One of the more interesting aspects of The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild is collecting all of the varying items that can be found in the world of Hyrule. Some items are merely collectibles for completionist runs, but others - like armor pieces - are extremely helpful in keeping Link alive. It can be crucial to find the best armor Breath of the Wild has to offer.

RELATED: The Easiest Ways To Obtain Ancient Cores In Breath Of The Wild

In fact, finding an entire set of armor can provide bonuses that, depending on the situation, make potential obstacles a breeze. Some armor sets improve mobility, others provide greater defense against specific enemy types, and others make Link stronger in battle.

The charts showing the bonuses and enhancements apply to individual pieces, not the full set.

Updated on June 22, 2023, by Kyle Chamaillard: Despite the release of Tears of the Kingdom, Breath of the Wild is still worth resisting whenever you feel like re-exploring 2017's iteration of Hyrule. There are plenty of armor sets available to collect, each with its own pros and cons, so we've decided to update this list once more to highlight the best armor sets in Breath of the Wild.

20 Tingle's Set

Link runs through an open area while wearing the Tingle Set

Level

Armor Rating (Per Piece)

Bonuses

Upgrade Cost (Per Piece)

N/A

Two

  • Night Speed Up (with full set)

N/A

This outfit is an homage to the quirky character Tingle who has appeared in a number of The Legend of Zelda games. It’s part of The Master Trials DLC pack and is obtained after completing the quest EX Treasure: Fairy Clothes, in which you'll find the pieces in different treasure chests.

It comes with a boost to speed at night and causes NPCs to be a little startled by your appearance. Tingle's Set is essentially a lower armor rating, less cool version of the Dark Set, but it causes NPCs to be concerned about you rather than frightened by you, which is arguably funnier.

19 Hylian Set

Link stands by some tall grass while wearing the Hylian Set

Level

Armor Rating (Per Piece)

Bonuses

Upgrade Cost (Per Piece)

Base

Three

-

-

Five

-

  • 5x Bokoblin Horn

★★

Eight

-

  • 8x Bokoblin Horn
  • 5x Bokoblin Fang

★★★

12

-

  • 10x Bokoblin Fang
  • 5x Bokoblin Guts

★★★★

20

-

  • 15x Bokoblin Guts
  • 15x Amber

The Hylian Set might not come with any special bonuses, but it's available to grab early on during your adventure and can easily be upgraded to the maximum level by taking out Bokblins and collecting a bit of Amber. You can purchase all three pieces at the clothing store in Kakariko Village or Hateno Village.

While there may be better armor sets for endgame expeditions, the Hylian garb can be incredibly helpful at the beginning of your adventure and has longevity with its good defense. Not only is it affordable - the most expensive piece is 120 Rupees, and the pants can be found in a chest in the Great Plateau - but upgrading it doesn't take long at all.

Continue raiding Bokoblin camps whenever you can, and you can have a decent defense by the time you tackle your first Divine Beast.

18 Stealth Set

Link stands in a forest while wearing the Stealth Set

Level

Armor Rating (Per Piece)

Bonuses

Upgrade Cost (Per Piece)

Base

2

  • Stealth Up (each piece)

-

4

-

  • 3x Blue Nightshade

★★

6

  • Night Speed Up (with full set)
  • 5x Blue Nightshade
  • 5x Sunset Firefly

★★★

9

  • Night Speed Up (with full set)
  • 8x Silent Shroom
  • 5x Sneaky River Snail

★★★★

Sixteen

  • Night Speed Up (with full set)
  • 10x Stealthfin Trout
  • 5x Silent Princess

Patience is rewarded in Breath of the Wild, but sometimes you want to move a bit faster without any creatures spotting you. Available for purchase in Kakariko Village, each individual piece of the Stealth Set increases Link's ability to sneak around undetected.

It will cost 1,800 Rupees for the entire outfit, but it's definitely worth having in the collection.

While the Stealth Set is great for exploration, sneak strikes, and taking photos for the Compendium, its low defense makes it an awful choice for combat. You'll need to scavenge for resources to improve the quality, but a complete Stealth set after upgrading each piece two times will also increase your movement at nighttime.

