In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Link will find an enormous selection of armor, masks, jewelry and special clothing. You buy some of them normally in Kakariko Village, Hateno Village, Goron City or in the Rito village, others are hidden in Treasure Chests, are given as a reward for Side Quests or are waiting in particularly difficult shrines. There are also numerous pieces of armor from the expansion pass, a free Xenoblade Chronicles 2 collaboration and several sets that are only available via amiibo. In this guide we will show you the Locations of all armor in Breath of the Wild, explain their effects and set bonuses and reveal which parts of the Great Fairies you can improve to four stars.
How do armor and set bonuses work?
Link can wear a headgear, top and legwear at the same time. Each piece of armor has its own defense value and many pieces of clothing also provide an effect such as cold protection, attack power, stealth bonus, climbing speed or swimming speed. Most armor can be upgraded a total of four times with the four Great Fairies, which significantly increases their defense. For each level of improvement you need certain monster parts, plants, gems or other materials; You can find an overview in our guide to ingredients and materials.
Many three-piece armor sets also have a set bonus. For normal upgradeable sets, this is unlocked as soon as you wear all three parts and each of them has been improved to at least level 2 or two stars. However, there are exceptions: Sets that cannot be upgraded, such as the Dark Set, the Gerudo Women’s Set or several DLC armors, already have their set bonus without a fairy upgrade. Other sets like the Hylian or Soldier Armor have no bonus at all.
Buy armor – all dealer sets
You can purchase several of the most important armor sets directly from retailers. Especially at the beginning it is worth Rupees Not only to spend on arrows and ingredients: Ninja armor, Rito set, anti-fire set and desert set make entire regions much easier. Those specified Rupees are the Purchase prices– not the sales prices, as it was sometimes referred to in older versions of this overview.
| Armor Set | parts and prices | Effect / Set Bonus | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ninja set | Ninja Mask – 600 Rupees Ninja Suit – 700 Rupees Ninja Pants – 500 Rupees |
Sneak ↑ ★★ Set Bonus: Night Pace ↑ |
Armor Shop in Kakariko Village |
| Hylia set | Hylia Hood – 60 Rupees Hylian Robe – 120 Rupees Hylian Trousers – 90 Rupees |
No additional effect, no set bonus | Kakariko Village and Hateno Village |
| Soldier Set | Hylia Helmet – 180 Rupees Hylian Armor – 250 Rupees Hylian Leg Armor – 200 Rupees |
High defense, no set bonus | Armor Shop in Hateno Village |
| Winter doublet | 80 Rupees | Cold protection ↑ | Hateno Village; previously available on the Great Plateau |
| Anti-fire set | Anti-Fire Helmet – 2,000 Rupees Anti-Fire Armor – 600 Rupees Anti-fire trousers – 700 Rupees |
fire protection ★★ Set Bonus: Fireproof |
Goron City |
| Rito set | Anti-Snow Springs – 1,000 Rupees Rito Robe – 600 Rupees Rito trousers – 550 Rupees |
cold protection ★★ Set Bonus: Prevents freezing |
Village of Rito |
| Gerudo women’s set | Women’s Veil – 180 Rupees Women’s robe – 180 Rupees Women’s trousers – 180 Rupees |
Complete set: heat protection and access to Gerudo Town | Gerudo Town; first set for 600 Rupees at the desert bazaar |
| Desert Set | Desert Forehead Guard – 450 Rupees Desert Pauldrons – 1,300 Rupees Desert Leg Armor – 650 Rupees |
heat protection ★★ Set Bonus: Electrical Protection |
Gerudo Secret Club; later also in Tarrey Town |
| light set | luminous mask – 800 Rupees + 3 luminous stones Luminous Suit – 800 Rupees + 3 Luminous Stones Luminous trousers – 800 Rupees + 3 luminous stones |
★★ Set Bonus: Stal Camouflage and Bone Weapon Attack ↑ | Gerudo Secret Club |
Antique set in Akkala Institute
The Antique Set is one of the strongest armors in the entire base game. It does not sell for 125 Rupees – this figure simply indicates the original retail value of an unimproved part. In fact, at the Akkala Institute, Cherry has to make each part for 2,000 Rupees plus ancient materials. Beforehand, you must have brought the blue flame to the institute and used it to activate the ancient oven.
