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 rupees. The Ancient Cuirass is part of the Ancient Armor set, which is highly effective against Guardian enemies and provides a significant defense boost 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. Each fountain allows you to upgrade your armor to a higher level, with the fourth fountain enabling the maximum upgrade level. To unlock a fountain, simply approach it and interact with the giant flower bud. The Great Fairy will ask for rupees, and once paid, she will emerge and offer her services.

Once you have access to a Great Fairy Fountain, you can upgrade the Ancient Cuirass. The upgrade process requires specific materials, which vary depending on the upgrade level. For the Ancient Cuirass, the materials needed are Ancient Screws, Ancient Shafts, Ancient Cores, and Giant Ancient Cores. These materials are obtained by defeating Guardian enemies, such as Guardian Stalkers, Guardian Skywatchers, and Guardian Scouts found in shrines. You can also find these materials in chests within shrines or by searching the overworld for decayed Guardians.

The upgrade levels for the Ancient Cuirass are as follows. For the first upgrade, you need 10 Ancient Screws and 20 rupees. For the second upgrade, you need 15 Ancient Screws, 5 Ancient Shafts, and 50 rupees. For the third upgrade, you need 15 Ancient Shafts, 5 Ancient Cores, and 200 rupees. For the fourth and final upgrade, you need 1 Giant Ancient Core, 2 Ancient Cores, and 500 rupees. Each upgrade increases the defense rating of the Ancient Cuirass, making it more effective in combat.

To gather the required materials efficiently, focus on defeating Guardian enemies. Guardians are commonly found in areas like Hyrule Field, Central Hyrule, and around Hyrule Castle. 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. Additionally, you can use Ancient Arrows, which can instantly defeat most Guardian enemies, though they are expensive to craft.

When preparing for upgrades, itÔÇÖs important to manage your resources wisely. Ancient materials are rare and valuable, so avoid using them for other purposes like selling or crafting unless absolutely necessary. Prioritize upgrading the Ancient Cuirass and other pieces of the Ancient Armor set to maximize their effectiveness against Guardians and other tough enemies.

A common mistake is neglecting to unlock multiple Great Fairy Fountains. While the first fountain allows for basic upgrades, the later fountains are necessary for higher-level upgrades. Make sure to save up rupees and unlock as many fountains as possible to fully upgrade your armor. Another mistake is not farming Guardian enemies regularly. Guardians respawn after each Blood Moon, so take advantage of this to gather materials consistently.

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 particularly useful when fighting tough enemies like Lynels or during the final boss fight. Additionally, combining the Ancient Armor with food or elixirs that provide attack or defense boosts can further enhance your combat effectiveness.

In summary, upgrading the Ancient Cuirass involves unlocking Great Fairy Fountains, gathering specific materials from Guardian enemies, and paying the required rupees. Focus on defeating Guardians, manage your resources carefully, and unlock multiple fountains to maximize your armorÔÇÖs potential. With the Ancient Cuirass fully upgraded, youÔÇÖll be well-prepared to face the gameÔÇÖs toughest challenges.