17 Salvager Set

Link stands in a field while wearing the Salvager Set

Level

Armor Rating (Per Piece)

Bonuses

Upgrade Cost (Per Piece)

N/A

Five

  • Swim Speed Up (each piece)
  • Swim Dash Stamina Cost Reduced (with full set)

N/A

If you find yourself traversing through water frequently, you'll want to grab the Salvager outfit. This armor set is obtainable through the free Xenoblade Chronicles 2 crossover DLC.

Once you complete the given quest, you are rewarded with this armor set that gives you Rex's iconic look along with a boost to swim speed and a decrease in stamina used to swim dash.

That swimming speed boost is incredibly handy when you need to navigate rivers or large bodies of water. Any increase in movement speed saves a lot of time and frustration, so having these kinds of armor sets is always a good thing.

That being said, the Zora armor set pulls ahead in usefulness, due to the fact that it can be upgraded for better defense.

16 Radiant Set

Link stands on a cliff at night while wearing the Radiant Armor

Level

Armor Rating (Per Piece)

Bonuses

Upgrade Cost (Per Piece)

Base

Three

-

-

Five

-

  • 5x Luminous Stone
  • 3x Bokoblin Guts

★★

Eight

-

  • 8x Luminous Stone
  • 3x Moblin Guts

★★★

12

  • Stal Disguise (with full set)
  • Bone Weapon ATK +80% (with full set)
  • 10x Luminous Stone
  • 2x Molduga Guts

★★★★

20

  • Stal Disguise (with full set)
  • Bone Weapon ATK +80% (with full set)
  • 20x Luminous Stone
  • 1x Hinox Guts

The Radiant Set found at the Gerudo Secret Club is a strange one because it can actually be dangerous to wear if you don’t have the full outfit. Each piece of this set has a hidden bonus that lures Stal monsters to you, making nighttime travel a little more eventful by putting Link in constant danger of skeletal enemies.

Related: The Strongest Weapons In Breath Of The Wild

However, if you equip the full set, you become invisible to Stal monsters and even get a bonus to damage done by Bone weapons. It ranks low, however, because Stal enemies are generally more of a nuisance than a threat, and you probably won’t be wielding bone weapons toward the latter half of the game.

15 Amiibo Sets (Hero/Time/Wind/Twilight/Sky)

Various Links pose while wearing the Amiibo Armor Sets

Level

Armor Rating (Per Piece)

Bonuses

Upgrade Cost (Per Piece)

Base

Three

-

-

Five

-

  • 3x Gem (Ruby for Hero, Amber for Time, Opal for Wind, Topaz for Twilight, Sapphire for Sky)
  • 1x Star Fragment

★★

Eight

-

  • 5x Gem (Ruby for Hero, Amber for Time, Opal for Wind, Topaz for Twilight, Sapphire for Sky)
  • 1x Star Fragment

★★★

12

  • Master Sword Beam Damage Up (with full set)
  • 10x Gem (Ruby for Hero, Amber for Time, Opal for Wind, Topaz for Twilight, Sapphire for Sky)
  • 1x Star Fragment

★★★★

20

  • Master Sword Beam Damage Up (with full set)
  • 20x Gem (Ruby for Hero, Amber for Time, Opal for Wind, Topaz for Twilight, Sapphire for Sky)
  • 1x Star Fragment

The Amiibo Sets are comprised of the Hero, Time, Wind, Twilight, and Sky sets of armor. They’re all lumped together in the same entry because, apart from their visual differences, they’re the exact same set of armor.

They all have the same armor rating and give a bonus to the Master Sword Beam.

These sets are obtained by using specific Amiibos with the Amiibo Rune function on the Sheikah Slate. While you'll have to farm ore deposits for the necessary gems and have sheer luck finding Star Fragments, it's worth it for the decent defense and the ability to play through the game looking like the hero from another timeline.

14 Zora Set

Link stands on the edge of a cliff while wearing the Zora Set

Level

Armor Rating (Per Piece)

Bonuses

Upgrade Cost (Per Piece)

Base

3

  • Swim Speed Up (each piece)

-

5

-

  • 3x Lizalfos Horn

★★

8

  • Swim Dash Stamina Up (with full set)
  • 5x Lizalfos Talon
  • 5x Hyrule Bass

★★★

Twelve

  • Swim Dash Stamina Up (with full set)
  • 5x Lizalfos Tail
  • 5x Hearty Bass

★★★★

Twenty

  • Swim Dash Stamina Up (with full set)
  • 10x Lizalfos Tail
  • 15x Opal

Swimming around Hyrule can be a hassle, especially if you're low on stamina or trying to move upstream. The Zora Set helps alleviate some of these issues, but you'll need to put in the work to unlock every piece.

