Armor Upgrade Costs Guide

Upgrading your armor at Great Fairy Fountains is one of the most important progression systems in Tears of the Kingdom. Each piece of armor can be upgraded four times, with each tier requiring increasingly rare materials and Rupees. This guide provides complete upgrade cost tables for all major armor sets.

Quick Stats

| Tier | Defense Bonus | Rupee Cost (per piece) | Great Fairies Required | |------|--------------|----------------------|----------------------| | Tier 1 (+1) | Base + 3 | 10–50 | 1 | | Tier 2 (+2) | Base + 5 | 50–100 | 2 | | Tier 3 (+3) | Base + 8 | 200–500 | 3 | | Tier 4 (+4) | Base + 12 | 500–1,000+ | 4 |

A full set upgraded to Tier 4 grants the set bonus. You must upgrade all three armor pieces in a set to at least Tier 2 to unlock the set bonus.

Great Fairy Fountain Requirements

Before upgrading, you must unlock Great Fairy Fountains by completing the Serenade to the Great Fairies side quest chain. Each additional fountain requires helping a traveling musician troupe:

• 1 Fountain: Available after first unlock (near Woodland Stable)
• 2 Fountains: Tera (Gerudo) — Outskirt Stable troupe
• 3 Fountains: Mija (Eldin) — Snowfield Stable troupe
• 4 Fountains: Kaysa (Hebra) — Dueling Peaks Stable troupe

Soldier's Armor Upgrade Costs

One of the best early-game armor sets. Found in Hyrule Castle.

| Piece | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | Tier 4 | |-------|--------|--------|--------|--------| | Helmet | 3 Bokoblin Horn | 5 Bokoblin Fang, 3 Amber | 5 Bokoblin Guts, 3 Topaz | 10 Lizalfos Tail, 5 Ruby | | Armor | 3 Bokoblin Horn | 5 Bokoblin Fang, 3 Amber | 5 Bokoblin Guts, 3 Topaz | 10 Lizalfos Tail, 5 Ruby | | Greaves | 3 Bokoblin Horn | 5 Bokoblin Fang, 3 Amber | 5 Bokoblin Guts, 3 Topaz | 10 Lizalfos Tail, 5 Ruby |

Set Bonus (Tier 2+): Attack Up

Barbarian Armor Upgrade Costs

Increases attack power. Found across three shrines in Faron, Akkala, and Eldin.

| Piece | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | Tier 4 | |-------|--------|--------|--------|--------| | Helm | 3 Lynel Horn | 5 Lynel Horn, 3 Amber | 5 Lynel Hoof, 5 Topaz | 10 Lynel Guts, 5 Sapphire | | Armor | 3 Lynel Horn | 5 Lynel Horn, 3 Amber | 5 Lynel Hoof, 5 Topaz | 10 Lynel Guts, 5 Sapphire | | Leg Wraps | 3 Lynel Horn | 5 Lynel Horn, 3 Amber | 5 Lynel Hoof, 5 Topaz | 10 Lynel Guts, 5 Sapphire |

Set Bonus (Tier 2+): Charge Attack Stamina Up

Snowquill Armor Upgrade Costs

Cold resistance set. Purchased in Rito Village.

| Piece | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | Tier 4 | |-------|--------|--------|--------|--------| | Headdress | 3 Warm Safflina | 5 Rito Feather, 3 Ruby | 5 Rito Plume, 5 Ruby | 10 Blizzrobe Horn, 5 Ruby | | Tunic | 3 Warm Safflina | 5 Rito Feather, 3 Ruby | 5 Rito Plume, 5 Ruby | 10 Blizzrobe Horn, 5 Ruby | | Trousers | 3 Warm Safflina | 5 Rito Feather, 3 Ruby | 5 Rito Plume, 5 Ruby | 10 Blizzrobe Horn, 5 Ruby |

Set Bonus (Tier 2+): Unfreezable

Flamebreaker Armor Upgrade Costs

Flame Guard set. Purchased in Goron City.

| Piece | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | Tier 4 | |-------|--------|--------|--------|--------| | Helm | 3 Fireproof Lizard | 5 Fireproof Lizard, 3 Amber | 8 Lizalfos Horn, 3 Ruby | 10 Fire-Breath Lizalfos Tail, 5 Ruby | | Armor | 3 Fireproof Lizard | 5 Fireproof Lizard, 3 Amber | 8 Lizalfos Horn, 3 Ruby | 10 Fire-Breath Lizalfos Tail, 5 Ruby | | Boots | 3 Fireproof Lizard | 5 Fireproof Lizard, 3 Amber | 8 Lizalfos Horn, 3 Ruby | 10 Fire-Breath Lizalfos Tail, 5 Ruby |

