The Dark Armor set in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild provides Link with an intimidating silhouette inspired by Dark Link from previous titles in the franchise. Beyond its iconic appearance, equipping the full set increases night movement speed, allowing players to traverse Hyrule efficiently after dusk. Understanding how to acquire this special outfit requires completing key campaign milestones and tracking down a unique vendor who travels across the realm.
How to Unlock Kilton and Fang and Bone
Before purchasing the Dark Armor, players must first encounter Kilton at Skull Lake located in the northern Akkala region. Resting on the left eye island of Skull Lake at night, Kilton introduces his merchant business before relocating to various major settlements across Hyrule. Speaking with him triggers his shop, Fang and Bone, which appears exclusively between 9:00 PM and 4:00 AM outside cities like Kakariko Village and Tarrey Town.
Kilton operates using a unique currency called Mon, which is earned by trading Monster Parts harvested from defeated enemies. Rarer monster drops from boss enemies like Lynels, Hinoxes, and Moldugas yield significantly higher amounts of Mon. Accumulating enough currency early in your playthrough ensures you can afford the full set once all prerequisites are satisfied.
Purchasing the Dark Armor Set Pieces
The Dark Armor set consists of three individual pieces: the Dark Hood, Dark Tunic, and Dark Trousers. Kilton only adds these items to his inventory after players defeat all four Divine Beasts throughout Hyrule. Once this main quest milestone is achieved, visiting Fang and Bone at night allows you to buy the entire set for a total of 3,997 Mon.
Each individual piece costs a substantial amount of Mon, with the Dark Hood priced at 1,999 Mon, while the Dark Tunic and Dark Trousers cost 999 Mon each. Preparing a stockpile of high-grade Monster Parts ahead of time makes buying the whole set quick and straightforward. Once acquired, wearing all three pieces together activates the Night Speed Up set bonus for faster nighttime exploration.
Dark Armor Upgrade Limitations and Utility
Unlike many standard armor sets in Breath of the Wild, the Dark Armor set cannot be upgraded at Great Fairy Fountains. Each piece maintains a base defense rating of 3, giving the full set a fixed total defense stat of 9. Because of this limitation, the set is best utilized for utility and mobility rather than heavy combat engagements against dangerous foes.
Despite its low defensive performance, the Dark Armor set offers distinct strategic advantages when exploring villages and traveling at night. Equipping the full outfit terrifies normal non-player characters in towns, causing them to react with unique frightened animations. Additionally, the enhanced movement speed during nighttime hours helps players quickly gather resources and navigate vast landscapes before sunrise.