Briar Armor (Altered)

Effects

Battered iron armor from a foreign land.

Worn by Elemer of the Briar.

The winding, rusted iron briars are a mark of the guilty, and typically indicate a sentence of death. They also cause this armor to deal damage when performing dodge rolls.

Elemer murdered numerous instructors and merchants, and was known as the Bell Bearing Hunter.

Finger Reader Enia, then tailoring at a grace

Roundtable Hold

Starting Site of Grace: Table of Lost Grace

Before you go

• Obtain Briar Armor first.

1. From Erdtree-Gazing Hill in Altus Plateau, ride east down into the valley, then follow it north between the cliffs. Stay on the lower ground rather than climbing toward Mt. Gelmir's campsites.
2. Continue through the narrow gap until the Shaded Castle appears in its poison swamp. Use the rocks beside the broken southern wall to climb inside, then follow the wall right to Shaded Castle Ramparts grace.
3. Drop into the lower courtyard and head toward the center, keeping out of the poison where you can. At the next open area, climb the ladder on the raised platform to the right, beside a Wraith Caller.
4. At the top, turn left toward the opening into the next courtyard. Cross using the roofs and raised stonework where possible, then enter the building opposite for Shaded Castle Inner Gate grace.
5. Continue forward and climb the ladder on the left. Deal with the dogs at the top and enter the room on the right, watching for the Page with a crossbow among the other enemies.
6. Leave by the far exit and follow the upper walkway across the bridge past the Cleanrot Knight. Continue through the next building and up its stairs to another knight and two dogs.
7. Kick down the shortcut ladder on the southern edge of this upper platform. Then enter the tower and ride its lift up.
8. Cross the statue-lined walkway and defeat Elemer of the Briar beyond the fog. The Bell Bearing Hunters that appear at shops are separate encounters and do not unlock this armor.
9. Return to Enia in the room behind the main table at Roundtable Hold. Choose Receive equipment of champions and buy the armor with runes. Elemer does not give a Remembrance, and Enia does not require one for this purchase.
10. Buy Briar Armor for 6,000 runes.
11. Find Coastal Cave on the beach below western Limgrave. Bring a torch or lantern, clear the cave and defeat the two Demi-Human Chiefs for the Tailoring Tools and Sewing Needle.
12. Rest at a Site of Grace, choose Alter garments and select Briar Armor to make Briar Armor (Altered). This changes the item you already own; it does not create another copy.

Notes

• Weighs 10.7 and provides 19 poise.
• Adds a small Physical hit when you roll into an enemy, with 25 attack power before defenses. It also works during Quickstep and Bloodhound's Step. Actual HP damage is usually much smaller than the listed attack power.
• One Briar piece is enough to activate its contact attack. Other worn Briar pieces add their own contribution; there is no requirement to wear the complete outfit.
• The contact hit can finish a nearly dead enemy or remove a one-hit protective bubble. It is not a reliable substitute for a weapon attack, and it does not automatically interrupt every enemy.
• The armor has no innate Blood Loss buildup. Its rusted thorns do not turn ordinary weapon attacks into bleed attacks.
• Purchased from Enia after defeating Elemer in the Shaded Castle. Defeating a Bell Bearing Hunter elsewhere does not meet this shop condition.
• Tailoring the regular chest removes its cape and saves 1.1 weight at the cost of 2 poise and some protection. Both versions have the same contact attack; alteration does not increase it.