In Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild exploration is king. When climbing the cliffs of Hyrule, braving the frozen tundra of the Hebra Mountains, or delving into the canyons of the Gerudo Desert, one piece of equipment can make all the difference. But the Champion's Tunic isn't the only armor Link will need.
Knowing the ins and outs of Hyrule's best gear will take Link from zero to legendary hero– but what are these incredible helmets and fantastical greaves? And where can they be found in the wide-world of Hyrule? What will Link need to bring his armor to its full potential? The answers to these questions will change the way players explore the dangers of Hyrule in Breath of the Wild.
10 The Snowquill Armor Set
The Snowquill Armor set is the first of several sets crucial for dealing with Link’s environment. This armor set will keep Link warm in the cold frozen tundra of the Hebra region in northwestern Hyrule. When upgraded it protects Link from freezing and makes him impervious to ice attacks.
The full set is purchasable at the Rito Village armor shop, running Link 2,150 rupees. The set can be upgraded to max level at the Great Fairy Fountains for a total of 8 red chuchu jellies, 3 warm safflinas, 8 fire keese wings, 5 sunshrooms, 10 red lizalfos tails, and 5 rubies for each piece of armor.
9 The Desert Voe Armor Set
The Desert Voe Armor Will help Link stay frosty in the sweltering deserts of the Gerudo region in the south-west of Hyrule. Right off the bat, the Desert Voe set gives Link heat resistance and when upgraded it gives shock resistance as well.
The full set is purchasable at the Gerudo Secret Club shop for 2,400 rupees. If you want that shock resistance, each piece of armor can be upgraded at the Great Fairy Fountains for 8 white chuchu jellies, 11 ice keese wings, 11 icy lizalfos tails, and 5 sapphires.
8 The Thunder Helm
The Thunder Helm is a nice quality of life piece that will make exploring Hyrule much easier. While it doesn’t work as part of an armor set, the Thunder Helm makes Link fully immune to lighting and shock damage. Link is climbing a cliff with a metal sword on his back in the middle of a thunderstorm? Boom. Thunder Helm. Link is stuck in a lake with pesky shock enemies? Boom. Thunder Helm. This helmet is earned by completing the side quest, The Thunder Helm, in Gerudo Village.
7 The Flamebreaker Armor Set
Death Mountain’s volcanic heat is different from the arid desert of the Gerudo region. For the flames of Death Mountain, Link will need the Flamebreaker Armor Set. Not only will the armor protect Link from the heat of the volcano, but when upgraded it also makes Link immune to all fire damage.
The Flamebreaker Armor can be purchased at the Goron City armor shop for 3,300 rupees. Link can also snag a free body piece by completing the Fireproof Lizard Roundup side quest in the Southern Mine. In order to upgrade this set at the Great Fairy Fountains, it will cost Link 4 fireproof lizards, 2 moblin horns, 4 moblin fangs, 8 smotherwing butterflies, 3 moblin guts, and 2 hinox guts for each piece of armor.
6 The Stealth Armor Set
For players who are big fans of Sheik from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and the Super Smash Bros. franchise, the Stealth Armor set is very exciting. The set makes sneaking highly effective; perfect for catching your first horse or ambushing some moblins. When upgraded it also makes Link move faster at night, which is a handy little bonus.
The full armor set can be purchased early on in Kakariko Village for 1,800 rupees. Upgrading the set will cost Link 8 blue nightshades, 5 sunset fireflies, 8 silent shrooms, 5 sneaky river snails, 10 stealthfin trout, and 5 silent princesses for each piece of Stealth Armor.
5 The Zora Armor Set
Another situational piece of armor, the Zora Armor set will make Link unmatchable in the water. The helmet gives Link a water attack and each piece additionally increases Link’s swim speed. When upgraded, the set also reduces Link’s stamina drain while dashing in the water.
Each piece of armor is found separately. The Zora Helm is hidden in a treasure chest in Tota Lake. The Zora Armor is given when starting the main quest mission, The Divine Beast Vah Ruta. Finally, the Zora Greaves are rewarded after completing the side quest, Lynel Safari. To upgrade the Zora Armor, each piece will cost Link 3 lizalfos horns, 5 lizalfos talons, 5 Hyrule bass, 15 lizalfos tail, 5 hearty bass, and 15 opals.
4 The Radiant Armor Set
The bonuses of the Radiant Armor set are helpful and nice, but the real reason to wear this armor is because it makes Link look like a luchador during the day and a spooky skeleton at night! Wearing the full set will keep Link incognito from skeletons at night, which will make traversing Hyrule under the moon 100% faster. You’ll also do more damage with impromptu bone weapons, nice for when Link’s sword breaks at an inopportune time. The full set can be bought in the Gerudo Secret Club Shop for 2,400 rupees and 9 luminous stones. Upgrading the set at the Great Fairy Fountains costs 43 luminous stones, 3 bokoblin guts, 3 moblin guts, 2 molduga guts, and 1 lynel gut.
3 The Ancient Armor Set
The Ancient Armor set offers Link protection against Guardian beam attacks; necessary for that final push into Hyrule Castle. When upgraded, the set also gives Link bonuses to attack damage with ancient weapons.
The armor won’t be cheap, however. The full set can be bought at the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab but each piece costs 2,000 rupees, 20 ancient gears, 5 ancient shafts, and 3 ancient cores. To upgrade the set, Link will need 5 ancient screws, 20 ancient springs, 10 ancient gears, 15 ancient shafts, 5 ancient cores, 2 giant ancient cores, and 1 star fragment for each piece of armor.
2 The Barbarian Armor Set
The Barbarian Armor is the ultimate combat suit. It grants Link increased attack strength and when upgraded decreases the stamina drain of Link’s charge attack.
Each piece is found in difficult shrines. The Barbarian Helm is in Tu Ka’loh Shrine. The Barbarian Armor is in Dila Maag Shrine. Finally, the Barbarian Leg Wraps are found in Qaza Tokki Shrine. Each piece of Barbarian Armor can be upgraded at the Great Fairy Fountains for 4 lynel horns, 6 lynel hooves, 3 lynel guts, and 1 shard of Dinraal’s horn.
1 The Climber's Armor Set
Through all of Link’s adventures in Hyrule, the Climber's Armor set is invaluable. Each part increases Link’s overall climbing speed and when upgraded it reduces Link’s stamina drain for the handy climbing jump. Players will feel like Spider-Man as they fly up Hyrule's tallest walls with ease.
Each piece of the Climber's Armor is found in a different shrine. The Climber's Bandana can be found in The Dahee Shrine. The Climbing Gear is the reward for Chaas Qeta Shrine. Finally, the Climbing Boots are found in Tahno O'ah Shrine. Each piece can be upgraded at the Great Fairy Fountains for 3 keese wings, 3 rushrooms, 5 electric keese wins, 5 hightail lizards, 5 ice keese wings, 10 hot-footed frogs, 5 fire keese wings, and 15 swift violets.