Among the many unique and powerful armor sets available in Divinity: Original Sin 2, the Armor of Contamination stands out not only for its aesthetic but also for its potent bonuses and lore-rich acquisition path. This armor set is part of a special questline introduced in the ‘Four Relics of Rivellon’ free DLC, and it offers players a compelling combination of story, challenge, and reward. Designed for characters who favor poison-based builds and wish to delve into ancient secrets, the Armor of Contamination provides significant advantages for those willing to complete its demanding quest. In this topic, we’ll explore how to find the full set, the stats and effects of each piece, and how best to utilize this powerful armor in your journey across Rivellon.
Overview of the Armor of Contamination
The Armor of Contamination is a five-piece set consisting of a helmet, chest armor, gloves, leggings, and boots. This armor is themed around nature and rot, granting boosts to poison resistance, constitution, and earth-related abilities. However, it is not available by simply looting enemies or finding a random chest. Players must complete a specific questline to obtain it, and the armor evolves as the story progresses.
This set is especially effective for characters with a focus on Geomancer skills, poison damage, or those who use summoning and nature-based magic. While it offers impressive defensive stats, its true power lies in the bonuses it provides when the full set is equipped.
How to Begin the Questline
The questline for the Armor of Contamination begins in Act 2, on Reaper’s Coast. The DLC content must be activated through the game’s main menu under ‘Mods.’ Once enabled, the quest titled Contamination will appear in your journal after progressing through parts of Driftwood and its surrounding areas.
The quest involves investigating an ancient elven story tied to a corrupting power, which leads players to various parts of Rivellon. Expect to face mutated enemies, puzzles, and story-heavy encounters. It is recommended to have a party level of at least 12 before seriously attempting the tougher segments of this quest.
Locations of Each Armor Piece
Contaminated Helmet
The helmet is found in a cave near the Blackpits. After encountering a mutated magister, a tough battle will ensue. Once defeated, the helmet drops as part of the reward. Equipping it may trigger a vision or memory if your character is an elf, giving more lore context to the contamination theme.
Contaminated Gloves
These are located in the Paradise Downs region. After a fight with the possessed plant monsters, a chest appears containing the gloves. You’ll need high Wits or a character with good perception to spot the hidden chest if it’s not immediately visible.
Contaminated Boots
The boots are discovered in a sunken area filled with poison clouds and traps. Using teleportation skills or the tactical retreat ability can help you reach the safe zones. After solving a minor environmental puzzle, you can open a sealed container to obtain the boots.
Contaminated Leggings
These appear during the encounter with a corrupted elven ancestor near the Cloisterwood. After a story-heavy dialogue and a challenging fight involving summoned poison creatures, the leggings are rewarded for your victory. If Sebille is in your party, you may unlock additional dialogue and lore details.
Contaminated Armor (Chestpiece)
The final and most powerful piece is the chestplate. It is found during a boss fight at a hidden temple on Bloodmoon Island. This part of the quest is particularly challenging, as the boss uses powerful poison and curse attacks. Defeating it grants you the chest armor, completing the set and unlocking its full potential.
Upgrading the Armor
Initially, the armor pieces are marked as Contaminated and offer decent stats. However, upon completing the entire questline, the set evolves into the Armor of Contamination. The transformation enhances their effects and unlocks powerful set bonuses.
The upgraded versions grant:
- +2 Constitution
- +2 Geomancer
- +1 Summoning
- Increased Poison Resistance (up to 100%)
- Immunity to Poisoned and Diseased
- Special skill: Mass Poison
Wearing all five pieces simultaneously triggers a special aura that grants you and nearby allies minor poison regeneration each turn. This passive healing effect is incredibly useful in prolonged battles, especially when facing undead enemies who are healed by poison.
Best Builds for the Armor of Contamination
The Armor of Contamination synergizes well with several builds, but it shines brightest on poison-based casters, Geomancer wizards, and undead characters. Here are a few ideas:
Undead Geomancer
Undead characters benefit greatly from the poison resistance and healing properties of the armor. Combining Geomancer with Necromancer allows for high survivability and crowd control through skills like Poison Dart, Fossil Strike, and Corpse Explosion.
Elf Summoner/Geomancer Hybrid
Elven characters can unlock special visions while wearing the armor, adding lore depth. A mix of summoning and geomancy allows you to control the battlefield with totems and area denial skills while the armor provides resistance and durability.
Two-Handed Poison Warrior
Though this armor is often used for magic users, melee fighters with poison-enhanced weapons can also use it effectively. With the right talents, a two-handed warrior can benefit from the armor’s constitution boosts and resistance while spreading poison damage.
Tips for Using the Armor Effectively
- Pair it with poison-based weapons or spells for maximum synergy.
- If playing as a non-undead character, carry poison resistance potions or spells to avoid self-damage from environmental poison zones.
- Use the Mass Poison skill granted by the full set to fuel both offense and healing.
- Combine with other poison-boosting gear or talents like Venom Coating or Elemental Affinity.
- Take advantage of the immunity to Poisoned and Diseased when fighting swamp-based enemies or necromancers.
Role in the Lore
The Armor of Contamination is not just about stats it’s closely tied to the ancient history of the elves and a powerful being corrupted by nature. The quest dives into themes of decay, sacrifice, and the consequences of tampering with primal forces. Players who enjoy story-rich equipment will find this armor’s background rewarding and engaging.
The set tells the tale of an elven priestess who sought to harness nature’s raw power, only to become a twisted version of her former self. Her essence lingers in the armor, influencing its effects and granting visions to those sensitive to its origins. This adds narrative depth that makes wearing the armor feel like more than just an upgrade it feels like inheriting a legacy.
The Armor of Contamination is one of the most thematically rich and strategically valuable gear sets in Divinity: Original Sin 2. Acquiring it is no small feat, requiring players to overcome numerous challenges and explore some of the game’s most dangerous areas. But for those who complete its questline, the reward is a set of armor that enhances poison-based strategies, offers exceptional defense, and deepens the player’s connection to Rivellon’s lore. Whether you’re playing as an undead mage or a battle-hardened elven warrior, this armor can define your character’s power and path.