Alright, let's talk Zelda. Specifically, let's dive deep into tracking down every single shrine tucked away in Hyrule. If you're like me and get that obsessive itch to complete all shrines in Breath of the Wild, you know it's not just about bragging rights. Those Spirit Orbs? Absolutely essential for maxing out your hearts and stamina. Miss one shrine, and you're stuck one upgrade short. Frustrating, right? I learned that the hard way on my first playthrough, missing a single shrine hidden near Hebra Peak and spending hours retracing my steps.
Exactly How Many Shrines Are We Talking About?
Before you saddle up your horse, you need to know the scope of the challenge. The base game of Breath of the Wild contains 120 shrines scattered across its massive map. That alone is a huge undertaking. But wait, there's more. If you have the Expansion Pass (The Master Trials and The Champions' Ballad DLC packs), you get access to an additional 16 shrines. So, for the truly dedicated aiming for all shrines in Breath of the Wild plus DLC, we're looking at a grand total of 136 shrines. Finding them all is like a giant, rewarding scavenger hunt laid over Hyrule's stunning landscapes.
Your Practical Survival Kit for the Shrine Hunt
Trust me, trying to find all shrines in Breath of the Wild without some prep is a recipe for wandering aimlessly. You'll need more than just a sword and shield.
Don't Leave the Tower Without These!
- The Sheikah Sensor+: This is your #1 tool. Upgrade it at the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab after snapping pics of a few shrines for Symin. Set it to detect shrines, and that annoying beeping becomes your best friend. It saved me from missing dozens tucked behind cliffs.
- A Good Horse: Especially one with high stamina or the Ancient Bridle/Saddle. Covering ground quickly is key. I grew strangely attached to my spotted horse named 'Spots'.
- Climbing Gear: Majora's Mask, the Climber's Bandana, Shirt, and Tights. You'll be scaling mountains constantly. Without upgraded gear, climbing in the rain remains infuriatingly slow.
- Weather-Appropriate Gear: Snowquill set for Hebra/Death Mountain peaks, Flamebreaker or fire elixirs for Eldin, Desert Voe set or elixirs for Gerudo. Freezing or burning to death mid-climb wastes so much time.
- Food & Elixirs: Stock up on stamina-recovery meals (Endura Carrots/Carrots are gold), hearty meals for instant full recovery + extra hearts, and elemental protection elixirs. Cooking 5 Endura Carrots gives you max temporary stamina wheels – a lifesaver for long climbs or swims.
Where are All Shrines in Breath of the Wild Hidden? The Complete Breakdown
Hyrule is vast, and shrines are *never* just sitting out in the open plain. They hide everywhere. Here’s the lowdown region by region. Honestly, some placements feel deliberately evil.
| Region Name | Approx. Number of Shrines | Key Locations & Tips | My Personal "Why Here?!" Shrine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Hyrule | ~12 | Around the Great Plateau, Hyrule Field, Temple of Time ruins. Watch for Guardian Stalkers! | Saas Ko'sah (Proving Grounds: Weapons) - Sneaky one west of Hyrule Castle moat, guarded by Skywatchers. Annoying to approach. |
| Hebra Mountains | ~18 | Snowfields, peaks, caves. Use Revali's Gale to reach high starting points. Cold resistance mandatory! | Qaza Tokki (Windmills) - Finding the entrance near the maze took me ages. Frost Talus nearby didn't help. |
| Akkala | ~10 | Around Tarrey Town, Akkala Citadel ruins, East Akkala Stable area. Beautiful but rainy climbs. | Zuna Kai (Twin Memories) - Requires activating two distant terminals simultaneously. A real coordination test. |
| Eldin (Death Mountain) | ~12 | Goron City paths, Southern Mine, around the caldera. FIREPROOF GEAR/ELIXIRS ARE NON-NEGOTIABLE. | Kayra Mah (Gutter) - Buried in a minecart track labyrinth. Dark, confusing, and easy to get lost. |
| Lanayru | ~15 | Zora's Domain, Mount Lanayru, Wetlands. Lots of waterfalls - use Cryonis or Zora Armor. | Shai Utoh (Halt the Tilt) - Motion control puzzle shrine. Enough said. (I dislike most motion control ones). |
| Necluda | ~16 | Hateno Village, Fort Hateno, Dueling Peaks area, Kakariko Village. Good starting zones. | Mijah Rokee (A Modest Test of Strength) - Appears only during a Blood Moon. Forgot? Wait another cycle. |
| Gerudo Desert & Highlands | ~20 | Desert proper (use Sand Seal), Gerudo Town outskirts, Kara Kara Bazaar, highland cliffs. HEAT RESISTANCE! | Dako Tah (Electric Path) - Getting the shrine quest from the Gerudo in the cave is easy to miss. |
| Faron | ~17 | Lurelin Village, Lakeside Stable, Floria Falls, jungles. Rain, rain, and more rain. Thunderstorms frequent! | Shae Katha (Shift and Lock) - Shrine quest involves moving giant stone slabs in the rain. Patience required. |
Cracking the Shrine Code: Types and Tactics
Not all shrines are created equal. Knowing what you're walking into saves frustration.