| part | cost | Materials |
|---|---|---|
| Antique helmet | 2.000 Rupees | 20 Antique Gears, 5 Antique Shafts, 3 Antique Reactor Cores |
| Ancient Armor | 2.000 Rupees | 20 Antique Gears, 5 Antique Screws, 3 Antique Reactor Cores |
| Antique Leg Guard | 2.000 Rupees | 20 Antique Gears, 5 Antique Springs, 3 Antique Reactor Cores |
Each piece increases Link’s resistance to Guardians and Ancient Weapons. If you improve the entire antique set at least twice with a Great Fairy, Antique Energy becomes active as a set bonus: The damage of ancient and guardian weapons increases significantly. At the same time, each piece can be improved up to 28 defense, so that the complete set reaches a maximum of 84 defense points.
climbing set – climb mountains faster
The climbing set can be found entirely in shrines. Each piece increases Link’s climbing speed. If the climbing headscarf, climbing gloves and climbing boots are improved at least twice, jumps while climbing use significantly less stamina. Especially with our 100% walkthrough, the set is one of the most useful pieces of armor ever.
| Armor part | Location |
|---|---|
| climbing headscarf | Ree Dahee Shrine |
| climbing gloves | Chaas Qeta Shrine |
| climbing boots | Tahno O’ah Shrine |
Barbarian Set – Maximum Attack Power
The Barbarian set is located in the three large labyrinths Hyrule’s. Each individual piece increases Link’s attack power, so that with the complete set you already achieve the maximum three-stage attack bonus. After two improvements, the set bonus also reduces the stamina consumption of charged attacks. For Lynels, Hinoxe and bosses, Barbarian Armor is one of the best offensive sets in the game.
| Armor part | Location |
|---|---|
| Barbarian Mask | Tu Ka’loh Shrine in Lomei Labyrinth Island |
| Barbarian Armor | Dila Maag Shrine in the southern maze |
| Barbarian Pants | Qaza Tokki Shrine in the Northern Maze |
The final level of improvement requires Lynel materials as well as horn shards from the three dragons. We explain the best farming routes in our guide to Dinraal, Naydra and Farosh.
Insulation Set – Complete Protection from Electricity
The insulation set consists of three parts, each of which provides electrical protection. If you upgrade your helmet, armor and pants to at least two stars, Link will become virtually immune to electrical shock effects with the complete set. This means he no longer loses any equipped weapons or shields during electric attacks.
| Armor part | Location |
|---|---|
| Insulating helmet | Side Quest “Lightning rod” at the Lakeside Stable |
| Rubber Armor | Toh Yahsa Shrine after the Shrine Quest “Thunder Trial” |
| insulating trousers | Qukah Nata Shrine |
Zora set – swim up waterfalls
The Zora set is closely linked to Mipha and the plot surrounding Vah Ruta. All parts increase Link’s swimming speed, but also have their own special features: With the Zora armor, Link can swim up waterfalls, the Zora helmet enables a spin attack in the water and the set bonus reduces the stamina consumption when swimming sprints after two improvements.
| Armor part | Location |
|---|---|
| Zora helmet | Metal chest in Lake Toto |
| Zora Armor | From King Dorephan during the Vah Ruta storyline |
| Zora leg protection | Side Quest “Search for the Lynels” |
Wilderness Set – Reward for all 120 Shrines
The Wilderness Set is one of the greatest rewards of a complete save. As soon as you have completed all 120 regular shrines, “A Gift from the Priests” starts. Then travel to the Forgotten Temple and open the three Treasure Chests with Wilderness Hat, Wilderness Robe and Wilderness Pants.
All three parts can be improved with the Great Fairies and require scales, claws, teeth and horn shards from Dinraal, Naydra and Farosh respectively. Once the complete set reaches at least two stars, the beams of the Master Sword become stronger.
Knight’s robe – one of the strongest individual armor
You will get the warrior’s robe from Impa after Link has found the first souvenir photo and then returns to Kakariko Village. You can find all Locations in our guide to the memories in Breath of the Wild. The warrior’s robe shows the exact number of life points of targeted opponents and can be improved up to an exceptionally high defense value of 32.
Since there is no matching head and leg piece, the warrior’s robe does not have a set bonus. However, horn shards from Farosh, Naydra and Dinraal are required for later improvements.
