Armor Upgrades Guide — Great Fairy Fountains

Armor in Tears of the Kingdom can be upgraded up to 4 times (Level 1–4 stars) at Great Fairy Fountains. Each upgrade tier requires specific materials and raises the armor's defense value. Set bonuses also activate at star 2 for most sets. This guide covers unlocking all Great Fairies and upgrade priority.

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How Armor Upgrades Work

1. Visit any active Great Fairy Fountain
2. Speak to the Great Fairy and select armor to upgrade
3. Pay the material cost + Rupee fee
4. Defense increases and set bonus activates at Tier 2

Upgrade tiers: | Star | Defense Added | Notes | |------|:------------:|-------| | ★ | +3 | First upgrade — minor materials | | ★★ | +3 | Set bonus activates at this tier | | ★★★ | +4 | Rare materials begin appearing | | ★★★★ | +4 | Endgame materials required |

Total per armor piece: From base to ★★★★ = +14 defense over base. Full set (3 pieces) at ★★★★ = +42 defense over unupgraded.

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Unlocking Great Fairy Fountains

There are 4 Great Fairy Fountains in TotK. They are locked — each requires you to bring musicians from the nearest stable to awaken them. This is the Stable Trotters questline.

How to Unlock (Stable Trotters Quest)

1. Find reporter Penn at a stable near each Great Fairy
2. Complete the "Sightings" investigation for Penn — he's investigating each Great Fairy's unusual behavior
3. Each investigation leads to a nearby stable with a Stable Trotters band (musicians)
4. Help the musicians get their instrument/transport to the Great Fairy Fountain
5. The musicians play, the Great Fairy awakens

Important: You must unlock them in a specific chain order. The first Great Fairy is usually Cotera (near Kakariko Village) — unlock her first to access the others.

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Great Fairy Cotera (Kakariko Village Area)

Location: Northeastern Kakariko Village, in the flower-covered forest clearing past the village center Stable: Dueling Peaks Stable (Penn appears here early) Musician quest: Help transport the drum player to the fountain

First Great Fairy to unlock — she's the closest to early-game content and most accessible. Upgrading Stealth Armor here early is the most practical first use.

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Great Fairy Mija (Snowfield Area)

Location: Deep in the Snowfield region, Hebra area — accessible from Snowfield Stable Stable: Snowfield Stable Musician quest: Help transport the horn player across the cold mountain terrain

Gear needed: Cold resistance (Snowquill Armor or cold-resist meals) to reach her location safely.

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Great Fairy Kaysa (Tabantha Frontier)

Location: Near the Tabantha Bridge Stable, northwest of Rito Village Stable: Tabantha Bridge Stable Musician quest: Help transport the accordion player

Near Rito Village — convenient to unlock while doing the Wind Temple questline.

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Great Fairy Tera (Akkala Region)

Location: South Akkala Stable area, far northeast Hyrule Stable: South Akkala Stable Musician quest: Help transport the violin player

Most remote fountain — requires reaching Akkala. Unlock after Eldin/Akkala regional exploration.

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Material Requirements by Armor Set

Stealth Armor (Sneaky, highly practical)

Upgrade 1 (★): 5× Blue Nightshade per piece Upgrade 2 (★★): 5× Sunset Firefly per piece → Set bonus: Stealth +2 Upgrade 3 (★★★): 5× Sneaky River Snail per piece Upgrade 4 (★★★★): 10× Silent Princess + 5× Sneaky River Snail per piece

Set bonus at ★★: Full stealth capability for night exploration, sneaking past enemies

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Climbing Gear (Exploration priority)

Upgrade 1 (★): 5× Lizalfos Tail per piece Upgrade 2 (★★): 5× Lizalfos Horn per piece → Set bonus: Climbing Speed Up (more grip) Upgrade 3 (★★★): 5× Lizalfos Talon + 5× Lizalfos Scale per piece Upgrade 4 (★★★★): 1× Dinraal's Scale + 5× Lizalfos Talon per piece

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Snowquill Armor (Cold resistance)

Upgrade 1 (★): 3× Rito Feather per piece Upgrade 2 (★★): 3× Red Chuchu Jelly + 5× Rito Feather per piece → Set bonus: Cold Resist +2 Upgrade 3 (★★★): 5× Lynel Hoof + 5× Warm Safflina per piece Upgrade 4 (★★★★): 10× Warm Safflina + 1× Dinraal's Horn per piece

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Flamebreaker Armor (Fire resistance)

Upgrade 1 (★): 3× Fireproof Lizard per piece Upgrade 2 (★★): 5× Smotherwing Butterfly + 3× Fireproof Lizard per piece → Set bonus: Fireproof Upgrade 3 (★★★): 5× Lynel Hoof + 5× Smotherwing Butterfly per piece Upgrade 4 (★★★★): 10× Smotherwing Butterfly + 1× Naydra's Scale per piece

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Barbarian Armor (Attack boost)

Upgrade 1 (★): 5× Lynel Horn per piece Upgrade 2 (★★): 5× Lynel Hoof per piece → Set bonus: Attack Up (charged attack damage up) Upgrade 3 (★★★): 5× Lynel Guts + White Lynel materials per piece Upgrade 4 (★★★★): 5× Silver Lynel Mace Horn + Lynel Guts per piece

Best damage set — requires Lynel farming at all tiers. Worth the effort for combat-focused play.

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Ancient Hero's Aspect (Cosmetic — no upgrade)

The Ancient Hero's Aspect is a special one-piece body appearance item obtained by completing all 152 shrines. It doesn't provide defense or upgradable bonuses — purely cosmetic.

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Upgrade Priority

Best early upgrades:

1. Stealth Armor to ★★ — cheapest materials, highest QoL gain for exploration
2. Climbing Gear to ★★ — easier cave/mountain exploration
3. Resistance armor to ★★ (Snowquill or Flamebreaker depending on region)

Best mid-game upgrades:

1. Barbarian Armor to ★★★ — major DPS increase for combat-heavy players
2. Glide Armor to ★★ — better skydiving control on all sky island challenges
3. Zonaite Armor to ★★ — battery efficiency for vehicle builds

Best late-game upgrades:

1. Barbarian Armor to ★★★★ — max attack, Silver Lynel materials required
2. Fierce Deity Armor to ★★★★ — endgame defense + attack
3. Any set you're most actively using

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Dragon Part Requirements

Several armor sets require Dragon Parts (Scales, Fangs, Horns, Claws) at ★★★★:

| Dragon | Part Used In | |--------|-------------| | Dinraal (fire) | Snowquill, Climbing Gear | | Naydra (ice) | Flamebreaker, Zora-themed armor | | Farosh (lightning) | Various Gerudo-area armor | | Light Dragon (Zelda) | Best overall materials — all uses |

See Dragon Parts Guide for how to farm specific parts.

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Tips

• Upgrade armor before temples — even ★★ in your active set makes boss fights significantly easier
• Don't upgrade everything — focus on 2–3 sets you actually use
• Sell excess monster parts — material overflow from Lynel farming can be sold; keep only what you need for upgrades
• Check set bonuses — some set bonuses at ★★ dramatically change gameplay (Barbarian attack up, Stealth max)
• Rubber Armor (Lightning) at ★★ — gives immunity to lightning, useful in Faron storm season and Gleeok fights

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See also: Best Armor Sets Guide | Dragon Parts Guide | Great Fairies Guide