Look, we’ve all been there. You roll up to the gates of Gerudo Town feeling like a hero, only for the guards to basically laugh you off the premises. It's a rite of passage in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. You need that "vai" look to get anywhere near Riju, and honestly, the botw link gerudo outfit is probably the most iconic armor set in the entire game for reasons that have nothing to do with defense stats.
It’s hilarious, sure, but it’s also a mandatory piece of gear if you want to tackle Divine Beast Vah Naboris. If you're trying to figure out where the heck Vilia is hiding or why you can't just walk in after saving the world, you aren't alone.
Tracking Down Vilia at Kara Kara Bazaar
Most people start by wandering aimlessly around the desert. Don't do that. You’ll just burn through your stamina and probably get eaten by a Molduga. To actually trigger the "Forbidden City Entry" quest, you have to talk to a guy named Benja. You’ll find him pacing around outside the Gerudo Town gates, looking suspiciously like he’s trying to peep through the walls.
He tells you about a "man" who successfully snuck into town. That lead takes you back to Kara Kara Bazaar.
Here is the trick: Vilia isn't just standing around by the cooking pot. You have to climb. Go to the top of the general store/inn building. There’s a ladder, but you can also just climb the stone walls if you've got the stamina.
Vilia is usually hanging out at the very top, enjoying the view. It’s gotta be hot up there. You have to pay 600 Rupees for the set. It’s a steep price when you’re early in the game, but there’s no haggling here. Once you fork over the cash, Link gets the Gerudo Veil, Gerudo Top, and Gerudo Sirwal.
Why You Can’t Just Use the Desert Voe Set
This is where a lot of players get frustrated. You eventually find a "male" version of the desert gear called the Desert Voe set. It’s sold in the Gerudo Secret Club (password: GSC followed by the diamond symbol) or over in Tarrey Town if you’ve finished that massive "From the Ground Up" quest.
The Desert Voe armor is objectively better. It has higher defense. You can actually upgrade it at a Great Fairy Fountain. It even gives you a "Shock Resistance" set bonus when you've bumped it up to level two.
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But here is the kicker: the guards don’t care.
Even if you’re wearing the Desert Voe set, which is clearly Gerudo-made, they will kick you out the moment they see you. The game is very literal about the "no voe" rule. To stay inside the city walls, you must wear the traditional feminine outfit or the Thunder Helm. Nothing else works.
Fashion Over Function: Stats and Dyes
Let’s be real for a second. The botw link gerudo outfit is terrible for combat.
- Defense: 1 point per piece (Total of 3).
- Upgrades: None. You cannot take this to a Great Fairy.
- Bonus: Level 1 Heat Resistance.
It's basically paper armor. If a Lizalfos sneezes on you while you're wearing it, you're going to lose four hearts. It’s strictly for infiltration and surviving the midday sun.
However, it is one of the best sets to mess with at the Kochi Dye Shop in Hateno Village. The default blue you get from Vilia is fine, but if you buy the set again inside Gerudo Town (from the shop called Fashion Passion), it comes in a lavender/white color. Honestly? Dyeing the whole thing crimson or black makes Link look like a completely different character. It’s one of the few ways to really customize the "look" of the desert journey without losing the ability to walk into the canteen for a Noble Pursuit.
Common Misconceptions About the Set
I see people asking all the time if they can stop wearing it after beating Thunderblight Ganon.
The answer is a hard no.
You’d think saving their entire civilization from a giant mechanical camel would earn you a VIP pass, but the Gerudo law is ancient and stubborn. Even after the credits roll, if you take that veil off in the middle of the market, the guards will teleport behind you and toss you into the sand.
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There is one tiny exception: Gorons. For some reason, the Gerudo let male Gorons in because they... well, they don't really know what to make of them. Link doesn't get that luxury.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Desert Gear
If you're tired of being fragile but need to stay in town, you've got a couple of options. You can swap the headpiece for the Thunder Helm once you've earned it from Riju. It counts as "valid" headwear for the disguise, and it makes you completely immune to lightning, which is a massive upgrade.
Also, don't forget about the boots. Both the Sand Boots and Snow Boots (from the guy running around outside the town) can be worn with the Gerudo top and veil. They don't break the disguise. This is huge because walking through sand at normal speed makes the desert way less of a chore.
If you’re short on the 600 Rupees needed to buy the initial set from Vilia, head to the ponds around the Bazaar. There are usually some chests submerged in the water you can pull out with Magnesis. One of them has 100 Rupees, which covers a decent chunk of the "fashion tax."
Once you've got the outfit, your first priority in town should be hitting the shrine so you can fast-travel back whenever you want. Just remember to check your wardrobe before you warp—landing in the middle of Gerudo Town in the Barbarian Set is a one-way ticket to a face full of sand.
To make the most of your time in the desert, focus on finishing the "Secret Club's Secret" quest early. This gives you access to the Desert Voe gear for actual exploration and combat outside the city walls, while you keep the Gerudo outfit strictly for your city visits and shopping trips.