You can't purchase it like other armor sets, but they can all be obtained by completing quests in Zora's Domain - specifically Lynel Safari, Divine Beast Vah Ruta, and Zora Stone Monuments.

Each individual piece increases your swimming speed, and upgrading them all will also decrease the amount of stamina used for swim dashes. This is all incredibly helpful, but the Zora Set's secret power lies in its chest piece, which allows you to swim up waterfalls to reach new heights.

Traveling this way will save you a ton of time and make exploration easier, just like how the Ascend ability circumvents climbing long distances in Tears of the Kingdom.

13 Soldier's Set

Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild Soldier's Set (Armour) - Split Image with Link Wearing Soldier's Armour Set on both sides

Level

Armor Rating (Per Piece)

Bonuses

Upgrade Cost (Per Piece)

Base

Four

-

-

Seven

-

  • 5x Chuchu Jelly
  • 3x Bokoblin Guts

★★

12

-

  • 5x Keese Eyeball
  • 3x Moblin Guts

★★★

18

-

  • 3x Lizalfos Tail (2x for Soldier Helm)
  • 1x Hinox Guts (2x for Soldier Helm)

★★★★

28

-

  • 2x Lynel Hoof
  • 2x Lynel Guts

While it might be one of the more unremarkable armor sets in the game, there's no denying the fact that the Soldier's Set is one of the easier sets to obtain and doesn't take too many materials to upgrade. It provides a solid boost to defense and can save Link from many tough encounters due to just how resilient it can become over time.

The only downside to the Soldier's Set is that it doesn't provide any kind of bonus whatsoever, which is a pretty massive drawback given the wealth of other special armor in the game. It might help you out in a pinch, but it's not a bad idea to make sure you have other outfits available.

After all, once you end up mastering the mechanics of Breath of the Wild, you'll likely prefer to use armor that provides extra powers or abilities as opposed to just simply an increase in defense.

12 Hero Of The Wild Set

Link stands in a house while wearing the Armor Of The Wild

Level

Armor Rating (Per Piece)

Bonuses

Upgrade Cost (Per Piece)

Base

Four

-

-

Seven

-

  • 10x Acorn
  • 2x Dragon's Scale

★★

12

-

  • 5x Courser Bee Honey
  • 2x Dragon's Claw

★★★

18

  • Master Sword Beam Up (with full set)
  • 5x Energetic Rhino Beetle
  • 2x Shard of Dragon's Fang

★★★★

28

  • Master Sword Beam Up (with full set)
  • 1x Star Fragment
  • 2x Shard of Dragon's Horn

This set of armor gives Link that classic green look while giving the boost "Master Beam Up" while wearing the entire set, which allows you to deal more damage from throwing the Master Sword's energy beams. It also has one of the highest armor ratings in the game at 84 once fully upgraded.

Related: The Best Looking Open-World Games, Ranked

In terms of just sheer defense, this is some of the best armor that Breath of the Wild has for you. That being said, it doesn't rank higher because its bonus is only available at full health, which may be less often than you like.

Its ranking also suffers due to the fact that obtaining this set requires the completion of all 120 shrines in the base game, which is no easy feat!

11 Dark Set

Close up of Link wearing the Dark Link outfit in BOTW

Level

Armor Rating (Per Piece)

Bonuses

Upgrade Cost (Per Piece)

N/A

Three

  • Night Speed Up (with full set)

N/A

This wicked-looking set of armor is obtained by completing the Shady Customer quest and unlocking Kilton’s unique shop. Kilton won't take your Rupees as payment, however.

Instead, you must trade monster parts for Mon in order to buy this outfit from the monster-loving man.

The Dark Set is quite expensive, totaling just shy of 4,000 Mon for the complete look, so you'll need to trade in a fair amount of parts to get your hands on it. Still, it’s one of the better-looking armor sets in the game and gives a boost to running speed at night.

Considering how massive the world is, having a boost to movement speed while exploring is always appreciated. It’s also fun scaring the local NPCs with this villainous outfit.

