What materials are needed to upgrade the Topaz Earrings in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild?

To upgrade the Topaz Earrings in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, you need to visit a Great Fairy Fountain and provide the required materials. The Topaz Earrings are a piece of jewelry that can be purchased in Gerudo Town from the jewelry shop called Starlight Memories. They provide a small boost to your defense and can be upgraded up to four times, with each upgrade increasing their defensive capabilities. Upgrading armor, including the Topaz Earrings, is a key part of improving Link's survivability, especially in tougher combat situations or when exploring dangerous areas.

The first step in upgrading the Topaz Earrings is to locate a Great Fairy Fountain. There are four Great Fairy Fountains scattered across Hyrule, and each one requires a certain amount of rupees to unlock. The first fountain is located near Kakariko Village and costs 100 rupees to unlock. The second is near Tabantha Tower and costs 500 rupees. The third is in the Akkala region and costs 1,000 rupees. The fourth is near the Gerudo Desert and costs 10,000 rupees. You only need to unlock one Great Fairy Fountain to start upgrading your armor, but unlocking more fountains allows you to upgrade your gear to higher levels.

Once you have access to a Great Fairy Fountain, you can begin the upgrade process. To upgrade the Topaz Earrings, you will need specific materials for each level of upgrade. The materials required for each level are as follows: Level 1 requires 2 Topaz and 5 Flint. Level 2 requires 4 Topaz and 10 Flint. Level 3 requires 6 Topaz and 15 Flint. Level 4 requires 10 Topaz and 25 Flint. Topaz is a rare gemstone that can be found by mining ore deposits in various locations across Hyrule, particularly in mountainous regions like Death Mountain or the Gerudo Highlands. Flint is a more common material that can also be obtained by breaking ore deposits or by defeating certain enemies like Stone Taluses.

To gather the necessary materials, you should focus on exploring areas with abundant ore deposits. Using a weapon with a high durability, such as a sledgehammer or a Goron weapon, is ideal for breaking ore deposits efficiently. Additionally, wearing the Sheikah Sensor upgraded by Purah in Hateno Village can help you locate ore deposits more easily. You can also purchase Topaz from certain merchants, such as the Gerudo jewelry shop in Gerudo Town, but this can be expensive and is not the most efficient way to gather materials.

When upgrading the Topaz Earrings, it is important to plan ahead and gather more materials than you need. This is because upgrading other pieces of armor or crafting elixirs and meals may also require Topaz and Flint. Managing your resources effectively is crucial, especially in the early to mid-game when materials are harder to come by. One common mistake is using Topaz for other purposes, such as selling it for rupees, before realizing you need it for upgrades. To avoid this, prioritize upgrading your armor before selling excess materials.

Advanced players may choose to farm Stone Taluses for Topaz, as these enemies drop multiple gemstones when defeated. Stone Taluses can be found in various locations, such as the Eldin Mountains or the Gerudo Highlands. Using a weapon with a high damage output, such as a two-handed weapon or a weapon with a critical hit modifier, can make these fights easier. Additionally, using Urbosa's Fury, a power granted by defeating the Divine Beast Vah Naboris, can quickly defeat Stone Taluses and yield more materials.

In terms of alternative approaches, if you are struggling to find Topaz, you can focus on upgrading other pieces of armor first. The Topaz Earrings provide a modest defense boost, but other armor sets, such as the Soldier's Armor or the Ancient Armor, offer more significant defensive benefits. Once you have a strong base of upgraded armor, you can return to upgrading the Topaz Earrings as a supplementary piece.

In summary, upgrading the Topaz Earrings requires gathering Topaz and Flint, which can be obtained by mining ore deposits or defeating Stone Taluses. Visiting a Great Fairy Fountain and providing the necessary materials will allow you to upgrade the earrings up to four times, significantly increasing their defensive capabilities. Planning ahead, managing resources, and focusing on efficient farming methods are key to successfully upgrading your gear. By following these strategies, you can enhance Link's survivability and better prepare for the challenges of Hyrule.