The Leather Armor is a heavy armor in Final Fantasy XII that boosts the wearer's defense by 6 and Strength by 2. It is the weakest heavy armor and basic equipment.
Obtain[]
Original[]
In the original PlayStation 2 version, the Leather Armor is sold for 500 gil in Rabanastre and Barheim Passage, and found as a treasure in Garamsythe Waterway's No. 11 Channel (Flooded) (70% chance to appear, 50% chance for gil, 50% chance the item treasure is Leather Armor ).
Zodiac[]
In the updated Zodiac versions, the Leather Armor is sold for 300 gil in Rabanastre, Giza Plains - The Dry, Nalbina Fortress, and Barheim Passage, and is found as a treasure in Dalmasca Westersand's The Midfault (65% chance to appear, 40% chance for gil, 50% chance the item treasure is the Leather Armor without the Diamond Armlet equipped).
Use[]
The Leather Armor is the weakest heavy armor, giving a small amount of Defense at 6 and 2 Strength. It falls off in usefulness fast. The strength bonuses make heavy armor ideal for frontline fighters, though the HP boost from light armor can be valuable in the beginning of the game, and the first party members the player gets have light armor headgear already equipped.
In the original version, Balthier, Fran, Basch and Ashe start with the license to equip the Leather Armor, Heavy Armor 1, but no one has it as initial equipment; Balthier and Fran joining with light armor hats, and Basch and Ashe joining with the superior Bronze Armor, instead. In the Zodiac versions, Uhlan, Knight, Time Battlemage, and Foebreaker can equip it, and Basch and Ashe start with the license for it and so can wear it no matter the job, though there is no need as they already have the superior Bronze Armor equipped when they join. There is no need to buy the helm as it falls off in usefulness so fast; the player can instead save their money for spells and technicks in this early part of the game. If the player manages to nab one from a treasure, they can use it to replace Vaan's starting gear, though in the Zodiac versions, he would need to choose License Board that includes Heavy Armor 1.