10 Rubber Set

Link stands in a forest while wearing the Rubber Armor

Level

Armor Rating (Per Piece)

Bonuses

Upgrade Cost (Per Piece)

Base

Three

  • Shock Resistance (each piece)

-

Five

-

  • 3x Yellow Chuchu Jelly

★★

Eight

  • Unshockable (with full set)
  • 5x Yellow Chuchu Jelly
  • 5x Voltfruit

★★★

12

  • Unshockable (with full set)
  • 5x Zapshroom
  • 5x Yellow Lizalfos Tail

★★★★

20

  • Unshockable (with full set)
  • 10x Topaz
  • 10x Yellow Lizalfos Tail

The Rubber Set is, admittedly, a strange-looking getup, but one with a helpful ability. When equipped, Link becomes resistant to electrical damage, and once the full set has been upgraded twice, you'll become immune to the Shock effect while wearing it.

Obtaining it requires completing the Thunder Magnet quest and finding pieces at the Tol Yahsa and Qukah Nata shrines.

This ensemble is a lifesaver while traversing through thunderstorms, allowing you to carry on without having to remove all of your metal equipment. Having this upgraded armor set is also incredibly handy if you're looking to take on electric foes or puzzles, and is a massive help when completing the various challenges aboard Divine Beast Vah Naboris.

9 Snowquill Set

Link stands in Rito Village while wearing the Snowquill Set

Level

Armor Rating (Per Piece)

Bonuses

Upgrade Cost (Per Piece)

Base

Three

  • Cold Resistance (each piece)

-

Five

-

  • 3x Red Chuchu Jelly

★★

Eight

  • Unfreezable (with full set)
  • 5x Red Chuchu Jelly
  • 3x Warm Safflina

★★★

12

  • Unfreezable (with full set)
  • 8x Fire Keese Wing
  • 5x Sunshroom

★★★★

20

  • Unfreezable (with full set)
  • 10x Red Lizalfos Tail
  • 5x Ruby

Like the Rubber ensemble, the Snowquill Set provides unique elemental resistances, but this time against the cold. With the full set, Link is resistant to the cold, and when upgraded twice, is immune to the frozen effect.

It can be purchased at Rito Village, with the full outfit costing 2,150 rupees in total.

Related: The Strongest Characters In The Legend Of Zelda, Officially Ranked

Elemental armor sets are generally situational, but the Snowquill Set sees a little more use than others. It's helpful during your attempt to board Divine Beast Vah Medoh and is a must-have if you're planning on exploring the colder mountainous regions or taking a nighttime stroll through Gerudo Desert.

It’s also visually appealing - it looks like an armor set you might find in Horizon Zero Dawn.

8 Fierce Deity Set

Link holds the Fierce Deity Sword by some trees while wearing the Fierce Deity Set

Level

Armor Rating (Per Piece)

Bonuses

Upgrade Cost (Per Piece)

Base

Three

  • Attack Increase (each piece)

-

Five

-

  • 5x Hinox Toenail
  • 1x Dragon's Scale

★★

Eight

  • Charge Attack Stamina Up (with full set)
  • 5x Hinox Tooth
  • 1x Dragon's Claw

★★★

12

  • Charge Attack Stamina Up (with full set)
  • 2x Hinox Guts
  • 1x Shard Of Dragon's Fang

★★★★

20

  • Charge Attack Stamina Up (with full set)
  • 2x Lynel Guts
  • 1x Shard Of Dragon's Horn

The Fierce Deity Set is one of the best armor sets in Breath of the Wild, although you can only unlock it by scanning a certain Amiibo. It's incredibly similar to the Barbarian outfit that you can find in the world, but if you have the Majora's Mask Link amiibo you can obtain this iconic outfit early on in your adventure.

If you're able to obtain the Fierce Deity Set at the start of your playthrough, it will immediately alleviate most of Breath of the Wild's difficulty. Each piece will increase your attack power while wearing the full set after upgrading each piece twice will significantly reduce the amount of stamina used for charge attacks.

If you have the entire outfit along with the Fierce Deity Sword, you'll truly be a force to be reckoned with.

