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 excellent defense when fully upgraded. HereÔÇÖs a detailed explanation of how to upgrade it, along with tips and strategies to make the process smoother.

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. To upgrade the Ancient Cuirass, you only need one fountain, but having more fountains unlocked allows you to upgrade other armor pieces as well. The fountains are located in Kakariko Village, near Tabantha Tower, in the Gerudo Desert, and near Tarrey Town. Once youÔÇÖve unlocked a fountain, you can interact with the Great Fairy to upgrade your armor.

Next, youÔÇÖll need specific materials to upgrade the Ancient Cuirass. The materials required depend 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 Skywatchers, or by opening chests in shrines and other locations.

To efficiently gather these materials, focus on farming Guardian enemies. Guardians are commonly found in areas like Hyrule Field, Central Hyrule, and around Hyrule Castle. Using Ancient or Guardian weapons can make these fights easier, as they deal extra damage to Guardians. Additionally, using the Stasis+ rune can help you freeze Guardians temporarily, giving you time to aim for their weak spots. If youÔÇÖre struggling with combat, consider upgrading your armor and weapons or using food buffs to increase your defense and attack power.

One common mistake players make is not preparing enough rupees or materials before attempting to upgrade the Ancient Cuirass. Make sure you have enough rupees by selling valuable items like gems, monster parts, or cooked meals. You can also complete side quests or hunt for treasure chests to earn more rupees. Additionally, avoid wasting materials on other upgrades unless necessary, as the Ancient Cuirass requires a significant amount of rare materials.

For advanced players, consider using the Master Sword or Ancient weapons to farm Guardians more efficiently. The Master Sword deals extra damage to Guardians when itÔÇÖs glowing, and Ancient weapons can be purchased from the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab. You can also use the Ancient Armor setÔÇÖs bonus, which increases the damage of Ancient and Guardian weapons, to make farming even easier. Another optimization is to use the Sheikah Sensor+ to locate Guardian enemies more quickly. This upgrade is available after completing the ÔÇ£Locked MementosÔÇØ quest in Hateno Village.

If youÔÇÖre having trouble finding Star Fragments, which are required for the final upgrade, try farming them by waiting at a high elevation, such as the Dueling Peaks or Mount Lanayru, at night. Star Fragments fall from the sky randomly, so keep an eye out for shooting stars. You can also increase your chances by defeating Lynels or completing certain quests that reward Star Fragments.

In summary, upgrading the Ancient Cuirass involves unlocking a Great Fairy Fountain, gathering specific materials, and paying the required rupees. Focus on farming Guardian enemies for materials, prepare enough rupees, and use advanced techniques like the Master Sword or Ancient weapons to make the process easier. Avoid common mistakes like not preparing enough resources, and consider alternative approaches like using the Sheikah Sensor+ or farming Star Fragments at night. With these strategies, youÔÇÖll be able to fully upgrade the Ancient Cuirass and enhance your defense against Guardian enemies.