Are the Great Fairy Fountains Worth It? A Deep Dive into Tears of the Kingdom’s Upgrades
Absolutely, yes, the Great Fairy Fountains in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom are overwhelmingly worth the effort. While unlocking and utilizing them requires a considerable investment of rupees and materials, the significant boost they provide to your armor makes them essential for tackling the game’s more challenging encounters. The ability to substantially increase your defense and, for certain armor sets, unlock powerful set bonuses is transformative, allowing you to survive longer and deal more damage. To forgo the use of the Great Fairies is to severely limit your potential in Hyrule.
The Power of the Great Fairies
How They Work
The core function of the Great Fairy Fountains is to upgrade your armor. Each piece of armor can be enhanced up to four times, with each enhancement increasing its defense stat. This is achieved by providing the Great Fairy with specific materials alongside a small donation. The first upgrade is the easiest, with subsequent upgrades demanding rarer and more numerous resources.
The Shared Power
Interestingly, the power of the Great Fairies is interconnected. As you unlock more Fairy Fountains, their shared capabilities expand, allowing each of them to upgrade your armor to higher levels. Therefore, while you might start with basic upgrades from the first Fairy you encounter, unlocking all four Fountains ultimately grants access to the full potential of armor upgrades, reaching the maximum possible stat boosts.
Beyond Defense
It’s also crucial to remember that upgrading your armor isn’t just about defense. Certain armor sets, when fully upgraded, will unlock unique set bonuses. These can range from increased attack power to elemental resistance or even faster climbing speed. These bonuses greatly enhance specific playstyles, opening up a whole new layer of tactical possibilities. The Great Fairies are pivotal to reaching these powerful enhancements.
The Cost of Power: Rupees and Materials
It’s not all sunshine and rainbows though. Accessing the Great Fairy Fountains and upgrading your armor does come with a price. The most obvious hurdle is the monetary cost, with each fairy requiring a progressively larger donation for their services. The first Fairy asks for 100 rupees, while the second demands 500, the third 1,000, and the fourth a whopping 10,000 rupees.
Material Matters
The donations are only half the story. Each armor upgrade demands a variety of materials, often requiring you to hunt specific enemies or gather resources from the environment. Depending on the piece of armor and the desired upgrade level, you could be looking for anything from common monster parts to rare gemstones and even powerful creature remains. This makes preparation essential. You’ll need to explore, fight, and scavenge to obtain these valuable materials.
Making the Most of the Great Fairies
The investment in both rupees and time to unlock and utilise the Great Fairy Fountains is considerable, but there are techniques to mitigate the grind.
Early Investment
Focus on unlocking the first two Fountains early in your adventure. While the fourth will cost you a steep 10,000 rupees, the increased defense provided by the first few upgrades makes a difference immediately. It makes those early battles a bit more survivable.
Efficient Farming
Learn where specific monsters or resources spawn. This will reduce the amount of aimless exploration and let you farm the needed materials quickly. Locations like the South Tabantha Snowfield are perfect for quickly acquiring high-quality meat to sell for rupees.
Prioritize Armor
Focus on upgrading armor sets that complement your playstyle or that give you the set bonus you need. It’s not necessary to fully upgrade every piece of armor early on. Start with the ones that will immediately improve your exploration or combat capabilities.
The Long-Term Benefits
Remember that the boost in durability and the bonuses that upgrading your armor provides pays dividends throughout the game. With increased defense and enhanced abilities, you’ll find yourself making less use of food, potions, and other resources for healing or defense.
Conclusion: An Essential Component of Tears of the Kingdom
Ultimately, the Great Fairy Fountains are crucial for anyone who intends to see Tears of the Kingdom through to its conclusion. The cost in rupees and materials is considerable, but the return on investment, in terms of increased defense, armor set bonuses, and a better overall gameplay experience, is simply too good to pass up. The Great Fairies are not just a convenient way to improve your armor; they’re an essential part of your journey through Hyrule.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Great Fairy Fountains
1. What happens when you unlock all the Great Fairy Fountains?
When you unlock all four Great Fairy Fountains, they share their power, allowing you to fully upgrade any piece of armor to its maximum level. This includes unlocking the full potential of set bonuses for specific armor sets.
2. Does it matter which Great Fairy Fountain I go to for upgrades?
Once all the Great Fairy Fountains are unlocked, it doesn’t matter which one you visit. They all have access to the same upgrade potential.
3. How much does each Great Fairy cost to unlock?
The cost of unlocking the Great Fairy Fountains increases progressively: 100 rupees for the first, 500 for the second, 1,000 for the third, and 10,000 for the fourth.
4. Should I give rupees to the fairy?
You must give rupees to each Great Fairy to unlock the ability to upgrade your armor. Each fairy will only ask for a one-time donation.
5. What do the different Great Fairy Fountains do?
The Great Fairy Fountains allow you to upgrade your armor by providing the Great Fairy with specific materials. These upgrades increase your defense and, for certain armor sets, unlock unique set bonuses.
6. What happens if you give the Great Fairy 100 rupees?
Giving the first Great Fairy 100 rupees unlocks her Fountain, enabling her to upgrade your armor in exchange for the required materials.
7. What is the point of the Great Fairy Fountain?
The main purpose of the Great Fairy Fountains is to upgrade your armor, increasing its defense and unlocking set bonuses. They are also crucial for late-game content and combat.
8. How many times can a Great Fairy upgrade my armor?
Each piece of armor can be upgraded up to four times, provided you have unlocked all the Great Fairy Fountains and have the necessary materials.
9. Is the Horse God a Great Fairy?
No, the Horse God, Malanya, is not a Great Fairy. She offers the service of reviving your fallen horses for a one-time fee of 1,000 rupees.
10. How do I get 10,000 rupees quickly?
One of the best ways to amass rupees quickly is by hunting animals in the South Tabantha Snowfield. The quality meats dropped by these animals can be sold for a significant profit.
11. Should I unlock all the Great Fairy Fountains?
Yes, unlocking all the Great Fairy Fountains is highly recommended. It enables you to upgrade your armor to its maximum potential, crucial for tackling the game’s harder challenges.
12. Why does Great Fairy Tera cough?
The Great Fairy Tera occasionally coughs after using a Gerudo greeting, claiming it’s due to swallowing water or setting a deep-diving record. It’s a quirky part of her character.
13. How do I get the max amount of fairies?
You can hold fairies in your inventory to trick the system. Hold fairies so that you have less than three in your inventory (do not release them) and more should spawn.
14. What is the most valuable rupee in Zelda?
While the value varies by game, the Silver Rupee, typically worth 200 rupees, is often among the most valuable.
15. What do I get for collecting all stray fairies?
In some Zelda games, collecting all stray fairies, like the ones in Majora’s Mask, may reward you with unique items such as the Great Fairy Sword.