The Problem

Radiation keeps killing me and I cannot figure out which armor actually protects against what.

The Solution

Abiotic Factor has layered environmental hazards, and no single armor piece handles all of them. You need to understand what each hazard demands and swap gear depending on the sector.

Hazmat Suit — Your Radiation Workhorse The Hazmat Suit provides 90% radiation reduction. Find it in the Office Sector locker early (near the security desk). Never enter Labs, Containment, or any portal world (see Portal Worlds overview) with ambient radiation without it. A Hazmat Suit at zero durability provides zero protection — repair it before every hazardous expedition.

Lab Mask — Gas and Spore Negation The Lab Mask gives 15% radiation reduction but more importantly, it completely negates gas and spore effects. Wear it in Maintenance Tunnels, Manufacturing West (poison gas corridors), and the Mycofields (spore clouds). It stacks with the Hazmat Suit for layered protection.

Gas Mask — Specialized Heavy Protection The Gas Mask requires NATO 40mm filters and provides the best gas protection in the game. It is mandatory for deep Maintenance Tunnels where poison gas density is highest. Filters are consumable — carry spares.

Fire Proximity Suit Mandatory for the Mycofields portal world. The ambient heat in the Mycofields will kill you in under 60 seconds without it. The Hazmat Suit does nothing for heat — this is a different hazard category.

Diving Suit Required to reach the Neutrino Detector in the Hydroplant. Without it, the underwater sections are inaccessible.

The Sitting Trick Sitting on any surface (chairs, benches, beds, even the floor) nullifies ambient radiation entirely. This includes radiation from items in your inventory. If you are carrying radioactive loot and taking damage, sit down immediately. This works everywhere — Labs, Containment, portal worlds.

Armor Set Bonuses (Verified from GamerBlurb / Wiki) Do not craft armor solely for defense numbers. Set bonuses define your playstyle:

• Makeshift Armor: +30 carry weight — the best early-game utility pick for haulers.
• Carapace Armor: Airtight Seal + Thorns (return damage to attackers) — for aggressive melee players.
• Kintsugi Armor: Jump bonus — useful for exploration and reaching elevated loot spots.
• Sniper set: Ranged damage bonus — for players who prefer guns.

Armor Stats Table (Chest pieces, verified values)

Key takeaways:

• Max protection: Mountaineer set (28.0 armor), but heavy (~100 total weight for full set).
• Best all-rounder: Ionized Coreplate (26.0 armor, +1 cold AND heat, 80 durability, only 8.0 weight).
• Best lightweight: Cascade set (21.0 armor, 7.0 weight per piece).
• Cold specialist: Puffy Coat (+2 cold) + Snow Pants (+2 cold) + Yeti Helmet (+2 cold).
• Heat specialist: Fire Proximity Suit (+3 heat) — mandatory for Mycofields.

Step-by-Step

1. Loot the Hazmat Suit from the Office Sector security locker on day one — it is the single most important protection item in the game.
2. Always carry the Hazmat Suit when heading into Labs, Containment, or through any portal — 90% radiation reduction is not optional.
3. Wear a Lab Mask in Maintenance Tunnels and Manufacturing West to negate gas and spore effects before they stack into lethal damage.
4. Use the sitting trick: sit on any surface to nullify ambient radiation, including radiation from items in your inventory. This is free and works everywhere.
5. Check armor set bonuses before spending rare materials: Makeshift gives +30 carry weight; Carapace gives Airtight Seal and Thorns (return damage); Kintsugi gives a jump bonus.
6. Equip the Fire Proximity Suit before entering the Mycofields — the Hazmat Suit provides zero heat protection and you will die in under a minute.
7. Craft the Diving Suit when Hydroplant progression requires underwater access.
8. Repair all protective gear after every expedition — a zero-durability suit is dead weight.

Common Mistakes

• Wearing broken protective gear — a zero-durability Hazmat Suit provides zero protection. Check durability in the inventory screen before each trip.
• Ignoring the sitting trick for radiation — it is free and works on radioactive items in your inventory too. If your health ticks down, sit immediately.
• Crafting heavy armor sets without checking if the set bonus matches your playstyle — a Sniper will waste materials on Carapace.
• Assuming the Hazmat Suit protects against all environmental hazards — it does nothing for heat, gas, spores, or drowning.