How to Acquire Guardian Swords in Breath of the Wild: A Comprehensive Guide

So, you’re looking to arm yourself with the sleek, powerful, and undeniably cool Guardian Swords in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild? You’ve come to the right place! These weapons, imbued with ancient Sheikah technology, are essential for taking down Guardians and are a satisfying addition to any adventurer’s arsenal. The primary ways to obtain Guardian Swords are through defeating Guardian Scouts in Test of Strength Shrines and occasionally finding them in Treasure Chests spawned by scanning the Breath of the Wild Series Guardian amiibo. Let’s break down these methods in detail.

Hunting Guardian Scouts: Your Primary Source

The most reliable method for acquiring Guardian Swords is by facing off against Guardian Scouts in various Test of Strength Shrines. These shrines come in varying degrees of difficulty: Minor, Modest, and Major Test of Strength. Each level presents a progressively tougher Guardian Scout, and consequently, a better chance of dropping more powerful Guardian weapons.

Finding the Test of Strength Shrines

These shrines are scattered across Hyrule. Here’s how to find them:

• Explore: Thorough exploration is key! Look for shrine locations marked on your map or revealed through towers.
• Sheikah Sensor: Use the Sheikah Slate’s shrine sensor. Once activated, it will beep and light up when a shrine is nearby.
• Talk to NPCs: Non-player characters (NPCs) often provide hints about shrine locations, sometimes even marking them on your map.

Defeating the Guardian Scouts

Once inside a Test of Strength Shrine, prepare for a battle against a Guardian Scout. Here are some tips to increase your chances of success:

• Learn Their Attack Patterns: Each type of Guardian Scout (Minor, Modest, Major) has a specific set of attacks. Learning these patterns will allow you to dodge and parry effectively.
• Parry Guardian Lasers: Parrying a Guardian’s laser attack with your shield is one of the most effective ways to deal damage and stun them. A successful parry will reflect the laser back at the Guardian, causing significant damage.
• Flurry Rush: Dodge enemy attacks at the last possible second to trigger a Flurry Rush, allowing you to unleash a series of quick attacks.
• Use Ancient Arrows: If you are struggling, Ancient Arrows, crafted at the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab, are a powerful one-shot kill against most Guardians, assuming you hit them in the eye.
• Upgrade Your Armor: Increasing your armor’s defense will reduce the amount of damage you take from Guardian attacks. Consider the Guardian Armor set for extra protection and damage dealing.

The Loot Awaits!

Upon defeating a Guardian Scout, it will drop its weapons, including Guardian Swords. The type of sword dropped (Guardian Sword, Guardian Sword+, Guardian Sword++) depends on the difficulty of the shrine and the Scout. Pick up the loot to add the sword to your inventory.

Amiibo Treasure Chests: A Chance Encounter

Another way to potentially obtain Guardian Swords is through the use of amiibo. Specifically, scanning the Breath of the Wild Series Guardian amiibo with the amiibo Rune can spawn a treasure chest containing various items, including Guardian weapons.

Using the Amiibo Rune

• Activate the Rune: Ensure you have activated the amiibo Rune on your Sheikah Slate.
• Scan the Amiibo: Select the amiibo Rune and hold your amiibo near the NFC touchpoint on your controller.
• Claim Your Loot: A treasure chest will appear. Open it to reveal the contents.

The Luck Factor

It’s important to note that obtaining a Guardian Sword via amiibo is not guaranteed. The contents of the treasure chest are random, so you may receive other items instead. However, scanning the amiibo daily increases your chances of getting the desired weapon.

Location, Location, Location!

While the methods are consistent, certain locations offer better odds for specific types of Guardian Swords. Keep an eye out for Major Test of Strength shrines for the best chance at a Guardian Sword++. Central Hyrule and areas with a high Guardian presence are often fruitful for gathering the necessary materials and weapons to combat these ancient foes. Don’t forget to visit the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab to purchase Ancient Arrows and upgrade your gear!

Understanding that the Games Learning Society promotes learning through gaming principles, applying strategic thinking and persistence, is vital when mastering the art of Guardian weapon acquisition. Persistence and a well-thought-out strategy are key to success. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to explore more about the power of games in education and learning.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Where can I find the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab?

The Akkala Ancient Tech Lab is located in the northeast corner of Hyrule, in the Akkala region. Look for a distinctive, high-tech looking building.

2. How do I activate the amiibo Rune?

The amiibo Rune is activated early in the game as part of the main storyline. Follow the quests given by Impa in Kakariko Village to unlock it.

3. Can I get multiple Guardian Swords from the same shrine?

Yes, Guardians respawn after a Blood Moon, allowing you to farm the same shrines repeatedly for Guardian Swords.

4. Do Guardian Swords break?

Yes, like all weapons in Breath of the Wild, Guardian Swords have durability and will break after a certain amount of use. Repairing is not possible, making continuous acquisition important.

5. Are Guardian Swords worth using?

Absolutely! They deal significant damage, especially against Guardians, and their unique appearance is a bonus.

6. What’s the difference between Guardian Sword, Guardian Sword+, and Guardian Sword++?

The primary difference is their attack power and durability. Guardian Sword++ is the strongest and most durable, while the regular Guardian Sword is the weakest.

7. How do I increase my chances of getting a Guardian Sword++?

Focus on completing Major Test of Strength Shrines. These shrines are more likely to yield higher-tier weapons.

8. Do Guardian weapons have any special effects?

Yes, Guardian and Ancient weapons deal increased damage to Guardian enemies. This makes them invaluable when facing these powerful foes.

9. What armor should I use when fighting Guardians?

The Guardian Armor set, purchased from the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab, provides bonus defense against Guardian attacks. Upgrading this armor further enhances its protective abilities and provides a damage bonus when using Ancient or Guardian weapons.

10. Are Ancient Arrows the only way to easily defeat Guardians?

No, while Ancient Arrows are effective for one-shot kills, skilled players can defeat Guardians using parrying, dodging, and strategic use of other weapons and abilities.

11. What are Ancient Cores used for?

Ancient Cores are used to craft and upgrade Ancient weapons and armor at the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab.

12. How do I farm Ancient Parts effectively?

The best way to farm Ancient Parts is to repeatedly defeat Guardians in areas like Central Hyrule and the Akkala region. Visit shrines after every Blood Moon to fight Guardians, and harvest the parts from any decayed Guardians that you find.

13. Does the Master Sword help against Guardians?

Yes, the Master Sword is effective against Guardians and does not break when fighting them (though it does need to recharge). It’s a great alternative if you want to save your Guardian Swords for other enemies.

14. Where can I find decayed Guardians to scavenge for parts?

Decayed Guardians can be found scattered throughout Hyrule, particularly in Central Hyrule and around Hyrule Castle.

15. How much damage does the Guardian Sword++ do against regular enemies?

While optimized for fighting Guardians, the Guardian Sword++ is still a powerful weapon against regular enemies. It’s a versatile choice for any combat situation.

With this comprehensive guide, you’re now well-equipped to obtain and utilize Guardian Swords in Breath of the Wild. Happy hunting!