When it comes to survival in Zero Sievert, armor isn’t optional—it’s essential. But with dozens of stats and conflicting opinions on what gear is “best,” figuring out the ideal armor path can feel like a mission in itself. In this guide, we break down exactly what armor stats mean, how durability works, and the most effective way to progress your armor throughout the game.

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What Do Armor Stats Actually Do?

Armor in Zero Sievert comes with multiple properties:

• Ballistic Protection Class: How well it blocks bullets (Class 6 is the highest).
• Radiation Resistance: How much radiation it absorbs or blocks.
• Anomaly Resistance: Reduces damage from anomalies.
• Fragility: Affects how fast the armor wears out.

And one stat that isn’t clearly explained in-game: Durability.

Important Note: Higher radiation resistance values are better, not worse.

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The Hidden Stat: Durability Explained

The only effect of durability right now is on bullet penetration. The lower your armor’s durability, the higher the chance that bullets will penetrate. That’s it.

To test this, multiple scenarios were set up using melee attacks, radiation, and anomalies:

• A ghoul attack was tested across 100%, 50%, and 0% durability.
• Result: No difference in the amount of melee damage taken.
• Same was true for radiation and anomaly damage.

So while durability won’t affect passive damage, it’s critical for bullet resistance. Always repair your gear before heading into serious combat.

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Top Armor Picks in the Game

Let’s look at the best options in the game, including top-tier and budget-friendly choices.

1. Siva Suit – Best All-Around Armor

• Pros:
  • Extreme radiation and anomaly protection
  • Great for exploring dangerous zones
  • Significantly reduces melee damage
• Cons:
  • Wears out quickly
  • Must be repaired after nearly every raid
• How to Get It: Buy from the Doctor once you’ve built high reputation

The Siva Suit makes exploration safer and simplifies everything from anomaly farming to navigating highly radioactive zones. It’s not the best for PvP-heavy play, but for survival and loot-heavy runs, it’s unmatched.

2. Kiba Armor – Highest Ballistic Protection

• Pros:
  • Class 6 protection (top tier)
  • Excellent against bullets
• Cons:
  • Lacks anomaly/radiation resistance
  • Hard to obtain
• How to Get It:
  • Reward for completing the Barman task to kill Kiba 15 times
  • Or loot it directly from Kiba (if enemy armor drop is enabled)

It’s the armor of choice when facing heavily armed enemies—but it won’t help much in zones heavy with radiation or anomalies. A specialist option.

3. Crimson and Green Army Faction Armors – Late Game Faction Gear

• Where to Buy: Final tier armor at faction Traders
• Why It’s Worth Mentioning:
  • These are respectable fast-armors for combat-focused builds
  • Often more accessible than the rare Siva or Kiba suits

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How to Progress Your Armor Throughout the Game

A good armor progression strategy balances cost, accessibility, and utility. Here’s the recommended path:

1. Start with What You’re Given

• Stick with your starting armor while you begin Barman quests.

2. Buy Hunter Armor

• Cost: 36,000 Rubles
• When: As soon as you hit the right Barman reputation
• Great mid-game armor that offers better survivability and is affordable.

3. Hunt Armin (if you get lucky)

• Armin may drop a unique armor.
• He doesn’t always spawn with it, but if he does—it’s a solid upgrade.
• In 9 playthroughs, Armin’s armor only dropped once, so don’t rely on it.

4. Get the FOOK-2 Armor (Doctor Task Reward)

• How: Continue Doctor’s questline until you receive the one requiring you to reach orange radiation level.
• Reward: FOOK-2 armor

You don’t need to buy this—just complete the task and it’s yours. A great mid-to-late game armor with useful defensive stats.

5. Transition to the Siva Suit

• Final destination in your armor journey.
• Prioritize building Doctor reputation steadily until it unlocks.
• Consider switching from combat-focused armor (like Kiba) to Siva when planning raids involving anomalies, ghouls, or radiation-heavy zones.

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Final Thoughts

Armor in Zero Sievert isn’t just about class level—it’s about using the right protection for the right raid. Siva excels in hostile environments filled with radiation and anomalies. Kiba thrives in gunfights. Faction armor fills the gaps while you climb through the progression ladder.

Repair often, plan your upgrades based on your goals, and match your armor to the threats of the zone you’re entering.

If you think something was missed or want to share your own tips, feel free to drop them in the comments. This guide will be updated as new armors are introduced.

Until next time—stay safe, stay geared, and good hunting.