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

To upgrade the Ancient Armor set, including the Ancient Spring, in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, you need to visit a Great Fairy Fountain and provide specific materials. The Ancient Spring is part of the Ancient Armor set, which is designed to enhance your defense and provide bonuses when using Ancient and Guardian weapons. The set is particularly useful for players who frequently engage in combat with Guardians or other high-level enemies. Below is a detailed explanation of the mechanics, strategies, and tips for upgrading the Ancient Spring.

First, you need to unlock a Great Fairy Fountain. There are four Great Fairy Fountains in the game, and each one requires a certain amount of rupees to unlock. The first fountain costs 100 rupees, the second 500, the third 1,000, and the fourth 10,000. Once you have unlocked at least one fountain, you can begin upgrading your armor. The Ancient Spring, like other pieces of the Ancient Armor set, can be upgraded up to four times, with each level requiring different materials.

To upgrade the Ancient Spring, you will need to collect specific materials. For the first upgrade, you need 10 Ancient Springs, 5 Ancient Screws, and 200 rupees. Ancient Springs and Ancient Screws are obtained by defeating Guardians or searching for them in shrines and other locations where Guardian remains are found. The second upgrade requires 15 Ancient Springs, 10 Ancient Gears, and 500 rupees. Ancient Gears are also obtained from Guardians. The third upgrade requires 20 Ancient Springs, 15 Ancient Shafts, and 1,000 rupees. Ancient Shafts are another Guardian-related material. The fourth and final upgrade requires 30 Ancient Springs, 5 Ancient Cores, and 2,000 rupees. Ancient Cores are rare drops from Guardians, so you may need to defeat several to collect enough.

One important tip is to focus on defeating Guardians efficiently to gather the necessary materials. Guardians can be tough enemies, but there are strategies to make the fights easier. Using Ancient or Guardian weapons, which deal extra damage to Guardians, can help. Additionally, using the Perfect Guard technique, where you parry a Guardian's laser beam with a shield, can instantly destroy the Guardian and yield valuable materials. This technique requires precise timing, so practice is key.

Another consideration is resource management. Ancient materials are valuable and can be used for other purposes, such as crafting Ancient weapons or upgrading other pieces of the Ancient Armor set. Make sure to prioritize which upgrades you want to focus on first. For example, if you frequently use Ancient weapons, upgrading the entire Ancient Armor set can provide significant bonuses.

A common mistake is not preparing adequately before attempting to upgrade. Make sure you have enough rupees and materials before visiting a Great Fairy Fountain. Running out of materials mid-upgrade can be frustrating and waste time. Additionally, some players may overlook the importance of upgrading armor, but higher defense and set bonuses can make a significant difference in combat.

Advanced techniques include farming Guardians in specific locations where they are more abundant, such as Hyrule Castle or the Akkala region. Using stealth or long-range weapons to take down Guardians from a distance can also be effective. Additionally, using the Master Cycle Zero, a DLC-exclusive vehicle, can help you travel quickly between Guardian locations to farm materials more efficiently.

Alternative approaches include focusing on other armor sets if you find the Ancient Armor set too resource-intensive. For example, the Barbarian Armor set provides attack bonuses and can be upgraded with more common materials like Lynel parts. However, if you are specifically looking to enhance your combat against Guardians, the Ancient Armor set is the best choice.

In summary, upgrading the Ancient Spring requires careful preparation, efficient Guardian farming, and strategic resource management. By following these steps and tips, you can enhance your Ancient Armor set and improve your combat effectiveness in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.