How to Get the Archaic Tunic in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

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Reyadh is a writer of fantasy, horror, and science fiction who loves to play video games full of monsters and magic. When he's not scribing unique and unrelenting speculative fiction or slaying demons in virtual worlds, he is writing strategy guides to help others reach their gaming goals.

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Key Takeaway

The Archaic Tunic can be looted from a chest in Pondside Cave, which is located in the southwest section of the Great Sky Island.

It’s useful to get the Archaic Tunic because there aren’t many bits of chest armor in the tutorial area. While it won’t offer much protection, it’s still better than nothing when starting out in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

Table Of Contents

    How to Get the Archaic Tunic in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Video Guide

    Where to Find the Archaic Tunic

    The Archaic Tunic is found in a chest within Pondside Cave (00:16 in the Video Guide). This cave is located on the southwest side of the Great Sky Island. To reach this cave most easily, approach it from the west (south of the big lake on the west side of the Great Sky Island).

    A red "X" marking the spot of the Archaic Tunic on the Great Sky Island map.

    Besides a few Keese and a Bubbulfrog, there aren’t any enemies here. Also, the cave is pretty small and linear, so you can’t get lost or turned around. That should make it a breeze to pass through this cavern quickly. The chest containing the Archaic Tunic is at the very end of the cave (04:20 in the Video Guide).

    However, be sure to do some mining while you’re here, as you can get Amber, Flint, Rock Salt, and even a Ruby (not to be confused with Rupees) by breaking the rocks in Pondside Cave (03:55 in the Video Guide).

    What Does the Archaic Tunic Do?

    Link wearing the Archaic Tunic, which is an off-the-shoulder shirt that's mostly green.

    The Archaic Tunic is a piece of chest equipment that provides two points of armor. This isn’t very much, however, there’s almost no other armor to be found on the Great Sky Island. As such, your choices of armor are slim, therefore having some is better than not.

    Armor in Tears of the Kingdom reduces how much damage you take from enemy attacks. However, armor points don’t reduce incoming damage that much—least of all if you only have two or three armor points total. Though, once again, beggars can’t be choosers!

    Thankfully, a bit later on past the Great Sky Island area, you’ll be able to buy some better armor in Lookout Landing. That’s where the Ruby found in Pondside Cave comes in handy: each Ruby is worth 110 Rupees. Two Rubies should let you buy all three pieces of the Hylian armor set in Lookout Landing—which is also where you find the Paraglider.