You've spent forty hours wandering the muddy trails of Bohemia. You've scrubbed your gambeson in enough troughs to know that the life of Henry of Skalitz is mostly just being dirty and under-geared. Then the Band of Bastards armor shows up. Specifically, I'm talking about the gear worn by Kuno of Rychwald and his mercenary troupe. It’s iconic. It’s rugged. It looks like it’s actually been through a war, unlike that shiny, pristine plate you buy in Sasau that makes you look like a decorative kitchen appliance.
Most players want Sir Kuno’s Zoul armor. It’s arguably the best set in the entire game. But getting your hands on it isn't exactly a straightforward "buy it at the shop" situation.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance (KCD) doesn't hand out rewards easily. The Band of Bastards DLC is a gritty, short-lived romp that focuses on a band of mercenaries hired by Sir Radzig to patrol the province. The armor they wear—a mix of Brigandines, high-end pauldrons, and that legendary Zoul cuirass—is the peak of 15th-century fashion and protection. If you're looking for the House of Zoul gear, you're looking for the highest armor rating available in the 1403 setting.
The Reality of the House of Zoul Set
Let's get one thing straight: the "Band of Bastards armor" everyone talks about is usually the House of Zoul set. It belongs to Hagen Zoul, the antagonist of the DLC. It’s not just about the stats, though they are massive. The charisma bonus on this set is high enough to make even the most stubborn peasant bow down.
The set includes the Zoul helmet (a beautiful klappvisier bascinet), the cuirass, arm-pieces, and leg-pieces. The cuirass alone boasts a defense rating that eclipses the Lords of Leipa gear or the Warhorse set. Honestly, it’s broken. But in a good way. You feel like a tank. A very fast, very angry medieval tank.
How do you get it? You have to finish the DLC. Near the end of the questline, in the mission "What Price Honour," you'll face Hagen Zoul. You can't just talk him out of his clothes. Well, you can talk him into a duel. If you kill him or win the duel, his body is right there. Loot him. That’s the "official" way.
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Why Kuno’s Gear is Harder to Snag
Kuno’s own armor is a different story. Sir Kuno of Rychwald wears a distinct hounskull bascinet and a unique brigandine. Since Kuno is an essential NPC for most of the DLC, you can’t just bop him on the head and take his kit without consequences.
If you're desperate for his specific look, you have to get creative with the stealth mechanics. Or wait for the final battle. If Kuno falls in the final skirmish—which can happen if you don't help his men—you can technically loot him. It’s a bit macabre. It also feels wrong to rob your boss while his body is still warm in the mud, but hey, that's 15th-century mercenary life for you.
The brigandines used by the rest of the band, like Jan Baer or the Stone, are also high-quality. They represent a middle ground between heavy plate and the mobility needed for forest skirmishes. You can find similar pieces throughout the game, but the specific color schemes of the Bastards' gear are unique to the DLC's internal files.
The Problem with Durability
Here is something people forget. The Zoul armor is heavy. I mean, really heavy. If you haven't leveled up your Strength or taken the "Mule" perks, you'll be overencumbered before you even put the boots on.
Repairing this stuff costs a fortune. Unless you’ve been grinding your Maintenance skill by sharpening every dull axe in Rattay, you’ll be spending thousands of Groschen at the armorer. It’s a high-maintenance lifestyle. You have to decide if the "drip" is worth the debt.
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Tactical Advantages of the DLC Gear
Is the Band of Bastards armor actually better than the St. George’s set? Mostly, yes.
- Weight vs. Protection: The Zoul Cuirass has a better weight-to-protection ratio than the heavy German plate found in the base game.
- Charisma: It sits at the top tier. Walking into a parley wearing the crest of a defeated house sends a message.
- Visibility: The Zoul helmet offers decent visibility compared to some of the more restrictive great helms, which matters if you play in Hardcore mode without the combat rose.
If you’re playing on Hardcore, the stats matter less than the stamina management. Heavier armor drains your green bar faster. The Zoul set is heavy plate, so don't expect to be dancing around like a fencer. You're there to take the hit, master-strike the opponent, and end it with a mace to the face.
Getting the Most Out of the "What Price Honour" Quest
The climax of the DLC is where everything happens. You're sent to meet Hagen Zoul. You have a few choices. You can pay him off (bad choice for gear seekers), you can fight him in a duel, or you can trigger a full-scale battle between Kuno’s men and Zoul’s mercenaries.
If you want the armor, do not pay him off.
The duel is the most "knightly" way. Hagen is a tough fight. He’s not some random bandit in a clearing. He’s a trained knight in the best armor in the game. Use a mace. I can’t stress this enough. If you try to poke him to death with a longsword, you’ll be there all day, and he will eventually catch you with a combo. A heavy mace or a warhammer ignores that beautiful Zoul plate and crushes the man inside.
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Once he's down, the gear is yours. But remember: if you kill him during the duel, his men might attack. If you win the duel and let him live, you don't get the armor. You have to kill him to wear his skin—metaphorically speaking.
Modding and the "Easy" Way
I know some of you are on PC and don't want to wait until the end of the DLC. There are mods on the Nexus that add the Band of Bastards armor to the Rattay armorer’s inventory. It’s "cheating," sure. But KCD is a single-player game. If you want to look like a hardened mercenary from hour one, go for it.
Just be warned that wearing high-tier plate early in the game trivializes the progression. Part of the fun of KCD is starting as a peasant who can't even hold a sword straight and slowly earning your way into a suit of steel. Skipping to the Zoul set is like putting a "god mode" sticker on your save file.
Practical Steps for Long-Term Maintenance
Once you finally have the gear, you need to keep it. This isn't Skyrim; your armor gets dented, bloodied, and broken.
- Visit the Sasau Armorer: He generally has more money and better skills than the one in Rattay.
- Carry Repair Kits: Heavy Armor Kits are your best friend. Use them after every minor scuffle. If the armor health drops below a certain percentage, you can't fix it yourself anymore.
- Wash Regularly: The Zoul armor loses its charisma bonus the moment it’s covered in gore. Keep a "cleaning kit" or just jump in a trough.
- The "Stuff in Chest" Trick: If you're struggling with the weight of the full set, keep the Zoul plate on your horse (Pebbles or whoever you’ve upgraded to) and only put it on when you see a camp or a scripted battle ahead.
The Band of Bastards armor represents the peak of the game’s equipment. It’s the reward for dealing with Kuno’s nonsense and surviving the treacherous politics of the Bohemian countryside. It’s heavy, it’s expensive, and it’s absolutely worth it.
Don't forget to check the rest of the mercenaries after the final fight too. While they don't have the Zoul set, some of their unique brigandines and hauberks are better than anything you'll find on a standard Wayfarer or high-level bandit. Grab what you can, pack it on your horse, and head back to Rattay to sell the leftovers. You’re going to need the cash for the repair bills anyway.
The House of Zoul gear stays with you into the endgame, making the final siege missions feel like a breeze. Just make sure you've practiced your master strikes. Even the best armor in the world won't save you if you let five guys with polearms surround you in a ditch.