How Much Does Each Fairy Fountain Cost in Zelda?
The allure of Great Fairy Fountains in The Legend of Zelda series, particularly in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, lies in their ability to significantly enhance Link’s gear. These mystical locations, presided over by powerful fairies, offer armor upgrades that can be the difference between life and death in Hyrule. But unlocking their power comes at a price. So, how much does each fairy fountain actually cost? Here’s the breakdown:
- First Great Fairy Fountain: 100 Rupees
- Second Great Fairy Fountain: 500 Rupees
- Third Great Fairy Fountain: 1,000 Rupees
- Fourth Great Fairy Fountain: 10,000 Rupees
This escalating cost makes preparing to unlock all the fountains a crucial part of your adventure. The final fountain, demanding a hefty 10,000 Rupees, is the most challenging to access financially, requiring players to actively engage in gathering resources and selling valuable items.
Unlocking the Power of Great Fairy Fountains
The cost is not just an arbitrary fee; it represents an investment in Link’s survivability. Each fairy fountain you unlock allows for progressively stronger armor upgrades, enhancing your defense against enemy attacks and, for some sets, unlocking valuable armor set bonuses. The fairies share their power, so unlocking each one amplifies the benefits of the previous ones. Thus, while 100 Rupees for the first fountain may seem minor, it’s the first step towards maximizing Link’s potential.
The Importance of Rupees in Zelda
The entire Legend of Zelda series relies on Rupees as the main currency. These gems of varying colors and value are how Link buys items, armor, and unlocks important services, including the fairies. Rupees can be found in a variety of locations; cutting grass, breaking rocks, defeating enemies, opening treasure chests, and completing side quests are some common methods of obtaining rupees. Understanding the rupee system is key to progression in the game and preparing for the cost of opening the fairy fountains.
Finding Rupees Effectively
The text highlights a particular effective method for accumulating the massive sum of rupees required to unlock the final fairy fountain, by hunting prime meat. The South Tabantha Snowfield, near the Snowfield Stable, is mentioned as a particularly good area for this as you can amass a large collection of meat to cook and sell for a substantial profit. By utilizing locations like this, players can amass 10,000 Rupees in about an hour.
Why The Cost Is Worth It
While the cost of the fourth fairy fountain might seem daunting, the enhanced armor that it allows is crucial for late-game progression. The ability to upgrade armor to its maximum potential significantly increases Link’s resistance to damage, allowing him to take on more formidable opponents and explore more dangerous areas of Hyrule. The armor set bonuses also provide additional benefits, that can radically improve the way that players choose to play the game.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Great Fairy Fountains
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding fairy fountains in the game, to provide additional context and answers to more specific queries.
1. How many Great Fairy Fountains are there in total?
There are a total of four Great Fairy Fountains dedicated to armor upgrades in both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. However, there is also an additional Great Horse Fairy Fountain that is separate from these four and does not offer armor upgrades.
2. Is there a fifth Great Fairy Fountain that does armor upgrades?
No, the fifth Great Fairy Fountain, the Great Horse Fairy Fountain, is located at Bloodleaf Lake and is for reviving horses. It does not provide any armor-upgrading services.
3. Where can I find the first Great Fairy Fountain?
The first Great Fairy Fountain of Tera is located near the Lucky Clover Gazette building, east of Rito Village, in the Hebra region.
4. How do I unlock the second Great Fairy Fountain?
Great Fairy Mija is located to the northeast, directly east of Akkala Tower. You will need to glide over Lake Akkala to reach her in a forest on the cliffside. Her initial cost will be 500 Rupees if she is the second fountain you unlock.
5. Can I unlock the Great Fairy Fountains in any order?
Yes, you can unlock the four Great Fairy Fountains in any order, as long as you have the required Rupees for each. The price will always be dependent on the order that you have unlocked them in, costing 100 for the first, 500 for the second, 1000 for the third and 10,000 for the fourth.
6. What is the maximum number of fairies Link can hold in his inventory?
Link can hold a maximum of four fairies in his inventory at one time.
7. How can I get more fairies if my inventory is full?
To get more fairies to spawn, hold a fairy in your hands so you have less than four in your inventory. This should allow more fairies to spawn in the area.
8. Besides armor upgrades, is there any other benefit to donating to the fairies?
In some games, fairies may give you additional benefits like bottles for your donations. It also appears in some games the fairies will spawn more frequently as you donate more.
9. How much does Great Fairy Mija cost, specifically?
The amount Mija will cost depends on the number of Great Fairies you have previously awoken. If she is your first, second, third or fourth Great Fairy, she will require a payment of 100, 500, 1000, or 10,000 Rupees respectively.
10. What happens when you fully unlock all four Great Fairy Fountains?
You gain the ability to have your armor upgraded to the maximum level. Each additional Great Fairy that is restored will amplify the effectiveness of the previous ones, as the fairies share their power between each other.
11. Do the fairy fountains require special side quests to unlock?
In Tears of the Kingdom, you often need to complete specific side adventures that involve the musician traveling with the Great Fairy to get them back in front of the fountains.
12. Is the fourth Great Fairy Fountain always more expensive than the others?
Yes, the fourth Great Fairy Fountain will always cost 10,000 Rupees, regardless of the order in which you unlock the others. This is the largest singular amount that you will need to pay to a Great Fairy.
13. What is the connection between Rupees and Rubies in Zelda?
Rupees were actually referred to as Rubies in the original English manual for the first Legend of Zelda game. The name was later changed to Rupees to better reflect their varied colors, as they are not always red. The name “Rupee” was chosen as it has a “cute sound” and it is similar to the word “Ruby”.
14. What is the significance of the color of the Rupees?
The color of a rupee signifies its worth. A green rupee is worth 1, a blue rupee is worth 5, and other colors exist with increasing values. Knowing the values of the different coloured rupees is important for planning how much you need to find.
15. Is there a way to get 100% completion in Zelda?
In Breath of the Wild, you achieve 100% by finishing the four Divine Beasts, completing all 120 Ancient Shrines, collecting all 900 Korok Seeds, and visiting every named location on the map. There is not a completion percentage displayed in Tears of the Kingdom but the same objectives are likely to be required.
Conclusion
Unlocking all four Great Fairy Fountains requires careful planning and resource management, but it is a vital step in fully empowering Link in both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. Knowing the costs upfront, especially the daunting 10,000 Rupees for the final fountain, allows you to adequately prepare for this key part of the game. By effectively using your time to gather rupees and sell valuable items and resources, you’ll eventually be able to unlock the power of all four fairies, maximizing your armor upgrades and ultimately making your adventure easier and more rewarding.