Gerudo jewelry – headband and earrings
After completing the Side Quest around the jewelry shop in Gerudo Town, you can purchase six special headgear there. In addition to Rupees, the dealer asks for matching gemstones. These pieces of jewelry are not part of a three-piece set, but can be improved with the Great Fairies.
| Jewelry | cost | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Amber earrings | 100 Rupees + 10 amber | High basic defense |
| Opal earrings | 200 Rupees + 8 opals | Swimming speed ↑ |
| Topaz earrings | 500 Rupees + 5 topazes | electrical protection |
| Sapphire headband | 800 Rupees + 3 sapphires | heat protection |
| Ruby Browband | 500 Rupees + 3 Rhodonite | cold protection |
| Diamond Browband | 1,500 Rupees + 3 diamonds | Antique Defense ↑ |
Thunder Helmet, Sand Boots and Snow Boots
There are three more special pieces of armor waiting in Gerudo Town. The Thunder Helmet makes Link immune to lightning and becomes available after Vah Naboris is freed and you have completed all the necessary Gerudo Side Quests. Sand and snow boots come from the tasks surrounding the eighth warrior statue and increase Link’s movement speed in sand and snow respectively. All three pieces are individual pieces and do not belong to a normal three-piece set.
Dark Set at Kilton – Play Dark Link
After all four Titans are freed, sells Kilton his complete Dark Set. Unlike most armor, you don’t pay with Rupees, but with Mon.
| part | price |
|---|---|
| Dark hood | 1,999 Mon |
| Dark Tunic | 999 Mon |
| dark trousers | 999 Mon |
| Total | 3,997 Mon |
The dark set cannot be colored or improved on the Great Fairies. His defense therefore remains low at three points per game. However, if you wear all three pieces at the same time, Link will automatically receive the set bonus Night Pace ↑. An improvement to two stars is not necessary for this.
Buy sold armor from Granté
Some unique armor pieces can initially only be found once. However, if you later sell climbing, barbarian or insulating armor or certain DLC pieces, they are not permanently lost. After the complete construction of Tarrey Town, the dealer Granté will appear there. Once Link has owned the original at least once, Granté sells replacement copies of many unique items.
Climbing, barbarian and insulating parts cost 4,000 Rupees each. Sand and Snow Boots cost 800 Rupees. You can also buy almost all DLC armor again after you find it for the first time from Granté for 50 Rupees. It is therefore not true that a sold DLC part is basically lost forever.
Free Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Set
The Side Quest “Xenoblade Chronicles 2” was added with a free update. Three red shooting stars lead you to Treasure Chests with the recovery set, reminiscent of Rex from Xenoblade Chronicles 2.
| part | Location |
|---|---|
| Recovery head protection | Bridge of Hylia |
| Rescue vest | Skull Pond |
| Rescue trousers | Hebra tip |
Each part improves swimming speed. If you wear the complete set, the endurance consumption during swimming sprints is also reduced. The armor cannot be improved or dyed.
DLC 1 – The Legendary Trials: all armor
The first DLC “The Legendary Trials” adds several familiar items from previous Zelda games. The Locations are hinted at via Misko’s EX diary; All Treasure Chests can be easily identified with the magnetic module. The DLC armor cannot be improved on the Great Fairies.
Find Majora’s Mask
Majora’s Mask is located at the Komolo Garrison Ruins south of the Hyrule Field. The EX chest is stuck in the ground outside the ruins among the rubble. Activates the magnetic module and pulls it out.
Majora’s Mask combines the stealth effect of several of Kilton’s monster masks: Bokoblins, Moblins, Lizalfos and certain Stal enemies do not initially attack Link. Lynels can only be deceived for a very short time and they quickly see through the disguise. This makes the mask extremely powerful for early exploration tours.
Find Korok Mask
The Korok Mask is one of the most useful items for a 100% score. It is located in an EX treasure chest inside the Lost Woods. First orient yourself by the fires as on the normal route to the Korok Forest and then follow the direction in which the embers are carried. The chest lies in a hollowed out tree.
If there is a Korok that has not yet been found nearby, the mask begins to rattle. If you want to find all 900 Koroks, you should wear them as often as possible during our regional tours.
Find Midna’s Crown
Midna’s Crown is located in the ruins of the Temple of the Sages west of the Hyrule Field. The partially buried EX chest is located among the ruins and is pulled out using the magnetic module. The crown has seven points of basic defense and increases Link’s resistance to guardian attacks.
