Three years into the release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and the age-old question still haunts every adventurer in Hyrule: what the heck do I do with all these shiny rocks? I'm talking about the gemstones—rubies, sapphires, topaz, and the elusive diamonds. Back in the day, in Breath of the Wild, the answer was simple: cash 'em in. But TOTK threw a wrench in the works with the game-changing Fuse ability. Now, every time I pick up a glimmering topaz, a little voice in my head goes, 'Should I Fuse this to an arrow for some shocking results, or should I sell it and finally afford that cool-looking armor set in Tarrey Town?' Let me tell you, after countless hours exploring the Depths and the Sky Islands, I've got the lowdown. The answer, my friends, is crystal clear.

Gems Are Still Your Golden Ticket to Rupees

Look, I get the temptation to Fuse. It's new, it's flashy, and making a sword that shoots fireballs is, objectively, awesome. But here's the cold, hard truth: selling gems is still the most bang for your buck in 2026. The economy in post-Upheaval Hyrule is, to put it mildly, a hot mess. Enemies don't drop as many Rupees, and everything from armor to arrows costs an arm and a leg. Gems remain one of the most reliable sources of income. That early-game grind? It's real. You need Rupees for:

• Game-changing armor sets (I'm looking at you, Fierce Deity set).

• Stockpiling essential ingredients like hearty truffles and sundelions.

• Buying arrows in bulk because, let's be honest, you can never have enough.

Fusing a 500-Rupee diamond to a weapon that's gonna shatter after whacking a few Bokoblins? That's a financial oof moment. You're essentially turning a long-term investment into a disposable item. Not a smart move.

The Other Uses: A Siren's Call

Sure, gems have other uses. But compared to the sweet, sweet sound of a cash register cha-chinging, they're mostly a waste. Let's break it down.

1. Armor Upgrades: Don't Hoard Everything!

Yes, you need gems to upgrade some armor at Great Fairy Fountains. But here's the kicker: the upgrade system in TOTK heavily favors organic materials. We're talking:

• 🍄 Mushrooms (Smotherwing Butterflies, anyone?)

• 🐛 Critters (Those bright-eyed frogs aren't just for elixirs)

• 🦴 Monster Parts (Hinox Guts, Lynel Horns—the usual suspects)

Most players, myself included, settle into a rotation of two or three favorite armor sets. To fully upgrade those, you'll only need a handful of specific gems. I've compiled a quick table of common armor sets and their key gem needs:

Armor Set	Primary Gem Requirement	Quantity Needed (for Lvl 4)
Zonaite Armor	Zonaite (technically ore)	90 Pieces
Snowquill Set	Sapphire	9
Flamebreaker Set	Ruby	9
Rubber Set	Topaz	9

See? You don't need a dragon's hoard. Once you've set aside what you need for your main gear, the rest is pure profit.

2. The Fuse Temptation: A Fleeting Power

Ah, Fuse. It's the mechanic that keeps on giving... until it doesn't. Fusing gems gives weapons elemental effects or stat boosts:

• 🔥 Ruby: Fire damage. Great for melting ice or cooking raw meat on the fly.

• ❄️ Sapphire: Ice damage. Perfect for creating ice platforms or freezing foes.

• ⚡ Topaz: Electric damage. Stuns enemies and is super effective in water.

• 💎 Diamond: Massive durability boost.

The problem? It's a temporary power spike. Even a diamond-fused Royal Guard's Claymore will eventually go snap, crackle, pop. When it breaks, that gem is gone for good. Poof! Vanished. Using a gem in combat is like setting your money on fire for a brief, pretty light. Is it cool? Heck yeah. Is it smart? Not if you're trying to build a Rupee empire.

The Secret Sauce: Where to Sell for MAX Profit

This is the pro-tip, the real game-changer. You can't just sell your gems to any old traveling merchant. To get the most out of your mining efforts, you need to find Ramella. This savvy Gerudo entrepreneur set up shop in Goron City, and she's your VIP ticket to wealth.

Here's the deal:

1. Find her and complete the "Amber Dealer" side quest (sell her 10 Amber for 200 Rupees).

2. Once that's done, she becomes a bulk buyer, offering prices that blow other vendors out of the water.

Let's compare, shall we? Selling a single diamond to a general store might get you 500 Rupees. But sell 10 diamonds to Ramella, and she'll hand you a whopping 5,500 Rupees! That's an extra 50 Rupees per gem. It adds up fast, folks. So, my advice? Be a gem hoarder... but only until you can make the pilgrimage to Death Mountain and cash in big time.

The Verdict in 2026

So, after all this time, what's the final word? The meta hasn't changed. Sell your gems, save for specific upgrades, and use Fuse sparingly with more common materials. Want elemental effects? Fuse a Chu Chu jelly or a monster part. They're renewable, cheaper, and just as effective in a pinch.

The journey in Tears of the Kingdom is epic, but it's also expensive. Funding your adventures requires strategy. While Fusing a gem might give you a brief 'oh wow' moment, seeing your Rupee count hit five digits after a successful sale to Ramella? That's the stuff of legends. It may require more blood, sweat, and tears than in the good old BOTW days, but trust me—when you're strutting around Hyrule in fully upgraded gear with a wallet that's never empty, you'll know you made the right call. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some business to attend to in Goron City.