7 Flamebreaker Set

Link stands in a house while wearing the Flamebreaker Set

Level

Armor Rating (Per Piece)

Bonuses

Upgrade Cost (Per Piece)

Base

Three

  • Flame Guard (each piece)
    • Note: This is not Heat Resistance, meaning this will not protect you in Gerudo Desert

-

Five

-

  • 1x Fireproof Lizard
  • 2x Moblin Horn

★★

Eight

  • Fireproof (with full set)
  • 3x Fireproof Lizard
  • 4x Moblin Fang

★★★

12

  • Fireproof (with full set)
  • 3x Smotherwing Butterfly
  • 3x Moblin Guts

★★★★

20

  • Fireproof (with full set)
  • 5x Smotherwing Butterfly
  • 2x Hinox Guts

Another excellent elemental armor set, the Flamebreaker Set not only provides resistance against the burning air found around lava but when upgraded twice, makes Link fireproof. This ensemble is absolutely essential if you plan on spending any length of time exploring Death Mountain.

You can buy the full set at Goron City, but you can also acquire the torso piece by completing the Fireproof Lizard Roundup quest that can be found on your way there. You'll have little reason to hang onto Fireproof Elixirs with this armor and can sell any you find for a good chunk of change.

The entire outfit will cost a total of 3,300 rupees, or 2,700 if you did the quest for the chest piece.

6 Climbing Set

Link scales a mountain while wearing the Climbing Set

Level

Armor Rating (Per Piece)

Bonuses

Upgrade Cost (Per Piece)

Base

Three

  • Climb Speed Up (each piece)

-

Five

-

  • 3x Keese Wing
  • 3x Rushroom

★★

Eight

  • Climbing Jump Stamina Cost Reduced (with full set)
  • 5x Electric Keese Wing
  • 5x Hightail Lizard

★★★

12

  • Climbing Jump Stamina Cost Reduced (with full set)
  • 5x Ice Keese Wing
  • 10x Hot-Footed Frog

★★★★

20

  • Climbing Jump Stamina Cost Reduced (with full set)
  • 5x Fire Keese Wing
  • 15x Swift Violet

The sheer amount of climbing Link does in this game is pretty wild, and you'll likely have those rage-inducing moments where the stamina meter runs out just as you're about to reach the top. The Climbing Set mitigates that issue by providing Link with a climbing speed boost, while additionally reducing stamina drain when climb-jumping once each piece has been upgraded twice.

The pieces of this incredibly useful outfit can be found at the Ree Dahee and Chaas Qeta shrines, and as a reward for completing the Secret of the Cedars shrine quest. It’s a little annoying to obtain but the headaches it saves you from make it well worth the effort. It won't do anything to aid climbing during the rain, however; another headache that is addressed in Tears of the Kingdom.

5 Phantom Ganon Set

Link stands in front of a sunset while wearing the Phantom Ganon Set

Level

Armor Rating (Per Piece)

Bonuses

Upgrade Cost (Per Piece)

N/A

Four

  • Stealth Up (each piece)
  • Bone Attack Up (with full set)
  • Stal Disguise (with full set)

N/A

The Phantom Ganon Set is easily one of the coolest-looking outfits in Breath of the Wild, and its bonuses aren't too shabby either. This armor set becomes obtainable after purchasing The Champion's Ballad DLC and completing the EX: Treasure: Dark Armor quest, with each piece found in a treasure chest in the Faron region.

Related: The Legend Of Zelda: Every Villain From Weakest To Strongest, Officially Ranked

You can't upgrade this set, but each piece will increase your Stealth, and wearing the whole outfit at once comes with not one, but two bonuses. Wearing the entire Phantom Ganon Set will raise the damage dealt by bone weapons, while also allowing you to blend in with Stal enemies, preventing them from attacking you.

The defense is fine, but this is the perfect armor to wear during midnight strolls.

4 Royal Guard Set

Link stands outside Hyrule Castle while wearing the Royal Guard Armor

Level

Armor Rating (Per Piece)

Bonuses

Upgrade Cost (Per Piece)

N/A

Four

  • Charged Spin Attack Stamina Cost Reduced (with full set)
  • Hidden bonus: Climbing Jump Stamina Cost Reduced (with full set)
  • Hidden bonus: Swim Dash Stamina Cost Reduced (with full set)

N/A

This uniform was worn by Hyrule’s Royal Guard long before Breath of the Wild takes place. It may be a bit formal looking for the journey you embark on, but it has excellent bonuses attached to it.

