How do I get the Ancient Shaft in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild?
To obtain the Ancient Shaft in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, you need to understand the game's mechanics related to ancient materials and how they are acquired. The Ancient Shaft is a valuable material used primarily for crafting and upgrading ancient technology-based gear at the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab. It is one of several ancient materials that can be obtained from defeated Guardians, which are mechanical enemies scattered throughout Hyrule. Here is a detailed guide on how to acquire the Ancient Shaft, including strategies, tips, and considerations.
First, you need to locate Guardians. Guardians are found in various locations across Hyrule, particularly in areas with a strong Sheikah presence, such as Hyrule Castle, the Central Hyrule region, and the Akkala region. There are different types of Guardians, including decayed Guardians, Guardian Stalkers, Guardian Skywatchers, and Guardian Turrets. Decayed Guardians are the most common and are often found in ruins or near shrines. They are immobile and easier to defeat compared to the more aggressive Guardian Stalkers and Skywatchers.
To defeat a Guardian, you will need to prepare adequately. Guardians are formidable enemies, especially for players early in the game. Their primary attack is a laser beam that can deal massive damage. To counter this, you can use a shield to parry the laser. Timing is crucial for a successful parry. When the Guardian's eye glows and you hear a beeping sound, press the A button to perform a perfect parry, reflecting the laser back at the Guardian and dealing significant damage. This technique requires practice, so it is advisable to save your game before attempting it.
Another effective strategy is to use ancient or Guardian-specific weapons. The Ancient Short Sword, Ancient Bladesaw, and Ancient Bow are particularly effective against Guardians. These weapons can be purchased from the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab using ancient materials. Additionally, using arrows, especially Ancient Arrows, can quickly take down a Guardian. Ancient Arrows are expensive but highly effective, as they can one-shot most Guardians if you hit their eye.
Once you have defeated a Guardian, it will drop various ancient materials, including Ancient Screws, Ancient Springs, Ancient Gears, and Ancient Shafts. The drop rates for these materials are random, so you may need to defeat multiple Guardians to obtain an Ancient Shaft. Decayed Guardians tend to drop fewer materials compared to Guardian Stalkers and Skywatchers, so targeting the more advanced Guardians can increase your chances of obtaining an Ancient Shaft.
It is important to note that Guardians respawn after a Blood Moon, so you can farm them repeatedly if needed. Blood Moons occur approximately every 2 hours and 48 minutes of real-time gameplay, resetting all enemies and resources in the game. This allows you to revisit Guardian locations and defeat them again for more materials.
In terms of preparation, ensure you have a good supply of healing items, such as hearty meals or elixirs, to sustain yourself during battles with Guardians. Additionally, having a high-defense armor set, such as the Ancient Armor set, can reduce the damage taken from Guardian attacks. The Ancient Armor set also provides a bonus to ancient weapon damage, making it an excellent choice for fighting Guardians.
One common mistake to avoid is engaging multiple Guardians at once, especially in areas like Hyrule Castle, where several Guardians are present. Fighting multiple Guardians simultaneously can be overwhelming and lead to quick defeat. Instead, focus on isolating and defeating one Guardian at a time. Use the environment to your advantage by taking cover behind walls or structures to avoid laser attacks.
Advanced techniques include using stealth to approach Guardians without alerting them. The Stealth Armor set or stealth-enhancing elixirs can help you get close to a Guardian without being detected, allowing you to deal a surprise attack. Additionally, using the Stasis+ rune upgrade can temporarily freeze a Guardian, giving you a window to attack or reposition yourself.
In summary, obtaining an Ancient Shaft involves locating and defeating Guardians, using effective combat strategies, and being prepared with the right equipment and resources. By practicing parrying, using ancient weapons, and farming Guardians after Blood Moons, you can efficiently gather Ancient Shafts and other valuable materials for upgrading your gear and progressing in the game.
First, you need to locate Guardians. Guardians are found in various locations across Hyrule, particularly in areas with a strong Sheikah presence, such as Hyrule Castle, the Central Hyrule region, and the Akkala region. There are different types of Guardians, including decayed Guardians, Guardian Stalkers, Guardian Skywatchers, and Guardian Turrets. Decayed Guardians are the most common and are often found in ruins or near shrines. They are immobile and easier to defeat compared to the more aggressive Guardian Stalkers and Skywatchers.
To defeat a Guardian, you will need to prepare adequately. Guardians are formidable enemies, especially for players early in the game. Their primary attack is a laser beam that can deal massive damage. To counter this, you can use a shield to parry the laser. Timing is crucial for a successful parry. When the Guardian's eye glows and you hear a beeping sound, press the A button to perform a perfect parry, reflecting the laser back at the Guardian and dealing significant damage. This technique requires practice, so it is advisable to save your game before attempting it.
Another effective strategy is to use ancient or Guardian-specific weapons. The Ancient Short Sword, Ancient Bladesaw, and Ancient Bow are particularly effective against Guardians. These weapons can be purchased from the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab using ancient materials. Additionally, using arrows, especially Ancient Arrows, can quickly take down a Guardian. Ancient Arrows are expensive but highly effective, as they can one-shot most Guardians if you hit their eye.
Once you have defeated a Guardian, it will drop various ancient materials, including Ancient Screws, Ancient Springs, Ancient Gears, and Ancient Shafts. The drop rates for these materials are random, so you may need to defeat multiple Guardians to obtain an Ancient Shaft. Decayed Guardians tend to drop fewer materials compared to Guardian Stalkers and Skywatchers, so targeting the more advanced Guardians can increase your chances of obtaining an Ancient Shaft.
It is important to note that Guardians respawn after a Blood Moon, so you can farm them repeatedly if needed. Blood Moons occur approximately every 2 hours and 48 minutes of real-time gameplay, resetting all enemies and resources in the game. This allows you to revisit Guardian locations and defeat them again for more materials.
In terms of preparation, ensure you have a good supply of healing items, such as hearty meals or elixirs, to sustain yourself during battles with Guardians. Additionally, having a high-defense armor set, such as the Ancient Armor set, can reduce the damage taken from Guardian attacks. The Ancient Armor set also provides a bonus to ancient weapon damage, making it an excellent choice for fighting Guardians.
One common mistake to avoid is engaging multiple Guardians at once, especially in areas like Hyrule Castle, where several Guardians are present. Fighting multiple Guardians simultaneously can be overwhelming and lead to quick defeat. Instead, focus on isolating and defeating one Guardian at a time. Use the environment to your advantage by taking cover behind walls or structures to avoid laser attacks.
Advanced techniques include using stealth to approach Guardians without alerting them. The Stealth Armor set or stealth-enhancing elixirs can help you get close to a Guardian without being detected, allowing you to deal a surprise attack. Additionally, using the Stasis+ rune upgrade can temporarily freeze a Guardian, giving you a window to attack or reposition yourself.
In summary, obtaining an Ancient Shaft involves locating and defeating Guardians, using effective combat strategies, and being prepared with the right equipment and resources. By practicing parrying, using ancient weapons, and farming Guardians after Blood Moons, you can efficiently gather Ancient Shafts and other valuable materials for upgrading your gear and progressing in the game.