You’ve spent dozens of hours—maybe hundreds—climbing every peak in Hyrule. You’ve cooked enough hearty durians to feed an army. You’ve finally beaten Calamity Ganon, or perhaps you're putting it off because you're a completionist who can't stand leaving a stone unturned. But there is one specific item that separates the casual fans from the absolute legends. I'm talking about the Tunic of the Wild.
It’s not just a shirt. It is a badge of honor.
In a game where you spend most of your time wearing blue or running around in high-tech ancient gear, this specific outfit brings back the classic green look. It's the iconic Link silhouette. But unlike the previous games where you basically start with your green kit, Nintendo decided to make you suffer for it this time. You don't get this by opening a chest in a tutorial. You get it by proving you've seen every single corner of this massive, sprawling map.
The Absolute Grind for the Tunic of the Wild
To get your hands on the Tunic of the Wild, you have to complete all 120 Shrines. Every. Single. One.
Think about that for a second. That means tracking down the hidden ones behind bombable walls, solving the convoluted "Twin Memories" puzzles, and surviving the "Major Tests of Strength" where Guardians poke at you with laser-focus precision. It’s a massive undertaking. Most players finish the game with maybe 70 or 80 shrines under their belt. Getting to 120 is a different beast entirely. It’s an obsession.
Once that final monk gives you the last Spirit Orb, a side quest titled "A Gift from the Monks" triggers. It points you toward the Forgotten Temple. If you haven’t been there yet, it’s a terrifying canyon filled with more Guardians than a scrap metal yard. You have to parry or dodge your way to the very back, where three chests are waiting behind the massive Goddess Statue. Inside? The Cap of the Wild, the Tunic of the Wild, and the Trousers of the Wild.
Is the stats boost actually worth it?
Honestly? Yes and no.
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When you first pull it out of the chest, the base defense is pretty mediocre. It sits at a base of 3 per piece. You're going to feel underwhelmed if you're used to the Soldier’s Armor or the Ancient Set. However, the Tunic of the Wild has a secret: its scaling is incredible. If you take the time to visit the Great Fairies and upgrade the entire set to the fourth level, each piece jumps to a defense of 28. That gives you a total defense of 84.
To put that in perspective, that’s tied with the Ancient Armor and the Soldier’s Armor for the highest physical defense in the entire game. You become a tank. A green, pointy-hatted tank.
But the real kicker is the "Master Sword Beam Up" set bonus. If you have the full set on and your health is full, the beams you shoot from the Master Sword do significantly more damage. It’s niche, sure. Most people don't use the beam often because it consumes durability, but for clearing out Keese swarms or picking off low-level enemies from a distance, it’s surprisingly satisfying.
The Nightmarish Upgrade Requirements
Here is where the Tunic of the Wild reveals its true colors as a late-game reward. Upgrading it is a total pain. While other sets might ask for some Bokoblin guts or some common ore, the Wild set demands the rarest materials in Hyrule.
You're going to need dragon parts. Lots of them.
Specifically, you need Scales, Claws, Shards of Horn, and Shards of Fang from all three elemental dragons: Dinraal, Naydra, and Farosh. If you haven't mastered the art of camping at the bridge of Lake Hylia or waiting on the cliffs of the Eldin Mountains, you're in for a long grind. You also need a mountain of Acorns and Courser Bee Honey. It’s a weirdly specific list that forces you to engage with the ecosystem in a way most people ignore.
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I remember spending three hours just trying to get Farosh to spawn correctly because the wind kept shifting. It’s frustrating. It’s tedious. But when you finally hit that fourth upgrade tier, there's a genuine sense of accomplishment that the "easier" armors just don't provide.
The Aesthetics of the Wild Set
Let’s be real: we want this set because it looks cool. It’s a modern take on the classic 1986 outfit. Short sleeves, shorts, and that signature floppy hat.
Interestingly, the Tunic of the Wild is the only "official" green tunic in the base game that you can actually dye. If you go to the Kochi Dye Shop in Hateno Village, you can change the color of the whole outfit. Want a red Link? Go for it. Blue? Easy. Some people hate the "short-shorts" look of the trousers, so they often swap the pants out for the Hylian Trousers dyed to match. It looks great and preserves the classic aesthetic without showing too much leg.
Comparing the Tunic of the Wild to DLC Options
A lot of players ask if they should even bother with the 120-shrine grind when they can just buy the DLC or scan an Amiibo.
If you have the Zelda series Amiibos, you can unlock the Tunics of Time, Wind, Twilight, and Sky. These look arguably more "classic" than the Wild set. The Tunic of the Wild has a distinct "hewn from nature" vibe—lots of stitching and a slightly more rugged texture.
However, the Amiibo tunics are notoriously difficult to upgrade because they require Star Fragments for every single level. Getting 12 Star Fragments per set is a nightmare compared to hunting dragons. Plus, the Tunic of the Wild is the only one that represents this version of Link. It’s his reward for his specific journey.
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Hidden Details You Might Have Missed
The Forgotten Temple where you find the set isn't just a random location. Lore enthusiasts have pointed out that it contains a massive statue that bears a striking resemblance to the Goddess Statue from Skyward Sword. Placing the "ultimate" reward for Link here creates a bridge between the very beginning of the timeline and the (then) end of it. It’s a subtle nod from the developers that you’ve come full circle.
Also, have you noticed the description of the items? They specifically mention that the outfit was "made for a hero who travels the wilds." It’s a meta-commentary on your playstyle. By the time you get it, you are that hero. You’ve mastered the chemistry system, the physics, and the combat.
Final Actionable Steps for Completionists
If you are currently staring at a map with 115 shrines and feeling the burnout, here is how you finish the job and get that Tunic of the Wild without losing your mind:
- Use the Hero’s Path Mode: If you have the DLC, turn on the Hero’s Path on your map. Look for "dead zones"—large patches of land where you haven't walked. Shrines are almost always tucked away in those empty spots.
- The Sensor is Your Friend: Set your Sheikah Sensor+ to "Shrine." Don't just rely on visual cues. Many shrines are underground or behind destructible rocks that don't look suspicious from a distance.
- Check the "Hidden" Shrines: About 42 shrines are tied to Shrine Quests. If you're missing a few, talk to NPCs at every stable. Kass, the accordion-playing bird, is responsible for several of these. If you see him, drop everything and do his quest.
- Farm Dragons Early: Don't wait until you have the armor to start hunting Farosh, Dinraal, and Naydra. If you see them while exploring, shoot them. Keep the parts in your inventory. You'll thank yourself later.
- Stock up on Courser Bee Honey: This is the most annoying ingredient for the upgrades. Head to the forests near Fort Hateno; there are several hives there. Just watch out for the bears.
Getting the Tunic of the Wild is the ultimate "I did it" moment in Breath of the Wild. It’s a grueling process that takes you from the highest peaks of Hebra to the deepest jungles of Faron. But standing on top of Hyrule Castle, wearing that classic green, you finally look like the hero the legends talked about.
Start by cross-referencing your map with a completed 120-shrine checklist. Mark off the ones you have, find the outliers, and make that trek to the Forgotten Temple. It's the only way to truly finish Link's journey before moving on to Tears of the Kingdom.