Defense,^[1][2] also known as Defensive Power,^[3][4] is a recurring magical skill featured in The Legend of Zelda series. It is the measurement of the amount of damage Link takes directly from enemies. The various ways to acquire enhanced defense utilize differing methods in each game. Although obtaining defensive upgrades, much like having optional stronger Swords or Shields, are not technically required to complete a game, it is rather advised, as the hero often faces dangerous foes late in his quest that can inflict high damage otherwise, especially by bosses including Ganon.

Appearances

The Legend of Zelda

In The Legend of Zelda, Link can acquire two rings that enhance his defensive abilities:
The Blue Ring reduces damage Link takes in half and turns his tunic into a whitish blue. Link can find it beneath an Armos in the overworld and buy it from the Merchant for 250 Rupees. In the Second Quest, this item is found at the northeastern portion of Hyrule.
The Red Ring reduces damage to a quarter of its original amount and turns Link's tunic red. It is found in Level-9 on both Quests.

Notably, when obtaining the Blue or Red Ring, due to the graphical limitations of the Nintendo Entertainment System, certain characters, items, and even enemies that uses the same color palette as the Green Clothes will also change correspondingly.

The Adventure of Link

In The Adventure of Link, Link can use the Shield Spell to enhance his defense, reducing the damage he takes by half. Link's tunic turns red, and the effect of the spell will wear off as soon as he leaves to another area. It can be found in Rauru Town. In addition, every time Link's life level goes up via experience points, it will decrease the damage he takes permanently.

A Link to the Past

In A Link to the Past, Link's defense is enhanced by his tunics.

The Blue Mail reduces the damage taken from enemies by 1/2. It is found in the Ice Palace.

The Red Mail reduces the damage taken from enemies by 1/4. It is found in Ganon's Tower.

Link's Awakening

In Link's Awakening, once Link defeats twelve enemies without being hit, the twelfth will drop a Guardian Acorn, which temporarily doubles Link's defense.^[5]

Link's Awakening DX

In Link's Awakening DX, after completing the Color Dungeon, Link can choose either the Blue Clothes, or the Red Clothes as a reward. The Blue Tunic doubles his defense, while the Red Tunic, though not a defense upgrade, doubles Link's attack power. These abilities can be further increased - though only temporarily - by obtaining a Guardian Acorn or Piece of Power, respectively.

Ocarina of Time

In Ocarina of Time, enhanced defense is awarded to Link by the Great Fairy of Courage who lives in a hidden cave by Ganon's Castle in when he becomes the Hero of Time. The entrance is blocked by a large granite rock pillar which can only be removed by the use of the Golden Gauntlets. The outline of his Life Gauge becomes white and damage is reduced to half.

Majora's Mask

In Majora's Mask, if Link is able to collect all 15 Stray Fairies in the Great Bay Temple and return them to the Great Fairy Fountain, he is rewarded with enhanced defense, which functions the same as in Ocarina of Time.

Phantom Hourglass

In Phantom Hourglass, if Link collects 10 or 20 Wisdom Gems, he can use them to power up the Spirit of Wisdom which when equipped increases his defense.

Skyward Sword

In Skyward Sword, Link can purchase Guardian Potions from the Potion Shop at the Bazaar. This Potion, when drunk, halves the damage dealt to Link by half for three minutes. By upgrading it to the Guardian Potion +, the Potion will make Link completely invincible for three minutes.

A Link Between Worlds

In A Link Between Worlds, like in A Link to the Past, Link's defense is enhanced by his tunics. The Blue Mail is found in the Swamp Palace. The Red Mail is found in Lorule Castle.

Gallery

• 
  Link wearing the Blue Ring from The Legend of Zelda
• 
  Link wearing the Red Ring from The Legend of Zelda
• 
  The Blue Mail from A Link to the Past
• 
  Link wearing the Blue Mail from A Link to the Past
• 
  The Red Mail from A Link to the Past
• 
  Link wearing the Red Mail from A Link to the Past
• 
  The Guardian Acorn as seen in Link's Awakening DX
• 
  The Blue Clothes artwork from Link's Awakening DX
• 
  The Blue Clothes from Link's Awakening DX
• 
  Link wearing the Blue Clothes from Link's Awakening DX
• 
  The Blue Mail from A Link Between Worlds
• 
  The Red Mail from A Link Between Worlds
• 
  Link showing the Triforce of Courage while wearing the Blue Mail in A Link Between Worlds
• 
  The Guardian Acorn as seen in Link's Awakening for Nintendo Switch
• 
  Link wearing the Blue Clothes from Link's Awakening for Nintendo Switch

Trivia

• Defense upgrades are essential for 100% Completion.
• The Guardian Acorn from Link's Awakening remains the only case in the core series where Link gains increased defense while wearing his traditional Green Tunic.
• Despite the Goron Tunic in Ocarina of Time adds resistance from fire-based damage or walking on poison water for Link, it does not affect physical damage from enemies. The Zora Tunic also simply allows him to breathe underwater, and therefore does not grant any extra defense.
• Defense upgrades in the 2D games do not affect fixed damage from certain hazards, traps, or even enemies/bosses such as the Blade Trap, lasers from a Beamos, Flying Tiles, Chain Chomps, etc.
• The character Gramps in A Link Between Worlds, despite appearing to be wearing Link's standard outfit, uses the Red Mail in his optional battle against the hero, but it is not visible in gameplay.

  

• In the crossover fighting games Super Smash Bros. and SoulCalibur II, although Link can wear tunics that would technically give him increased resistance or special protection against certain hazards in the core series, they serve no such purpose, as they are instead used as alternate costumes.
• The Links in the Four Sword games, despite most of them wearing non-green tunics, they do not offer any improved defense in gameplay.
• The Armor mechanic in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom serves a similar purpose as Defense.

Nomenclature

Names in other regions
Language		Name
This table was generated using translation pages.

See Also

• Armor

References