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. Each fountain allows you to upgrade your armor to a higher level, with the fourth fountain enabling the maximum upgrade level. To upgrade the Ancient Cuirass, you will need to unlock at least the second Great Fairy Fountain, as the first upgrade requires materials that are relatively easy to obtain.

Once you have unlocked 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, 10 Ancient Shafts, and 1,000 rupees. The final upgrade requires 1 Star Fragment, 15 Ancient Cores, and 2,000 rupees.

Ancient Springs, Ancient Gears, Ancient Screws, Ancient Shafts, and Ancient Cores are all materials that can be obtained by defeating Guardian enemies. Guardians are found in various locations across Hyrule, particularly in areas like Hyrule Castle, the Akkala region, and the Central Hyrule region. You can also find these materials in shrines and by defeating Guardian Scouts in Test of Strength shrines. Star Fragments are rarer 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, itÔÇÖs a good idea to focus on areas with a high concentration of Guardians. Hyrule Field and the area around Hyrule Castle are particularly good spots. Using weapons like the Master Sword or Ancient weapons obtained from the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab can make defeating Guardians easier. Additionally, using Ancient Arrows can instantly defeat Guardians, but they are expensive and should be used sparingly.

When preparing to upgrade the Ancient Cuirass, make sure you have enough rupees. Rupees can be obtained by selling valuable items like gems, which can be found by mining ore deposits or defeating Talus enemies. Cooking and selling meals can also be a good way to earn rupees. ItÔÇÖs important to manage your resources carefully, as some materials are rare and should be used wisely.

A common mistake is not unlocking enough Great Fairy Fountains early in the game. While the first fountain is relatively cheap, the subsequent fountains require a significant amount of rupees. ItÔÇÖs a good idea to prioritize unlocking at least the second fountain early on, as this will allow you to upgrade your armor to a higher level and improve your survivability.

Advanced techniques include using the Ancient Armor set in combination with Ancient weapons and shields for maximum effectiveness against Guardians. The set bonus, which is unlocked when you upgrade all three pieces of the Ancient Armor set to at least level 2, increases the damage of Ancient and Guardian weapons. This makes the set particularly useful for taking on tough enemies like Lynels and Guardians.

An alternative approach is to focus on other armor sets if you find the Ancient materials too difficult to obtain. The SoldierÔÇÖs Armor set, for example, provides high defense and is easier to upgrade, as it requires more common materials like Bokoblin Horns and Lizalfos Tails. However, the Ancient Armor set is unmatched when it comes to fighting Guardians, so itÔÇÖs worth the effort if you plan to tackle these enemies frequently.

In summary, upgrading the Ancient Cuirass involves unlocking Great Fairy Fountains, gathering specific materials from Guardians, and managing your resources effectively. By focusing on areas with a high concentration of Guardians, using the right weapons, and unlocking multiple Great Fairy Fountains, you can efficiently upgrade the Ancient Cuirass and enhance your combat capabilities in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.