Set Bonus (Tier 2+): Fireproof

Rubber Armor Upgrade Costs

Shock Resistance set. Found in Ploymus Mountain and Akkala Sky Archipelago shrines.

| Piece | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | Tier 4 | |-------|--------|--------|--------|--------| | Helm | 3 Yellow Lizalfos Tail | 5 Yellow Chu Jelly, 3 Topaz | 8 Electric Lizalfos Tail, 5 Topaz | 10 Thunder Gleeok Horn, 5 Topaz | | Armor | 3 Yellow Lizalfos Tail | 5 Yellow Chu Jelly, 3 Topaz | 8 Electric Lizalfos Tail, 5 Topaz | 10 Thunder Gleeok Horn, 5 Topaz | | Tights | 3 Yellow Lizalfos Tail | 5 Yellow Chu Jelly, 3 Topaz | 8 Electric Lizalfos Tail, 5 Topaz | 10 Thunder Gleeok Horn, 5 Topaz |

Set Bonus (Tier 2+): Unshockable

Desert Voe Armor Upgrade Costs

Heat Resistance set. Purchased at Gerudo Town (requires male disguise).

| Piece | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | Tier 4 | |-------|--------|--------|--------|--------| | Headband | 3 Chuchu Jelly | 5 Red Chuchu Jelly, 3 Amber | 5 Ice-Breath Lizalfos Tail, 3 Sapphire | 10 Ice-Breath Lizalfos Tail, 5 Sapphire | | Spaulder | 3 Chuchu Jelly | 5 Red Chuchu Jelly, 3 Amber | 5 Ice-Breath Lizalfos Tail, 3 Sapphire | 10 Ice-Breath Lizalfos Tail, 5 Sapphire | | Breeches | 3 Chuchu Jelly | 5 Red Chuchu Jelly, 3 Amber | 5 Ice-Breath Lizalfos Tail, 3 Sapphire | 10 Ice-Breath Lizalfos Tail, 5 Sapphire |

Set Bonus (Tier 2+): Heat Resistance Level 2, Shock Resistance

Climbing Gear Upgrade Costs

Climbing Speed set. Found in shrine treasure chests.

| Piece | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | Tier 4 | |-------|--------|--------|--------|--------| | Bandana | 3 Rushroom | 5 Rushroom, 3 Amber | 5 Bokoblin Guts, 3 Sapphire | 10 Moblin Guts, 5 Diamond | | Gear | 3 Rushroom | 5 Rushroom, 3 Amber | 5 Bokoblin Guts, 3 Sapphire | 10 Moblin Guts, 5 Diamond | | Boots | 3 Rushroom | 5 Rushroom, 3 Amber | 5 Bokoblin Guts, 3 Sapphire | 10 Moblin Guts, 5 Diamond |

Set Bonus (Tier 2+): Climbing Jump Stamina Up

Zonaite Armor Upgrade Costs

Energy Recharge Up set. Found across Depths and Sky Island treasure chests.

| Piece | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | Tier 4 | |-------|--------|--------|--------|--------| | Helm | 3 Zonaite | 5 Large Zonaite, 3 Amber | 5 Large Zonaite, 3 Topaz | 10 Crystallized Charge, 5 Sapphire | | Waistguard | 3 Zonaite | 5 Large Zonaite, 3 Amber | 5 Large Zonaite, 3 Topaz | 10 Crystallized Charge, 5 Sapphire | | Shin Guards | 3 Zonaite | 5 Large Zonaite, 3 Amber | 5 Large Zonaite, 3 Topaz | 10 Crystallized Charge, 5 Sapphire |

Set Bonus (Tier 2+): Zonai Charge Up

Tips for Efficient Upgrading

• Prioritize Tier 2 on your main combat set first to unlock the set bonus — often more valuable than individual defense numbers.
• Farm Lizalfos near Zora's Domain and Eldin for tails needed across many armor sets.
• Gleeok Horns (Tier 3/4 for some sets) drop from all Gleeok variants — the Floating Colosseum has three Gleeoks in one location.
• Sell excess gems only after confirming you have enough for all Tier 3 and Tier 4 upgrades you plan to pursue.
• The Ancient Hero's Aspect (legendary armor) requires Dragon parts at every tier — plan dragon farming before attempting those upgrades.