What materials are needed to 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 will need to gather specific materials and visit a Great Fairy Fountain. The Ancient Armor set is one of the most powerful armor sets in the game, especially when facing Guardians or other enemies that use ancient technology. The set consists of three pieces: the Ancient Helm, Ancient Cuirass, and Ancient Greaves. Each piece can be upgraded up to four times, with each upgrade requiring increasingly rare materials. Here is a detailed explanation of the mechanics, strategies, and tips for upgrading the Ancient Armor set.

First, you need to acquire the Ancient Armor set. You can purchase the set from the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab, which is located in the northeastern part of the map. To unlock the ability to buy the armor, you must complete the "Robbie's Research" side quest. This quest involves lighting the furnace at the lab using a blue flame, which can be found at the nearby ancient furnace. Once the lab is operational, you can buy the Ancient Armor set for 2,000 rupees per piece, totaling 6,000 rupees for the full set.

Once you have the armor, the next step is to upgrade it. To do this, you must visit a Great Fairy Fountain. There are four Great Fairy Fountains in the game, and each one requires a certain amount of rupees to unlock. The first fountain costs 100 rupees, the second 500 rupees, the third 1,000 rupees, and the fourth 10,000 rupees. Each fountain allows you to upgrade your armor to a higher level, with the fourth fountain enabling the maximum upgrade level.

The materials required for upgrading the Ancient Armor set are primarily ancient materials, which can be obtained by defeating Guardians or exploring shrines. Here is a breakdown of the materials needed for each upgrade level:

Level 1: Ancient Screw (5 per piece)
Level 2: Ancient Spring (5 per piece)
Level 3: Ancient Gear (5 per piece)
Level 4: Ancient Core (2 per piece) and Giant Ancient Core (1 per piece)

To gather these materials, you will need to defeat Guardians, which can be found in various locations across Hyrule, such as the Central Hyrule region or the Akkala region. Guardians come in different forms, including decayed Guardians, Guardian Stalkers, and Guardian Skywatchers. Each type of Guardian drops different materials, with the more powerful Guardians dropping rarer items like Ancient Cores and Giant Ancient Cores.

One effective strategy for farming Guardian materials is to use the Master Sword or ancient weapons, which deal extra damage to Guardians. Additionally, using the Ancient Armor set itself provides an attack boost against Guardians, making it easier to defeat them. Another tip is to use the Stasis+ rune to freeze Guardians temporarily, giving you a chance to aim for their weak points, such as their eye or legs.

When upgrading the armor, it is important to prioritize which pieces to upgrade first. Since the Ancient Armor set provides an attack boost when wearing the full set, it is generally a good idea to upgrade all three pieces evenly. However, if you are short on materials, you might want to focus on upgrading the Ancient Cuirass first, as it provides the most defense.

One common mistake to avoid is wasting materials on lower-level upgrades before you have enough for the higher levels. Since the higher-level upgrades require rare materials like Ancient Cores and Giant Ancient Cores, it is important to save these materials until you can fully upgrade the armor. Additionally, make sure to visit the correct Great Fairy Fountain for the upgrade level you want. For example, if you want to upgrade your armor to level 4, you will need to unlock the fourth Great Fairy Fountain, which requires 10,000 rupees.

An advanced technique for optimizing your material farming is to use the Travel Medallion, which allows you to set a fast travel point near a Guardian-rich area. This way, you can quickly return to the area after each blood moon to farm more materials. Another optimization is to use the Sheikah Sensor+ to track Guardians, making it easier to locate them.

In summary, upgrading the Ancient Armor set in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild requires careful planning and resource management. By gathering the necessary materials, visiting the appropriate Great Fairy Fountain, and using effective strategies for defeating Guardians, you can fully upgrade the Ancient Armor set and gain a significant advantage in combat. Remember to prioritize your upgrades, save rare materials for higher levels, and use advanced techniques to optimize your farming efforts. With the fully upgraded Ancient Armor set, you will be well-equipped to take on even the toughest enemies in Hyrule.