You’ve spent hundreds of hours in Hyrule. You’ve climbed every peak in the Hebra Mountains, scavenged the deepest recesses of the Gerudo Desert, and probably accidentally blown yourself up with a Remote Bomb more times than you’d care to admit. But there is one specific milestone that separates the casual fans from the absolute completionists. I'm talking about the tunic of the wild botw reward. It’s the prize for the person who refused to put the controller down until every single one of the 120 Shrines was conquered.
Was it worth it? Honestly, it depends on who you ask.
For some, it's the ultimate badge of honor. For others, it’s a weirdly proportioned set of shorts that feels like a fashion disaster compared to the sleek Champion's Tunic. But regardless of your stance on Link’s thighs, the "Of the Wild" set represents the literal DNA of The Legend of Zelda. It is the bridge between the 1986 original and the sprawling 2017 masterpiece.
How You Actually Get the Tunic of the Wild BOTW
Let’s be real: getting this thing is a grind. You can't just stumble upon it in a random chest behind a waterfall. You have to complete all 120 base-game Shrines. This doesn't include the DLC Shrines from The Champions' Ballad, mind you, but it's still a Herculean task. Once that final Monk gives you the last Spirit Orb, a side quest titled "A Gift from the Monks" triggers.
You’ve gotta head to the Forgotten Temple.
If you haven't been there, it’s that massive, Guardian-infested canyon at the end of Tanagar Canyon. It’s terrifying. Lasers everywhere. But once you parry or outrun your way to the back of the temple, past the giant Mother Goddess Statue, you’ll find three chests. They contain the Cap of the Wild, the Tunic of the Wild, and the Trousers of the Wild.
Success. You now own the only outfit in the game that gives Link his classic green look without requiring an Amiibo or a bottle of dye.
The Stats and the Secret Master Sword Buff
A lot of players think the tunic of the wild botw is just a cosmetic throwback. That’s a mistake. When you first pull it out of the chest, the defense stats are pretty mediocre—each piece starts at a base defense of 4. That’s 12 total. Not great for fighting Lynels.
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But if you pour resources into it at the Great Fairy Fountains, it becomes one of the tankiest sets in the game.
At a maximum four-star upgrade, each piece reaches 28 defense. That’s a total of 84. To put that in perspective, the fully upgraded Soldier’s Armor and Ancient Armor sets also hit 84. You are essentially a walking tank dressed as a classic forest elf.
The real kicker is the Set Bonus. If you wear the whole thing and have upgraded each piece at least twice, you trigger "Master Sword Beam Up."
Remember how in the old-school games Link could shoot lasers from his sword when his health was full? This set makes those beams significantly more powerful. Is it the most practical buff in a world where you can just shoot Ancient Arrows? Maybe not. But it’s incredibly satisfying to snip at Keese or ChuChus from a distance without wasting durability.
What it Costs to Upgrade (It’s Brutal)
Be prepared to hunt. The upgrade path for the tunic of the wild botw is notoriously annoying. You’re going to need a lot of dragon parts. We are talking scales, claws, shards of horns, and teeth from Dinraal, Naydra, and Farosh.
- Level 1: 2 of each dragon's scales (one type per piece).
- Level 2: 2 of each dragon's claws.
- Level 3: 2 of each dragon's shards of horn.
- Level 4: 2 of each dragon's teeth.
You also need a mountain of Acorns and Courser Bee Honey. It’s like the game is forcing you to go on one last foraging trip across the entire map just to prove you really, truly know Hyrule like the back of your hand.
The Controversy: Why Some People Hate the Look
If you go on Reddit or any Zelda forum, you’ll see the same complaint over and over. "The shorts are too short."
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Nintendo went for a "primitive" version of the classic green tunic. It’s a bit tattered. The sleeves are short. The hat has a slightly different silhouette. It’s meant to look like something a person living in the wild for a hundred years would actually wear, rather than a pristine uniform.
