If you’ve been leveling in Ashes of Creation and looking to improve your heavy armor options, the Deepwater Cuirass is something you’ll likely encounter around level 20. Below, I break down what it does, how it works in practice, and what most players consider when using it.
What is the Deepwater Cuirass?
The Deepwater Cuirass is an uncommon heavy armor chest piece that’s often worn by characters who need a balance between armor protection and constitution. Its item level is 29, and it’s usually crafted by players rather than looted, though some may obtain it through rewards.
In general, the cuirass provides 1870–1932 armor and 209–216 constitution at its base uncommon quality. These stats make it solid for early- to mid-game content where survivability is key. Most players upgrading to heavy armor at this stage will notice the defensive boost immediately, especially if their class relies on staying in melee combat.
How Do the Stats Work?
Here’s a breakdown of what you get and what it means in practice:
Armor (1870–1932): This reduces physical damage taken. Most players will notice a modest but noticeable difference when facing standard mobs.
Constitution (209–216): This contributes to your overall health and stamina. In general, players focus on stacking constitution on heavy armor pieces for longer fight endurance.
Set Bonuses
The Deepwater Cuirass is also part of a set. Set bonuses can make a big difference in practical combat situations:
3 Pieces Set Bonus – 2% Base Mitigation
This adds a small, but meaningful reduction to damage taken. Most players won’t notice a huge jump with just three pieces, but it helps in early group fights or dungeon runs.
5 Pieces Set Bonus – 2% Healing Received and 2% Disable Reduction
Receiving more healing is helpful in longer battles or when you’re supporting in a raid. Disable reduction is especially useful for melee classes, as it slightly shortens the duration of stuns, roots, or other crowd control effects. Most players will prioritize these bonuses if they intend to stay in fights where crowd control is common.
8 Pieces Set Bonus – 4% Base Critical Power
For damage dealers, this bonus can add a noticeable bump to critical hits. In general, only players who are focused on full set collection will see this in effect, as it requires eight pieces to be equipped.
How Does It Compare Across Rarities?
The Deepwater Cuirass comes in several rarities: Uncommon, Rare, Heroic, Epic, and Legendary. Here’s how the numbers scale for a few key stats:
Most players aim to upgrade the cuirass to Heroic or Epic for end-of-level content because the additional armor and constitution noticeably improve survivability. Legendary upgrades are usually reserved for players who want the maximum stat advantage and are willing to invest significant time or resources.
Crafting vs. Looting
The Deepwater Cuirass requires a recipe that can be obtained from crafting systems. In general:
Crafting: Most players will craft this armor themselves if they have a focus on heavy armor or tanking roles. Crafting allows for slightly better stat rolls and quality upgrades.
Looting: While possible, it’s less reliable. Some early dungeon drops include uncommon or rare variations, but players aiming for specific stats usually prefer crafting.
Durability is also important to keep in mind. The cuirass has a maximum durability of 45, which means that frequent use in combat will eventually require repairs. Most players set up routine repairs at a town or settlement to maintain effectiveness.
Practical Usage Tips
Pair With Other Heavy Armor: The set bonuses are most effective when combined with other Deepwater set pieces. Most players don’t equip it alone if they want to maximize survivability.
Watch Durability: If you’re actively tanking or in PvP, durability can drop fast. Don’t ignore repairs, or you’ll notice a significant decrease in armor effectiveness.
Consider Healing and Disable Reduction: In general, many players underestimate the value of the 5-piece bonuses. For long dungeon runs or PvP skirmishes, the healing and crowd control reduction can be more valuable than raw armor.
Upgrade Strategically: Don’t rush to Legendary unless you really need it. Rare or Heroic versions usually cover most level 20–40 content effectively. Most players find the middle rarities give the best value for time invested.
Notes on Economy
While the crafting materials are generally obtainable through gathering, some players choose to acquire the cuirass through trading with other players. Be cautious: in-game economies fluctuate heavily. There are third-party sites offering Ashes of Creation gold for sale at U4N, but these should be approached carefully, as real-money trading is not officially supported and can carry risks. Most players rely on in-game currency earned through quests, crafting, or trade.
In short, the Deepwater Cuirass is a solid early-to-mid-game heavy armor chest piece. It offers decent armor and constitution, plus set bonuses that scale well as you collect more pieces. Most players will focus on the 3- and 5-piece bonuses in practical gameplay, while 8-piece bonuses are only relevant for dedicated set collectors.
Crafting is usually the best way to obtain it, and upgrading to Rare or Heroic levels is generally sufficient for most player needs. Durability and set bonuses are more impactful than raw armor numbers in real gameplay, so don’t overlook those aspects.
