How do I upgrade the Ancient Shield in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild?
To upgrade the Ancient Shield in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, you need to understand the mechanics of ancient technology and how it ties into the game's crafting and upgrade systems. The Ancient Shield is part of the Ancient Armor set, which is tied to the Sheikah technology found throughout Hyrule. Upgrading this shield requires specific materials and a visit to the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab, where you can exchange these materials for upgraded gear. HereÔÇÖs a detailed breakdown of how to achieve this.
First, you need to unlock the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab. This is located in the northeastern part of Hyrule, in the Akkala region. To unlock the lab, you must complete the quest "Robbie's Research," which involves lighting the furnace outside the lab using a blue flame. This quest is given by Purah at the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab after you complete her initial quest. Once the Akkala lab is operational, you can interact with Cherry, the robot assistant, to purchase and upgrade ancient gear.
The Ancient Shield itself is not upgraded in the traditional sense like armor at Great Fairy Fountains. Instead, you must craft a new, stronger version of the shield using ancient materials. To do this, you need to gather specific resources. The primary materials required are Ancient Cores, Ancient Shafts, Ancient Springs, and Rupees. Ancient Cores are the rarest of these materials and are typically dropped by Guardians, particularly the more powerful ones like Guardian Stalkers or Guardian Scouts in shrines. Ancient Shafts and Springs are more common and can be obtained from defeated Guardians or found in chests within shrines.
Once you have the necessary materials, return to the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab. Speak to Cherry and select the option to craft the Ancient Shield. The cost for crafting the shield is 1,000 Rupees, 1 Ancient Core, 10 Ancient Gears, and 15 Ancient Springs. This shield has a base durability of 32 and can deflect Guardian beams without requiring a perfect parry, making it highly valuable in combat against Guardians.
A common mistake players make is not farming enough ancient materials before attempting to craft the shield. Guardians can be tough enemies, especially early in the game, so itÔÇÖs important to prepare adequately. Equip yourself with weapons that deal high damage to Guardians, such as the Master Sword or Guardian weapons, and consider wearing the Ancient Armor set for increased defense and attack power against Guardians. Additionally, using Ancient Arrows can make farming Guardians much easier, as they can one-shot most Guardian types.
For advanced players, optimizing the farming process is key. Focus on areas with high Guardian activity, such as Hyrule Field or the area around Hyrule Castle. Use stealth or long-range attacks to take down Guardians efficiently. If youÔÇÖre struggling with combat, consider using the Stasis+ rune to freeze Guardians temporarily, giving you time to aim for their weak points. Another strategy is to use the environment to your advantage, such as hiding behind cover to avoid their laser attacks.
If youÔÇÖre short on materials, an alternative approach is to farm shrines that contain Guardian Scouts. These shrines often have chests with ancient materials, and the Scouts themselves drop Shafts and Springs when defeated. Completing these shrines can be a safer way to gather materials compared to fighting overworld Guardians.
In summary, upgrading the Ancient Shield involves gathering ancient materials, unlocking the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab, and crafting the shield using CherryÔÇÖs services. Preparation is crucial, so ensure you have the right weapons and armor for fighting Guardians. Avoid rushing into battles without proper gear, and consider farming shrines for materials if overworld Guardians are too challenging. With the right strategy, you can obtain the Ancient Shield and significantly improve your combat effectiveness against Guardians and other tough enemies in the game.
First, you need to unlock the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab. This is located in the northeastern part of Hyrule, in the Akkala region. To unlock the lab, you must complete the quest "Robbie's Research," which involves lighting the furnace outside the lab using a blue flame. This quest is given by Purah at the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab after you complete her initial quest. Once the Akkala lab is operational, you can interact with Cherry, the robot assistant, to purchase and upgrade ancient gear.
The Ancient Shield itself is not upgraded in the traditional sense like armor at Great Fairy Fountains. Instead, you must craft a new, stronger version of the shield using ancient materials. To do this, you need to gather specific resources. The primary materials required are Ancient Cores, Ancient Shafts, Ancient Springs, and Rupees. Ancient Cores are the rarest of these materials and are typically dropped by Guardians, particularly the more powerful ones like Guardian Stalkers or Guardian Scouts in shrines. Ancient Shafts and Springs are more common and can be obtained from defeated Guardians or found in chests within shrines.
Once you have the necessary materials, return to the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab. Speak to Cherry and select the option to craft the Ancient Shield. The cost for crafting the shield is 1,000 Rupees, 1 Ancient Core, 10 Ancient Gears, and 15 Ancient Springs. This shield has a base durability of 32 and can deflect Guardian beams without requiring a perfect parry, making it highly valuable in combat against Guardians.
A common mistake players make is not farming enough ancient materials before attempting to craft the shield. Guardians can be tough enemies, especially early in the game, so itÔÇÖs important to prepare adequately. Equip yourself with weapons that deal high damage to Guardians, such as the Master Sword or Guardian weapons, and consider wearing the Ancient Armor set for increased defense and attack power against Guardians. Additionally, using Ancient Arrows can make farming Guardians much easier, as they can one-shot most Guardian types.
For advanced players, optimizing the farming process is key. Focus on areas with high Guardian activity, such as Hyrule Field or the area around Hyrule Castle. Use stealth or long-range attacks to take down Guardians efficiently. If youÔÇÖre struggling with combat, consider using the Stasis+ rune to freeze Guardians temporarily, giving you time to aim for their weak points. Another strategy is to use the environment to your advantage, such as hiding behind cover to avoid their laser attacks.
If youÔÇÖre short on materials, an alternative approach is to farm shrines that contain Guardian Scouts. These shrines often have chests with ancient materials, and the Scouts themselves drop Shafts and Springs when defeated. Completing these shrines can be a safer way to gather materials compared to fighting overworld Guardians.
In summary, upgrading the Ancient Shield involves gathering ancient materials, unlocking the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab, and crafting the shield using CherryÔÇÖs services. Preparation is crucial, so ensure you have the right weapons and armor for fighting Guardians. Avoid rushing into battles without proper gear, and consider farming shrines for materials if overworld Guardians are too challenging. With the right strategy, you can obtain the Ancient Shield and significantly improve your combat effectiveness against Guardians and other tough enemies in the game.