Breath of the Wild Ancient Set: Where to Buy, Ancient Proficiency, Upgrades

The Ancient set is the set for Guardians: it cuts the damage Guardians do to you, and with the set bonus ancient weapons hit much harder. It also starts at 4 defense. For every set see all armor; for the Great Fairies see armor upgrade materials.

Where do you find each piece of the Ancient set?

The three main pieces come from Cherry at the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab (Game8). The four Divine Helms (Vah Ruta, Vah Medoh, Vah Rudania, Vah Naboris) belong to the same series in the game data and can replace the Ancient Helm for the set bonus; they are rewards from the four Champion amiibo, see amiibo rewards. Each Divine Helm also carries the matching resistance (swimming, cold, flame, shock).

What does the Ancient set bonus do?

Zelda Dungeon: “Ancient and Guardian weapons deal +80% damage.” Each piece on its own has Guardian Resist Up, which reduces the damage you take from Guardians and other ancient enemies.

How much defense does each piece give?

4 at base and 28 at four stars, higher than the 3 to 20 of most sets. The Divine Helms follow the same curve.

What does it take to upgrade the Ancient set?

Upgrades are done at a Great Fairy Fountain, one star at a time, for materials only (no rupees). The table is per piece.

Every star needs ancient materials: screws, springs, gears, shafts and cores, then 2 Giant Ancient Cores and a Star Fragment at four stars. You get them mainly by defeating Guardians. A good meal makes the Guardian fights easier.

When should you wear the Ancient set?

Wear it for Guardians: Hyrule Castle, Hyrule Field and the Akkala Citadel Ruins, and with ancient weapons (Guardian swords, the Ancient Bow, ancient arrows) whenever you use them. With Divine Helms you can mix in a resistance you need without breaking the set.

Sources

• Defense, upgrade materials and which pieces form the set: the game’s own item data (ActorInfo, via zeldamods radar), with defense checked against Game8’s armor list.
• Where to get each piece and the set bonus: Game8 armor sets and Game8 armor list; what each bonus does from Zelda Dungeon’s Set Bonus page.
• Chest positions: the game’s placement data via radar (zeldamods).
• Names: the game’s own text.