Hey there, fellow adventurer! Let me tell you, diving back into Hyrule in Tears of the Kingdom has been a total blast, but honey, the game does NOT hand you anything on a silver platter. Remember those DLC armors in Breath of the Wild that felt a bit like cheating? Yeah, those days are long gone. Here in 2026, TOTK makes you work for every single piece of gear, and let me be real—it’s so much more satisfying. Most of the good stuff is tucked away in creepy caves or the terrifying Depths, and the best sets come with killer effects that totally change how you play. So, grab your Purah Pad, and let’s break down the armor you absolutely need to track down.

10. The Rubber Set: Not Very Shocking 😉

If you're like me and constantly find yourself getting zapped during thunderstorms (seriously, why can't I use my cool metal sword?!), this set is a lifesaver. It gives you shock resistance, and the full set bonus makes you straight-up Lightning Proof. Talk about a game-changer!

The best part? It's a total no-brainer to get. You just gotta poke around three different caves:

• Rubber Helm: Sarjon Woods Cave (1593, -2946, -0023)

• Rubber Armor: Whistling Hill Cave (-0070, -1117, -0004)

• Rubber Tights: Horon Lagoon Cave (4276, -0378, -0021)

It's not the fanciest armor, but for dealing with electric Lizalfos or just surviving a wild Hyrule storm, it's worth its weight in gold... or, you know, rubber.

9. The Climbing Set: Getting A Grip 🧗‍♂️

Okay, I know what you're thinking: "But we have Ascend and Zonai devices now!" True, but sometimes you just gotta scale a cliff the old-fashioned way, and boy, can it be a slog. This set is here to save your sanity (and your stamina wheel).

Each piece boosts your climbing speed, and the full set bonus reduces stamina drain when you jump while climbing. It’s basically like giving Link a shot of espresso.

Here’s where to find this lifesaver:

Armor Piece	Location
Climber's Bandanna	Ploymus Mountain Cave (3712, 0495, 0311)
Climbing Gear	North Hyrule Plain Cave (-1214, 0774, 0070)
Climbing Boots	Upland Zorana Byroad (2850, 0543, 0189)

It’s scattered in easy-to-find caves. Trust me, once you try it, you’ll never want to climb without it again.

8. The Depths Set: A Light In The Dark 💀

Exploring the Depths is no joke—that Gloom will eat your hearts for breakfast. This spooky-looking set is your best defense. It gives you Gloom Resistance (think of it as 1-4 extra temporary hearts against Gloom damage), and the full set bonus adds even more Gloom defense.

The catch? You gotta befriend the Bargainer Statues. You buy the pieces from any statue after speaking to a certain number of them:

• Hood of the Depths: After speaking to 6 statues.

• Tunic of the Depths: After speaking to 2 statues.

• Gaiters of the Depths: After speaking to 4 statues.

The whole set will cost you 650 Poes. It's a bit of a grind, but for tackling those scary Depths bosses or just surviving down there, it's totally worth the effort.

7. Stealth, Evil Spirit & Yiga Sets: Surprisingly Useful 😈

Who needs to fight when you can just... not be seen? Stealth is low-key one of the most powerful tools in TOTK. Sneak up on enemies for massive damage, or just avoid fights altogether to save your weapons. There are three sets that pull this off:

1. Stealth Set: The classic. Buy it in Kakariko Village for 1800 Rupees total. Full set bonus gives you a speed boost at night. Sweet!

2. Yiga Set: You get this for free by finding and freeing all the Yiga tailors hiding in caves. It lets you blend in with Yiga Clan members, which is hilarious.

3. Evil Spirit Set: Earn this by conquering all three of the Lomei Labyrinths. It looks awesome and has the same stealth effect.

For my money, the regular Stealth set is the best because you can actually upgrade it at a Great Fairy Fountain for more defense. Spamming stealth strikes on a camp of Bokoblins never gets old.

