How to get the Phantom Armor in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Surviving what has become of Hyrule in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is no mean feat — especially if you’re yet to upgrade any of your armor. Fortunately, there’s a set of armor with base defense of +8 per piece, and it even boosts your attack: the Phantom Armor. Defense, it seems, truly is the best offense.

Each of the three pieces can be found in a treasure chest in Hyrule — you don’t need to worry about heading into the Depths or up into the Sky Islands.

Our Tears of the Kingdom Phantom Armor guide will help you find all three pieces of the Phantom armor set: the Phantom Helmet, Phantom Armor, and Phantom Greaves.

Phantom Helmet location

Starting at Popla Foothills Skyview Tower or the Utsushok Shrine in the south of Hyrule, head southeast past the Highland Stable toward Puffer Beach. It’s the stretch of beach in the middle of the southern shoreline.

Once you’re at Puffer Beach, head to the following coordinates: (0293, -3848, 0004). It will look like a perfectly ordinary stretch of beach, other than the Zonai rockets casually placed to the right of the pool below. You’ll want to grab one of them, Fuse it to your shield and then return to this spot:

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Look up and you should see a bunch of Luminous Stone deposits. Stand underneath this and equip your shield to blast through the rocks.

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon

Welcome to Puffer Beach Overhead Cave. Glide down to the floor of the cave and ready your bow because there is a Silver Horriblin waiting for you in the corridor.

Once the enemies are dispatched, head to the back of the cave, where you will find this treasure shrine. It’s a small cave, and very difficult to miss.

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Open the chest and grab your first piece of loot, the Phantom Helmet, which grants +8 defense and an attack boost.

Phantom Armor chest piece location

The Phantom Armor is in Tamio River Downstream Cave, which you can fly to from the Gerudo Higlands Skyview Tower.

Once again, this cave is guarded by Horriblins, but these are easier to take out if you’re quick. These Horriblins, who famously can’t swim, are conveniently situated over a pool of water. If a headshot doesn’t kill them, falling into the water will. There are two in here — dispatch them both, then loot the room.

Continue south and you will see the cave fork. To the right is another Bubbulfrog. Grab it, then return to the fork. To the left is the tricky part of this treasure hunt. The path will open up into a cavern that looks like this. You will see the treasure up ahead.

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Creep forward and look down the cliff and you’ll run into Gloom Hands. Remember, if you beat it, you’ll have to face Phantom Ganon, too. If you aren’t up to beating him, read on, and then get ready to sprint. It’s doable, but it’s tough.

There are two ways to reach this chest — from the front and from the back. Entering the cave, we’re looking at the back.

The first thing we tried was climbing the walls in a full set of Froggy Armor. This consumed three full stamina wheels, including one gained from eating a meal halfway up the wall.

The more sensible route involves gliding down to the left of the shrine and following the path round to the right. Looking to the right, you will see that the wall is bricked up with breakable bricks, you can break using bombs, hammers, or Yunobo.

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon

Follow the path up and nab your hard-earned treasure: the Phantom Armor chest piece, which boosts your attack and grants +8 defense.

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon

Phantom Greaves location

Head to the Gerudo Canyon Skyview Tower, or the Siwakama Shrine to the south if you have it. If you go via the Skyview Tower, however, you can see our destination and pin the correct hole.

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon

Just above Link’s head in the above shot, you will see what looks like little dimples in the sand. These little sand vortexes are entrances to the Ancient Altar Ruins. Head for the one marked below.

Graphic: Jeffrey Parkin, Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo

If you fall into the wrong one, you will be in the actual ruins, so you’ll need to Ascend up to correct yourself. If you do enter the ruins, you’ll see the room we’re looking for, being helpfully pointed out by this statue.

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon

If you jump into the correct hole, you will see the following:

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon

Climb up, nab your greaves, and then check out your sweet new threads.

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon

There’ll also be a Bubbulfrog in this room with you to grab a Bubbul Gem from.

Phantom Armor upgrade costs, effect, and set bonus

The pieces of the Phantom armor each give an attack up buff, which stack the more you have equipped. There is no set bonus, as you can’t upgrade the armor — it’s perfect as it is.

Once you’ve found all three pieces of the Phantom Armor, consult our list of all armor sets and set bonuses to see what to find next, or check out our recommendations for the best armor.