Compare this to the "Tunic of the Hero" (from the 8-bit era) or the "Tunic of Twilight" (from Twilight Princess). Those are available via Amiibo and look exactly like the legacy versions. The tunic of the wild botw is an original take. Some people love the ruggedness. Others think Link looks like he’s about to go on a very intense hike in 1970s gym clothes.
Kinda weird, right? You do all that work and end up with shorts that barely cover your knees. But that’s the charm. It’s unique to this specific iteration of Link.
Does it Carry Over to Tears of the Kingdom?
Here is a bit of a spoiler for the sequel: you don't need to find 120 Shrines again to get it in Tears of the Kingdom. In the sequel, the set is renamed the "Set of the Wild" and is scattered throughout the Depths.
But in Breath of the Wild, it remains the ultimate "I did everything" trophy.
I’ve found that the best way to enjoy the set is to dye it. If you take it to the Kochi Dye Shop in Hateno Village, you can change the color. Dying it navy blue or even black makes those "controversial" shorts look a lot more modern. It’s a great way to keep the high defense stats while fixing the aesthetic if the bright Peter Pan green isn't your vibe.
Tactical Advice for Using the Set
Don't just wear it because it's rare. Use it strategically.
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Because the defense is so high (84), this is your "Boss Fight" armor. If you aren't using the Ancient Armor for the Guardian resistance or the Barbarian Armor for the attack boost, the tunic of the wild botw is your best bet for surviving heavy hits from Ganon or gold-tier enemies.
Pair it with a high-level Hylian Shield and the fully powered-up Master Sword (from the Trial of the Sword). This is the definitive "End Game Link" loadout.
I usually keep the set unequipped until I’m at full health. That’s when the Master Sword Beam buff actually works. If you take even half a heart of damage, the beams stop working, and the set loses its primary gimmick. Carry plenty of "Hearty" meals—anything cooked with Hearty Durians or Hearty Truffles—to keep your health topped off at all times.
The Forgotten Temple Context
The location of the reward is actually pretty deep lore-wise. The Forgotten Temple contains the oldest known statue of Hylia. By placing the tunic of the wild botw there, the game is basically saying that this outfit is a blessing from the Goddess herself.
It’s a quiet moment. No fanfare. No cutscene. Just you, a giant stone statue, and the weight of 120 Shrines finally lifted off your shoulders.
It’s worth noting that many players miss the chests entirely. They finish the shrines, get the quest, walk into the temple, and get overwhelmed by the Guardians. If you’re struggling with the Guardians there, use the updrafts. There are large fans in the floor that create wind currents. You can paraglide over most of the danger and drop down right in front of the statue.
Practical Next Steps for Completionists
If you are currently sitting at 80 or 90 Shrines and feeling the burnout, here is how you cross the finish line for that tunic:
- Use the Sheikah Sensor+: Go to the Hateno Tech Lab and make sure you’ve upgraded your sensor. Set it to track Shrines. It’s way more effective than just wandering.
- Check the "Shrine Quests" Menu: Often, the Shrines you’re missing aren't hidden behind rocks; they haven't been "activated" by a specific NPC dialogue. Check your quest log to see if there are any unfinished riddles.
- The Dragon Loop: Before you get the tunic, start farming dragons now. You’ll need those parts for the upgrades anyway. The best spot for Farosh is at Riola Spring above Floria Bridge. For Dinraal, wait at the Tabantha Great Bridge at morning. For Naydra, wait at the Lanayru Promenade.
- Save your Acorns: It sounds stupid, but you need 30 Acorns for the final upgrades. Most people sell them or cook them early on. Stop doing that. Start shooting squirrels or chopping down trees in the Forest of Spirits.
The tunic of the wild botw isn't just a piece of gear. It’s the final period at the end of a very long sentence. It marks the moment you’ve truly mastered the game's systems, its geography, and its challenges. Even if you hate the shorts, you’ve earned the right to wear them.