You're running through the Depths. It's pitch black, your Brightbloom seeds are running low, and suddenly, a bunch of masked ninjas teleport in to ruin your day. We’ve all been there. But honestly, the best way to deal with the Yiga Clan isn't just fighting them—it's joining them. Or at least, looking like you did. If you want to infiltrate their base or just complete the set for that sweet, sweet stealth bonus, you need the Yiga Clan pants.
Most people think they can just stumble upon the armor pieces while exploring Hyrule. They can't. The Yiga are paranoid. They’ve hidden their gear in specific branches across the map, usually guarded by "Master" combatants or trapped behind puzzles. The Tights (the official name for the pants) are tucked away in a spot that many players fly right over because they’re too busy looking for shrines or Skyview Towers.
Where the Yiga Clan Pants are Actually Hiding
Stop looking in the Gerudo Desert. I know, it feels like they should be there because that’s where the main hideout is located, but the Yiga Clan pants are actually way up north in the Great Hyrule Forest region. Specifically, you’re looking for the Yiga Clan Maritta Branch.
It’s tucked into a cave just west of the Aldor Foothills. If you find the Maritta Exchange Ruins, you’re getting warm. Look for a cave entrance surrounded by those tell-tale Yiga frog statues and red banners. You can't miss them once you know what to look for. The vibe shifts immediately when you walk in. It's quiet. Too quiet.
Once you step inside, you'll have to deal with a couple of Yiga members. They aren't particularly tough if you've got decent weapons, but they are annoying. After you clear the room, look up. This is the part that trips everyone up. There’s a hole in the ceiling. You need to use Ascend.
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The Secret Room
When you pop through the ceiling, you’ll find yourself in a hidden upper chamber. There’s an NPC here named Aliza. She’s been forced to tailor clothes for the clan, and she’s understandably terrified. Talk to her. She’ll give you the Yiga Clan pants just for showing up and not being a masked jerk. It's one of the easier pieces to get, provided you actually remember that the Ascend ability exists. I forget it constantly. We all do.
Why You Actually Need This Set
Is it just for the fashion? Kinda. The red-and-white aesthetic is iconic, and it looks great with the Sheikah Mask if you want to mix and match. But the real value is the Stealth Up set bonus.
In Tears of the Kingdom, stealth is arguably more important than it was in Breath of the Wild. With the ability to fuse high-damage items to your weapons, a sneakstrike is basically a delete button for most enemies. Each piece of the Yiga armor increases your stealth, making it much easier to creep up on Blue Moblins or grab those elusive Sunset Fireflies without them fluttering away.
The Infiltration Factor
You can't get into the Yiga Clan HQ in the Gerudo Highlands without the full set. The guard at the door is surprisingly observant. If you’re missing the pants, he’ll just laugh at you (and then probably try to kill you). Once you have the full suit—the Mask, the Armor, and the Tights—the entire Yiga Clan becomes "friendly." You can walk through their bases, buy unique items like the Eightfold Longblade, and participate in their training mini-games to unlock the Earthwake Manual.
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Earthwake is a game-changer. It lets you attack with a shockwave from the ground without consuming any weapon durability. It’s basically magic. But you aren't getting it without those pants.
Common Mistakes and Misconceptions
I’ve seen a lot of threads where people get frustrated because they can’t find the cave. The Maritta Branch is built into the side of a cliff. If you’re approaching from the top of the hill, you’ll walk right over it. Try to glide in from a higher point nearby so you can see the red glow of the torches.
Another thing? People try to "buy" the armor. You can’t. Not initially. Unlike the Hylian set or the Flamebreaker armor which you just pick up at a shop, the Yiga gear is strictly "found" through these mini-base encounters. Later on, if you happen to lose a piece, you might find it at Cece’s shop in Hateno Village, but that’s only after you’ve already unlocked it through the questline.
- Location: Yiga Clan Maritta Branch (West of Aldor Foothills).
- Coordinates: Approximately (-0643, 2032, 0157).
- Key Action: Use Ascend in the main room of the cave.
- The Reward: Yiga Tights (Defense 1, Stealth Up).
Making the Most of the Yiga Tights
Don't settle for the base stats. The defense on the Yiga Clan pants is honestly garbage when you first get them. It's a measly 1. If a Silver Lyne touches you while you’re wearing unupgraded Yiga gear, you’re turning into a puddle.
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Get yourself to a Great Fairy Fountain. To upgrade the set, you’re going to need a lot of materials that fit the Yiga theme. Think Octorok Eyeballs and Fire Keese Wings. As you level it up, the defense becomes respectable, and you get the "Disguise" bonus which makes you harder to detect by certain enemies. It won't make you invincible, but it'll keep you alive long enough to teleport away if things get hairy.
The beauty of the Yiga set is how it changes the game's rhythm. Instead of charging in head-first, you start looking for rafters. You start looking for tall grass. It turns Zelda into a proper stealth-action game.
Actionable Next Steps for Completionists
If you’ve grabbed the pants at the Maritta Branch, your next moves are clear. You need the rest of the ensemble to make the set viable.
- Head to the Great Plateau: The Yiga Mask is being held at the Old Man's hut (the one from the start of the first game). You’ll have to fight off a few Yiga "footsoldiers" to get it.
- Travel to the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab: This is where you’ll find the Yiga Armor (the chest piece). It’s the same deal—clear out the branch, talk to the hostage, get the gear.
- Visit the Great Fairy: Don't even think about wearing this into a major boss fight until you've hit at least Tier 2 upgrades. Gather your Keese wings early so you aren't hunting for them later.
- Enter the Hideout: Once you have all three pieces, warp to the Gerudo Highlands and enter the main Yiga Clan HQ to start the training challenges.
Wearing the Yiga Clan pants is more than just a stats boost; it’s your ticket into one of the funniest and most unique sub-plots in the game. Just don't let Master Kohga catch you looking too much like a hero. He's sensitive about that. It's also worth noting that while you're in the Maritta Branch, there are some great weapon spawns nearby. Check the ruins just outside the cave for rusted claymores that you can fuse with monster parts to create high-damage early-game gear.
The Yiga Tights are basically the gateway drug to the entire stealth mechanics of Tears of the Kingdom. Go get them. Stop ignoring the caves in the north. The "Ascend" trick in that room is the only thing standing between you and a much easier time navigating the world of Hyrule.