Antique Cuirass is one of the best defensive items in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, especially for Tanks looking to counter skill-based physical damage heroes. With its solid boost to HP, Physical Defense, and HP Regeneration, this item provides sustainability in prolonged fights. However, what truly sets it apart is its passive ability, Deter, which reduces the attacker’s physical damage upon being hit by their skills.
In this blog, we’ll explore how Antique Cuirass works, when to use it, and how to play around it. If you’re struggling against Fighters and Assassins who rely on their abilities, this item might be your best option.
Understanding Antique Cuirass: Stats and Effects
Antique Cuirass offers a well-rounded defensive stat line that enhances survivability in battle. Here’s what you get when you equip this item:
- +920 HP – Grants extra health to endure extended fights.
- +40 Physical Defense – Provides resistance against physical damage.
- +4 HP Regen – Ensures steady health recovery over time.
However, the real value of Antique Cuirass lies in its unique passive, Deter. When the wielder is hit by an enemy’s skill, the passive reduces the attacker’s physical damage by 6% for 2 seconds, stacking up to three times. This means a full stack can weaken an enemy’s skill damage by 18%, making it significantly harder for them to burst you down.
Best Use Case: Countering Skill-Based Heroes
Antique Cuirass shines against heroes who rely heavily on their abilities to deal damage. This makes it an excellent counter against Fighters and Assassins, especially in the mid to late game when their skills become more impactful. Some of the best heroes to counter using this item include:
- Paquito – A Fighter who thrives on rapid skill combos; reducing his damage weakens his overall impact.
- Saber – An Assassin known for his deadly one-shot combo; the damage reduction can help you survive his burst.
- Hayabusa – A high-mobility Assassin who relies on skills to execute his enemies; Antique Cuirass lowers his efficiency.
- Suyou – A hero who depends on chaining skills together; limiting his damage output weakens his potential.
- Fanny – With her energy-based skills, Fanny relies on quick and repeated skill attacks; reducing her damage makes her engagements less threatening.
Since these heroes deal most of their damage through abilities rather than basic attacks, Antique Cuirass can significantly lower their kill potential, making it easier to survive and fight back.
How to Play Around Antique Cuirass
If you’re playing a hero that suffers against Antique Cuirass, don’t worry—there are ways to counter it. Here are some strategies:
- Space out your skills – Since the passive effect only lasts 2 seconds, avoiding back-to-back skill usage can prevent the enemy from reaching full stacks.
- Use basic attacks more – If your hero has a mix of skills and auto-attacks, focus more on your normal attacks to avoid triggering the passive too often.
- Build alternative items – Penetration items like Malefic Roar or Hunter Strike can help bypass the defense boost provided by Antique Cuirass.
- Target other enemies – If the enemy Tank has Antique Cuirass, consider switching targets to avoid dealing reduced damage.
When to Buy Antique Cuirass
Antique Cuirass is not always necessary in every match, so knowing when to buy it is crucial. Here are the best scenarios to consider purchasing this item:
- Against multiple physical skill-based heroes – If the enemy team has two or more Fighters or Assassins who depend on skills, Antique Cuirass becomes a game-changer.
- When you’re the main frontline – If you’re the Tank or a durable Fighter in your team, having this item will increase your survivability.
- During the mid to late game – As enemies get stronger, mitigating their burst damage with Antique Cuirass ensures you last longer in fights.
Is Antique Cuirass Worth It?
Absolutely! If you’re up against skill-dependent Fighters and Assassins, Antique Cuirass is one of the best defensive items you can buy. The combination of high HP, solid Physical Defense, and the Deter passive makes it a powerful tool for Tanks and durable Fighters. By reducing the enemy’s physical skill damage, it helps you and your team stay in fights longer and survive deadly ambushes.
However, it’s not a universal solution—if your enemies rely more on basic attacks or magic damage, there are better defensive options to consider. Understanding when and how to use Antique Cuirass is the key to maximizing its effectiveness.
FAQs
Q: Which heroes benefit the most from Antique Cuirass?
A: Tanks and durable Fighters like Tigreal, Baxia, Uranus, and Fredrinn benefit greatly from Antique Cuirass due to their frontline roles.
Q: Can Antique Cuirass counter Marksmen?
A: Not effectively. Marksmen rely more on basic attacks rather than skills, so Dominance Ice or Blade Armor would be better choices against them.
Q: When should I prioritize buying Antique Cuirass?
A: If the enemy team has multiple skill-based physical damage dealers, you should get it as your second or third item to counter their damage spike.
Q: Does the passive work against magic damage?
A: No, the Deter passive only reduces physical skill damage. If you need magic resistance, consider Athena’s Shield or Radiant Armor instead.
Q: Can Assassins counter Antique Cuirass?
A: Yes, Assassins can adapt by building penetration items or adjusting their attack patterns to avoid triggering the passive too frequently.
Antique Cuirass remains a reliable option for mitigating skill-based physical damage. So, do you always buy this item against Fighters and Assassins? Let us know in the comments!
