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

To upgrade the Ancient Greaves in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, you need to follow a specific process that involves visiting Great Fairy Fountains and gathering the necessary materials. The Ancient Greaves are 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 explanation of how to upgrade them, along with tips and strategies to make the process easier.

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. You only need one fountain to start upgrading your armor, but unlocking more fountains allows you to upgrade your gear to higher levels. The Great Fairy Fountains are located in specific areas: near Kakariko Village, in the Tabantha region, near Tarrey Town, and in the Gerudo Highlands. Once youÔÇÖve unlocked a fountain, you can return to it anytime to upgrade your armor.

Next, you need to gather the materials required for upgrading the Ancient Greaves. The materials vary depending on the upgrade level. 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. For the third upgrade, you need 15 Ancient Screws, 15 Ancient Shafts, and 1,000 rupees. For the fourth and final upgrade, you need 1 Star Fragment, 15 Ancient Cores, and 2,000 rupees. These materials can be obtained by defeating Guardian enemies, such as Guardian Stalkers, Guardian Scouts, and Guardian Turrets, or by opening chests in shrines and other locations.

To efficiently gather these materials, focus on farming Guardian enemies. Guardians are found in areas like Hyrule Field, Central Hyrule, and around Hyrule Castle. Use weapons like the Ancient Short Sword or Ancient Bladesaw, which deal extra damage to Guardians, to make the fights easier. You can also use the Master Sword, which glows and deals extra damage when near Guardians or in Hyrule Castle. Additionally, you can use Ancient Arrows, which instantly destroy most Guardians, but this method doesnÔÇÖt yield materials since the Guardian is vaporized. For Star Fragments, you can either wait for them to fall from the sky at night or defeat certain high-level enemies like Lynels, which have a small chance to drop them.

When upgrading the Ancient Greaves, itÔÇÖs important to manage your resources wisely. Ancient materials are also used for crafting Ancient weapons and armor at the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab, so prioritize what you need most. If youÔÇÖre low on materials, consider farming Guardians in shrines, as these respawn every Blood Moon and are easier to defeat than overworld Guardians. Additionally, make sure to have enough rupees, as the upgrade costs increase with each level. You can earn rupees by selling rare materials like gems, which can be obtained by mining ore deposits or defeating Talus enemies.

A common mistake is neglecting to unlock multiple Great Fairy Fountains. While you only need one to start upgrading, unlocking more fountains allows you to upgrade your armor to higher levels, providing better defense and set bonuses. Another mistake is not preparing adequately for Guardian fights. Guardians can be tough opponents, especially early in the game, so make sure to have strong weapons, shields, and healing items. Using the Perfect Guard technique, where you parry a GuardianÔÇÖs laser beam with a shield, can save you a lot of resources and make these fights easier.

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 especially useful when fighting Guardians or other tough enemies. To maximize your efficiency, upgrade the entire Ancient Armor set together, as the set bonus only activates when all three pieces are worn. Additionally, consider using food or elixirs that boost your defense or attack power before engaging in tough fights.

In summary, upgrading the Ancient Greaves involves unlocking Great Fairy Fountains, gathering specific materials, and paying the required rupees. Focus on farming Guardians for materials, manage your resources wisely, and prepare adequately for tough fights. By following these steps and tips, you can fully upgrade the Ancient Greaves and enhance your defense against Guardian enemies, making your journey through Hyrule much easier.