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

To upgrade the Phantom Greaves in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, you need to follow a specific process involving Great Fairy Fountains, specific materials, and a bit of preparation. The Phantom Greaves are part of the Phantom Armor set, which is inspired by the Phantom enemies from previous Zelda games. This set is obtained through the "EX Treasure: Phantom Ganon" side quest, which is part of The Master Trials DLC. The Phantom Greaves provide a base defense of 8 and a set bonus that increases your attack power when worn with the full Phantom Armor set. Upgrading them will increase their defense and make them more effective in combat.

First, you need to locate a Great Fairy Fountain. There are four Great Fairy Fountains in the game, each requiring 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 to unlock one fountain to start upgrading your armor, but unlocking more fountains allows you to upgrade your armor to higher levels. The Great Fairy Fountains are located in specific areas: one near Kakariko Village, one near Tarrey Town, one in the Tabantha region, and one in the Gerudo Desert.

Once you have unlocked a Great Fairy Fountain, you can approach the Great Fairy and select the Phantom Greaves from your inventory to upgrade them. Upgrading armor requires specific materials, which vary depending on the armor piece and the upgrade level. For the Phantom Greaves, the materials required for each upgrade level are as follows: Level 1 requires 5 Silent Shrooms and 5 Summerwing Butterflies, Level 2 requires 10 Silent Shrooms and 10 Summerwing Butterflies, Level 3 requires 15 Silent Shrooms and 15 Electric Darner, and Level 4 requires 20 Silent Shrooms, 20 Electric Darner, and 1 Star Fragment.

Silent Shrooms can be found in forested areas, particularly around Kakariko Village and the Faron region. Summerwing Butterflies are commonly found in grassy areas during the day, especially in the Necluda and Faron regions. Electric Darner can be found near bodies of water during thunderstorms or in the Gerudo Desert. Star Fragments are rare and can be obtained by shooting down stars that fall from the sky at night or by defeating certain high-level enemies like Lynels.

To efficiently gather these materials, you should plan your exploration routes and use the Sheikah Sensor+ to track specific items. For example, set your Sheikah Sensor+ to detect Silent Shrooms and explore areas like the forests around Kakariko Village. For Summerwing Butterflies, head to grassy plains during the day and use stealth to catch them without scaring them away. Electric Darner can be tricky to find, so focus on areas with water during thunderstorms or use the Gerudo Desert as a reliable location. Star Fragments require patience and luck, so keep an eye on the sky at night and be ready to chase falling stars.

When upgrading the Phantom Greaves, it is important to manage your resources carefully. Avoid wasting materials on lower-level upgrades if you plan to upgrade the armor to its maximum level. Instead, gather all the required materials in one go to streamline the process. Additionally, consider using the Phantom Armor set in combat situations where increased attack power is beneficial, such as against tough enemies or during boss fights.

A common mistake is neglecting to unlock multiple Great Fairy Fountains, which limits your ability to upgrade armor to higher levels. Make sure to unlock at least two or three fountains to access higher-level upgrades. Another mistake is not using stealth when gathering Summerwing Butterflies, as they are easily scared away. Use stealth-enhancing armor or elixirs to make this process easier.

Advanced techniques include using the Phantom Armor set in combination with attack-boosting food or elixirs to maximize your damage output. For example, cook a dish with Mighty Bananas or use a Mighty Elixir to further increase your attack power. This can be particularly useful in challenging combat scenarios or when facing multiple enemies at once.

In summary, upgrading the Phantom Greaves involves unlocking Great Fairy Fountains, gathering specific materials, and managing your resources effectively. By following these steps and tips, you can enhance the Phantom Greaves and make them a valuable part of your armor collection in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.