Armor and protection: Hazmat Suit, Gas Mask, and radiation tricks

Field Complaint

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

Validated Response

Each armor set solves a different problem, and wearing the wrong one gets you killed just as fast as wearing none. The Hazmat Suit gives 90% radiation reduction — find it in the Office Sector locker and never enter Labs or Containment without it. The Lab Mask gives 15% radiation reduction, comes in 8 color variants, and critically negates gas and spores, so wear one in any environment with airborne hazards. The Gas Mask takes NATO 40mm filters and is mandatory for the Maintenance Tunnels and gas-heavy areas. The Fire Proximity Suit protects against Mycofields heat damage. The Diving Suit is required for the Neutrino Detector section in the Hydroplant. Now the real trick: sitting down nullifies ambient radiation entirely, including radiation from items in your inventory. If you are carrying hot loot and your suit is degrading, pull up a chair — it works everywhere. Armor sets have bonus effects too: Makeshift armor gives +30 carry weight, Carapace armor is Airtight and has the Thorns effect, and Kintsugi armor gives a jump bonus. Always check durability before entering hazard zones — a broken Hazmat Suit is just a green costume.

Summary

The Hazmat Suit handles 90% of your radiation problems, and the sitting trick handles the rest. Pick armor sets based on your playstyle, not just armor numbers.

Prerequisites

• Find a Hazmat Suit in an Office Sector locker early
• Craft or find a Lab Mask for light gas and spore protection
• Understand armor set bonuses before committing rare materials

Recommended Loadout

• Hazmat Suit for radiation zones
• Lab Mask for gas and spore areas
• Carapace set for thorns damage return if you play aggressive melee

Step-by-Step Route

1. Always carry the Hazmat Suit when heading into Labs or deeper — 90% radiation reduction is non-negotiable
2. Wear a Lab Mask in Maintenance Tunnels and Manufacturing West to negate harmful gas and spore effects
3. Use the sitting trick — sitting on any surface nullifies ambient radiation completely, including radiation from items in your inventory
4. Check armor set bonuses before crafting: Makeshift gives +30 carry weight, Carapace gives Airtight Seal and Return Damage, Kintsugi gives 18% higher jump
5. Equip the Fire Proximity Suit before entering the Mycofields — the heat damage is separate from radiation
6. Craft the Diving Suit when you need to reach the Neutrino Detector in the Hydroplant

Common Mistakes

• Wearing broken protective gear — a zero-durability Hazmat Suit provides zero protection
• Ignoring the sitting trick for radiation — it is free and works on inventory items too
• Crafting heavy armor sets without checking if the set bonus matches your playstyle