Unlocking Power: A Comprehensive Guide to Great Fairies in Tears of the Kingdom
The Core Function: What Great Fairies Do
In The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Great Fairies serve a pivotal role in empowering Link’s journey. Their primary function is to upgrade Link’s armor, enhancing its defensive capabilities and sometimes unlocking crucial set bonuses. Each Great Fairy presides over a Fairy Fountain, which acts as a hub for these upgrades. By paying a fee in rupees and providing specific materials, players can increase the defense rating of their gear, making Link more resilient against the formidable threats of Hyrule. This is achieved by interacting with the Great Fairies once they are “unlocked,” transforming them from flower buds to powerful benefactors. Essentially, these magical entities are crucial to progressing through the game and surviving its increasing challenges.
Unlocking the Fairies: A Musical Journey
Unlike some previous Zelda iterations where the fairies might be readily available, in Tears of the Kingdom, accessing the Great Fairy Fountains requires a bit of effort. Players must first locate the flower buds where the Great Fairies reside. These buds are dormant, awaiting a musical awakening. To coax a Great Fairy from her floral prison, you need to assist the Stable Trotters, a travelling music troupe. Each Great Fairy has a specific musical preference, and aiding the band in reaching them through various tasks unlocks the ability to awaken that Fairy. This adds a unique quest layer to the experience, making the process more engaging than simply finding a location. Successfully awakening a Fairy allows Link to then use her services for his armor upgrades.
The Upgrade System: Powering Up Your Gear
Once a Great Fairy has been unlocked, the upgrade process is straightforward, though it does require a financial investment and resource gathering. Players select the desired piece of armor they wish to upgrade. The upgrade system is progressive, with each piece of armor capable of reaching up to four ranks, one upgrade per unlocked Fairy. Therefore, having access to all four Great Fairies is essential for maximizing the potential of Link’s armor. The cost, both in rupees and required materials, increases with each rank, and the materials required differ according to the chosen armor. This encourages thorough exploration of Hyrule, gathering diverse flora, fauna, and monster parts.
The Significance of Set Bonuses
Beyond simple defense boosts, upgrading armor through the Great Fairies can sometimes lead to unlocking set bonuses. Certain armor sets in Tears of the Kingdom provide unique perks when all the pieces are fully upgraded and worn together. This could mean increased attack power, elemental resistance, or a variety of other valuable advantages. This makes maximizing the use of Great Fairy upgrades a highly strategic element of the game, allowing players to tailor their character builds to match their preferred combat style and exploration needs. Therefore, the Great Fairies aren’t merely defensive power-ups; they are integral to unlocking the full potential of character customization.
Beyond Armor: The Horse God and Other Fairies
It is also worth noting that not all fairies in Hyrule are involved in armor upgrading. A notable exception is the Great Horse Fairy, who can be found in the Lake Tower Region. Her purpose is different; she is capable of reviving fallen horses. This adds a vital role to the system as the bond between Link and his horse in this game is important. It is important not to confuse the armor-upgrading Great Fairies with this Horse Fairy.
FAQs About Great Fairies in Tears of the Kingdom
Here are 15 Frequently Asked Questions to further clarify and deepen your understanding of how Great Fairies work in Tears of the Kingdom:
1. How many Great Fairies are in Tears of the Kingdom?
There are four Great Fairies in Tears of the Kingdom that can upgrade your armor. There is a fifth Great Horse Fairy that revives horses, but does not upgrade armor.
2. Where can I find the Great Fairy Fountains?
The four Great Fairy Fountains are found in different locations around Hyrule and are discovered by exploring. You must first locate the Great Fairy’s flower bud and help the Stable Trotters band.
3. How do I unlock the Great Fairies?
You must help the Stable Trotters reach the flower bud locations and perform for the dormant Fairies to awaken them.
4. What is the first Great Fairy I can unlock?
The first Great Fairy you can encounter is Tera, located near the Woodland Stable.
5. Can I upgrade my armor immediately upon finding a Great Fairy?
Yes, as soon as you’ve unlocked a Great Fairy, you can start upgrading your armor by talking to them.
6. How many times can a Great Fairy upgrade my armor?
Each Great Fairy can upgrade your armor once, and there are four Fairies. So, each piece can be upgraded to a total of four times once you’ve unlocked them all.
7. Do upgrades require both Rupees and Materials?
Yes, each upgrade requires a payment in rupees as well as a specific collection of materials.
8. Can any armor be upgraded?
Most armor can be upgraded. Certain special armor, such as the Evil Spirit Armor, cannot be upgraded.
9. What happens when I unlock all four Great Fairy Fountains?
Unlocking all four allows you to upgrade your armor to its maximum potential and unlock maximum potential set bonuses.
10. How do I get the required materials for upgrades?
Materials are found through exploring, defeating monsters, collecting flora, and finding materials throughout Hyrule.
11. Do Great Fairies share their power?
Yes, the fairies share their power. Unlocking one makes upgrades available, and each additional one makes the armor stronger, without requiring all to be at the location with you.
12. Is it worth it to unlock all Great Fairy Fountains?
Absolutely. It’s crucial for maximizing your armor’s defensive stats and unlocking potential set bonuses.
13. Is there a limit to how many fairies can be on the map?
Yes. There are the 4 Great Fairies that offer armor upgrades and the Horse God. There are also normal fairies that will respawn if you are below 4 in your inventory. These are not related to Great Fairy armor upgrades.
14. How do set bonuses work with the Great Fairies?
Upgrading armor sets through the Great Fairies can unlock powerful set bonuses when wearing the complete armor set.
15. What is the Great Horse Fairy?
The Great Horse Fairy is located in the Lake Tower Region and has a unique function: she can revive fallen horses. She does not upgrade armor.
Conclusion
The Great Fairies in Tears of the Kingdom are not just a convenient method for upgrading armor; they are a core part of the game’s progression system and character customization. The added complexity of unlocking them through quests with the Stable Trotters, the strategic value of set bonuses, and the overall need to explore Hyrule to gather materials make them an engaging and critical part of the player experience. Understanding their function and utilizing their power is essential for conquering the challenges that await in the vast world of Hyrule.