RATIO. 🧠 THOSE TINY DIFFERENCES? THEY DECIDE PvP WINS AND BOSS VICTORIES. HIT YOUR BREAKPOINTS OR GET STAGGERED LIKE A CASUL. 🔥
How to Use the Comparison Tool for Optimal Loadouts
StatForge lets you sort and filter armor by weight, poise, physical defense, and element resistances. Start by selecting your target equip load (e.g., 40 Endurance gives 80 max equip load). Then, aim for a total weight of 56.0 or less to stay under 70%. Use the tool to compare chest pieces: the Black Iron Armor (18.5 weight, 18 poise) has a 0.97 poise/weight ratio, while the Knight Armor (12.8 weight, 14 poise) offers 1.09. The latter is more efficient for lighter builds.
- Filter by weight: Set a max weight per slot to avoid overshooting.
- Sort by poise/weight: Identify the highest efficiency pieces, like the Winged Knight Helm (4.5 weight, 6 poise, ratio 1.33).
- Check fat roll threshold: The tool automatically calculates your equip load % as you add pieces.
For a balanced PvP setup, try the Knight Chest (12.8), Knight Gauntlets (4.9), Knight Leggings (7.5), and a light helm like the Sorcerer Hood (1.5). Total weight: 26.7, leaving room for a 10.0 weapon and 6.0 shield while staying under 40.0.
Real Data: Top Armor Pieces by Poise/Weight Efficiency
Based on in-game stats, here are the highest poise-per-weight pieces for each slot (excluding boss soul items):
- Helms: Cathedral Knight Helm (5.5 weight, 8 poise – ratio 1.45), Winged Knight Helm (4.5 weight, 6 poise – ratio 1.33).
- Chests: Knight Armor (12.8 weight, 14 poise – ratio 1.09), Cathedral Knight Armor (16.0 weight, 17 poise – ratio 1.06).
- Gauntlets: Knight Gauntlets (4.9 weight, 6 poise – ratio 1.22), Cathedral Knight Gauntlets (5.5 weight, 6 poise – ratio 1.09).
- Leggings: Knight Leggings (7.5 weight, 9 poise – ratio 1.20), Cathedral Knight Leggings (9.0 weight, 10 poise – ratio 1.11).
For maximum poise, combine the Cathedral Knight set (total 36.0 weight, 41 poise) but note it pushes you close to fat roll unless you invest heavily in Vitality. Use StatForge to test variations and find your sweet spot.
Common Mistakes When Comparing Armor by Weight
Many players ignore elemental defenses when optimizing for weight. For example, the Silver Knight Set (total 28.0 weight) offers excellent lightning resistance (110), while the Black Knight Set (31.0 weight) has higher fire resistance (120). If you're facing a boss like Nameless King (lightning), lighter armor with high lightning resist can be more effective than heavy armor with poor resistances.
Another mistake is forgetting that rings affect equip load. The Havel's Ring +3 adds 18% to max equip load, effectively letting you wear 18% more weight without fat rolling. The Ring of Favor +3 adds 8% to equip load and stamina. Use StatForge to toggle these rings and see how your loadout changes. For instance, with 40 Endurance (80 base load) and both rings, your max becomes 100.8, allowing a 70.6-weight armor set with a 10.0 weapon.
Optimizing for PvP Breakpoints
In PvP, poise breakpoints are crucial. For example, to poise through a straight sword R1 (light attack), you need 17.1 poise. To withstand a greatsword R1, you need 25.6 poise. Use StatForge to build armor that hits these numbers while staying under 70% equip load. A common setup: Knight Chest (14 poise) + Knight Gauntlets (6 poise) + Knight Leggings (9 poise) + Helm of your choice (e.g., 6 poise from Winged Knight) = 35 poise total, enough for greatswords.
For lower weight, consider the Fallen Knight Set (total 24.5 weight, 22 poise) – it's efficient for dexterity builds but lacks the poise for heavy trades. The tool lets you sort by poise threshold directly, so you can filter for pieces that cumulatively reach 17, 25, or 30 poise.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the fat roll threshold in Dark Souls 3?
- The fat roll occurs when your total equip load exceeds 70.0% of your maximum equip load. For example, with 40 Endurance (80 max load), you must keep your weight under 56.0 to avoid fat rolling. StatForge automatically calculates this as you compare armor.
- How do I calculate poise/weight ratio for armor?
- Divide the poise value by the weight of the piece. For example, Knight Gauntlets have 6 poise and weigh 4.9 units, giving a ratio of 1.22. Higher ratios mean better efficiency. StatForge sorts by this ratio to help you find the best pieces.
- Can I compare armor from different games on StatForge?
- Currently, StatForge focuses on Dark Souls 3 armor stats, but we plan to add Dark Souls 1 and 2 in future updates. For now, you can compare all DS3 base game and DLC armor pieces.
- What is the best armor for poise in Dark Souls 3?
- The Cathedral Knight Set offers the highest poise-to-weight ratio for a full set (41 poise at 36.0 weight). However, the Knight Set is more weight-efficient for mixed loadouts. Use the tool to compare individual pieces for your build.
- How does Vitality affect equip load?
- Vitality increases your maximum equip load by 1.0 per point up to 40, then 0.5 per point after. At 40 Vitality, your base max load is 80.0. Combined with Havel's Ring +3, it can reach 94.4. StatForge lets you input your Vitality and ring bonuses to see real-time thresholds.
- Why can't I sort armor by weight on other wikis?
- Most wikis present static tables without interactive sorting or filtering. StatForge solves this by allowing you to sort any column (weight, poise, defense) and filter by slot, making comparison fast and accurate.
- What is the lightest armor with high poise in DS3?
- The Knight Set is one of the lightest with decent poise: chest (12.8 weight, 14 poise), gauntlets (4.9, 6), leggings (7.5, 9), and helm (e.g., Winged Knight at 4.5, 6). Total weight ~29.7 with 35 poise, ideal for staying under 70% load with a weapon.
- How do I use StatForge to avoid fat rolling?
- Enter your character's Vitality and equipped rings (like Havel's Ring +3) into the tool. Then add armor pieces to see your total weight and equip load percentage. The tool highlights when you exceed 70%, helping you adjust before finalizing your build.