Trying to determine the best Helldivers 2 armour set that you can equip first requires you to understand the differences between each different type. Armour stats aren't actually that important when gearing up your diver. What matters more is your armour passive; a unique buff that can offer extra protection against certain kinds of damage, or even extra consumables like grenades and Stims.
If you're gearing out your diver, you might also be wondering about the best weapons to take or the best Stratagems to use when dropping into hostile territory. Regardless of what stage you're at, here's my tier list of the best Helldivers 2 armour passives, plus which sets you can find them on and how to get them. It's worth noting that armour stats are currently bugged in Helldivers 2 and are not providing protection, so it makes even more sense to double down on your passive.
