You've spent a hundred hours climbing rain-slicked cliffs. You’ve probably died to a Lynel more times than you’d care to admit. But there is one specific item in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild that separates the casual explorers from the completionist fanatics: the Of the Wild Tunic.
It’s the green. That specific, nostalgic Hylian green.
Honestly, the game teases you from the start. It gives you the Old Shirt and those well-worn trousers, then quickly shoves you into a blue Champion’s Tunic. It’s a great look, sure, but for long-time fans, it felt... different. We wanted the classic look. But Nintendo decided that if you wanted to look like the Hero of Time, you were going to have to work for it. You have to earn it by conquering every single trial the monks left behind.
Why the Of the Wild Tunic is the Ultimate Flex
The Of the Wild Tunic isn't just a piece of clothing; it’s a trophy. To get your hands on it, you must complete all 120 Shrines in the base game. That is not a typo. You have to find, enter, and solve every single puzzle-box and combat trial scattered across Hyrule. Only after the "A Gift from the Monks" side quest triggers can you claim your prize at the Forgotten Temple.
Most people think the reward is just about the aesthetics. They're wrong.
When you fully upgrade the Tunic of the Wild set—which includes the Cap, the Tunic, and the Trousers—you get the "Master Sword Beam Up" set bonus. This increases the damage of the light beams you throw from the Master Sword when your health is full. It’s niche, but in the late game, it makes Link feel like a literal god of the wilderness. Plus, the base defense is 4, but it scales up to 28 per piece. That’s a total of 84 defense. It matches the Soldier’s Armor and the Ancient Armor for the highest defense in the entire game.
The Forgotten Temple and the Long Walk
Once that 120th shrine pops, you get a cryptic message. You need to head to the Forgotten Temple, which is tucked away at the very end of Tanagar Canyon.
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If you haven’t been there yet, it’s a nightmare.
The hallway is packed with decayed Guardians. If you aren't good at parrying lasers, you're going to have a bad time. You basically have to sprint, glide, and weave through a dozen targeting reticles just to reach the back of the temple where a massive goddess statue sits. Behind that statue? Three chests. That is where the Of the Wild Tunic set lives.
It feels heavy. It feels significant.
But then you realize the real nightmare is just beginning: the upgrades.
The Gritty Reality of Star Fragments
Upgrading this set is arguably harder than finding the shrines themselves. While most armor sets require ChuChu jelly or lizard tails, the Of the Wild Tunic demands the rarest resources in the game. Specifically, you need Star Fragments.
To get the set to its maximum potential, you need:
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- 3 Star Fragments
- 15 of each dragon part (Farosh, Naydra, and Dinraal scales, claws, shards of horn, and fangs)
- A mountain of Acorns and Courser Bee Honey
Dragon farming is a zen-like experience for some, but a boring slog for others. You’re standing on the edge of the Bridge of Hylia at 1:00 AM, waiting for Farosh to spawn from the lake, just so you can shoot a scale off its back. It takes forever. If you want that 84 defense rating, you’re looking at several hours of literal clock-watching.
Does it Beat the DLC or Amiibo Sets?
Here is the controversial part. A lot of players wonder if the Of the Wild Tunic is even worth it when you have the Amiibo outfits.
If you tap a Wind Waker or Ocarina of Time Amiibo, you get those classic outfits immediately. They look similar. They have similar stats. Honestly, some people prefer the shorter shorts of the "Wild" set because it feels more "feral" and fitting for the 100-year nap Link took. Others hate it. They think the proportions look weird compared to the iconic Twilight Princess outfit.
But here is the nuance: The Of the Wild Tunic is the only "classic" green tunic that you can dye.
You want a crimson red Link? You can do that at the Kochi Dye Shop in Hateno Village. You want a dark, stealthy navy blue? Go for it. The Amiibo sets are locked to their original colors. This customization makes the Wild set feel like your Link, rather than a costume of a previous Link.
The Design Philosophy of the Wild
Nintendo’s director, Hidemaro Fujibayashi, mentioned in various interviews around the game's launch that they intentionally moved away from the green tunic for the main marketing. They wanted the "Champion Blue" to represent a new era.
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By hiding the Of the Wild Tunic behind the 120-shrine wall, they made the classic look a reward for mastery rather than a default. It changes the psychology of the player. When you finally put it on, you aren't just playing a Zelda game; you've conquered this Zelda game.
It’s a bit of a subversion. Usually, the iconic outfit is given to you by a village elder in the first thirty minutes. Here, you have to find every hidden corner of the world to earn the right to look like the hero of legend.
Common Mistakes When Hunting the Tunic
Don't be the person who finishes 119 shrines and can't find the last one. Usually, it's the one hidden behind a destructible wall in the Hebra Mountains or the one tucked inside a cave in the Gerudo Highlands that doesn't trigger your sensor.
Another tip? Don't sell your Acorns.
Most players sell their "junk" to Beedle to buy arrows. Then they get the Of the Wild Tunic and realize they need 15 Acorns for the first upgrade level. You’ll find yourself running around the forests near Hateno like a crazy person, hunting squirrels, just to get a basic armor boost.
Moving Toward the Finish Line
The Of the Wild Tunic represents the end of a journey. By the time you get it, there usually isn't much left to do besides fight Ganon. It’s a victory lap outfit.
If you’re sitting at 80 or 90 shrines right now, keep going. The satisfaction of walking into the Forgotten Temple and seeing those three chests is one of the best moments in the game. It’s the moment the game finally acknowledges that you’ve seen everything Hyrule has to offer.
Actionable Next Steps for Completionists:
- Check your Hero’s Path: Use the DLC map feature to see where you haven't walked. Shrines are almost always in those "blank" spots on your map.
- Farm Dragons Early: Whenever you see a dragon, shoot it. Don't wait until you have the tunic. Stockpile those Shards of Horn now, because you’ll need 15 of them eventually.
- Save your Star Fragments: Do not use them to upgrade the Tiara or other jewelry. Save them specifically for the Wild set or the Ancient Greaves.
- Visit the Forgotten Temple: Even if you don't have the shrines yet, go there to register the travel point so you can warp back the second you finish your 120th trial.