Should I Sell Diamonds in Zelda: Breath of the Wild? A Gem of a Dilemma!
The shimmering diamond, a coveted prize in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, presents a classic gamer’s quandary: to sell or not to sell? The straightforward answer, as any seasoned Hyrulean adventurer will tell you, is generally no, you shouldn’t sell diamonds in Breath of the Wild, unless you absolutely need the Rupees. While their selling price is enticing, their uses in crafting and upgrading are far more valuable in the long run.
Diamonds in Breath of the Wild aren’t just shiny trinkets; they are integral components for obtaining powerful items and enhancing your equipment. Understanding their crucial roles will help you make the most informed decision. The currency can secure the Hero of Hyrule with some game-changing armor, helpful ingredients, extra arrows, and more.
Diamond Uses in Breath of the Wild: More Than Just Rupees
Diamonds serve several key purposes, making them more valuable than their base selling price:
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Diamond Circlet: This headgear, crafted by Isha at Starlight Memories in Gerudo Town, provides Guardian Resist Up. It’s an excellent defense against Guardian attacks, crucial for tackling Ancient Shrines and battling Guardians in Hyrule Field.
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Champion Weapon Repairs: Perhaps the most significant use of diamonds is repairing the iconic weapons of the fallen Champions:
- Mipha’s Lightscale Trident
- Revali’s Great Eagle Bow
- Daruk’s Boulder Breaker
- Urbosa’s Scimitar of the Seven (and Daybreaker shield) These weapons are powerful and unique, and diamonds are required to restore them to their former glory should they break.
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Selling for Rupees: Diamonds can be sold to vendors for a decent amount of Rupees. Diamonds usually sell for 500 Rupees at normal shops. However, if you are in Tears of the Kingdom, sell diamonds to Ramella in Goron City to get the most money, as she pays 5,500 Rupees per batch of 10 diamonds.
The Strategic Approach: When to Sell and When to Hoard
While hoarding diamonds indefinitely isn’t always necessary, a strategic approach is essential.
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Early Game: In the early game, when Rupees are scarce, selling one or two diamonds might be necessary to purchase essential items like arrows, armor, or food. However, prioritize obtaining the Diamond Circlet and planning for Champion weapon repairs before splurging on non-essential items.
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Mid to Late Game: Once you’ve acquired the Diamond Circlet and repaired the Champion weapons (or have sufficient diamonds stockpiled for future repairs), selling excess diamonds becomes a more viable option. By this point, you should have established reliable methods for earning Rupees, minimizing your dependence on selling valuable resources.
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Consider Alternatives: Before selling diamonds, explore alternative money-making methods, such as:
- Cooking high-value meals: Combining rare meats like Gourmet Meat and Prime Meat creates skewers that sell for substantial Rupees.
- Hunting and selling animal parts: Regularly hunting animals can provide a steady stream of valuable materials.
- Completing side quests: Many side quests offer generous Rupee rewards.
- Farming rare ore deposits: Mining can be a valuable source of gems to sell.
The Psychology of the Hoarder: Why We Struggle to Sell
Gamers often fall into the “hoarder” mentality, clinging to valuable items “just in case.” While this instinct can be beneficial, it’s crucial to strike a balance. Ask yourself:
- Have I crafted the Diamond Circlet?
- Have I repaired all the Champion weapons?
- Do I have a sufficient stockpile of diamonds for future repairs?
- Do I have a reliable method for earning Rupees?
If the answer to most of these questions is “yes,” then selling excess diamonds is perfectly acceptable. Remember, Rupees are meant to be spent, enabling you to acquire better equipment and enhance your gameplay experience.
Don’t Forget about Tears of the Kingdom
Zelda’s adventures evolve. It’s worth noting that diamonds retain their value in Tears of the Kingdom. Gems are used to upgrade a variety of armor pieces, and it is thus wise to hold onto them when it is possible to do so. Players can get extra Rupees by selling stacks of Gems to Ramella in Tears of the Kingdom, and they should see what she is buying before offloading their Ores.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How do I get diamonds in Breath of the Wild?
Diamonds can be obtained through various methods:
- Mining ore deposits: Look for rare ore deposits in caves and mountains.
- Defeating Stone Taluses: These large, rocky enemies sometimes drop diamonds.
- Completing shrine quests: Some shrine quests offer diamonds as rewards.
- Opening treasure chests: Certain treasure chests throughout Hyrule contain diamonds.
