The Ultimate Guide to Phantom Ganon Armor: Gear Up for Victory
The question of what armor best equips you to face the fearsome Phantom Ganon in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a crucial one for any adventurer. While there’s no single piece of armor that will render you invincible, understanding the mechanics of this challenging fight allows you to make informed choices about your gear.
The Best Armor for Phantom Ganon: A Detailed Look
The most effective strategy for dealing with Phantom Ganon involves mitigating the dangers of gloom damage, capitalizing on attack windows, and potentially leveraging the unique properties of certain sets. Given these needs, the best overall armor for fighting Phantom Ganon is the Of The Depths set.
Here’s why the Of The Depths set excels:
- Gloom Resistance: The most significant threat from Phantom Ganon is the constant gloom damage he inflicts. The Of The Depths set provides crucial gloom resistance, allowing you to withstand the pervasive gloom pools in the battle arena and his melee attacks more effectively. This reduces the amount of your max health that is drained by gloom, making it significantly easier to stay in the fight longer without requiring constant healing.
- Accessibility: The Of The Depths set is acquired by trading Poes at various locations throughout the Depths. These locations are generally consistent, so it’s fairly simple to locate each piece. While initially more time-consuming to acquire, the benefit of gloom resistance is undeniable.
- No Specific Weakness: Unlike some enemies, Phantom Ganon has no specific weakness to any particular type of damage or attack, making general defenses and strategic play more important than elemental resistances.
While the Of The Depths set is generally the best choice for this particular fight, there are other options and considerations that can enhance your approach.
Alternative Armor Considerations
- Ancient Armor: While the Ancient Armor provides a great armor rating and resistance to ancient tech attacks, Phantom Ganon does not use “ancient tech”, making this armor less useful for this specific fight. This armor does offer a great overall defensive boost if you’re struggling to avoid getting hit.
- Upgraded Armor: Any armor can be valuable against Phantom Ganon if it is upgraded. The higher the armor rating, the better, allowing you to survive more of his attacks. Focus on upgrading the armor pieces that best fit your preferred playstyle.
Weapon and Shield Choices
While armor is crucial, weapon choice also plays a vital role:
- Spear Weapons: The article highlights the benefits of using a spear. Spears allow you to attack from a safer distance, hitting Phantom Ganon in between flurry rushes without getting directly exposed to his gloom-inducing strikes. This also helps in initiating a Flurry Rush when dodging.
- Shield Parries: Successfully timing shield parries is essential. Parrying opens up opportunities to deal heavy damage, so use a strong shield and practice your timing.
Strategic Approaches
- Flurry Rush: Mastering the Flurry Rush is paramount. Dodging Phantom Ganon’s attacks at the precise moment will trigger this crucial window to retaliate.
- Arrow Distraction: If you’re struggling with dodging, use arrows to hit Phantom Ganon in the face to stop his charging attacks. This allows you to set up an engagement on your terms.
- Healing and Preparation: Always enter the fight with full health. Also, consider cooking dishes that restore or increase health, and those that provide temporary gloom resistance if you don’t have the Depths set.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does Phantom Ganon have any weaknesses?
No, Phantom Ganon has no specific weakness to any element or weapon type. He must be damaged by reflecting his own attacks or exploiting openings.
2. What is the best weapon type to use against Phantom Ganon?
Spears are highly recommended, as they allow you to attack at a safe distance and capitalize on the openings created by Flurry Rushes.
3. Can I use Ancient Blades on Phantom Ganon?
Yes, Ancient Blades will deal damage to Phantom Ganon, but they won’t result in an instant kill. They do, however, hit very hard.
4. Does the Master Sword work well against Phantom Ganon?
The Master Sword will deal its standard damage against Phantom Ganon. It’s not a requirement but it’s a strong and reliable weapon choice.
5. Is gloom resistance important for the Phantom Ganon fight?
Yes, gloom resistance is crucial. It allows you to withstand the gloom damage that Phantom Ganon inflicts, making the fight more manageable.
6. Can I get the Master Sword before fighting Phantom Ganon?
Yes, it is possible to get the Master Sword before fighting Phantom Ganon if you have the required stamina, however some players may need the Great Deku Tree’s help which involves beating the Phantom Ganon’s that hold him hostage.
7. Does the Phantom Ganon armor from DLC appear in Tears of the Kingdom?
No, the Phantom Ganon armor that appeared in the Breath of the Wild DLC is not present in Tears of the Kingdom. The set, as a concept, was replaced with the Of The Depths set.
8. Does the Dark Tunic resist gloom in Tears of the Kingdom?
Yes, the Tunic of the Depths is a key component of the set that offers gloom resistance.
9. Can I use Ancient Arrows on Phantom Ganon?
While Ancient Arrows are powerful, they don’t provide a special advantage against Phantom Ganon. They deal regular damage, but do not insta-kill him.
10. How do I prepare for the Phantom Ganon fight?
Prepare by repairing your hearts with sundelion dishes, healing to full health, equipping powerful weapons and shields, and gathering food items that grant health recovery or gloom resistance.
11. Does Phantom Ganon always drop a Gloom weapon?
Yes, Phantom Ganon always drops a Gloom weapon, either a Gloom Sword, Gloom Spear, or Gloom Club, depending on his weapon type during the fight.
12. Is it necessary to perfect the timing of dodges and parries?
Yes, perfectly timing your dodges and parries is essential. They open up windows to deal damage.
13. Does gloom resistance work against Ganondorf?
Gloom resistance does not prevent damage from Ganondorf’s attacks, only the negative effects of standing in gloom on the arena floor. However, for the pre-Ganondorf fights with Phantom Ganon, it is extremely helpful to mitigate the damage.
14. How many hits does it take to defeat Phantom Ganon?
The number of hits varies depending on your weapons and skill, but generally after about three hits with a bow, he leaves his horse and the main melee fight begins.
15. What is the difference between the Phantom Ganon fight here vs previous games?
The Phantom Ganon’s in Tears of the Kingdom are typically found guarding something or appearing after a Gloom Hand has been defeated. The Phantom Ganon in previous games was often a boss in its own right.
By understanding these strategies and arming yourself with the best armor, you’ll be well-prepared to face Phantom Ganon and claim victory. Remember, preparation, skill, and strategic thinking are as important as the armor you wear in this challenging battle.