The 10 BEST Zelda Breath of the Wild Side Quests
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VOICE OVER: Johnny Reynolds
WRITTEN BY: Garrett Alden
As the biggest game in the "Zelda" series, "Breath of the Wild" was filled with a ton of great side quests. For this list, we'll be looking at the most interesting, challenging, and rewarding side quests from “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.” Our list includes The Stolen Heirloom, The Eighth Heroine, Stranded on Eventide, The Thunder Helm, and more!
Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we’ll be going over the 10 best “Zelda: Breath of the Wild” side quests. For this list, we’ll be looking at the most interesting, challenging, and rewarding side and shrine quests from “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.” If there’s a “Breath of the Wild” sidequest you’re positively breathless over us forgetting, go wild in the comments!
Horse related quests may not be necessary to complete “Breath of the Wild, but they can be a lot of fun. While the Royal White Stallion is also a neat side quest that lets you find a unique horse, we’re thinking bigger! If you go to the Mounted Archery Camp in Faron Grasslands, a man there will tell you of a rumored giant horse in Taobab Grassland. To complete the quest, you must tame the mighty beast. Reaching it can be challenging, since there are several Lynels in the area. But taming it can be pretty tough too, since the giant horse takes 2 full stamina wheels to calm down! But you’ll be rewarded with 100 rupees, and a mighty steed, if you do.
One of the most memorable shrine quests, Watch Out For the Flowers is one you’ll probably stumble on accidentally. This shrine is out in the open on a sandbar on Hylia River, but it’s surrounded by flowers. Magda, a nearby woman, reveals she planted the flowers, and warns you not to step on them, beginning the quest. Luckily, all you need to do is activate the shrine to complete the quest. This is made tough by enemies appearing along the safe path. But the Chuchus are nothing compared to Magda herself! Step on the flowers, and she’ll scold you repeatedly. Do it enough, and she’ll go absolutely berserk and attack you, leaving you near death! She could give Ganon a run for his rupees!
Outside of Gerudo Town, Link can speak to Bozai, a man who admires Link in his Gerudo outfit. He’ll tell you about the missing statue of an eighth Gerudo heroine, which he wants a picture of in exchange for Sand Boots, which let you run on the sand more easily. After he lends you Snow Boots, you can inquire in Gerudo Town and learn about the statue’s location, which is said to be in the Gerudo Highlands. A trek through the mountains using your new Snow Boots will let you discover the legendary Eighth Heroine. Showing the photo to Bozai will yield the Sand Boots, and let you buy some Snow Boots. Neither are required items, but they do make travel a lot faster.
Hyrule has many mysteries hidden throughout the massive map. And it happens that Link isn’t the only one interested in them. At Sarenne Stable near the Great Hyrule Forest, a trio of researchers are discussing the Leviathans, huge extinct creatures, and what caused them to die out. Each one asks for photographic proof supporting their theories, in exchange for 300 rupees. To get the reward, you must take pictures of each of the three Leviathan fossils, located across Hyrule. They can be found in the Hebra and Eldin mountains, as well as in the far corner of the Gerudo desert. Who knew paleontology could be so lucrative?
Technically these are 3 quests, but the goal of all of them is the same. Throughout Hyrule, there are 3 huge labyrinths or mazes. Stepping inside any of them will begin their respective quests. Although you can scale to the top and navigate them that way, reaching the center isn’t that simple. Plus, each contains strong weapons, money, and occasionally armor, although they’re generally well guarded by strong enemies too. Completing the shrines at the center will yield each piece of the attack-boosting Barbarian armor set as well, so they’re definitely worth completing.
At Impa’s house, you might have noticed the large orb next to the elderly Sheikah woman. However, after completing every Kakariko Village side quest, you’ll discover that the sphere is missing. Paya and Impa inform you that it was stolen. Speaking with the guards will yield several suspects, but tailing them at night proves them to be red herrings. However, if you follow one of the guards, Dorian, will lead you to the real culprits - the Yiga Clan. Dorian is a former member, who left them to protect his kids. Defeating the Yiga Blademaster will let you use the sphere to unlock the shrine. It’s a fun “Zelda” take on a whodunnit.