- Giving Luminous Stones to Dondons: Giving Luminous Stones to Dondons in the Bronas Forest causes them to eat the stones and then ‘produce’ random ores sometime later, including Diamonds.
- Certain Chests, Shrine Reward Chests, or random Chest Rewards found in Caves (using Satori to hunt them down) may have Diamonds inside.
2. How much do diamonds sell for in Breath of the Wild?
Diamonds typically sell for 500 Rupees at most vendors. In Tears of the Kingdom they sell for 500 Rupees as well.
3. Are there any vendors who pay more for diamonds?
In Breath of the Wild, no, all vendors typically offer the same price for diamonds. But in Tears of the Kingdom, Diamonds usually sell for 500 Rupees at normal shops, but you should try and save them to sell diamonds to Ramella in Goron City to get the most money, as she pays 5,500 Rupees per batch of 10 diamonds.
4. What is the Diamond Circlet used for?
The Diamond Circlet provides Guardian Resist Up, reducing damage from Guardian attacks. It’s crafted by Isha at Starlight Memories in Gerudo Town and requires diamonds, luminous stones, and Rupees.
5. What Champion weapons require diamonds to repair?
The following Champion weapons require diamonds for repair:
- Mipha’s Lightscale Trident
- Revali’s Great Eagle Bow
- Daruk’s Boulder Breaker
- Urbosa’s Scimitar of the Seven (and Daybreaker shield)
6. Is the Diamond Circlet worth crafting?
Yes, the Diamond Circlet is highly valuable, especially for exploring areas with numerous Guardians. The Guardian Resist Up effect significantly reduces damage, making combat and exploration much easier.
7. What is the best way to earn Rupees in Breath of the Wild?
Several effective methods for earning Rupees include:
- Cooking high-value meals (using Gourmet Meat and Prime Meat)
- Hunting and selling animal parts
- Completing side quests
- Mining and selling gems
- Defeating enemies and selling their parts
8. Should I sell other gems besides diamonds?
Amber, Flint, Luminous Stone, Opal, and Zonaite, are the Ores that are needed in the largest quantities. Indeed, players will ultimately need hundreds of those Gems if they hope to fully upgrade every armor set in TotK, and they should try to plan accordingly.
9. What are Luminous Stones used for?
Luminous Stones are used to upgrade certain armor sets, particularly the Radiant Set, and can also be traded to Ledo in Zora’s Domain for diamonds. Giving Luminous Stones to Dondons in the Bronas Forest causes them to eat the stones and then ‘produce’ random ores sometime later, including Diamonds.
10. Are there any limited-time items I should prioritize over diamonds?
Not necessarily limited-time items, but prioritize obtaining the Diamond Circlet and repairing the Champion weapons before selling diamonds for Rupees. These items provide significant gameplay advantages.
11. Can I get the Champion weapons repaired anywhere else?
No, the Champion weapons can only be repaired by specific craftsmen: the Zora blacksmith for the Lightscale Trident, the Rito elder for the Great Eagle Bow, the Goron blacksmith for the Boulder Breaker, and the Gerudo weaponsmith for the Scimitar of the Seven and Daybreaker.
12. What is the most valuable item to sell in Breath of the Wild?
There is no single “most valuable” item, as the value depends on your current needs. However, high-value meals made with rare meats can fetch a significant amount of Rupees. Diamonds are a strong contender, but their crafting applications often outweigh their immediate monetary value.
13. Are diamonds used in any armor upgrades besides the Diamond Circlet?
No, diamonds are primarily used for crafting the Diamond Circlet and repairing Champion weapons. Other armor sets require different materials for upgrades.
14. Is it worth trading beetles to Beedle?
The final way to use Energetic Rhino Beetles is to trade them to Beedle. If Link has any beetle in his inventory, then Beedle will offer to trade it for a meal or an elixir. Since Energetic Rhino Beetles are so rare, it’s not recommended to do this. However, if players want a free elixir, then trade away.
15. Do diamonds respawn in ore deposits?
Yes, ore deposits, including those containing diamonds, will respawn after a certain in-game time has passed. The exact respawn time is influenced by the Blood Moon event.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the decision to sell diamonds in Breath of the Wild depends on your individual needs and progress. Early in the game, selling one or two might be necessary for survival. However, prioritize crafting the Diamond Circlet and repairing the Champion weapons. Once you’ve secured these essential items and established reliable Rupee-earning methods, selling excess diamonds becomes a perfectly reasonable option. Remember, it’s all about striking a balance between short-term financial gain and long-term strategic advantage.
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