BOTW Great Fairy: Find & Upgrade Armor in Breath of the Wild

BOTW Great Fairy: Find & Upgrade Armor in Breath of the Wild

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Introduction

If you’ve spent time exploring Hyrule in Zelda Breath of the Wild, you’ve probably heard of the botw great fairy and the magical services she offers. These majestic sprites are the key to powerful armor upgrades, improved set bonuses, and the satisfaction of turning a humble chest piece into an essential part of your late-game build. This guide walks you through everything: how to find Great Fairy Fountain spots, how to unlock Great Fairy upgrades, what materials you’ll need, and which armor sets are worth upgrading.

What Is a Great Fairy in Breath of the Wild?

Great Fairies are larger, more mysterious versions of the regular fairies that heal Link. In Breath of the Wild, each Great Fairy occupies a Great Fairy Fountain and provides services that go beyond healing. Once awakened, a Great Fairy can:

  • Upgrade armor pieces to increase defense.
  • Unlock or enhance armor set bonuses in some cases.
  • Offer lore-rich dialogue that enhances the player’s sense of immersion.

Think of the Great Fairy as both a mechanic and a reward for exploration: many of the Great Fairy locations are tucked away behind puzzles, elevation, or quests. Finding them turns wandering into purposeful progression.

How to Find Every Great Fairy: Locations and How to Get There

One of the most satisfying aspects of locating a Great Fairy Fountain is the exploration involved. There are five Great Fairy locations in the base Breath of the Wild game (more with DLC in earlier console versions). Here are simple directions and tips for each:

1. Great Fairy near Kakariko Village

  • Located north of Kakariko Village, near a waterfall area.
  • Tip: Use stamina for climbing or glide from a nearby tower to reach the fountain easily.

2. Great Fairy in the Dueling Peaks region

  • Found on a cliff near East and West Dueling Peaks.
  • Tip: Follow the small path that winds up the slope; be ready for a short climb and a potential guardian sighting on the way.

3. Great Fairy on the Great Plateau

  • Accessible early but locked until you resurrect her. Easy to reach from the Great Plateau Tower.
  • Tip: Consider this your first Great Fairy if you want early defense boosts.

4. Great Fairy in the Akkala region

  • Located on a tall cliff; the Akkala tech lab area’s hills make for dramatic views on the way.
  • Tip: Paraglide from the Akkala Stable for a safe arrival.

5. Great Fairy in the Faron region

  • Hidden in lush jungle terrain—watch for slippery climbing surfaces and weather.
  • Tip: Bring lots of stamina if you expect to climb in the rain.

These are the canonical Great Fairy locations in the base game. Each plays host to the same mechanic: you must bring rupees to awaken the Great Fairy the first time, though the price rises with each successive awakening.

How to Unlock and Awaken a Great Fairy

Finding the fairy is only half the fun; you must also meet the cost to awaken her. Here’s how the unlocking process works and what to expect:

  • Initial cost: The first awakening is inexpensive but not free. Bring a small rupee sum and some patience.
  • Progressive payment: Each subsequent Great Fairy requires a larger rupee payment to awaken. Expect the cost to grow, so budget accordingly.
  • No materials required to awaken: Awakening only costs rupees. Materials are reserved for armor upgrades.

Once awakened, the Great Fairy will offer her services every time you visit. She will also provide helpful commentary about your journey and may hint at armor or set bonuses worth pursuing.

How Great Fairies Handle Armor Upgrades

Now for the main attraction: upgrading armor. Great Fairy upgrades increase an armor piece’s defense rating and, in many cases, unlock or boost set bonuses. Here’s the step-by-step process and what impacts the upgrade cost.

  • Choose an armor piece: Any wearable armor you own can be upgraded, from humble cloth to powerful champion armor.
  • Pay rupees and materials: Upgrades require a rupee cost plus specific fairy upgrade materials such as gemstones, monster parts, or special items.
  • Multiple levels: Most armor can be improved multiple times (typically up to +4 levels). Each level raises defense and may improve bonuses.

Example: Upgrading the Soldier’s Armor to its max level often requires multiple sapphires and rare monster parts, so plan farming routes before you commit rupees.

Materials and Farming Tips for Armor Upgrades

Efficiently collecting fairy upgrade materials is crucial to making the most of Great Fairy services. Below are practical tips and farming routes that will save time and rupees.

Common materials and where to find them

  • Gemstones (topaz, ruby, sapphire): Mine ore deposits in mountainous areas. Blood Moon respawns them, so camp near known veins.
  • Monster parts: Hunt specific enemies like Lizalfos, Moblins, and Lynels. Use weapon perks and stealth to reduce damage taken during farming.
  • Special drops (like dragons or rare beasts): These drops are seasonal or location-specific; consult environmental cues—for example, dragons appear in remote highlands at night.

