Those giant closed flowers you keep spotting across Hyrule are Great Fairy Fountains, and the fairies sleeping inside are the only way to upgrade armor in Breath of the Wild. There are four of them, each wakes up for a one time rupee fee, and every one you wake raises the upgrade cap for all your armor.
Here’s the full breakdown: where all four fountains are, what they cost (and why the order matters), and how armor upgrades actually work.
All Great Fairy Fountain Locations
| Great Fairy | Region | Where exactly |
|---|---|---|
| Cotera | Kakariko Village, Necluda | In the forest clearing past Ta’loh Naeg Shrine, on the hill above the village |
| Mija | Akkala | On the eastern shore of Lake Akkala, southeast of Tarrey Town |
| Kaysa | Tabantha Frontier | At the base of Piper Ridge, south of Tabantha Tower |
| Tera | Gerudo Desert | In the southwest corner of the desert, under the Gerudo Great Skeleton near Dragon’s Exile |
Look for a huge closed flower bud, often with small fairies drifting around it. Once you have seen one, the others are easy to spot from a tower or a glide.
How Much Each Great Fairy Costs
Here’s the part that trips people up: the price follows the order you open the fountains, not which fairy is inside.
| Fountain opened | Fee | Upgrade level unlocked |
|---|---|---|
| First | 100 rupees | Level 1 (one star) |
| Second | 500 rupees | Level 2 |
| Third | 1,000 rupees | Level 3 |
| Fourth | 10,000 rupees | Level 4 (max) |
So whichever fountain you leave for last costs 10,000 rupees. After the one time fee, the fairy’s services are free; you only pay in materials.
Step by Step: Waking Every Great Fairy
- Cotera (Kakariko Village). Most players find her first. Head to Ta’loh Naeg Shrine above Kakariko and follow the path into the forest behind it. As your first fairy, she costs 100 rupees.
- Mija (Akkala). Head to the eastern shore of Lake Akkala, southeast of Tarrey Town. (Pro tip: glide across the lake from high ground instead of walking around it.)
- Kaysa (Tabantha Frontier). From Tabantha Tower, go south to the foot of Piper Ridge. Drop a map pin, because this one is easy to lose in the canyons.
- Tera (Gerudo Desert). Travel to the far southwest of the desert and find the Gerudo Great Skeleton near Dragon’s Exile. Her flower sits beneath it. Bring heat protection for the daytime desert and cold protection at night.
- Pay and wake her. Talk to the bud, pay the fee, and the flower bursts open.
- Upgrade your armor. Bring the materials for the piece you want, and the fairy adds a star.
Your best bet for saving money: open the three closest fountains first, then save up the 10,000 rupees for whichever is last.
How Armor Upgrades Work
- One star per visit: each upgrade raises a piece by one level, boosting its defense.
- The cap rises with each fairy: one fairy unlocks level 1, two unlock level 2, and so on up to level 4.
- Any fairy works: once several are awake, any of them can perform any upgrade you have unlocked.
- Materials scale up: every level asks for more, and rarer, materials. Each armor set has its own shopping list.
- Set bonuses: many armor sets unlock a bonus (like faster climbing or shock immunity) when all three pieces reach level 2. This is often the biggest reason to upgrade.
- Not everything upgrades: a few unique pieces cannot be upgraded at all, and the fairy will tell you so.
Oh, and set bonuses are why the Climbing, Rubber, Flamebreaker and Barbarian sets are so popular to upgrade first. If you want ideas for armor material farming, the cooking ingredients in our BOTW recipes and cookbook guide overlap with a lot of upgrade lists.
Tips Before You Spend
- Save rupees early: the 10,000 fee is a wall if you start saving late. Selling gems and cooking dishes for sale gets you there fast.
- Check the materials first: look at what your favorite set needs before you travel, so you do not make the trip twice.
- Upgrade what you wear: there is no need to star up every set. Focus on your everyday armor and one or two utility sets.
- Grab amiibo extras: some amiibo unlock armor sets that also go through the Great Fairies. See our amiibo unlockables guide for the list.
- Scout from towers: the giant buds are visible from a long way off, and the BOTW interactive map helps you plan the route.
Great Fairy FAQ
Where are the four Great Fairies in BOTW?
Cotera near Kakariko Village, Mija on the east shore of Lake Akkala, Kaysa at the base of Piper Ridge in Tabantha, and Tera under the Gerudo Great Skeleton in the southwest Gerudo Desert.
How much do the Great Fairies cost?
100, 500, 1,000 and 10,000 rupees, based on the order you open them, not on which fairy it is.
Which Great Fairy should I unlock first?
Cotera in Kakariko. She is close to the early story and costs only 100 rupees if she is your first.
Do I need all four Great Fairies?
Only if you want level 4 armor. Two fairies are enough for most set bonuses, which unlock at level 2.
Can any Great Fairy upgrade any armor?
Yes. Every awakened fairy can perform any upgrade level you have unlocked.
Four flowers, four fees and a lot of stars to earn. Nailed it? Then your armor will carry you all the way to Calamity Ganon. For more Breath of the Wild guides, check out the BOTW hub, and if Akkala is on your route, our Akkala region guide covers everything around Mija’s fountain.
