You’ve seen the armor. Even if you haven't played the game, you’ve seen the silver-etched plates, the flowing red cape, and that iconic white wolf mane trailing off the helm. It’s the face of Elden Ring. It’s the "Bloody Wolf" from the 2021 network test. But here’s the funny thing: despite being the literal poster child for the game, the Raging Wolf set is surprisingly easy to miss.
Honestly, it’s kinda poetic. In a game about becoming Elden Lord, the coolest-looking knight isn't you—at least not at first. It’s a guy named Vargram who had a much stranger, darker dream than just sitting on a throne.
Who Really is Vargram the Raging Wolf?
If you just look at the cover art, you’d think the Raging Wolf Elden Ring armor belongs to the protagonist. It doesn’t. It belongs to Vargram, one of the first Tarnished to ever set foot in the Roundtable Hold.
But Vargram didn't want to be a Lord. The guy was obsessed with Shadows. You know, like Blaidd is to Ranni or Maliketh is to Marika. Those half-wolf, half-human enforcers given to Empyreans by the Two Fingers. Vargram basically looked at them and said, "I want that." He styled his armor to mimic a wolf because he aspired to be a Shadow—a loyal beast to a god.
There's a massive lore rabbit hole here involving the Gloam-Eyed Queen. When you actually fight Vargram, he’s not using a standard sword. He’s swinging the Godslayer’s Greatsword. That’s the weapon of the Queen who led the Godskin Apostles. It suggests Vargram wasn't just some knight; he was likely trying to become the Shadow for the Gloam-Eyed Queen herself, or at least following her heretical path.
How to Get the Raging Wolf Armor (Don't Mess This Up)
The biggest tragedy in Elden Ring isn't Malenia’s rot; it’s accidentally killing a boss and realizing you’re locked out of the best-looking armor in the game. You cannot just find this set in a chest. You have to work for it, and you have to be a bit of a villain.
The Volcano Manor Trap
To get the set, you have to join the Volcano Manor in Mt. Gelmir. You’ll meet Tanith, who asks you to hunt down your own kind. If you’re playing a "hero," this feels gross. Do it anyway.
- Do the first two contracts. You’ll find letters on the table in the drawing room. Kill Old Knight Istvan. Kill Rileigh the Idle.
- Talk to Recusant Bernahl. This is the guy in the chair with the massive armor. Once you've finished the second hit, he’ll have a special request for you.
- The Capital Invasion. Bernahl will invite you to Leyndell, Royal Capital. You’ll head to the Fortified Manor (the real-world version of the Roundtable Hold). There, you’ll see a red invasion sign on the floor.
This is where it gets real. You and Bernahl will jump into the world of Vargram the Raging Wolf and his buddy, Errant Sorcerer Wilhelm. It’s a 2v2 brawl.
Pro-tip: If you kill Rykard, the Lord of Blasphemy, before doing this, everyone leaves the manor and the quest is GONE. Same goes for turning Leyndell into the Capital of Ash. If you wait too long, you’re waiting until New Game Plus.
Why Everyone Obsesses Over the Stats
Is it the best armor in the game? No. Not even close. If you want pure "I can tank a literal god" stats, you’re looking at the Bull-Goat or Moore’s set.
But for medium armor? It’s solid. It weighs about 24.1 for the whole set. It has decent physical negation, but its real value is the Poise. At base, it doesn't hit the magical 51-poise breakpoint (which lets you take one light hit without staggering), but it’s close enough that you can swap the gauntlets or use the Bull-Goat’s Talisman to fix it.
Most people wear it for the "drip." Elden Ring is basically a fashion show with occasional boss fights. The way the cape moves when you dodge-roll? Unmatched. If the cape bothers you, you can use tailoring tools to alter it, but honestly, why would you? The red cape is the whole point.
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The "Mascot" Paradox
It’s weird that FromSoftware chose Vargram’s gear for the marketing. Usually, the "cover armor" is something you find early or starts with a specific class (like the Faraam set in DS2 or the Soul of Cinder in DS3).
By making the Raging Wolf Elden Ring set a mid-to-late game quest reward, Miyazaki turned it into a status symbol. When you see a player wearing it, you know two things:
- They found the Volcano Manor.
- They didn't rush to kill Rykard like a madman.
It represents a player who explores. A player who talks to NPCs. It's the armor of a "completionist" who actually cares about the world's history.
What You Should Do Right Now
If you're currently standing in the Lands Between and you don't have this set, check your map.
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If you haven't reached Leyndell yet, get to Liurnia and find Rya. She’s the easiest ticket into the Volcano Manor. Help her get her necklace back from the thief at Boilprawn Shack. She’ll give you an invite. It saves you the headache of climbing Mt. Gelmir the hard way.
Once you’re in the Manor, don't touch Rykard. Leave the big snake alone. Focus on Bernahl. Talk to him after every assassination. Eventually, that red dot will appear in the Capital. Go get your armor. Just remember that Vargram isn't going down without a fight—he hits like a truck with that Godslayer sword, so keep your distance or bring some heavy stagger potential.
Don't let the game's mascot armor be the one thing you miss on your first playthrough. It's more than a costume; it's a piece of the Roundtable's original history.