Farming route tips

  • Set a circular route that hits ore nodes, mob camps, and chests. Fast travel back to a shrine when inventory or rupees get low.
  • Use amiibo (if available) or shield surf to speed up ground traversal.
  • Prioritize gathering materials for a single set you intend to upgrade fully before branching out.

Which Armor Sets Are Worth Upgrading?

Not all armor upgrades are created equal. Below are some armor sets that consistently provide high value after Great Fairy upgrades, with reasons and usage recommendations.

1. Hylian Set

  • Balanced defense and easy-to-find components make this a great starter set to max out at the Great Fairy Fountain.
  • Good for players who prefer sword-and-shield builds early on.

2. Soldier/Ton family sets

  • High base defense—becomes a late-game staple when fully upgraded.
  • Excellent when paired with high-attack weapons, allowing you to survive heavy hits.

3. Climbing/Bronze/Stealth sets for utility builds

  • Improving mobility and exploration-oriented bonuses pays off when scaled with upgrades.
  • Consider upgrading the Climbing Set for mountain-heavy playthroughs.

4. Set-specific bests (e.g., Snowquill, Flamebreaker)

  • These are niche but powerful when matched to environments, and upgrading them turns situational armor into indispensable tools for survival.

Tip: If you’re planning to tackle Divine Beasts, Champions’ Tunic, or late-game bosses, prioritize armor that complements your combat style more than just defense numbers.

Gameplay Examples: Optimizing Armor with Great Fairy Upgrades

Here are two concrete examples showing how Great Fairy upgrades changed a player’s experience in Breath of the Wild.

Example 1: Stealth Archer Build

  • Base gear: Stealth Mask, Stealth Chest, Stealth Tights.
  • Goal: Maximize sneak attack effectiveness and critical hits from afar.
  • Strategy: Upgrade the entire Stealth Set using silent princesses and monster parts. Result: Increased stealth duration and higher damage multipliers during stealth attacks.

Example 2: Tanky Melee Build

  • Base gear: Soldier’s Helm, Soldier’s Armor, Soldier’s Greaves.
  • Goal: Survive powerful hits while dishing out consistent melee damage.
  • Strategy: Farm gemstones and Moblin Guts, then upgrade to the max level. Result: Significant reduction in death frequency during Lynel fights and Divine Beast encounters.

Practical Tips and Best Practices

  • Plan upgrades: Focus on one or two full sets rather than upgrading every piece. This gives better set bonuses and a higher return on rupee investment.
  • Check prices: Rupee costs for the Great Fairy awakenings and armor upgrades can add up. Always carry extra rupees or valuable items to sell.
  • Use Blood Moons: Let ore and monsters respawn naturally during a Blood Moon to restock materials efficiently.
  • Combine buffs: Use cooking and elixirs to supplement defense or stealth while you farm materials.
  • Save before big upgrades: If you like experimenting, save before you upgrade so you can revert to a different strategy if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How many Great Fairies are there in botw great fairy?

A1: In the base Breath of the Wild game there are five Great Fairy locations. Each unlocks the same upgrade mechanic, and you can awaken each Great Fairy separately, with the awakening cost increasing for every fairy you revive.

Q2: What materials do Great Fairies require for armor upgrades?

A2: Great Fairies require various materials depending on the armor piece: gemstones (ruby, sapphire, topaz), monster parts (Moblins, Bokoblins, Lizalfos), and rare items like dragon parts or special beast drops. The recipe list is specific to each armor set and upgrade level.

Q3: Do Great Fairy upgrades improve armor set bonuses?

A3: Yes, upgrading can unlock and strengthen some armor set bonuses. However, not every armor set changes bonus behavior with upgrades. Upgraded defense and increased individual piece stats are universal benefits.

Q4: Can I farm materials faster with any specific tricks?

A4: Efficient farming includes mapping a circular route for ore and monsters, using Blood Moons to respawn resources, and prioritizing a single set to cut down on scattered material requirements. Amiibo and vendor chests can provide supplemental resources depending on your setup.

Q5: Is it better to upgrade a single piece or full set first?

A5: Upgrading a full set is generally better, because set bonuses are often more impactful than the incremental defense of a single piece. Prioritize pieces that complete a set bonus or that fit your core playstyle (tank, stealth, heat/cold resistance).

Conclusion

The botw great fairy is one of Breath of the Wild’s most rewarding mechanics—a blend of exploration, resource management, and strategic progression. Finding Great Fairy Fountains, awakening the fairies, and deciding which armor to upgrade are all meaningful choices that shape how you experience Hyrule. Use the routes and farming tips above to gather the right fairy upgrade materials, prioritize sets that match your playstyle, and remember: a single well-upgraded armor set will often outperform a scattered collection of half-improved pieces. Go forth, awaken the fairies, and let your upgraded armor carry you through the toughest fights in Breath of the Wild.