There are seventeen vambraces to be discovered, purchased, crafted, or upgraded in Final Fantasy 16 over the course of the story, through either the main questline or various side quests. While none of the vambraces are missable, it should be noted that there is a point-of-no-return during the main quest “The Crystal’s Curse”. Even so, these vambraces can still be acquired post-completion of the campaign using Stage Replay or free roam. This FF XVI guide lists all known vambraces and where they can be found.
Battlechains
When worn by a skilled combatant, the twin chains wrapped about these otherwise simple bucklers can be used to ensnare enemy blades, providing the defender with precious moments in which to deliver unhindered counterattacks.
- Base Defense: 35
- Base Health: 0
Buy from the vendor Charon at her shop Charon’s Toll in Cid’s Hideaway.
Craft and reinforce with the blacksmith Blackthorne at his forge The Black Hammer in Cid’s Hideaway.
Diamond Armlets
- Base Defense: 65
- Base Health: 0
Buy from the vendor Charon at her shop Charon’s Toll in Cid’s Hideaway.
Craft and reinforce with the blacksmith Blackthorne at his forge The Black Hammer in Cid’s Hideaway.
Drakeslayer’s Bracelets
- Base Defense: 74
- Base Health: 23
“Blacksmith’s Blues IV” side quest
Craft and reinforce with the blacksmith Blackthorne at his forge The Black Hammer in Cid’s Hideaway.
Hard Leather Armlets
- Base Defense: 10
- Base Health: 0
Dropped by the Gigas at the start.
Hunter’s Armcloths
The nomadic tribes of Dhalmekia can be counted amongst some of the best hunters and trackers in the Twins. As per tradition, they claim a small, seemingly insignificant fragment of each of their prey—be it fang, bone, skin, or hair—and affix it to their gear so that the spirit of the deceased may continue the hunt alongside them.
- Base Defense: 56
- Base Health: 0
Buy from the vendor Charon at her shop Charon’s Toll in Cid’s Hideaway.
Craft and reinforce with the blacksmith Blackthorne at his forge The Black Hammer in Cid’s Hideaway.
Imperial Infantry Bracers
Having deemed shields too costly a resource to be wasting on mere Bearer assassins, the Sanbrequois imperial army now provides their frontline pawns with a pair of simple iron bangles that might stop an enemy blade…if the Bearer can raise his arms in time.
- Base Defense: 15
- Base Health: 0
Default vambraces for adult Clive.
Iron Bracers
Though little more than crude leather straps reinforced with even cruder iron plates, boundless tales of dexterous doers-of-derring deftly deflecting dorlachs and redirecting dints with naught but these wristlets have made the equipment a popular choice for those who dream of being a hero but currently lack the monetary means.
- Base Defense: 20
- Base Health: 0
Buy from the vendor Charon at her shop Charon’s Toll in Cid’s Hideaway.
Craft and reinforce with the blacksmith Blackthorne at his forge The Black Hammer in Cid’s Hideaway.
Metian Bonds
- Base Defense: 45
- Base Health: 12
“Holding On” main quest.
Mythril Wristlets
- Base Defense: 64
- Base Health: 20
In a chest during the “Fire and Ice” main quest. In the vicinity of the Red Mousse encounter, but before the Flame Lizard.
Platinum Cannons
The platinum plates which adorn these wrist guards are less for defense than they are to warn any would-be attackers that the person they are about to assault has amassed enough of a fortune slaughtering enemies and claiming their gear that they no longer need to worry about frivolous things like ”protection.“
- Base Defense: 49
- Base Health: 0
Buy from the vendor Charon at her shop Charon’s Toll in Cid’s Hideaway.
Craft and reinforce with the blacksmith Blackthorne at his forge The Black Hammer in Cid’s Hideaway.
Regal Armguards
- Base Defense: 84
- Base Health: 25
Base Health: 25
In a chest near Notorious Mark, in the south of Skaithfarr in The Shadow Coast in Southwestern Ash Deadlands in The Kingdom of Waloed.
Steel Crowns
Unlike most protective wristwear, steel crowns actually provide a fair amount of protection to their wearer. Unfortunately, the added protection is achieved through added weight, ensuring that only the most muscular might effectively wield them.
- Base Defense: 30
- Base Health: 0
Buy from the vendor Charon at her shop Charon’s Toll in Cid’s Hideaway.
Craft and reinforce with the blacksmith Blackthorne at his forge The Black Hammer in Cid’s Hideaway.
Sun Bracelets
- Base Defense: 86
- Base Health: 26
Buy from the vendor Charon at her shop Charon’s Toll in Cid’s Hideaway.
Craft and reinforce with the blacksmith Blackthorne at his forge The Black Hammer in Cid’s Hideaway.
The Founder’s Grasp
- Base Defense: 94
- Base Health: 50
“Where There’s a Will” side quest.
The Sons of Ouroboros
- Base Defense: 97
- Base Health: 32
“Blacksmith’s Blues III” side quest.
Craft and reinforce with the blacksmith Blackthorne at his forge The Black Hammer in Cid’s Hideaway.
Traveler’s Bands
Oft gifted by a knight’s paramour on the day of their beloved’s first foray into the wild, traveler’s bands are little more than pretty shells, broken glass, and shards of depleted crystal affixed to a leather band. But it’s the thought that counts.
- Base Defense: 25
- Base Health: 0
Buy from the vendor Charon at her shop Charon’s Toll in Cid’s Hideaway.
Craft and reinforce with the blacksmith Blackthorne at his forge The Black Hammer in Cid’s Hideaway.
And that is all known vambraces in Final Fantasy XVI. Collecting them all yields no trophies or achievements.
