You're standing at the base of a massive, thundering waterfall in Lanayru. You look up. You want to go up there, but Link's pathetic little paddling isn't going to cut it. Honestly, if you’ve played Breath of the Wild, you know exactly what you need. The Zora Armor is the goat of exploration gear. In Tears of the Kingdom, though, Nintendo didn't just hand it to you on a silver platter this time. It’s scattered.
Basically, the Zora armor locations TOTK players are hunting for are split between a main story quest, a hidden cave beneath a lake, and a literal fish floating in the sky. If you're tired of running out of stamina while swimming across a puddle, here is exactly how to track down the full set without losing your mind.
The Zora Armor Piece: Start With Lady Yona
You can’t just stumble onto the chest piece. You've got to work for it, but not too hard. Once you reach Zora’s Domain, you'll see everything is covered in that gross brown sludge. It’s everywhere.
Talk to Yona. She’s the green Zora usually hanging out near the infirmary (upstairs from the main statue). She wants to fix your old armor, but she needs a specific fish: the Ancient Arowana.
Don’t overthink this. You can find these fish at the very top of Ploymus Mountain, right by the statue of Mipha. If you’ve already been to the Great Sky Island, check the ponds near the Nachoyah Shrine—they’re all over the place there too. Hand one over to Yona, and boom. You can now swim up waterfalls. It’s a game-changer for getting around Lanayru.
Zora Helm: The Sky Fish Mystery
This is the one that trips everyone up. The quest is called "The Never-Ending Lecture," but honestly, you don't even need to start the quest to find the helm. You just need to know where the "sky fish" is.
- Look at your map.
- See that island shaped exactly like a fish near Mipha’s Court? That’s Floating Scales Island.
- Use your new Zora Armor to swim up the waterfall trailing down from the sky.
- Once you’re on the fish's "back," run toward the tail.
Don't stay on top of the island. Look over the right side (the north side) of the tail. There’s a tiny opening tucked into the side of the island. It’s often covered in sludge, so throw some Splash Fruit or a Blue Chuchu Jelly at it. Inside that little cave is a chest. That’s your Zora Helm. Now you can do the spin attack in the water, which is mostly just fun for bullying Octoroks.
Zora Greaves: Back to the Waterworks
You can’t get the pants until you’ve actually finished the main "Sidon of the Zora" quest. If you haven't beaten the Water Temple boss yet, stop reading and go do that.
Once the sludge is gone and the Zora are happy again, talk to Yona again. She’ll mention a "Token of Friendship." This leads you back to the Ancient Zora Waterworks, which is that giant whirlpool in the East Reservoir Lake.
The water has drained now. Head to the very bottom of the main chamber. You’re looking for a hole in the floor behind the massive central pillar. Drop down, and you’ll find yourself in a cave with a Stone Talus. You don't have to fight it—kinda scary if you're low on hearts—but just run past it. Behind the waterfall at the back of this room is a hidden chest. Grab the greaves, and you’re finally fully suited up.
Why You Actually Need the Set Bonus
Individually, each piece gives you a "Swim Speed Up" buff. It's okay. But the real magic happens when you upgrade the whole set to at least level two at a Great Fairy.
The set bonus is Swim Dash Stamina Up.
It makes your "sprint" in the water consume almost no stamina. If you’re trying to navigate the flooded caves or just get across a lake without building a hoverbike, this is essential. Plus, it just looks cool. It’s one of the few armor sets that actually feels like it belongs to the lore of the region.
Quick Summary for the Impatient:
- Chest Piece: Give an Ancient Arowana to Yona in Zora's Domain.
- Helm: Inside a cave on the side of Floating Scales Island (the sky fish).
- Greaves: Behind a waterfall at the bottom of the Ancient Zora Waterworks (after the Water Temple).
If you’re still missing pieces, check your adventure log. The game actually gives you hints under the "Side Quests" tab if you've talked to the right NPCs. Honestly, though, just flying to the sky fish is the fastest way to feel like a pro.
Now that you have the gear, go find the Great Fairies and start farming those Lizalfos horns for the upgrades. You’re going to need a lot of them.