6. Desert Voe Set: Beat The Heat 🏜️

Gone are the days of getting free heat resistance from the story. Now, if you want to explore the Gerudo Desert without spontaneously combusting, you need the Desert Voe set. Each piece gives one level of Heat Resistance (so you only need two for full protection), and the full set bonus adds some Shock Damage Resist.

You can find the pieces in two places:

• Desert Voe Headband: Buy from Saula in Kara Kara Bazaar.

• Desert Voe Spaulder & Trousers: Found in the Gerudo Secret Club in Gerudo Town.

It'll cost you about 2400 Rupees. It's a bit niche—really only essential for the desert—but when you need it, you need it.

5. Snowquill Set: Explore The Coldest Heights ❄️

This one is arguably more useful than the Desert Voe set. Cold areas are everywhere in Hyrule! You can buy the whole Snowquill set in Rito Village for 2150 Rupees. It gives you Cold Resistance, and the full set bonus makes you Freezeproof (no more becoming a Link-sicle!).

Remember, just like with heat, you only need to wear two pieces to get the full temperature effect. That leaves a slot free for a high-defense piece or something that boosts your attack. A must-have for exploring Hebra or any mountain peak.

4. Flamebreaker Set: No More Burning 🔥

Trying to explore Death Mountain without this is a recipe for a crispy Link. A single piece of Flamebreaker armor gives you Flame Guard, and the full set bonus makes you completely Fireproof. You can buy it in Goron City at the "Ripped and Shredded" shop, but be ready to shell out a hefty 3300 Rupees.

While the surface of the volcano is safer than in BOTW, you'll absolutely need this for the main quest dungeons and caves. It's non-negotiable unless you love constantly cooking fire-resistant elixirs (and who has time for that?).

3. The Glide Set: Soar Anywhere 🪂

Tears of the Kingdom is all about the sky, and this set turns you into a skydiving champion. Each piece increases your horizontal mobility while freefalling. The full set bonus? Complete immunity to fall damage. Yeah, you can just step off a sky island and walk away from the impact.

You earn it by completing fun challenges on three specific sky islands:

• Glide Mask: Valor Island (4544, -0845, 1121)

• Glide Shirt: Courage Island (-2210, 0938, 1640)

• Glide Tights: Bravery Island (0215, 2044, 1989)

It makes traversing the huge map an absolute joy. Sure, you could open your glider before hitting the ground, but where's the fun in that?

2. The Zonaite Set: Bigger, Better Batteries 🔋

Are you a Zonai device enthusiast? Do you love building crazy flying machines or death tanks? Then this set is your new best friend. The Zonaite armor reduces the energy consumption of all your Zonai devices. The full set bonus makes your Energy Cells recharge even faster.

You'll find the pieces on some tricky-to-reach sky islands later in the game:

• Zonaite Helm: Lightcast Island (-3612, 1054, 1656)

• Zonaite Waistguard: Zonaite Forge Island (2347, -1773, 1489)

• Zonaite Shin Guards: Sky Mine (3886, 1804, 1179)

It turns your Zonai creations from short-lived novelties into reliable workhorses. Essential for any serious builder.

1. Barbarian / Fierce Deity Set: More Power, Quicker Fights ⚔️

And here we are, the crème de la crème. If you want to melt boss health bars and turn tough enemies into mincemeat, you need an attack power set. Both the Barbarian Armor and the Fierce Deity Armor give you a massive Attack Power boost. Combine it with attack-boosting food, and you become an unstoppable force of nature.

• Barbarian Set: Found in three caves scattered across Hyrule. The full set bonus improves your Spin Attack.

• Fierce Deity Set: Obtained by completing the "Misko, The Great Bandit" questline, starting at the Dueling Peaks Stable. It has the same awesome effect.

This is the go-to set for any major fight. It turns lengthy battles into quick and satisfying victories. If you're not using one of these sets for boss fights, you're honestly making the game harder for yourself. It's just that good.

So there you have it, folks! From surviving the elements to absolutely dominating in combat, these armor sets are what make the Tears of the Kingdom experience so deep and rewarding in 2026. Now get out there and start hunting—Hyrule isn't going to explore itself! Happy adventuring! ✨