Armor Specials

So, weapon specials(ie demoralize, lacerated, empower) only apply or have a chance of procing their effect when the weapon with the power is used.

Do the armor specials (dune/riot/assault) only apply when that specific armor mitigates an attack, or are they passive?

It applies to the part of the armor that is covering your body. If you have a dune body armor for example, the effect only works if you get hit on the chest or arms. Your legs would get another effect (if you had riot pants for example, or none)

This is what I suspected, but didnt know for sure. Thanks.

The only exceptions to this are Maurader and delta, those effects are passive no matter the body part (extra hp and -stat losses respectively)