Spiked Armor

A Spiked Armor is an Armor-class piece of armor found in Golden Sun and Golden Sun: Dark Dawn.

Basic Description by Game
The Spiked Armor increases base Defense by 34. In addition, it increases base Attack by 10, and it adds 6% to the Unleash rate of weapons for the Adept it is equipped on. It can be sold for 10500 coins and subsequently rebought for 14000 coins.

In Golden Sun, it is acquired as a rare drop from Chimera Mage enemies found in Venus Lighthouse. As an Armor-class item, it is equippable by the warrior-style Adepts Isaac and Garet. If the Spiked Armor is transferred to The Lost Age, Felix and Piers can also equip it.

In Dark Dawn, the Spiked Armor is now a singular Artifact found in a treasure chest in the Aquarius Room of the Craggy Peak Ruins. it can be equipped by Matthew, Tyrell, and Eoleo.

Analysis
While its Defense rating is low in comparison to the endgame pieces of body armor for Golden Sun, which ultimately make it not the best armor to wear for the final boss, its separate enhancements to the equipped Adept's ability to physically attack are noteworthy. It is the only body armor in the first game to have a modifier for Unleash rate, and thus when the equipped Adept is also equipped with the Warrior's Helm and Hyper Boots, his Unleash chance becomes its highest possible value of 63%, which is 6% more than what it usually can be.

Of course, what the Spiked Armor tries to do in Golden Sun, other armors in The Lost Age do far better, like the Valkyrie Mail in having a much higher Unleash rate bonus and the Xylion Armor in having a much higher Attack rating bonus, and both of these aforementioned armors having much higher Defense ratings.

In Dark Dawn, the Spiked Armor is available at a relatively early portion of the game, with stronger Armor-class bodywear being unavailable until after gaining the ship. It is also the only bodywear that also raises the Unleash rate that is available until the player can either forge the Mythril Clothes or get the Valkyrie Mail. Because of this, the Spiked Armor's various benefits are useful for a longer period of time. Ultimately, the choice of Adept depends largely on player preference, as both Matthew and Tyrell will benefit from the boosts the Spiked Armor gives.