Link wakes up with nothing. No clothes, no memories, just a glowing tablet and a world that wants him dead. But of all the challenges Hidemaro Fujibayashi and his team at Nintendo threw at players in 2017, the most memorable wasn't a giant mechanical beast or a laser-firing spider. It was a dress. Specifically, the breath of the wild gerudo costume, officially known as the Gerudo Vai set.
You can't just walk into Gerudo Town. Try it and the guards will literally toss you into the sand. It’s a "no voe" (no men) zone, a rule the Gerudo take very seriously. To get inside, you have to play along with a bit of classic Zelda cross-dressing. It’s a gameplay mechanic that sparked a thousand fan arts and just as many forum debates. Honestly, it’s probably the most stylish Link has ever looked in the entire franchise.
Where the Hell is Vilia?
Getting the breath of the wild gerudo costume isn't as simple as buying it from a shopkeeper. You have to find a guy who knows a guy. Or rather, a man named Vilia who has mastered the art of blending in.
Most players get stuck at the gates of Gerudo Town first. You talk to Benja, the guy hanging out near the Daqo Chisay Shrine, and he tells you about a "sneaky merchant" who successfully snuck into the city. That merchant is Vilia. You'll find her (or him, the game keeps it purposefully ambiguous) on the roof of the Kara Kara Bazaar inn.
It’ll cost you 600 Rupees.
Is it worth it? Absolutely. Not just for the access, but for the heat resistance. The desert is brutal. Without this set, or a whole lot of chilled melons, Link is toast the second the sun hits its peak. The set includes the Gerudo Veil, the Gerudo Top, and the Gerudo Sirwal. Put them all together, and Link transforms into a "vai"—a woman in the Gerudo tongue.
The Actual Stats You Need to Know
Let’s be real: this isn’t combat armor. If a Lizalfos pokes you while you’re wearing the breath of the wild gerudo costume, you’re going to feel it. Each piece offers a measly 1 point of defense. You can’t upgrade it at the Great Fairy Fountains, either. It’s purely functional for infiltration and surviving the mid-day heat.
- Gerudo Veil: 1 Defense, Heat Resistance
- Gerudo Top: 1 Defense, Heat Resistance
- Gerudo Sirwal: 1 Defense, Heat Resistance
If you’re looking for a set bonus, don’t hold your breath. Unlike the Radiant Set or the Ancient Armor, the Vai outfit doesn’t give you a secret perk when you wear the whole thing. Its "perk" is literally just the ability to walk past guards without getting tackled.
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Why the Gerudo Vai Set Matters for the Speedrun
Speedrunners are a different breed. They don’t care about the fashion; they care about the frames. In the "All Main Quests" or "Master Sword" categories, the breath of the wild gerudo costume is a mandatory stop.
You need it to talk to Riju. You need it to get the Thunder Helm. You basically need it to do anything involving Vah Naboris, which is arguably the hardest Divine Beast in the game. Watching a speedrunner navigate the Kara Kara Bazaar, climb the ladder to Vilia, and mash through the dialogue in seconds is a masterclass in efficiency.
But for the casual player, the quest "Forbidden City Entry" is a vibe check. It forces you to slow down. It’s a break from the "climb-and-glide" loop that dominates the rest of the Great Plateau and Hyrule Field. You're roleplaying. You're a spy.
The Desert Voe Set: The Masculine Alternative
Interestingly, once you’re inside Gerudo Town, you can find a "man’s" version of the outfit. This is the Desert Voe set. It offers better defense, it can be upgraded, and it gives you Shock Resistance if you wear the full set.
But there's a catch.
You can't buy it in the main market. You have to find the Gerudo Secret Club (GSC). To get in, you need a password: GSC◆. (That’s Gerudo Secret Club followed by a diamond symbol).
Even if you wear the full Desert Voe set, the guards will still kick you out of town if they see you. It’s a bit of a logical paradox in the game world—you’re wearing Gerudo-made clothes designed for men, sold in a Gerudo shop, but you’re still not allowed to be a man in the streets.
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Link just can’t win.
Common Misconceptions About the Outfit
A lot of people think you can dye the Vai set. You can! Head over to the Kochi Dye Shop in Hateno Village. If you want a Link that stands out even more, you can turn that teal fabric into a bright crimson or a royal purple. It doesn’t change the gameplay, but it makes the screenshots look great.
Another mistake? Thinking the breath of the wild gerudo costume protects against the "Burning" effect in Eldin.
It doesn't.
Heat resistance and Flame Guard are two different things in Breath of the Wild. Heat resistance is for the sun; Flame Guard is for literal volcanic air. If you try to walk onto Death Mountain wearing your Gerudo silks, Link will burst into flames within five seconds. Stick to the Flamebreaker Armor for that.
Why the Design Works
The aesthetic of the Gerudo is heavily influenced by various North African and Middle Eastern cultures, blended with that unique Nintendo fantasy flair. The vibrant colors, the gold trim, and the flowing translucent fabrics make the breath of the wild gerudo costume pop against the monochromatic yellows of the Gerudo Desert.
From a character design perspective, it’s a stroke of genius. It humbles Link. He’s the chosen hero, the wielder of the Master Sword, the guy who can parry a Guardian laser with a pot lid. But to talk to a teenage queen, he has to put on a veil and some makeup. It adds layers to his character without him saying a single word.
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How to Optimize Your Desert Run
If you're heading toward Gerudo Town for the first time, don't just rush for the clothes. The desert is a resource-heavy area.
- Catch a Sand Seal: It’s way faster than running. Just sneak up on one or pay the rental fee.
- Grab Voltfruit: You’ll see these on cacti. They’re essential for making shock-resistant meals, which you’ll need for the Vah Naboris dungeon later.
- Find the Great Fairy: There’s one hidden in the far southwest under a massive skeleton. You’ll need 10,000 Rupees if she’s your fourth fairy, though.
- Buy the Vai Set immediately: Don't try to "tough it out" with food. The convenience of the permanent heat resistance is worth every Rupee.
The transition from the lush greenery of Central Hyrule to the oppressive heat of the Wasteland Tower region is one of the best environmental shifts in gaming. The breath of the wild gerudo costume is your ticket to experiencing the best part of that shift.
Final Thoughts for the Completionist
If you’re trying to 100% the game, you probably already have this set tucked away in your inventory. But if you’re a returning player or someone jumping in after Tears of the Kingdom, it’s worth appreciating the simplicity of this questline. It’s a self-contained story about identity, cultural rules, and the lengths one hero will go to just to get an audience with a leader.
The Gerudo Vai set isn't just a costume. It's a symbol of the game's willingness to be playful and weird. It’s one of the reasons Breath of the Wild feels like a living, breathing world rather than just a checklist of map markers.
Next Steps for Your Adventure:
- Check your Rupee count: You need 600 for the set and extra for the Desert Voe set later.
- Head to Kara Kara Bazaar: Look for the tall rock formation/inn near the oasis.
- Climb to the roof: Talk to the "vivi" at the top during the day.
- Dye the set: Take a trip to Hateno Village to customize your look before heading back to the desert.
- Locate the Secret Club: Listen to the NPCs in the Gerudo bar to get the password hint if you want the Voe armor.
The desert is waiting. Pack some hydromelons, grab your silks, and watch out for those Moldugas. They don't care what you're wearing; they just want a snack.