Rares (Rare Items/Drops)

Find rare items and monster drops in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Learn strategies for crafting potent elixirs and acquiring unique gear.

Hunting for rare items and monster drops in Breath of the Wild is not just about completionism; it's about unlocking powerful upgrades, crafting potent elixirs, and acquiring unique gear that can turn the tide in even the toughest encounters. This section details some of the most sought-after rares and provides actionable strategies to add them to your inventory.

Star Fragments

Star Fragments are celestial treasures used primarily for upgrading specific armor sets (like the Ancient Armor, Barbarian Armor, and amiibo-exclusive sets) and for selling at a high price. They are notoriously rare, but with the right approach, you can reliably farm them.

• Acquisition Method: Star Fragments fall from the sky between 9 PM and 5 AM game time. You'll see a bright light streak across the sky and hear a distinct sound.
• Farming Strategy:
  1. Find a High Vantage Point: Head to the top of a tall structure like the Dueling Peaks, Mount Lanayru, or the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab. The higher you are, the better your line of sight.
  2. Set a Campfire: Build a campfire (Wood + Flint/Fire Arrow) and sit by it until "Night."
  3. Watch the Sky: Face north or east and keep your camera pointed upwards. Wait for the star to fall.
  4. Mark the Landing Spot: As soon as you see the star fall, immediately open your Sheikah Slate map and place a pin exactly where it lands.
  5. Retrieve Quickly: Star Fragments despawn at 5 AM if not picked up. Glide or run directly to your pin. If it lands in water, you may need to use Cryonis.
  6. Repeat: Once collected, return to your vantage point and repeat the process. You can only get one Star Fragment per night cycle this way.
• Alternative Source: Defeating Lynels (especially Silver and Gold variants in Master Mode) has a small chance to drop Star Fragments.

Giant Ancient Core

The Giant Ancient Core is a crucial component for upgrading the most powerful Ancient weapons and armor, and for crafting specific items at the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab. These are among the rarest drops from Guardians.

• Acquisition Method: Dropped by various Guardian types, most commonly by Guardian Stalkers, Guardian Skywatchers, and Guardian Turrets.
• Farming Strategy:
  1. Target Decayed Guardians: While any Guardian can drop them, the Decayed Guardians found in various ruins (especially around Hyrule Castle Town Ruins and Akkala Citadel Ruins) are often easier to defeat without consuming too many resources.
  2. Parry Lasers: The most efficient way to defeat Guardians is to parry their laser beams with a shield. A successful parry will reflect the laser back, dealing massive damage. Three successful parries will destroy most Guardian Stalkers.
  3. Aim for the Eye: If parrying is difficult, use a bow to shoot the Guardian's eye. This will stun it, allowing you to get close and attack its legs with a strong weapon. Breaking all legs will temporarily immobilize it.
  4. Location Hotspots:
     • Hyrule Field: Numerous Guardian Stalkers patrol this area.
     • Akkala Highlands: Home to several Guardian Skywatchers and Turrets.
     • Hyrule Castle: The interior and exterior of the castle are crawling with all types of Guardians, offering high-risk, high-reward farming opportunities.
  5. Save Scumming (Optional): If you're desperate for a Giant Ancient Core from a specific Guardian, save your game before defeating it. If it doesn't drop the core, reload your save and try again.

Dragon Parts (Horn, Scale, Claw, Fang)

The three dragons of Hyrule – Farosh, Dinraal, and Naydra – provide valuable materials for upgrading champion abilities (like Urbosa's Fury or Revali's Gale), certain armor sets, and for cooking powerful elixirs. Each dragon part has a specific use and drop location.

