The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom may have an opportunity to make Mipha's Zora Armor evwn more useful than it was in Breath of the Wild. The upcoming twists and gimmicks introduced for Tears of the Kingdom could offer a chance for the Zora Armor to play a bigger role. With Tears of the Kingdom being a direct sequel to Breath of the Wild, there are several things from that game that could make a comeback and have an even greater impact than before.
Although Link doesn't receive the gear from her directly, Mipha crafted Breath of the Wild's Zora Armor with Link in mind. This armor improves Link's swimming stamina while also granting him the unique ability to go up waterfalls, granting him access to previously inaccessible areas. Functionally, it's similar to a lot of other items that improve Link's mobility, such as the Hookshot and Grappling Hook, and it is one of the few armor sets in the game that cannot be sold due to its unique ability and what it symbolizes. Although not the strongest defensive armor, it's one of the game's more valuable sets nonetheless.
Tears of the Kingdom Can Upgrade Mipha's Zora Armor
The Zora Armor was useful in Breath of the Wild, but the floating islands of Tears of the Kingdom may seem like they would make its power far less of an asset. However, there are possibilities that could make the ability to swim up waterfalls more exciting. One easy way to do this would be for some of the islands to have lakes or other large bodies of water near the edge, allowing for water to spill over the side as an impromptu waterfall. This could let players swim into the sky using the Zora Armor's power for a scenic transition.
Even if the player can swim up waterfalls toward islands in the sky, it has already been shown that Link can build flying vehicles in Tears of the Kingdom, which would theoretically make such an ability useless. However, there is a simple way to solve that issue; Link could retrieve his Zora Armor as one of the game's first key items, possibly by having a Zora-themed area or Dungeon be an early destination. This would let the Armor's waterfall-swimming ability be the player's first way to reach the floating islands, requiring later items and powers to reach those that don't have cascading waterfalls.
It's also possible that Tears of the KIngdom could expand on the Zora Armor's powers to make it even more useful. While swimming up waterfalls is already incredible, Tears of the Kingdom's new gameplay could include moving through other forms of water as well. Since Tears of the Kingdom will feature floating islands, perhaps the Zora Armor could allow Link to swim through clouds given they're made of moisture (clouds have served as settings in prior games like Minish Cap, after all). Even better, there could be an area of rainfall too heavy for vehicles or gliders, leaving Link's only option to be swimming through the air.
Mipha's Zora Armor was a good tool in Breath of the Wild, and Tears of the Kingdom can make it an even bigger part of the game. Tears of the Kingdom's airborne world can enhance Link's swimming capabilities for several more useful scenarios. Although its abilities may not sound as impressive as a flying vehicle at first glance, the way it is used could make it a vital part of Link's arsenal in the upcoming game. Tears of the Kingdom should ensure that Mipha's gift to Link helps him save Hyrule once more, if for no other reason than to honor her memory.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is scheduled to release on May 12, 2023, for Nintendo Switch.
