Look, we've all been there. You’re trekking through the Necluda wilderness, minding your own business, when you stumble upon what looks like a giant, pulsing cabbage. You approach it. It starts talking. Suddenly, a massive hand reaches out and demands a thousand Rupees. It’s a bit of a shakedown, honestly. But if you want to survive the late-game Guardians or those terrifying Lynels near Hyrule Castle, you basically have no choice but to track down every single one of the Breath of the Wild Great Fairy Fountains.
Upgrading armor isn't just a "nice to have" in this game. It's the difference between getting one-shot by a laser and actually standing a chance. Link starts off pretty squishy. By the time you find all four sisters—Cotera, Mija, Tera, and Kaysa—you’re basically a walking tank. But finding them is only half the battle. The real headache is the scaling cost.
The escalating price of power
The game doesn't care which sister you find first. The price is tied to how many you’ve already woken up. The first one is a measly 100 Rupees. Peanuts. You can find that by smashing a few pots or selling some flint. The second one jumps to 500. Still manageable. Then things get spicy. The third costs 1,000, and the final sister demands a whopping 10,000 Rupees.
10,000.
That’s a lot of cooked meat skewers and gemstones. Most players hit a wall here. They find the fountain, see the prompt, and realize they’re about 9,500 Rupees short. It’s a grind, but the payoff is the level four armor set bonus, which is often game-changing. Think "unfreezable" or "extra attack power."
Where they’re actually hiding
You’d think giant glowing flowers would be easier to spot from a Sheikah Tower, but Nintendo hid them surprisingly well.
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Cotera is usually the first one people find because she’s right near Kakariko Village. You just head up the hill past the Ta’loh Naeg Shrine and follow the path into the woods. It’s the "starter" fountain. Most people find it because a guy in town basically points you toward it.
Kaysa is over in the Tabantaha region. If you warp to the Tabantha Tower and look south toward Nero Hill, you’ll see that tell-tale purple glow. It’s a bit of a climb, but not too bad.
Then there’s Mija. She’s tucked away in the Akkala region. You’ll find her just south of Lake Akkala, nestled in a little grove of autumn-colored trees. If you’re heading toward Tarrey Town—which you absolutely should be doing for the "From the Ground Up" quest—you’ll pass right by her.
Tera is the outlier. She’s way out in the Gerudo Desert, tucked under the Dragon’s Bone Big Skeleton at the very southwest corner of the map. It’s a trek. Bring heat resistance. Or lots of watermelons.
The "Other" Fairy everyone forgets
People talk about the four sisters, but there’s a fifth "fountain" that works totally differently. Malanya. The Horse God. Located at the end of the bridge near Highland Stable in the Faron region, Malanya doesn't care about your shirt's defense rating.
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Malanya brings your dead horses back to life.
It’s dark. It’s weird. But if your favorite horse accidentally took a stray bomb arrow to the face, Malanya is your only hope. Just be prepared for some slightly threatening dialogue about how you should take better care of your animals.
Why the set bonuses actually matter
Upgrading armor isn't just about the number next to the shield icon. It’s about the hidden perks. Once you hit the second upgrade level (two stars), most "set" armors grant a bonus.
Take the Snowquill set. One upgrade? You’re warm. Two upgrades at a Breath of the Wild Great Fairy Fountain? You become "Unfreezable." You can literally stand in the path of an Ice Keese and nothing happens. The Climbing Gear gives you a jump stamina boost. The Ancient Armor makes you a Guardian-killing machine.
If you aren't visiting the sisters, you're playing the game on hard mode for no reason.
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Managing the resource grind
You’re going to need materials. Lots of them. The sisters don't just take your money; they want your stuff.
For the Zora armor, you’ll be hunting Lizalfos for their tails. For the Flamebreaker set, you’re looking for Smotherwing Butterflies and Moblin parts. It starts simple—some bokoblin horns here, a few herbs there. But by the fourth tier? You’ll need rare stuff like Star Fragments or Lynel Guts.
Pro tip: Don’t sell your Ancient Cores. You’ll think you have plenty, then you’ll try to upgrade the Ancient Set and realize you need dozens. It’s a heartbreak you want to avoid.
Quick tips for Rupee farming
If you're staring at that 10,000 Rupee requirement for the final fountain, don't panic. There are a few ways to get rich quick:
- Pondo’s Lodge: Near Hebra Tower, there’s a guy running a bowling game. If you find the "sweet spot" to get a strike every time, you can clear 300 Rupees every 30 seconds.
- Farosh Farming: Go to Riola Spring in Faron. Set up a campfire. Wait for the dragon Farosh to spawn at 5:00 AM. Shoot his horn. Collect the shard (worth 300 Rupees). Repeat until you’re wealthy.
- Ore Hunting: Use the Sheikah Sensor+ to track Ore Deposits. The slopes around Death Mountain are literal gold mines (and diamond mines).
Dealing with the "cutscenes"
Let’s be real: the Great Fairy animations are... a lot. They get increasingly intense as you unlock more levels. By the time you’re getting a level four upgrade, it’s basically a full-on cinematic experience. You can skip them with the X button if you’re in a rush, but the first time is always a "what am I watching?" moment. It’s classic Nintendo quirkiness at its most bizarre.
Actionable steps for your next session
Don't try to unlock all four at once unless you're sitting on a mountain of cash. It's better to prioritize based on where you are in the story.
- Prioritize the Kakariko fountain immediately to get your first defense boost.
- Mark the map locations for the other three even if you can't afford them yet, so you don't have to go searching later.
- Save every Star Fragment you find from falling stars; these are the rarest upgrade materials and a nightmare to farm.
- Collect every lizard and butterfly you see while exploring, as you'll likely need them for specific elemental armor sets later.
- Head to the Faron region to find the Horse God early, just in case of an equestrian emergency.
Getting your armor to level four isn't just about survival; it's about feeling like the legendary hero Link is supposed to be. Once you have that 84-defense rating and your set bonuses active, the wilds of Hyrule feel a lot less like a deathtrap and a lot more like your personal playground.