Nintendo's hit 2017 game Breath of the Wild is renowned for its expansive and detailed open-world. In a series that has regularly defined what free-roaming exploration in video games looks like, this installment of The Legend of Zelda franchise presents more locales, characters, and items than ever before. One of the most dynamic additions to Breath of the Wild is the ability to customize Link's clothing and to wear numerous different outfits ranging from t-shirts to ancient exoskeletons.
There are nearly fifty unique sets in the game, with some rarer and more useful than others. The rarest of these costumes can only be obtained by the most committed of completionists, and though they vary widely in utility, all of them are worth the time and effort to discover, whether for perks, style, or just good old-fashioned fandom.
Majora's Mask
Perhaps the most iconic wearable within Breath of the Wild, fans of the series are sure to find delight in being able to wear Majora's mask from Ocarina of Time's classic sequel. This mask only becomes available in The Master Trials DLC and is found during the "EX Journal" side quest with a number of other rare armaments. It can be found in the Kolomo Garrison Ruins, buried beneath a heap of rubble. In addition to adding a splash of color and menace to Link's attire, this striking mask gives Link the ability to move freely among the game's minor enemies like bokoblins, lizalfos, and even lynels.
Nintendo Switch Shirt
The singular anachronistic oddity of this shirt ranks it as one of the strangest items in the Legend of Zelda series, but it has earned a spot in the hearts of numerous fans for its unique ability to represent unbridled Nintendo within a Nintendo-created world. Simply a red shirt featuring the Nintendo Switch logo, there are no special properties to this armor set, and it is among the least protective articles of clothing Link can wear in the game. Despite this, is also among the rarest in-game items because it only becomes available with the purchase of Breath of the Wild's three-DLC Expansion Pass. Gamers who choose to skip the DLC altogether or who download its installments chapter by chapter will not find this item in its hiding place atop the Eastern Abbey.
Korok Mask
This mask bears the unique property of shaking when Link approaches the hiding places of the Koroks -- tiny anthropomorphized trees believed to be descended from the Kokiri who lived outside the Lost Woods in Ocarina of Time. Though certainly a piece of armor that is more adorable than threatening, this item is considered essential to 100% completion of the game, which requires finding the utterly staggering 900 Koroks hidden throughout Hyrule.
The mask's design is based on Makar the curious Korok, who discovers he is the Sage of Wind in 2002's Wind Waker, and it is found, appropriately, in the Lost Woods during the course of The Master Trials DLC. By reading the "Super Rumor Mill," Link can learn of a powerful mask hidden in the old Kokiri Forest, which triggers the item's appearance in a shimmering treasure chest.
Dark Link Set
This armor set is designed to transform Link into Dark Link, a recurring antagonist widely considered the best miniboss in the Zelda franchise. It can only be purchased from Kilton after freeing each of the Divine Beasts but is otherwise one of only a few rare sets of armor in the game that do not require an extensive quest to find. When equipped, Link's speed increases while traveling at night. Certain minor enemies will also become temporarily paralyzed in fright at the sight of this imposing armor, giving players an opportunity for preemptive strikes.
Ravio's Hood
This striking helmet draws its inspiration from the headgear worn by Ravio in A Link Between Worlds and the Bunny Hood of 2000's Majora's Mask, one of the most useful items in the Zelda franchise. It does not amplify players' speed on land like its predecessor, but dramatically boosts the speed with which players can climb rocky faces sideways. Ravio's Hood can be obtained only in the Ballad of Champions DLC. It has been hidden by the legendary thief Misko at Dracozu Lake, where it must be pulled from the ground with Link's Magnesis Rune.
Ancient Set
This set of armor is arguably the most powerful in the game, featuring standout offensive and defensive properties. These abilities -- including the nearly game-breaking "Ancient Proficiency" perk, which gives Link an 80% increase in damage output -- are only unlocked by wearing all pieces of this timeworn set, and finding all three articles is no easy feat.
Each item must be purchased from the Ancient Oven in the Akala Ancient Tech Lab, but in order to forge this archaic outfit, Cherry must receive rare materials Link can only harvest from the game's highly difficult Guardian enemies. It is a particularly daunting task in the mid-to-late game, but the legendary armor players are rewarded with is well worth the trouble.
Phantom Ganon Set
One of the most popular and visually striking sets of armor in Breath of the Wild, the Phantom Ganon Armor is named for a fan-favorite recurring enemy and modeled after a particularly memorable incarnation from Ocarina of Time, which ranks among the hardest bosses in the entire Zelda franchise. It is found in three parts -- helmet, cuirass, and greaves -- scattered around the Faron region in the Champion of Ballads DLC. Despite its somewhat ostentatious design, this suit of armor dramatically increases Link's stealth, allowing him to go undetected when creeping past numerous minor enemies. In an interesting lore twist, excerpts from Misko's journal suggest that this is the same armor worn by Ganon's phantom in Ocarina of Time, sealed in Hyrule Castle for eons until Misko stole it.
Fierce Deity Set
Fierce Deity Set is a dynamically designed suit of armor that references a mask players can unlock at the end of Majora's Mask, which imbues Link with superhuman game-breaking strength. Offering a formidable strength boost and a buff to charge attack stamina when the full outfit is worn, it is also one of few items in the game that branches into the realm of meta-gameplay. This rare set of armor can only be unlocked by scanning the Majora's Mask amiibo figurine, but players can only scan the statue every twenty-four hours.
As a caveat, there is no guarantee that a scan will yield a component of this godlike armor, and so gamers must usually try to unlock this set over the course of several real-world days. It engages players within and outside of the game itself and is among just eight costumes that can be obtained in such a manner.
Phantom Armor Set
This rare set of armor is only available in the game's first DLC and features a design that recalls both the Darknuts and Phantom Ganon from 2002's Wind Waker. The greaves can be found near the Hyrule Garrison Ruins, while the helmet and breastplate can be uncovered with the Magnesis Rune at the Coliseum and Sacred Ground Ruins respectively. Though this intimidating set of armor does not grant any perks for wearing its components together, each article offers a formidable base strength buff that makes this suit perfect for tanking through hordes of enemies.
Salvager Set
This rare armor represents an even rarer in-game collaboration between The Legend of Zelda and a sister Nintendo franchise, Xenoblade Chronicles. To obtain these rare bits of armor, players must gaze heavenward at night on the Bridge to Hylia, at Skull Lake, and atop Hebra Peak. At each of these locations, Link will witness three red meteors crash to the ground, ostensibly having fallen to Hyrule from Xenoblade's Alrest. At the impact site, players will find treasure chests containing these unique trappings, which greatly increase Link's swimming speed. For a shameless marketing ploy, it's a highly useful item, which only becomes available to players once they reach the inner realms of Hyrule Kingdom.