• General Strategy:
  1. Locate the Dragon: Each dragon follows a predictable flight path at specific times of day.
     • Farosh: Lake Hylia, Gerudo Highlands, Faron region. Often emerges from the Riola Spring or travels through the Sarjon Bridge area.
     • Dinraal: Eldin Mountains, Akkala Highlands. Frequently seen flying through Tabantha Great Bridge or the East Akkala Stable area.
     • Naydra: Mount Lanayru (after completing the "The Spring of Wisdom" quest). Flies around the Lanayru Promenade and Kakariko Village.
  2. Prepare for the Shot: Equip a strong bow and plenty of arrows. Dress warmly for Dinraal and Naydra, and use heat-resistant gear for Dinraal.
  3. Shoot the Desired Part:
     • Horn: Shoot the horn. Drops a Shard of Dragon's Horn.
     • Claw: Shoot the claws/feet. Drops a Shard of Dragon's Claw.
     • Fang: Shoot the mouth/face. Drops a Dragon's Fang.
     • Scale: Shoot any other part of the body. Drops a Dragon's Scale.
  4. Collect the Drop: The part will fall to the ground. Mark it with a pin if it's far away. You can only get one part per dragon per in-game day.
• Efficient Farming: Find a specific spawn point or choke point along the dragon's path. For example, for Farosh, wait at the Bridge of Hylia or Riola Spring. For Dinraal, the Tabantha Great Bridge is a good spot. For Naydra, the peak of Mount Lanayru provides excellent access. Build a campfire and rest until morning/night to cycle the dragon's appearance.

Rare Ores (Diamonds, Sapphires, Rubies, Topazes)

While not as "rare" as Star Fragments, these precious stones are vital for upgrading specific armor sets and are excellent sources of Rupees. Diamonds, in particular, are highly sought after.

• Acquisition Method: Mined from Ore Deposits (both regular and rare glowing deposits), dropped by Stone Taluses, and found in treasure chests.
• Farming Strategy:
  1. Stone Taluses: These rock-like mini-bosses are the most reliable source of precious ores. Each Talus has a weak point (an ore deposit) on its body.
     • Weak Point Exploitation: Climb onto the Talus and attack its ore deposit with a strong blunt weapon (e.g., a two-handed hammer or a Goron weapon).
     • Location Hotspots: Stone Taluses are scattered across Hyrule. Mark them on your map as you encounter them. The Eldin region and Akkala Highlands have a good concentration.
     • Types: There are various types, including Stone Talus (regular), Igneo Talus (fire), Frost Talus (ice), and Rare Stone Talus. Rare Stone Taluses drop the most valuable ores, including Diamonds.
  2. Ore Deposits: Look for sparkling rock formations. Use a hammer-type weapon or bombs to break them. Rare glowing deposits have a higher chance of yielding valuable gems.
  3. Location Hotspots:
     • Death Mountain/Eldin Region: Abundant ore deposits, including many rare ones.
     • Gerudo Highlands: Many caves and cliff faces contain ore.
     • Hebra Mountains: Similar to Gerudo, cold regions often have good ore veins.

Lynel Guts/Hooves/Horns

Lynels are among the toughest non-boss enemies in the game, and their drops are essential for upgrading the Barbarian Armor set and crafting powerful elixirs. The specific drop (Guts, Hooves, Horns) depends on the Lynel's color (strength).

• Acquisition Method: Defeating Lynels.
• Farming Strategy:
  1. Identify Lynel Type:
     • Red-Maned Lynel: Easiest, drops basic Lynel materials.
     • Blue-Maned Lynel: Stronger, drops better materials.
     • White-Maned Lynel: Very strong, drops high-tier materials.
     • Silver Lynel: Extremely strong, drops the best materials (including Star Fragments sometimes).
     • Gold Lynel (Master Mode only): The strongest, drops the absolute best materials.
  2. Combat Techniques:
     • Flurry Rush: Master dodging to trigger Flurry Rush for massive damage.
     • Headshots: A well-placed arrow to the face will stun a Lynel, allowing you to mount it. While mounted, you can attack without weapon durability loss.
     • Stasis+: Use Stasis+ to freeze a Lynel for a few precious seconds, allowing for free hits or repositioning.
     • Urbosa's Fury: This Champion ability is incredibly effective for stunning Lynels.
  3. Location Hotspots:
     • Pillars of the Ancient: South of Akkala Citadel.
     • Hyrule Ridge: West of Hyrule Castle.
     • Tabantha Frontier: Several scattered throughout.
     • Coliseum Ruins: Contains a progression of Lynel types as your game progresses, culminating in a Silver Lynel.
  4. Weapon Preparation: Bring your strongest weapons, bows, and plenty of arrows. Consider using attack-up food or elixirs.