Blessing Shrines (The "Easy" Ones... Usually)
You walk in, chest is right there, monk gives you the orb. Sounds simple? The challenge was almost always *finding* or *unlocking* the dang thing. These often involve:
- Completing intricate shrine quests (talk to NPCs!)
- Solving overworld puzzles (like rolling boulders into holes, aligning constellations, or offering specific items)
- Defeating overworld mini-bosses guarding the entrance (like a Hinox or Lynel – yikes!)
The one near Eventide Island where you have to carry the orb across the ocean using Cryonis? Yeah, that one made me take a break.
Test of Strength Shrines (Combat Gauntlets)
Minor, Modest, and Major tests. These pit you against Guardian Scouts. They scale up significantly:
| Shrine Type | Guardian Scout Level | Recommended Hearts/Weapons | Weapons Provided Inside | Reward Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor Test of Strength | I | 5+ Hearts / Soldier's Gear | Traveler's Sword/Shield, Soldier's Broadsword | Traveler's Gear |
| Modest Test of Strength | II | 8+ Hearts / Knight's Gear | Soldier's Broadsword/Shield, Knight's Claymore | Knight's Gear |
| Major Test of Strength | III / IV (DLC) | 10+ Hearts / Royal Gear++ | Knight's Claymore/Shield, Guardian Spear++ / Ancient Battle Axe++ | Royal Gear / Ancient Gear |
The DLC Major Tests are brutal. Ancient Arrows and perfect dodges become your best friends. Don't feel bad about running away to gear up if you stumble into one early!
Puzzle Shrines (Brain Teasers)
This is where the Sheikah tech shines (mostly). Magnesis, Stasis, Cryonis, Remote Bombs, and later Runes like Camera. Expect:
- Physics puzzles (momentum, balance, timing)
- Elemental challenges (electric circuits, fire/ice interplay)
- Mazes and pathfinding
- Stealth sections (mostly DLC shrines)
That one shrine where you had to guide a giant metal ball through a maze using only Magnesis? Pure agony until I realized I could just flip the maze upside down over the gap. Felt like a genius... eventually.
Essential Mechanics You Can't Ignore for All Shrines in Breath of the Wild
It's not just about showing up. Some shrines demand specific actions or states.
The Blood Moon Shrine (Mijah Rokee): Near Dueling Peaks Stable. This shrine only physically appears on the plateau during a Blood Moon night. See the eerie red glow? That's your cue. Set your Sheikah Sensor+ beforehand! Missing this window means waiting.
Korsh O'hu Shrine (Wind Guide): Requires completing the "Trial of Thunder" shrine quest starting at Thundra Plateau (southwest of Ridgeland Tower). You need to manipulate lightning balls – rubber armor or Thunder Helm essential!