Gerudo Town has some fantastic side quests. And while discovering a secret club is pretty cool, a quest directly from the Gerudo’s chief is even more involved and fantastic. If you examine the Thunder Helm next to Riju’s throne, Riju will offer to lend it to you if you help her town’s residents with various problems, through four other side quests. These include harrowing adventures where you have to find a lost soldier, or slay a Molduga to use its innards to create medicine, but also more mundane requests, like assisting a jeweler. You even have to track down a litterer! But the rewards are well worth it, particularly the titular helmet, since it grants immunity to pesky lightning!
While this quest is assigned by a farmer in Hateno village, The Spring of Wisdom is another quest that’s easy to stumble upon. If you scale Mount Lanayru, you’ll discover the eponymous shrine, along with the corrupted dragon, Naydra. Your objective - free the Malice-riddled guardian spirit by shooting the large eyeballs that dot its body. Once you do, a scale will fall off it, and you can drop it into the spring to reveal a shrine. Although getting a shrine is always a nice reward, having a kind of boss battle with a dragon atop a snowy peak is what makes this quest one of the coolest in the game!
There are several islands off the coast of Hyrule, but the biggest is Eventide Island. However, as soon as you set foot on it, a shrine trial will begin that takes away all of your armor and equipment, effectively taking you back to square one. To complete the quest and get it all back, you need to put 3 Ancient Orbs into platforms around the island. They’re guarded by groups of enemies of varying difficulties. You’ll be rewarded with a shrine with a chest full of rupees at the end. But this quest is more about the journey, as its back to basics, “Cast Away” style gameplay is so fresh and unique compared to anything else in the base game.
Although it was tempting to discuss Hylian Homeowner, this quest’s prerequisite that lets you get your own house, this one goes even further. After building your house, talking to one of the builders, Hudson, will send him to a peninsula in the Akkala region where he’ll ask for your help in building a town. This involves acquiring a ton of lumber, as well as tracking down every NPC across the map with a name ending in “-son.” Building Tarrey Town opens up several useful new shops and it’s surprisingly rewarding to see a community spring up from nothing, populated by so many diverse characters. Plus, you help Hudson find love! It’s just so wholesome! The diamonds you get aren’t too shabby either!
Hunt for the Giant Horse
Horse related quests may not be necessary to complete “Breath of the Wild, but they can be a lot of fun. While the Royal White Stallion is also a neat side quest that lets you find a unique horse, we’re thinking bigger! If you go to the Mounted Archery Camp in Faron Grasslands, a man there will tell you of a rumored giant horse in Taobab Grassland. To complete the quest, you must tame the mighty beast. Reaching it can be challenging, since there are several Lynels in the area. But taming it can be pretty tough too, since the giant horse takes 2 full stamina wheels to calm down! But you’ll be rewarded with 100 rupees, and a mighty steed, if you do.
Watch Out For the Flowers
One of the most memorable shrine quests, Watch Out For the Flowers is one you’ll probably stumble on accidentally. This shrine is out in the open on a sandbar on Hylia River, but it’s surrounded by flowers. Magda, a nearby woman, reveals she planted the flowers, and warns you not to step on them, beginning the quest. Luckily, all you need to do is activate the shrine to complete the quest. This is made tough by enemies appearing along the safe path. But the Chuchus are nothing compared to Magda herself! Step on the flowers, and she’ll scold you repeatedly. Do it enough, and she’ll go absolutely berserk and attack you, leaving you near death! She could give Ganon a run for his rupees!
The Eighth Heroine
Outside of Gerudo Town, Link can speak to Bozai, a man who admires Link in his Gerudo outfit. He’ll tell you about the missing statue of an eighth Gerudo heroine, which he wants a picture of in exchange for Sand Boots, which let you run on the sand more easily. After he lends you Snow Boots, you can inquire in Gerudo Town and learn about the statue’s location, which is said to be in the Gerudo Highlands. A trek through the mountains using your new Snow Boots will let you discover the legendary Eighth Heroine. Showing the photo to Bozai will yield the Sand Boots, and let you buy some Snow Boots. Neither are required items, but they do make travel a lot faster.
