The Fossil Armor increases your ranged crit chance by only 8%, while the Necro Armor increases your ranged crit chance by 10%. On top of this, the Fossil Armor increases your ranged damage by only 5%, and the Necro Armor increases your ranged damage by 15%. There’s more to it though, so let’s dive in.
Armor Stats Breakdown
Necro Armor Stats
Fossil Armor Stats
Stat Increases
While the armor sets share similar stat increases, the Necro Armor simply has higher numbers than the Fossil Armor set. The Necro Armor’s crit chance increase is 2% higher than that of the Fossil Armor, and the ranged damage increase is 10% higher. Of course, the difference between the two is that the Fossil Armor has a set bonus that the Necro Armor doesn’t. It’s up to you if the set bonus makes the armor set worth going for. Though it may sound useful, the effect itself usually isn’t worth picking over other options.
Comparing the Necro Armor To Other Sets
The Necro Armor set is one of the best pre-Hardmode armor sets, and the best ranged pre-Hardmode armor set. Fossil Armor is the only other armor set in pre-Hardmode that specifically buffs ranged stats. Necro armor is the best pick if you’re attempting a ranged class. However, if you’re purely looking for the highest defense stat, you’ll find that with the Molten Armor. While this set is clearly built for the melee class, it is the highest defense armor set available in pre-Hardmode. The ranged stat increases are pretty high on the Necro armor. If you are committed to a ranged class build, it’s best to stick with that set.
What’s Easier To Make?
The Necro Armor can be made at a Work Bench. The Fossil Armor can be made at an Iron Anvil or Lead Anvil. Given the drop-rates explored below, the Necro Armor appears to be the easiest to craft, which makes it an even better pick.
Getting the Necro Armor
The Necro Armor requires a total of 135 Cobwebs and 150 Bones.
Necro Helmet: 40 Bones and 40 Cobwebs Necro Breastplate: 60 Bones and 50 Cobwebs Necro Greaves: 50 Bones and 45 Cobwebs
Bones can be easily obtained from Skeletons in the Dungeon, specifically Angry Bones, Cursed Skulls, and Dark Casters. They each have a 98.07% chance to drop 1-3 bones in Classic mode, and a 100% chance to drop 2-6 bones in Expert/Master mode. Cobwebs are common anywhere underground. You’re guaranteed to find some on the walls and ceilings of abandoned structures. You can also find a ton in Spider Caves, but breaking these only has a 25% chance each to give you a cobweb.
Getting the Fossil Armor
The Fossil Armor requires a total of 60 Sturdy Fossils.
Fossil Helmet: 15 Sturdy Fossils Fossil Plate: 25 Sturdy Fossils Fossil Greaves: 20 Sturdy Fossils
Sturdy Fossils are a bit difficult to come across. You get them by putting Desert Fossils in an Extractinator. There is a 10% chance of getting a Sturdy Fossil from each Desert Fossil. Desert Fossils themselves are pretty common in the Desert biome in the Underground layer. They are blocks found in veins similar to ores. Sturdy Fossils also drop from Tomb Crawlers, with a 50% chance to drop 1-2 of them. It’s more effective to search for Desert Fossils than farm Tomb Crawlers.
