One of the most exciting things about video games is getting to see the different abilities that certain items have, whether it is the Zora weapons with the Water Warrior ability doubling damage if the weapon is wet or the Zonai-Powered weapons, the abilities items have are great.
One set of item abilities that the developers did well within The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the armor sets. Some sets have returned from the previous game, while others are new and completely different from anything fans have seen. These armors can be perfect for specific moments in the game. Here is a list of the best armors based on their base defense and set bonuses.
Updated by Erin Rice on November 6, 2023: The longer Tears of the Kingdom is out, the more information players have regarding the things within the game. This update includes information on why each set is ranked where it is.
30 Archaic Armor Set – Base Defense 3
Set Bonus: There Is No Set Bonus
The Arachic Armor Set is the first set that you will find in the game. It is the set that is located on the Great Sky Island and only contains legs and a chest piece. There is no helmet for this set at all within the game.
The leg piece can be found in the same cave that you wake up in at the start of the game. They are the first piece of armor you will obtain in the game. The chest piece is found in Pondside Cave, located near the fourth Shrine on the island.
29 Radiant Armor Set – Base Defense 9
Set Bonus: Adds A Glowing Effect
The Radiant Armor Set is a returning armor set in Tears of the Kingdom. It lights up in the dark, giving Link a small amount of light. This can be perfect for exploring The Depths; however, you won’t be able to see far.
You can purchase this set from the Kakariko Village Armor Shop after you have saved the owner’s grandmother from a mysterious illness. (You can get this set before finishing this quest, but it will cost a significant amount of Rupees more.)
28 Tingle’s Armor Set – Base Defense 6
Set Bonus: Night Speed Up
Tingle’s Armor Set is another set that you can find in the game. This is based on the iconic character, Tingle, a fan-favorite throughout the series. This armor set is made to look like the beloved fairy and offers Night Speed Up.
The armor set is found across Hyrule in different areas. Each area requires that you complete a certain puzzle before you can find it. These are actually some of the best puzzles in the game and the set can be fun to find.
27 Rubber Armor Set – Base Defense 9
Set Bonus: Lightning Resistance And Shock-Proof
The Rubber Armor Set is the armor set in the game that is Lightning Resistant. This means that you will have less of a chance to get shocked by lightning if you wear the full set. It also has the ability to become Shock Proof if you upgrade it enough.
This set is found through the Misko’s Treasure questlines. The Rubber Armor is found in Whistling Cave, the leg pieces are found in Lagoon Cave, and the helmet is found in the Sarjon Woods Cave.
26 Mystic Armor Set – Base Defense 9
Set Bonus: Rupee Padding
The Mystic Armor set is an amazing set for Link. The set itself offers Link a base defense of 9. Unfortunately, this set cannot be upgraded at all by the Great Fairies in Hyrule. The set can only stay where it is.
What makes this set so amazing is that it has a special effect only known to this set. This effect is called “Rupee Padding” and it makes it to where Link will lose Rupees rather than Hearts when he is hit. If you have a lot of Rupees, this can help you tremendously.
25 Desert Voe Armor Set – Base Defense 9
Set Bonus: Heat Resistance And Shock Resistance
The Desert Voe armor set is another set that is great for Link. It also offers Link a base defense of 9. However, it can be upgraded until its base defense equals 60. This can be extremely powerful for players who want good defense.
What makes the set great is that its original effect is that it gives Link Heat Resistance, an amazing thing in the Gerudo region. However, it also offers Link Shock Resistance once the full set is upgraded to level 2.
24 Flambreaker Armor Set – Base Defense 9
Set Bonus: Fireproof
The Flamebreaker Armor set is the set that Link will use while he is in the Goron region of the map. This set offers Link a base defense of 9. This can be upgraded all the way to a base defense of 60 overall. You can purchase it in Goron City.
What makes this set so great is that it offers Link different effects. The base effect of the set is that Link will have Flameguard. This means you can walk around the volcanoes. However, upgrading the set to level 2 will give Link the Fireproof ability. This means that you cannot catch on fire.
23 Snowquill Armor Set – Base Defense 9
Set Bonus: Cold Resistance And Unfreezeable
The Snowquill Armor set is found in Rito Village’s Armor Shop. It is for getting around cold areas of the map. This set also offers Link a base defense of 9. However, it can be upgraded to have a base defense of 60 altogether.
This set is amazing because it also offers some great effects. The set originally offers Link Cold Resistance. This means you can walk around in cold areas. However, if you upgrade the full set to level 2, you will gain the Unfreezable effect. This means that you cannot be frozen by ice enemies.
22 Soldier Armor Set – Base Defense 12
Set Bonus: This Set Has No Bonus
The Soldier Armor set is a great set that Link can use. The set offers Link a base defense of 12; however, this can be upgraded all the way to 84. Unfortunately, this set does not give any set or enhancement bonuses.
What makes this set so great is that it is one of the only ones to have a defense of higher than 60. Once fully enhanced, it is as great as the Ancient Hero’s Aspect, the highest defense armor in the game.
21 The Armor Of The Hero Set – Base Defense 9
Set Bonus: Attack Up Bonus
The Armor of the Hero set offers Link a base defense of 9. However, it can be increased to 60. To begin with, this armor set doesn’t have a bonus. Once it reaches the enhancement level of 2, the set will offer Link the Attack Up Bonus.