Shrine Quests are Mandatory: Many shrines are literally invisible until you trigger the quest. Talk to EVERYONE with a red exclamation point! The one at Lurelin Village where you have to gamble on the ball game? Took me five tries.
The DLC Factor: Champions' Ballad Shrines
The extra 16 shrines from The Champions' Ballad DLC are tied to specific challenges:
- One-Hit Obliterator Trial: Complete this brutal overworld challenge on the Great Plateau to unlock four new shrines there first. Dying sends you back to the start. Tense!
- Divine Beast Tamer Trials: For each Divine Beast you've freed, you'll get a new quest involving that Champion's ability, leading to three shrines per region (totaling 12 shrines). These often involve creative uses of Urbosa's Fury, Revali's Gale, etc. The Vah Naboris ones in the desert were particularly clever... and sandy.
My Top 5 Most Annoying Shrines to Find (and Why)
Based on pure frustration levels encountered during my hunts for all shrines in Breath of the Wild:
- Shora Hah (Blue Flame) - Hebra: Buried deep in a cave behind an ice wall northwest of Hebra Tower. Requires lighting blue flames through freezing winds. Finding the cave entrance alone is a chore.
- Mozo Shenno (A Major Test of Strength) - Thundra Plateau: You need to complete the plateau lightning puzzle just to MAKE IT APPEAR. The plateau itself is tricky to navigate during storms.
- Qukah Nata (Resolve and Grief) - Faron: Shrine quest involves getting struck by lightning at a specific spot on Calora Lake during a thunderstorm. Rubber armor or Thunder Helm highly recommended unless you enjoy getting fried repeatedly.
- Dah Kaso (Test of Will) - Great Hyrule Forest: Getting lost in the Lost Woods is standard. Finding the specific correct path that branches off to this shrine? Trial and error incarnate. Bring torches!
- Rona Kachta (Melting Ice Hazard) - Hebra: Located INSIDE an ice cave accessed by melting a giant ice block with a flame weapon near Hebra Plunge. Easy to miss the block entirely. I circled that mountain twice.
FAQs: Answering Your Burning Shrine Questions
Let's tackle the stuff everyone wants to know when tracking down all shrines in Breath of the Wild:
Q: Is there an in-game tracker for how many shrines I've completed?
A: Absolutely! Open your map. On the bottom left, you'll see "Shrines of Light Found: X / 120" (or X / 136 with DLC). This is your progress counter. Super helpful to check after clearing a region.
Q: What's the actual reward for finding all 120 (or 136) shrines?
A: Beyond the essential Spirit Orbs? For the base game 120 shrines: Completing them all earns you the Ancient Hero's Aspect armor set in the new Depths area after the Tears of the Kingdom DLC... wait, no! Breath of the Wild! For BOTW's 120 shrines, you get the Cap of the Wild, Tunic of the Wild, and Trousers of the Wild – Link's classic green outfit with solid defense. Finishing the additional 16 DLC shrines (part of the Champions' Ballad) rewards you with the Master Cycle Zero, a super fun ancient motorcycle! Totally worth the grind.
Q: Are there any missable shrines?
A: Thankfully, NO. No shrine is permanently missable due to story progression. You can always go back and find any shrine at any time before or after defeating Calamity Ganon. The Blood Moon shrine (Mijah Rokee) reappears every Blood Moon, so even if you miss it one night, you'll get another chance. Phew!
Q: What's the hardest shrine puzzle in the game?
A: Opinions vary wildly! Many players cite motion-control apparatus shrines like Myahm Agana (Apparatus) or Hila Rao (Driving Force) as particularly frustrating due to the controls. For pure puzzle complexity, DLC shrines like Rohta Chigah (Continuous Efforts) in the Champions' Ballad (the one with the moving spikes) are notoriously tough. My personal nemesis was always anything involving precise timing while carrying an object.
Q: What's the fastest way to find all shrines?
A: There's no magic shortcut, but here are the top efficiency tips from my multiple shrine hunts:
- Unlock ALL Towers First: Seeing the entire map is step zero. No exceptions.
