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 involving Great Fairy Fountains, materials, and rupees. 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 smoother.

First, you need to unlock a Great Fairy Fountain. There are four Great Fairy Fountains in the game, and each one requires a certain number of rupees to unlock. The first fountain costs 100 rupees, the second 500, the third 1,000, and the fourth 10,000. To upgrade the Ancient Greaves, you only need one fountain, but unlocking more allows you to upgrade your armor further. The fountains are located in specific areas: near Kakariko Village, near Tabantha Tower, near Tarrey Town, and near Gerudo Desert. Once youÔÇÖve found a fountain, interact with it and pay the required rupees to awaken the Great Fairy.

After unlocking a Great Fairy Fountain, you can upgrade the Ancient Greaves. To do this, you need specific materials, which vary depending on the upgrade level. The Ancient Greaves require Ancient materials, which are primarily obtained from defeating Guardians or scavenging their remains. HereÔÇÖs a breakdown of the materials needed for each upgrade level:

Level 1: 10 Ancient Springs, 5 Ancient Gears, and 100 rupees.
Level 2: 15 Ancient Springs, 10 Ancient Gears, and 500 rupees.
Level 3: 15 Ancient Screws, 10 Ancient Shafts, and 1,000 rupees.
Level 4: 1 Star Fragment, 15 Ancient Cores, and 2,000 rupees.

Ancient Springs, Gears, Screws, Shafts, and Cores are all dropped by Guardians. You can find these materials by defeating Guardian Stalkers, Skywatchers, or Turrets, or by searching decayed Guardians in ruins like Hyrule Castle or the Akkala region. 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, focus on areas with a high concentration of Guardians. The Central Hyrule region, particularly around Hyrule Castle, is a good place to start. Use weapons like the Master Sword or Ancient weapons, which deal extra damage to Guardians, to make the fights easier. Additionally, wearing the full Ancient Armor set grants you an attack bonus against Guardians, making it easier to defeat them and collect their parts.

When upgrading, itÔÇÖs important to manage your resources wisely. Ancient materials are also used to craft Ancient weapons and armor at the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab, so prioritize what you need most. If youÔÇÖre low on materials, consider farming Guardians or using the Sheikah Sensor+ to locate decayed Guardians in the overworld.

A common mistake is neglecting to upgrade other armor sets. While the Ancient Greaves are powerful, they are most effective when paired with the full Ancient Armor set, which provides a set bonus that increases your attack power with Ancient weapons. Make sure to upgrade the entire set to maximize its effectiveness.

For advanced players, consider using food or elixirs that boost your attack or defense before engaging Guardians. This can make battles quicker and reduce the risk of losing valuable weapons or health. Additionally, mastering the Perfect Guard technique, which allows you to deflect Guardian lasers with a well-timed shield parry, can save you a lot of trouble in combat.

In summary, upgrading the Ancient Greaves involves unlocking a Great Fairy Fountain, gathering Ancient materials from Guardians, and paying the required rupees. Focus on farming Guardians in high-density areas, manage your resources carefully, and consider upgrading the full Ancient Armor set for maximum effectiveness. With these strategies, youÔÇÖll be well-equipped to take on the gameÔÇÖs toughest challenges.