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

To upgrade the Ancient Armor set in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, you need to follow a specific process that involves visiting Great Fairy Fountains, collecting the necessary materials, and understanding the mechanics of armor upgrades. The Ancient Armor set is one of the most powerful armor sets in the game, providing significant defense and a bonus to ancient weapon damage when the full set is equipped. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to upgrade it.

First, you need to acquire the Ancient Armor set itself. This set can be purchased from the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab, which is located in the northeastern part of the map. To access the lab, you must complete the "Robbie's Research" side quest, which involves lighting the furnace at the lab using a blue flame. Once the lab is operational, you can buy the Ancient Armor set from Cherry, the robot inside the lab. The set consists of three pieces: the Ancient Helm, Ancient Cuirass, and Ancient Greaves. Each piece costs 2,000 rupees, and you will also need Ancient Materials like Ancient Screws, Ancient Shafts, and Ancient Cores to purchase them.

Once you have the Ancient Armor set, the next step is to upgrade it. Armor upgrades in Breath of the Wild are handled by the Great Fairies, who reside in Great Fairy Fountains scattered across Hyrule. There are four Great Fairy Fountains in total, and each one requires a certain amount of rupees to unlock. The first fountain costs 100 rupees, the second 500, the third 1,000, and the fourth 10,000. You will need to unlock at least the first two fountains to fully upgrade the Ancient Armor set, as the upgrades are divided into four levels, and each level requires a higher-tier Great Fairy.

To upgrade the Ancient Armor set, you will need specific materials. The materials required for each upgrade level are as follows. For the first upgrade, you need 10 Ancient Screws per piece. For the second upgrade, you need 15 Ancient Springs per piece. For the third upgrade, you need 5 Ancient Shafts per piece. For the fourth and final upgrade, you need 2 Ancient Cores per piece. These materials can be obtained by defeating Guardians, which are found throughout Hyrule, particularly in areas like Hyrule Castle, Central Hyrule, and the Akkala region. You can also find these materials in shrines and by completing certain quests.

When you have the required materials, visit a Great Fairy Fountain and interact with the Great Fairy. Select the piece of armor you want to upgrade and confirm the upgrade. The Great Fairy will consume the materials and rupees, and your armor will be upgraded. Each upgrade increases the defense rating of the armor, and the final upgrade also provides a set bonus, which in the case of the Ancient Armor set is an increase in damage dealt by ancient weapons.

There are a few important tips and considerations to keep in mind when upgrading the Ancient Armor set. First, make sure you have enough rupees and materials before attempting to upgrade. Farming Guardians for Ancient Materials can be time-consuming, so itÔÇÖs a good idea to stockpile these materials as you progress through the game. Second, consider upgrading other armor sets as well, as different sets provide different bonuses that can be useful in various situations. For example, the Barbarian Armor set increases your attack power, while the Stealth Armor set makes it easier to sneak past enemies.

A common mistake to avoid is neglecting to unlock multiple Great Fairy Fountains. While you can upgrade your armor at any Great Fairy Fountain, each fountain allows you to upgrade your armor to a higher level. If you only unlock the first fountain, you will be limited to the first two upgrade levels. To fully upgrade the Ancient Armor set, you need to unlock at least the second fountain.

Advanced techniques for upgrading the Ancient Armor set include using the Master Sword to farm Guardians more efficiently. The Master Sword deals extra damage to Guardians, making it easier to defeat them and collect their materials. Additionally, using Ancient Arrows can instantly destroy Guardians, but this method is more expensive as Ancient Arrows require Ancient Materials to craft.

In terms of alternative approaches, some players prefer to focus on other armor sets that are easier to upgrade or provide different bonuses. For example, the SoldierÔÇÖs Armor set 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 unique in its ability to boost ancient weapon damage, making it a valuable choice for players who rely on ancient weapons like the Ancient Short Sword or Ancient Bladesaw.

In conclusion, upgrading the Ancient Armor set in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild involves acquiring the set from the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab, collecting Ancient Materials from Guardians, and visiting Great Fairy Fountains to perform the upgrades. By following this process and keeping the tips and considerations in mind, you can enhance your armor and improve your combat effectiveness in the game.