How do I upgrade the Ancient Cuirass in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild?

To upgrade the Ancient Cuirass in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, you need to follow a specific process involving Great Fairy Fountains, materials, and preparation. The Ancient Cuirass is part of the Ancient Armor set, which is highly effective against Guardian enemies and provides excellent defense when fully upgraded. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to upgrade it.

First, you need to unlock at least one Great Fairy Fountain. There are four Great Fairy Fountains in the game, and each one requires a payment of rupees to unlock. The first fountain costs 100 rupees, the second 500, the third 1,000, and the fourth 10,000. To upgrade the Ancient Cuirass, you only need one fountain, but having more fountains allows you to upgrade your armor further. The fountains are located in Kakariko Village, near Tabantha Tower, in the Gerudo Desert, and near Tarrey Town.

Once you have access to a Great Fairy Fountain, you need to gather the required materials for each upgrade level. The Ancient Cuirass has four upgrade levels, and each level requires different materials. For the first upgrade, you need 10 Ancient Springs, 5 Ancient Gears, and 200 rupees. For the second upgrade, you need 15 Ancient Springs, 10 Ancient Gears, and 500 rupees. The third upgrade requires 15 Ancient Screws, 15 Ancient Shafts, and 1,000 rupees. The final upgrade requires 1 Star Fragment, 15 Ancient Cores, and 2,000 rupees.

Ancient materials like Springs, Gears, Screws, Shafts, and Cores are obtained by defeating Guardian enemies or by opening chests in shrines. Guardians are found in areas like Hyrule Field, Central Hyrule, and around Hyrule Castle. You can also find them in shrines that have Guardian Scouts. Star Fragments are rare and can be obtained by shooting down stars that fall from the sky at night or by completing certain quests.

To efficiently gather these materials, focus on defeating Guardian Stalkers and Guardian Scouts. Guardian Stalkers are the large, spider-like Guardians that roam certain areas, while Guardian Scouts are found in shrines. Use weapons like the Master Sword, Ancient weapons, or Guardian weapons to deal extra damage to them. Parrying their laser attacks with a shield is also an effective strategy to defeat them quickly.

When upgrading, make sure you have enough rupees and materials before visiting the Great Fairy. Rupees can be earned by selling gems, cooking meals, or completing quests. Materials can be farmed by revisiting areas with Guardians or by using the Blood Moon mechanic, which respawns all enemies, including Guardians.

A common mistake is not preparing enough materials or rupees before attempting to upgrade. Always check your inventory and ensure you have everything you need. Another mistake is not using the right weapons against Guardians, which can make farming materials more difficult. Using Ancient or Guardian weapons will make the process faster and more efficient.

For advanced players, consider using the Ancient Proficiency set bonus, which increases the damage of Ancient and Guardian weapons when wearing the full Ancient Armor set. This bonus is unlocked when you upgrade all three pieces of the Ancient Armor set to at least level two. This makes the set even more powerful against Guardians and other enemies.

An alternative approach is to focus on upgrading other armor sets first if you find the Ancient materials too difficult to obtain early in the game. Sets like the SoldierÔÇÖs Armor or the Barbarian Armor can provide good defense and attack bonuses, respectively, and are easier to upgrade in the early stages of the game.

In summary, upgrading the Ancient Cuirass requires unlocking a Great Fairy Fountain, gathering specific materials, and paying rupees. Focus on defeating Guardians to collect Ancient materials, and prepare by ensuring you have enough resources. Avoid common mistakes like not having enough materials or using ineffective weapons. Advanced players can benefit from the Ancient Proficiency set bonus, and alternative armor sets can be upgraded first if needed. With the right preparation and strategy, you can fully upgrade the Ancient Cuirass and enhance your defense against the toughest enemies in the game.