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The Ultimate Ganon Slayer: Best Gear to Vanquish Hyrule’s Calamity

The best gear to fight Ganon in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a combination of offense, defense, and strategic planning. A potent arsenal includes the Master Sword, Hylian Shield, Ancient Armor Set (fully upgraded), and a variety of powerful weapons and bows. This combination provides unparalleled attack power, defense, and mobility, ensuring victory against even the most formidable incarnation of Calamity Ganon.

Assembling Your Anti-Ganon Arsenal

Success against Ganon hinges on meticulous preparation. While raw power is important, the right equipment and upgrades can make a significant difference, transforming a daunting battle into a manageable challenge. Here’s a breakdown of the essential gear.

The Indomitable Trio: Master Sword, Hylian Shield, and Ancient Armor

The Master Sword: This legendary blade is the cornerstone of any Ganon-slaying loadout. While it degrades with use, it glows with increased power when near Ganon, making it significantly more effective during the final battle. Completing the Trial of the Sword DLC permanently strengthens the Master Sword, eliminating its need for recharging and making it a consistently powerful weapon.
The Hylian Shield: This nearly indestructible shield offers unparalleled defense. Its high durability means it can withstand Ganon’s most powerful attacks without breaking, providing a crucial safety net. You can find it inside Hyrule Castle.
The Ancient Armor Set: Found piecemeal at the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab, and upgraded by Robbie, this armor provides substantial defense and the “Ancient Proficiency” bonus. This bonus significantly increases damage dealt by Ancient weapons, and the complete set offers Guardian Resistance.

Weaponry: Choosing the Right Arsenal

While the Master Sword is essential, having a variety of powerful weapons is crucial for dealing with different phases of the fight and conserving the Master Sword’s durability. Consider these options:

Ancient Weapons: Weapons crafted from Ancient materials at the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab, such as the Ancient Battle Axe++ or Ancient Bladesaw, benefit from the Ancient Proficiency bonus granted by the Ancient Armor.
Royal Guard’s Weapons: These powerful weapons are found throughout Hyrule Castle and offer high attack power, but they have low durability. Use them strategically.
Crusher Weapons: The Boulder Breaker, forged by Rohan, and weapons of similar nature have a higher chance of staggering Ganon.
Bows and Arrows: The Ancient Bow is an excellent choice for its accuracy and range. Supplement it with Bomb Arrows and Ancient Arrows. The latter are particularly effective against the Blight Ganons encountered during the battle.

Utility Items: Beyond Combat

Don’t overlook the importance of utility items:

Elixirs and Food: Stock up on attack-boosting meals (e.g., Mighty meals) and defense-boosting meals (e.g., Armored meals). Elixirs that provide elemental resistance (Flamebreaker, Frostproof, Shock Resistance) can be invaluable depending on Ganon’s attacks.
Healing Items: Carry plenty of healing items, such as Hearty meals that grant extra temporary hearts.
Fairies: Having a few fairies in your inventory can be a lifesaver, automatically reviving you with extra hearts when you take fatal damage.

The Final Battle: Strategy and Execution

Having the best gear is only half the battle. Understanding Ganon’s attack patterns and employing effective strategies are equally important.

Divine Beasts: Releasing the Divine Beasts significantly weakens Ganon, reducing his health and removing one phase from the fight.
Parrying and Dodging: Master the art of perfect parrying and dodging to avoid damage and create opportunities for counterattacks.
Headshots: Aim for Ganon’s head with arrows to stun him, allowing you to unleash a flurry of attacks.
Exploiting Weaknesses: Observe Ganon’s attack patterns and identify vulnerabilities. For example, during the final phase, use the Light Bow granted by Zelda to target the glowing weak points on his body.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is the Master Sword really that important for the Ganon fight?

Yes, the Master Sword is crucial. It deals significantly more damage to Ganon than other weapons, particularly when it glows (which it will for the entire Ganon fight). Upgrading it through the Trial of the Sword DLC makes it even more powerful and eliminates its recharge time.

2. Where can I find the Hylian Shield?

The Hylian Shield is located inside a chest in the Hyrule Castle Lockup, accessible via the west side of the castle. You’ll need to defeat a Stalnox to claim it.

3. How do I upgrade the Ancient Armor?

You need to visit Robbie at the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab and provide him with specific Ancient materials and Rupees for each upgrade.

4. What are the best Ancient weapons to use against Ganon?

The Ancient Battle Axe++, Ancient Bladesaw, and Ancient Bow are all excellent choices. They benefit from the Ancient Proficiency bonus provided by the Ancient Armor Set.

5. Are Bomb Arrows necessary for the Ganon fight?

While not strictly necessary, Bomb Arrows can be very effective for dealing significant damage quickly, especially against the Blight Ganons and during certain phases of the final battle.

6. How important is it to release the Divine Beasts before fighting Ganon?

Releasing the Divine Beasts is highly recommended. They weaken Ganon significantly, reducing his overall health and eliminating one phase from the fight.

7. What’s the best way to farm Ancient materials for Ancient weapons and armor?

Defeat Guardians to obtain Ancient materials. Guardian Stalkers and Skywatchers are excellent sources of Ancient Gears, Screws, Shafts, and Cores.

8. What food or elixirs should I bring to the Ganon fight?

Bring food that provides attack buffs (Mighty meals), defense buffs (Armored meals), and healing (Hearty meals). Elixirs that provide elemental resistance (Flamebreaker, Frostproof, Shock Resistance) can also be helpful.

9. Is the Champion’s Tunic a good armor to wear against Ganon?

The Champion’s Tunic is a decent armor as it displays the health bar of enemies. However, the Ancient Armor offers a higher defense and, more importantly, the Ancient Proficiency bonus, making it a better choice for fighting Ganon.

10. Can I beat Ganon without any armor at all?

Yes, it’s possible, but it’s extremely challenging. You’ll need to be incredibly skilled at dodging and parrying, and you’ll likely die frequently.

11. What are the weak points on Dark Beast Ganon during the final battle?

During the final phase, Dark Beast Ganon will have glowing spots on his body. These are his weak points, and you must shoot them with the Light Bow provided by Zelda.

12. How do I trigger the final battle with Ganon?

After completing or skipping the Divine Beast quests, head to the sanctum at the top of Hyrule Castle and confront Ganon.

13. Can I fight Ganon multiple times?

Yes, after defeating Ganon, the game will return you to the point before the final battle. You can then re-enter Hyrule Castle and fight him again.

14. Does difficulty affect item drops or anything?

Difficulty settings are not available in the base game, nor in Master Mode for the Ganon fight.

15. Are Ancient Arrows a guaranteed one-hit kill on Ganon?

No, Ancient Arrows are not a guaranteed one-hit kill on Calamity Ganon or Dark Beast Ganon. While they do deal significant damage to the Blight Ganons in the first phase, they only work effectively when used correctly in the final phase.

By equipping the right gear, mastering combat techniques, and understanding Ganon’s weaknesses, you’ll be well-prepared to defeat the Calamity and restore peace to Hyrule. Good luck, Hero!

What is the best gear to fight Ganon?