Leviathan Bones
Hyrule has many mysteries hidden throughout the massive map. And it happens that Link isn’t the only one interested in them. At Sarenne Stable near the Great Hyrule Forest, a trio of researchers are discussing the Leviathans, huge extinct creatures, and what caused them to die out. Each one asks for photographic proof supporting their theories, in exchange for 300 rupees. To get the reward, you must take pictures of each of the three Leviathan fossils, located across Hyrule. They can be found in the Hebra and Eldin mountains, as well as in the far corner of the Gerudo desert. Who knew paleontology could be so lucrative?
The Lomei Labyrinths
Technically these are 3 quests, but the goal of all of them is the same. Throughout Hyrule, there are 3 huge labyrinths or mazes. Stepping inside any of them will begin their respective quests. Although you can scale to the top and navigate them that way, reaching the center isn’t that simple. Plus, each contains strong weapons, money, and occasionally armor, although they’re generally well guarded by strong enemies too. Completing the shrines at the center will yield each piece of the attack-boosting Barbarian armor set as well, so they’re definitely worth completing.
The Stolen Heirloom
At Impa’s house, you might have noticed the large orb next to the elderly Sheikah woman. However, after completing every Kakariko Village side quest, you’ll discover that the sphere is missing. Paya and Impa inform you that it was stolen. Speaking with the guards will yield several suspects, but tailing them at night proves them to be red herrings. However, if you follow one of the guards, Dorian, will lead you to the real culprits - the Yiga Clan. Dorian is a former member, who left them to protect his kids. Defeating the Yiga Blademaster will let you use the sphere to unlock the shrine. It’s a fun “Zelda” take on a whodunnit.
The Thunder Helm
Gerudo Town has some fantastic side quests. And while discovering a secret club is pretty cool, a quest directly from the Gerudo’s chief is even more involved and fantastic. If you examine the Thunder Helm next to Riju’s throne, Riju will offer to lend it to you if you help her town’s residents with various problems, through four other side quests. These include harrowing adventures where you have to find a lost soldier, or slay a Molduga to use its innards to create medicine, but also more mundane requests, like assisting a jeweler. You even have to track down a litterer! But the rewards are well worth it, particularly the titular helmet, since it grants immunity to pesky lightning!
The Spring of Wisdom
While this quest is assigned by a farmer in Hateno village, The Spring of Wisdom is another quest that’s easy to stumble upon. If you scale Mount Lanayru, you’ll discover the eponymous shrine, along with the corrupted dragon, Naydra. Your objective - free the Malice-riddled guardian spirit by shooting the large eyeballs that dot its body. Once you do, a scale will fall off it, and you can drop it into the spring to reveal a shrine. Although getting a shrine is always a nice reward, having a kind of boss battle with a dragon atop a snowy peak is what makes this quest one of the coolest in the game!
Stranded on Eventide
There are several islands off the coast of Hyrule, but the biggest is Eventide Island. However, as soon as you set foot on it, a shrine trial will begin that takes away all of your armor and equipment, effectively taking you back to square one. To complete the quest and get it all back, you need to put 3 Ancient Orbs into platforms around the island. They’re guarded by groups of enemies of varying difficulties. You’ll be rewarded with a shrine with a chest full of rupees at the end. But this quest is more about the journey, as its back to basics, “Cast Away” style gameplay is so fresh and unique compared to anything else in the base game.
From the Ground Up
Although it was tempting to discuss Hylian Homeowner, this quest’s prerequisite that lets you get your own house, this one goes even further. After building your house, talking to one of the builders, Hudson, will send him to a peninsula in the Akkala region where he’ll ask for your help in building a town. This involves acquiring a ton of lumber, as well as tracking down every NPC across the map with a name ending in “-son.” Building Tarrey Town opens up several useful new shops and it’s surprisingly rewarding to see a community spring up from nothing, populated by so many diverse characters. Plus, you help Hudson find love! It’s just so wholesome! The diamonds you get aren’t too shabby either!