What makes this set so great is that it is from the original The Legend of Zelda game. All the way back in 1986, this is how Link was dressed. While there are tons of easter egg outfits in the game, this original one is the best. Its enhancement bonus also makes it great.
20 Royal Guard Armor Set – Base Defense 12
Set Bonus: Charge Attack Stamina Up
The Royal Guard Armor set is another great set that Link can find in the game. The set has a base defense of 12 and can be enhanced all the way up to 72. In addition, once it reaches enhancement level 2, you will gain the Charge Attack Stamina Up bonus.
This set is so amazing due to the fact that it is one of the only sets that each piece has a base defense of 4. In addition, it looks amazing with the many Royal Guard weapons that can be found around Hyrule Castle. You can truly feel like a Hylian Knight with this set.
19 Frostbite Armor Set – Base Defense 6
Set Bonus: Increases Damage In Cold-Weather Areas
The Frostbite Armor set is a new set introduced in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. This set, while only offering 6 total base defense, has a very unique effect. This set will increase your damage in cold-weather areas and will also give you frost attacks in these areas.
What makes this set stand out is its unique ability. However, its design is also something interesting. Many fans have pointed out that this armor set looks like it was inspired by Naydra, the Ice Dragon. This makes the set even better.
18 Ember Armor Set – Base Defense 6
Set Bonus: Increases Attack In Hot-Weather Areas
The Ember Armor set is another armor set that was added in this game. Just like its frost counter-part, the Ember Armor set, this set has some unique features. It will increase your attack in hot-temperature areas. It will also allow you to use flame attacks in these areas.
The unique ability certainly makes this set stand out. However, it is designed based on Dinraal, the Fire Dragon. With this detail plus the addition of the amazing abilities, this armor set is one of the best in the game.
17 Charged Armor Set – Base Defense 6
Set Bonus: Increases Attack In Stormy Areas
The Charged Armor set is another new set added in this game. This set is identical to the Ember and Frostbite sets except it works with stormy weather. This set increases your damage in stormy areas and allows you to use a lightning attack.
This set is so interesting because it is one that you cannot miss. You have to obtain it during the quest “Secret of the Ring Ruins.” During this quest, it is pretty obvious that the armor set is based on Farosh, the Lightning Dragon. Since this set has a cool quest attached, it is ranked higher than the others.
16 The Yiga Armor Set – Base Defense 3
Set Bonus: Allows You Into Yiga Hideouts
The Yiga Armor set only offers Link 3 base defense overall. It cannot be enhanced or dyed. This may make it seem like it isn’t a good set. However, the set opens up a whole host of new opportunities for Link.
If you are wearing the full set, people will mistake you for a Yiga Clan member. You won’t have to fight the wandering members if you don’t want to. You also can gain entry into their main hideout and complete training exercises for some pretty nice rewards. You can find the pieces in Yiga hideouts around Hyrule.
15 The Hylian Set – Base Defense 9
Set Bonus: There Is No Set Bonus
The Hylian set can be purchased as soon as you make it to Lookout Landing. This is the first set you will probably come across (that has three pieces, at least). The pieces will increase your defense by 9 and truly help you out at the beginning of the game.
You can purchase it for 320 Rupees in total. The Hylian Hood is 70 Rupees, the Hylian Tunic is 130 Rupees, and the Hylian Trousers are 120 Rupees. This is also the easiest set to enhance at the Great Fairy Fountains. This puts it in a good spot for one of the best sets.
14 Dark Set – Base Defense 9
Set Bonus: Night Speed Up
The Dark set is a set that is based on Dark Link. You can find the set by trading Poes to the different Bargaining Statues around the areas. Poes are spirits that you can collect while you are out in The Depths. They have their own trading system.
This set not only looks pretty cool but will increase your speed during the night. This can be pretty useful if you’re in a hurry or need to escape enemies.
13 Barbarian Set – Base Defense 9
Set Bonus: Attack Up
The Barbarian set increases your attack power. While this can be essential early in the game, it isn’t nearly as impressive as the Fierce Deity set (Though it’s also not as difficult to obtain). You can find pieces of the set scattered around Hyrule in different caves.
The legs can be found in Deepback Bay Cave. The helm can be found in Robred Dropoff Cave. Finally, the chest can be found in Crenel Hills Cave.
12 Stealth Set – Base Defense 12
Set Bonus: Increases Stealth
This Stealth Armor set increases your stealth ability by a lot. You can move much faster while crouching and without making a sound. If you want to sneak around enemies and truly use stealth to get the better of them, this set is for you.
The set is for sale in Kakariko Village. Originally, the price of the set was extremely expensive. However, once you complete the quest Gloom-Borne Illness, the price will come down to 500 Rupees for the mask, 700 Rupees for the chest piece, and 600 Rupees for the legs.
11 Climbing Set – Base Defense 9
Set Bonus: Climbing Speed Increase
The Climbing Armor set increases your climbing speed. This means you’ll be able to climb much faster. In combination with increasing your stamina, you can truly climb whatever you set your mind to. You can find different pieces scattered across Hyrule in caves.
The chest piece is located within North Hyrule Plain Cave. The legs are found within the Upland Zorana Byroad. You can grab the headpiece from Ploymus Mountain Cave.