Is Luminous Armor Good? A Comprehensive Guide to Glowing Gear in Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom
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The short answer is: it depends on your priorities. The Radiant Armor (or Luminous Armor, depending on the game) in the Legend of Zelda series, specifically Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, is situational. It’s not universally “the best” armor, but it offers unique benefits that can be incredibly valuable in specific circumstances. The glowing aesthetics of the skeleton-like gear also add a distinct visual appeal for players.
Whether or not it’s “good” for you hinges on your playstyle, what enemies you’re facing, and how far along you are in the game. Its primary function is to provide a buff that affects Stal enemies (the skeletal monsters), and boost damage with bone weapons. If you spend a lot of time fighting Stals or prefer using bone weapons, then yes, it’s a fantastic armor set. If not, there are probably better options for raw defense or other combat benefits.
Understanding the Radiant Armor’s Strengths
The Radiant Armor excels in several key areas:
- Stal Lure: The unupgraded set makes Stals more likely to spawn near you. While this might sound like a drawback, it’s actually useful for farming monster parts or triggering specific events.
- Stal Disguise: The upgraded set prevents Stal enemies from attacking you, allowing you to walk among them undetected. This is incredibly helpful for navigating areas teeming with skeletal foes, particularly at night.
- Bone Weapon Attack Up: The upgraded set increases your attack power when wielding weapons made of bone. This dramatically enhances the effectiveness of weapons like the Stal Bokoblin Arm, Stalmoblin Arm, and Lizalfos Bone.
- Aesthetic Appeal: Let’s be honest, the Radiant Armor looks awesome. It gives Link a skeletal appearance that glows in the dark, making it a visually striking choice.
- Relatively Easy to Obtain: Compared to some other endgame armor sets, the Radiant Armor is fairly straightforward to acquire and upgrade, requiring Luminous Stones, Rupees, and monster parts.
Radiant Armor’s Drawbacks
Despite its advantages, the Radiant Armor also has some downsides:
- Lower Base Defense: Compared to other armor sets like the Ancient Armor or Champion’s Tunic, the Radiant Armor’s base defense is relatively low. This means you’ll be more vulnerable to damage from non-Stal enemies.
- Situational Usefulness: Its primary benefits are geared towards Stals and bone weapons. If you’re not dealing with these, the Radiant Armor’s special effects are essentially useless.
- Luminous Stone Requirement: Upgrading the Radiant Armor requires a significant amount of Luminous Stones, which can be time-consuming to farm.
- Stealth Incompatibility: Although the Evil Spirit Armor provides a Stealth bonus, the Radiant Armor does not include any stealth benefits.
A Comparison to Other Armor Sets
To fully appreciate the Radiant Armor, it’s helpful to compare it to other popular options:
- Barbarian Armor: The Barbarian Armor focuses on increasing attack power. While it offers a more general attack boost compared to the Radiant Armor’s bone weapon bonus, it lacks any defensive or utility effects.
- Ancient Armor: The Ancient Armor provides excellent defense against Ancient enemies and boosts the damage of Ancient weapons. It’s a strong choice for fighting Guardians and Calamity Ganon, but less useful in other situations.
- Evil Spirit Armor: This armor, like the Radiant Armor, also offers a Stal disguise. However, it also provides a stealth bonus, which the Radiant Armor lacks.
- Phantom Armor: Early in the game, the Phantom Armor is a great option because it holds the highest base Armor defense stats in the game which is 8 per piece and 24 when all three are combined.
Ultimately, the “best” armor set depends on the specific challenges you’re facing and your preferred playstyle. The Radiant Armor is a valuable tool for dealing with Stals and bone weapons, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution.
Where to Get the Radiant Armor
The Radiant Set can be bought at the Gerudo Secret Club in Gerudo Town for 2400 Rupees and 9 Luminous Stones in total, after completing “The Secret Club’s Secret” Side Quest.
FAQs About Luminous Armor
1. What exactly does the Radiant Armor do?
The Radiant Armor set (when fully upgraded) prevents Stal enemies from attacking you and increases your attack power when wielding bone weapons. The unupgraded set makes Stals more likely to spawn.
2. How do I upgrade the Radiant Armor?
You can upgrade the Radiant Armor at the Great Fairy Fountains. Each piece requires Luminous Stones and specific monster parts.
3. How many Luminous Stones do I need to fully upgrade the Radiant Armor set?
You’ll need a total of 69 Luminous Stones to purchase the set initially, and upgrade it fully. This breaks down to 9 for purchase, and then 60 for upgrades (5, 8, and 10 per piece, per upgrade level).
4. Is the Radiant Armor better than the Evil Spirit Armor?
The Radiant Armor is better than the Evil Spirit Armor if your priorities are defense and bone weapon damage. You cannot upgrade the Evil Spirit Armor, so the Radiant Armor has higher defense, but with no stealth bonus. The Evil Spirit Armor does offer a stealth bonus that the Radiant Armor lacks.
5. Where can I find Luminous Stones?
Luminous Stones are commonly found in caves and on the sky islands. A good strategy is to explore areas with rock outcroppings.
6. Can I dye the Radiant Armor?
Yes, the Radiant Armor Set can be dyed at the Hateno Dye Shop.
7. Does the Radiant Armor glow in the dark?
Yes, the Radiant Armor has a distinctive glow, thanks to the dye made from crushed Luminous Stones.
8. Does the unupgraded Radiant Armor still provide any benefits?
Yes, the unupgraded Radiant Armor makes Stals more likely to spawn near you. This can be useful for farming monster parts.
9. Is the Radiant Armor worth the investment of Luminous Stones?
If you frequently fight Stals or enjoy using bone weapons, then yes, the Radiant Armor is definitely worth the investment.
10. How do I unlock the Gerudo Secret Club?
You need to complete the “The Secret Club’s Secret” Side Quest in Gerudo Town.
11. What are the best bone weapons to use with the Radiant Armor?
Some of the best bone weapons include the Stal Bokoblin Arm, Stalmoblin Arm, and Lizalfos Bone.
12. Can I use the Radiant Armor to sneak past Stals without them noticing me?
Yes, but only after you have upgraded all pieces of the armor.
13. Does the Radiant Armor affect other types of skeletal enemies, like Stalfos?
No, the Radiant Armor’s effects are primarily focused on Stals.
14. Is there a cheaper way to get the Radiant Armor?
After completing the side quest Gloom-Borne Illness the prices of all armor in the shop are significantly reduced. Speak to Lasli sitting by a pot on the village’s eastern side to start the quest.
15. What is the point of the Radiant Set?
The armor set is designed to keep Stal enemies — the bones guys — from attacking. It also increases damage done with bone weapons. It’s a handy armor kit to have if you’re looking to sneak around these enemies, and it’s very easy to get — if you have the money.
Final Verdict
The Radiant Armor is a specialized armor set with both strengths and weaknesses. It’s not a must-have for every player, but it can be incredibly useful in specific situations. If you’re looking for an armor set that excels at dealing with Stals and bone weapons, the Radiant Armor is an excellent choice. Just be prepared to invest the time and resources needed to fully upgrade it.
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