Find Tingle set
The three-piece Tingle set comes from the EX task “Fairy Garb”. The three Treasure Chests are spread across the plains of Hyrule.
| part | Location |
|---|---|
| Tingle’s hood | Old transshipment point |
| Tingle’s Shirt | Prison Ruins |
| Tingles tights | Seagull Village Ruins |
The full set increases Link’s movement speed at night. Since it cannot be upgraded, this set bonus is available immediately.
Find Phantom Armor
The Phantom Set already has a very high basic protection of eight defense points per piece without any improvements and also increases Link’s attack power. This makes it ideal for players who own the DLC early in the game.
| part | Location |
|---|---|
| Phantom helmet | Coliseum Ruins |
| Phantom Armor | Old fairground |
| Phantom Greaves | Hyrule Garrison Ruins |
The Phantom Set cannot be upgraded and does not have an additional three-piece set bonus; the attack bonus is already granted by the individual pieces of armor.
Nintendo Switch Shirt
Expansion Pass owners will also receive the Nintendo Switch Shirt. The EX Chest is located on Great Plateau near the Eastern Abbey and Ja Baij Shrine. The shirt only has one defense point and no special effect – it is primarily a cosmetic bonus.
DLC 2 – The Champions’ Ballad: Bodyguard Set
“The Champions’ Ballad” adds more armor. The three-piece bodyguard set is located entirely in Hyrule Castle and is one of the most elaborate DLC treasures.
| part | Location |
|---|---|
| Bodyguard Cap | Room above the sanctuary |
| Bodyguard Robe | Hidden room near the dining room |
| Royal Guard Boots | Training area / guard quarters |
The set cannot be improved or colored. If you wear all three parts, the stamina consumption of charged attacks decreases. In addition, the armor also hiddenly reduces consumption during climbing jumps and swimming sprints.
Find Phantom Ganon Set
The three-piece Phantom Ganon set is hidden in the jungle of Faron and is reminiscent of Ganon’s appearance from Ocarina of Time. Each piece increases Link’s stealth ability; the complete set also camouflages him from Stal opponents and increases the damage of bone weapons.
| part | Location |
|---|---|
| Phantom Ganon Helmet | At the highest of the three waterfalls north of Lake Floria, near Lake Corta |
| Phantom Ganon Armor | Under the Sarjon Bridge on the Floria River |
| Phantom Ganon Boots | At the broken bird statue in Ebara Forest |
Find Zanto’s Helmet
Zanto’s helmet prevents Link from being frozen. The EX Chest is located in the swampy region south of the Dueling Peaks, on a small island of dead trees north of Tobio Gorge. Use the magnetic module to pull them out of the ground.
Find Ravios hat
Ravio’s Hat can be found at Lake Dracoto in the area around the Spring of Courage. Misko’s clue speaks of the right hand of the dragon devouring the spring. The hat increases Link’s lateral climbing speed, but cannot be improved or dyed.
Find Blue Lobster Shirt
The Blue Lobster Shirt comes from The Wind Waker. The Treasure Chest is located at the origin of the Menoat River or at Lake Cora. The shirt provides heat protection and also increases the speed of rafts when Link propels them with a Korok Fan.
amiibo armors – all exclusive sets
Several pieces of armor can only be obtained in the base game via compatible Zelda amiibo. The respective figures may be scanned once per real day; Then a Treasure Chest falls from the sky alongside various materials. The rare pieces of armor are not guaranteed, which is why several attempts may be necessary.
| Armor / Item | amiibo | Effect / Set Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Grim Deity Set | Link – Majora’s Mask | Attack ↑; ★★ Charge Attack Stamina |
| Original set | 8-Bit Link – The Legend of Zelda | ★★ Master Sword Beams ↑ |
| Time set | Link – Ocarina of Time | ★★ Master Sword Beams ↑ |
| Shadow Set | Link – Twilight Princess or Smash Bros. | ★★ Master Sword Beams ↑ |
| wind set | Toon Link – Wind Waker or Smash Bros. | ★★ Master Sword Beams ↑ |
| Sky Set | Link – Skyward Sword | ★★ Master Sword Beams ↑ |
| Sheik’s Mask | Shiek – Super Smash Bros. | Sneak ↑ |
| Vah-Ruta helmet | Mipha | Antique Defense ↑ |
| Vah-Rudania helmet | Daruk | Antique Defense ↑ |
| Vah Medoh Helmet | Revali | Antique Defense ↑ |
| Vah Naboris Helmet | Urbosa | Antique Defense ↑ |
The five classic hero sets and the Grim Deity set can be upgraded with the Great Fairies. Large amounts of gemstones and especially star shards are required for the various hero robes. We treat the amiibo armors as optional extras in our normal 100% walkthrough, as they require additional figures or cards.
