Layered armor arrives with High Rank: every High Rank armor piece you forge unlocks its layered look automatically, with no extra materials. Equip it at any tent under Appearance Menu, Equipment Appearance. Low Rank armor can't be used, and layered armor only changes how you look, never your stats.
Want the stats of one set and the look of another? That’s what layered armor is for, and in Wilds it’s refreshingly simple. Here’s how it unlocks and how to set it up.
How layered armor unlocks
Layered armor arrives with High Rank, which starts once you’ve finished the Chapter 3 story. From then on, every High Rank armor piece you forge at Gemma’s Smithy unlocks its layered version automatically. There’s no separate crafting step, and no extra materials or zenny.
- Low Rank armor can’t be used as layered armor.
- Layered armor only changes how you look. Your defense, skills and slots all come from the armor you’re actually wearing.
Title Update 2 added the β versions of hunter armor as layered options. If you’d already unlocked the α version, the β version unlocked automatically.
How to equip it
- Go to the tent at any base camp or pop-up camp.
- Open the Appearance Menu and choose Equipment Appearance.
- Pick a look for each armor slot. You can show or hide each slot, and set underclothes and pendants here too.
- Recolour pieces with the colour picker if you like.
- Save before you leave the menu.
Title Update 2 let you view Equipment Appearance from Equipment Info and Palico Info in the Start Menu. Title Update 3 added Equipment Appearance sets to View Loadouts and a shortcut from Change Equipment. Title Update 4 added an α/β filter, and appearance loadouts now save your current hair too.
Hiding your helmet
The helmet has its own setting: Start Menu, System, Options, Game Settings, then Head Armor Visibility. You can choose Show, Hide, or Hide During Cutscenes. Hiding it doesn’t cost you any stats or skills.
Layered weapons
Title Update 2 also added layered weapons for hunters and Palicos. A hunter’s layered weapon unlocks once you’ve crafted or upgraded that weapon tree all the way to its final version.
Title Update 3 added layered options for some bowguns that aren’t fully upgraded, and fixed the Shell Hammer layered weapon not unlocking.
Palico layered armor
Your Palico has its own section in the same menu: Appearance Menu, then Palico Equipment Appearance.
Paid and bonus layered sets
- Guild Knight set: pre-order bonus.
- Feudal Soldier set, Fencer’s Eyepatch and Oni Horns Wig: Deluxe Edition, also sold separately.
- Felyne Ashigaru (Palico): Deluxe content, also sold separately.
- Wyverian Ears: Premium Deluxe bonus.
- Noblesse set and Florescent Circlet: Cosmetic DLC Pack 1, or bought separately.
Your Seikret can dress up too
The Soldier’s and General’s Caparisons for your Seikret come with the Deluxe Kit, and Title Updates 2 and 3 both added new Seikret decorations. During Festival of Accord events, your Seikret’s look and the Handler’s outfit change for a while too.