- Sheikah Sensor+ is Mandatory: Upgrade it ASAP and set it to Shrines. Constantly.
- Tackle Regions Systematically: Clear one area at a time. Jumping around wastes time.
- Mark Suspicious Spots: See an odd pattern on a cliff? A lone platform? A suspicious rock? Mark it with a pin (or even better, the Shrine Quest icon) to investigate later.
- Talk to EVERY NPC: So many shrine quests start this way. Especially those Kass the Bard riddles! Listen to his accordion.
- Use Online Maps Sparingly: Try to find them yourself first for maximum satisfaction, but if you're truly stuck for hours, no shame in checking a shrine location map.
Shrine Rewards Beyond the Orbs: What's Actually Worth It
While the Spirit Orbs are the main prize, those chests inside shrines? Don't sleep on them, especially early on.
| Chest Content Type | Typical Items Found | Why It Matters | Early Game Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weapons | Traveler's, Soldier's, Knight's, Royal Gear; Ancient Battle Axes/Spears++ (Major Tests); Elemental Rods | Essential upgrades before facing tougher enemies/Lynels. Ancient Gear is great against Guardians. | High - Replace weak starter gear quickly. |
| Shields | Traveler's, Soldier's, Knight's Shields; Ancient Shield (Strong Tests) | Better defense & parry reliability. Ancient Shield auto-reflects Guardian beams! | Medium - Good shields help, but dodging is better early on. |
| Armor | Amber Earrings, Opal Earrings; Climber's Bandana; Barbarian Armor Pieces (Certain Shrines) | Amber/Opal Earrings give defense/water attack boost. Barbarian set is top-tier attack gear. | Very High - Barbarian pieces are game-changers. Earrings are decent early defense. |
| Arrows | Bundles of Arrows (5x, 10x); Fire/ Ice/ Shock/ Bomb Arrows (5x) | Essential ammo, especially elemental arrows for puzzles and weaknesses. | High - Arrows are always in demand. Elemental ones are expensive. |
| Materials | Diamonds, Rubies, Sapphires, Topazes, Star Fragments (Rare); Ancient Cores/Screws/Gears | Diamonds fund armor upgrades/house. Gems sell well. Ancient parts vital for Ancient Tech. | Varies - Sell gems early for rupees. Hoard Ancient parts! |
Final Reality Check: Is Finding All Shrines Worth It?
Look, chasing down every single one of those glowing orange beacons is a massive time commitment. We're talking dozens of hours just dedicated to the hunt. Is it worth it? Well, that depends.
The Good Stuff:
- You max out your hearts and stamina. This fundamentally changes how you play – surviving devastating hits and climbing/swimming anywhere effortlessly feels amazing.
- You see EVERY corner of Hyrule. Seriously, shrines force you into the most remote, breathtaking (and sometimes terrifying) locations you'd otherwise skip. The journey itself is stunning.
- The Wild Armor set looks cool and has good defense. The Master Cycle Zero from DLC is ridiculously fun to zoom around on.
- Massive sense of accomplishment. Completing all shrines in Breath of the Wild is a genuine badge of honor.
The Annoying Bits:
- It can get repetitive. Some shrine puzzles feel recycled. Some overworld quests to unlock them are tedious (escort missions, anyone?).
- A few shrines rely heavily on wonky motion controls. These can be frustrating enough to make you put the Switch down for a bit.
- Finding that last shrine when your counter reads 119/120 or 135/136 is notoriously agonizing. Double and triple-check those maps!
For me, the satisfaction of 100% shrine completion outweighed the grind and occasional frustration. Seeing that final cutscene with all the monks? Pretty epic. But I won't pretend every moment was pure joy. That motion control ball maze? Still gives me phantom frustration. Ultimately, if you love exploring Hyrule and relish a challenge, go for all shrines in Breath of the Wild. If you prefer focusing on the main story and major side quests, maybe just hunt enough shrines for hearts and stamina you feel comfortable with. No wrong way to play! Good luck out there, shrine hunter!