Which armor cannot be improved?
Most normal armor can be upgraded up to four stars, but there are important exceptions. The Gerudo Lady Set, the Dark Set, and almost all classic DLC armor do not have enhancement levels. These include Majora’s Mask, Korok Mask, Midna’s Crown, Tingle, Phantom, Phantom Ganon and Bodyguard Set, Zanto’s Helmet, Ravio’s Hat, Blue Lobster Shirt and Nintendo Switch Shirt. Your defense values remain permanently at the original level.
Which armor is the best in Breath of the Wild?
There is no single best armor because the sets fulfill different tasks. For maximum direct protection, the fully upgraded Antique Set and Soldier Set are some of the strongest three-piece armor. With 32 points, the warrior’s robe has the highest defense value of a normal single top. Barbarian or Grim Deity sets are suitable for high damage, while the Ancient set, together with ancient weapons, causes exceptionally high damage against guardians and other enemies.
For exploration, however, the climbing set can hardly be replaced. In cold regions the Rito set is excellent, in Eldin the anti-fire set, in the desert the desert set and in the water the Zora set. The ninja set is one of the best all-round armor if you want to reach animals, insects or opponents unnoticed.
The most important set bonuses at a glance
| Armor Set | Set Bonus |
|---|---|
| Ninja set | Night Tempo ↑ |
| climbing set | Climbing jumps use less stamina |
| Barbarian Set | Charged attacks consume less stamina |
| Grim Deity Set | Charged attacks consume less stamina |
| Rito set | Freezing prevents |
| Anti-fire set | Burning prevents |
| insulation set | Shock effect prevents |
| Desert Set | electrical protection |
| Zora set | Swimming sprint uses less stamina |
| light set | Stal Camouflage and Bone Weapon Attack ↑ |
| Antique set | Ancient and Guardian weapons deal more damage |
| Wilderness Set | Master Sword Beams ↑ |
| Dark Set | Night Tempo ↑ |
| Tingle set | Night Tempo ↑ |
| Phantom Ganon Set | Stal Camouflage and Bone Weapon Attack ↑ |
| Bodyguard Set | Charged attacks consume less stamina |
Armor for 100% – Checklist
Armor does not increase the official percentage display on the world map. For our 100% walkthrough for Breath of the Wild, we still collect all regularly available armor pieces and – if the expansion pass is installed – all DLC armor. amiibo-exclusive sets remain optional.
| Collection | For full score |
|---|---|
| Hylia set | Buy Complete |
| Soldier Set | Buy Complete |
| Ninja set | Buy Complete |
| Rito set | Buy Complete |
| Anti-fire set | Full Collect/Buy |
| Gerudo women’s set | Complete |
| Desert Set | Complete |
| light set | Complete |
| Antique set | Completely manufacture |
| climbing set | All three shrine chests |
| Barbarian Set | All three labyrinths |
| insulation set | All three parts |
| Zora set | All three parts |
| Wilderness Set | After all 120 shrines |
| warrior robe | Collect from Impa |
| Thunder Helmet | Complete Gerudo tasks |
| Sand and snow boots | Both Side Quests complete |
| Dark Set | After all four titans at Kilton buy |
| recovery set | Free Xenoblade Update |
| DLC-1 Armors | Find all EX treasures |
| DLC 2 Armors | Find all EX treasures |
| amiibo armors | Optional |
All armor found – what happens next?
Once you have collected all the armor, the much more material-intensive part begins for a maximally expanded game: the improvements to the Great Fairies. At the highest levels, ancient, barbarian, wilderness and warrior clothing in particular require rare materials such as Lynel Hearts, Giant Ancient Core Pieces, Star Shards and Dragon Parts. Therefore, do not sell such materials too quickly. Our overview of ingredients and materials as well as the guide to Dinraal, Naydra and Farosh will help you with the final upgrades.
Of course, you don’t have to have every piece of armor for a normal passage. However, if you follow our complete Breath of the Wild Walkthrough, you will collect almost all of the important sets automatically during the regional routes – from the climbing armor in Necluda to the Zora and Rito armor to the barbarian armor in the three labyrinths and the wilderness set after the 120th. shrine.