To obtain this armor set, you’ll need The Champion’s Ballad DLC and will have to complete the quest EX Royal Guard Rumors, finding each piece within Hyrule Castle.

When fully equipped, the game only tells you that this set reduces the stamina cost when using your charged attack, but it also secretly includes a reduction in stamina cost for the swim dash and climbing jump. Although the defense isn't anything to write home about, its bonus reduction to the stamina consumed for three different actions makes it a great armor set for traveling.

3 Ancient Set

 Link stands outside a village while wearing the Ancient Armor

Level

Armor Rating (Per Piece)

Bonuses

Upgrade Cost (Per Piece)

Base

Four

  • Guardian Attack Damage Resistance (each piece)

-

Seven

-

  • 5x Ancient Screw
  • 5x Ancient Spring

★★

12

  • Ancient Weapon ATK +80% (with full set)
  • 15x Ancient Spring
  • 10x Ancient Gear

★★★

18

  • Ancient Weapon ATK +80% (with full set)
  • 15x Ancient Shaft
  • 5x Ancient Core

★★★★

28

  • Ancient Weapon ATK +80% (with full set)
  • 2x Giant Ancient Core
  • 1x Star Fragment

Although it may look a little goofy, the Ancient Set is one you should strive to collect. When fully equipped, this ensemble provides resistance against Guardians and grants a boost to damage done with ancient weapons.

This is a fantastic end-game set of armor and is a massive help when making your way through a Guardian-infested Hyrule Castle to reach the final confrontation. Going into battle with this suit of armor and some ancient weapons is a phenomenal setup when facing Calamity Ganon and his Blight forms.

You can purchase this armor set at the Akkala Tech Lab but know that it comes with a hefty price tag of 2,000 Rupees apiece and parts dropped from Guardians. Upgrading each piece also takes a good amount of ancient parts, so while it’s expensive and requires some grinding, it is more than worth it.

With a defense of 84 after the final upgrades, this set is rock solid

2 Phantom Set

Link runs through a field while wearing the Phantom Armor Set

Level

Armor Rating (Per Piece)

Bonuses

Upgrade Cost (Per Piece)

Base

Eight

  • Increased Attack (each piece)

N/A

The Phantom Set is by far one of the strongest suits of armor you can wear in the entire game. While it can't be upgraded, its defense of 24 when fully equipped isn't too bad, and its bonus to attack should get you through most fights quickly enough that you shouldn't have to worry about taking much damage in the first place.

To obtain the Phantom Set, you’ll need to have The Master Trials DLC pack and complete the quest EX Treasure: Phantasma. Unfortunately, even though this armor has a fantastic bonus and is a great callback to previous Zelda titles, it falls short in comparison to the Barbarian set, which has the same effect but can be upgraded for better defense.

1 Barbarian Set

Link stands in a house while wearing the Barbarian Armor

Level

Armor Rating (Per Piece)

Bonuses

Upgrade Cost (Per Piece)

Base

Three

  • Attack Increase (each piece)

-

Five

-

  • 1x Lynel Horn

★★

Eight

  • Charged Spin Attack Stamina Cost Reduced (with full set)
  • 3x Lynel Horn
  • 2x Lynel Hoof

★★★

12

  • Charged Spin Attack Stamina Cost Reduced (with full set)
  • 4x Lynel Hoof
  • 1x Lynel Guts

★★★★

20

  • Charged Spin Attack Stamina Cost Reduced (with full set)
  • 2x Lynel Guts
  • 1x Shard of Farosh's Horn

In Breath of the Wild, what is considered the best armor can be situational much of the time, but there will be very few instances where the Barbarian garb won't serve you well. Found at the shrines within each of the three labyrinths across Hyrule, this armor set will likely become a go-to once you have it.

Each piece of the Barbarian Set will increase your attack, and wearing the upgraded outfit has your charge attacks use less stamina. This iteration of Hyrule is vast, and with enemies waiting around every corner, any boost to your attack is extremely helpful.

It pays dividends to obtain this set early on and rarely take it off. While fully upgrading it will require you to take on a number of Lynels for their parts, the whopping 60 armor rating when you've finished is a huge incentive.

NEXT: Breath Of The Wild: The Best Shields, Ranked