Do Guardian Weapons Do More Damage to Ganon? The Definitive Answer
Yes, Guardian weapons absolutely do deal significantly more damage to Ganon and his blight forms in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This isn’t just a minor increase; it’s a crucial damage multiplier that can dramatically speed up your battles against Hyrule’s ultimate threat. The mechanics behind this boost are tied to the game’s unique combat system and the lore surrounding ancient technology. Let’s dive into the specifics and explore why these weapons are so effective.
Understanding the Damage Multiplier
The game implements a system where certain weapons are designed to be particularly effective against specific enemy types. This is crucial for strategizing your approach, especially when facing difficult encounters. In the case of Guardian and Ancient weapons, they have a built-in advantage against enemies constructed from ancient technology, including Guardians, the Blight Ganons, and the final boss himself, Calamity Ganon.
Guardian weapons, often dropped by Guardian enemies, receive a 30% damage bonus against these types of foes. An example of this is a Guardian Sword++ with 40 attack power effectively dealing 52 damage to guardians, including Ganon’s blight forms. This bonus is a significant boost that makes a noticeable difference during combat.
Ancient weapons, crafted at the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab, enjoy an even higher advantage. They receive a 50% damage bonus against Guardians and Blights. So an Ancient Short Sword with 40 attack power, for example, will deal 60 damage against these enemies. Furthermore, it’s essential to understand that this is just the base bonus.
The Power of Ancient Proficiency
The power of Ancient weapons against Ganon doesn’t stop with their inherent damage boost. The Ancient Armor set, when upgraded to level two (Ancient Proficiency), further increases the damage of these weapons by a substantial 80%. This multiplicative effect is incredibly potent.
Consider this: an Ancient Short Sword has a base attack of 40. Against a Guardian/Blight it deals 60 damage with just the weapon’s inherent bonus. When paired with the Ancient Armor set’s Ancient Proficiency, the sword deals 108 damage per hit! This dramatically outclasses many other weapons in the game, proving that it is truly worth investing in this armor and these weapons for these specific battles.
A Comparison to the Master Sword
The Master Sword is often considered the legendary weapon against Ganon, and while it does offer the unique benefit of not breaking when used against him, it doesn’t receive this same level of damage boost. While the Master Sword has an advantage in that it does not break when used against Ganon, it’s base damage of 30 (up to 60 in certain areas and around specific enemies) is lower than a boosted Ancient Short Sword. While the Master Sword doubles the damage against Ganon, the Ancient Short Sword with the ancient armor and ancient proficiency will still deliver significantly higher base damage. This is essential to remember while preparing for your final battle with Calamity Ganon. The Master Sword is a great choice, but there are other strong options available.
Strategic Implications
Using Guardian and Ancient weapons with the Ancient armor significantly alters your approach when facing Ganon. This combo allows you to inflict massive damage, shortening battles and making them less risky. Instead of relying solely on the Master Sword and raw attack power, incorporating these ancient tools into your arsenal is key to maximizing your damage potential and efficiently defeating Ganon and his Blight forms.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions (FAQs) to further clarify the topic and provide valuable insights:
1. Do Guardian weapons do extra damage to all guardian enemies?
Yes, Guardian weapons get a 30% damage bonus against all guardian-type enemies, including Stalkers, Scouts, and Blight Ganons.
2. Do Ancient weapons do more damage than Guardian weapons to guardians?
Yes, Ancient weapons have a higher base bonus of 50% damage against guardian enemies, compared to the 30% bonus of Guardian weapons.
3. What is the most powerful weapon against Ganon?
While the Master Sword is a very strong option, and does double damage while being unbreakable against Ganon, the most powerful consistent weapon against Ganon when paired with the Ancient Armor Set is the Ancient Short Sword or other Ancient Weapons because of the 80% damage boost they gain from ancient proficiency.
4. Does the Ancient Proficiency bonus affect the Master Sword?
No, the Ancient Proficiency set bonus from the Ancient Armor only applies to Ancient weapons crafted at the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab and not the Master Sword.
5. What is the best weapon for Ganon other than the Master Sword?
Ancient weapons, particularly when paired with the Ancient Armor set and its Ancient Proficiency bonus, are excellent choices when a player doesn’t want to use the Master Sword. High attack power weapons found in Hyrule Castle are also effective.
6. Does Guardian armor help against Ganon?
Yes, Guardian Armor does provide good defense, but it doesn’t offer a direct damage boost against Ganon. The Ancient Armor set is better for offensive boosts against Ganon and other Ancient Enemies.
7. Are ancient arrows good against Ganon?
Ancient Arrows are effective against Ganon, but it’s the Ancient Bow that gets the 50% bonus. Ancient Arrows do a flat +20 damage to whatever bow you are using. The Ancient Armor’s Ancient Proficiency boost also applies to the Ancient Bow, making the combination highly effective.
8. Can Ganon be defeated without the Master Sword?
Yes, Ganon can absolutely be defeated without the Master Sword. Many players and speedrunners often utilize readily available weapons found in Hyrule Castle, Ancient weapons, and various bows.
9. Does the Master Sword break during the final battle with Ganon?
No, the Master Sword does not break during the final battle with Ganon. Its durability is infinite in this specific encounter.
10. What is the hardest Ganon Blight to fight?
Thunderblight Ganon is generally considered the most challenging of the Ganon Blights due to his quick movements, lightning attacks, and ability to knock weapons out of Link’s hands.
11. Does Ganon get stronger during a Blood Moon?
Yes, lore indicates that Ganon’s power does temporarily and periodically increase during a Blood Moon, influencing the resurgence of enemies.
12. What is the strongest Guardian weapon?
The Ancient Battle Axe++ is generally considered the strongest Guardian weapon, dealing high base damage. However, the Ancient weapons gain more potential damage from Ancient Proficiency, thus making them ideal weapons against Guardians and Blights.
13. Do Ancient Arrows instantly kill any enemy?
Ancient Arrows do not instantly kill all enemies. They will instantly kill lower tier enemies like guardians, however, they do not instantly kill bosses.
14. What is the maximum damage a weapon can deal in Breath of the Wild?
With a high tier Ancient weapon, the Ancient armor set with proficiency, and food buffs, you can reach extremely high damage numbers. A fully optimized build is needed to reach absolute max damage.
15. Is it always best to use the Master Sword against Ganon?
While the Master Sword is a viable weapon with its unlimited durability against Ganon, it is not always the “best” choice. Ancient weapons, when combined with the Ancient Armor set, provide superior damage output due to the various damage multipliers they receive against Ganon, making them often more effective in the final battle.
Conclusion
Understanding the damage mechanics in Breath of the Wild, especially against Ganon, is crucial for maximizing your effectiveness in combat. Guardian and Ancient weapons, particularly when utilized with the Ancient Proficiency bonus, significantly increase the damage they inflict on Ganon and his blight forms. This knowledge, combined with strategic gameplay, is key to conquering Hyrule’s greatest challenge. So gear up, prepare your arsenal, and face Ganon with the knowledge that you can overcome his power with the right tools and strategy.