Hyrule Sightseeing: The Hottest Spots to Visit in Tears of the Kingdom
Much like its predecessor, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s world is both incredibly large and unfathomably dense given. With the playable map effectively more than doubling in size since Breath of the Wild with the introduction of the depths, sky islands, and numerous surface caves, there’s a good chance many players might miss some of the really cool locations which are tucked away in one corner or another. But that’s what we’re here for, to guide you to some of the coolest places you might not have been to.
Yiga Clan Hideout
(-3694, -1368, 0331) (Gerudo Mountain Region)
If you remember the stealthy infiltration mission from Breath of the Wild’s Vah Naboris quest line, then you’ll know where this is, though Tears of the Kingdom has a decidedly different take on the location. For easiest access, start at Kudanisar Shrine in the north/central Gerudo Desert, the one surrounded by constructs and sand flowing southward. Glide north from the shrine, past the source of the flowing sand, and into the canyon up ahead. You’ll know you’re on the right track if you see a half-finished stone slab car leaning against a rock. Obviously the game is very subtly suggesting you should finish the car and take it with you as you go further into the canyon, though for maximum style points, we recommend you attach rockets to the car as well regardless of practicality. Keep going into the canyon and eventually you’ll find a door with the entrance to the hideout. The door won’t open for you unless you’ve found the full Yiga armor set, but if you do have it, you’ll be welcomed inside as part of the gang and get access to tons of goodies, including purchasable eightfold blades and duplex bows, the storm-proof lightning helm, and the badass (if not always particularly practical) earthwake scroll. Frankly, it’s really cool to see something like this in a Zelda game, infiltrating an enemy faction peacefully and getting to take advantage of all of their stuff. And it goes to show how thoroughly Nintendo recontextualized the game’s map that an area once reserved for a stealth section is now a permanent settlement of its own.
Great Abandoned Central Mine
(-0821, -1940, -0523) (Central Hyrule Depths)
The depths are home to a bunch of abandoned mines, but none quite as big or quite as cool as this, as evidenced by the fact that it gets its own fast travel point. To get here, I’d recommend starting on the surface rather than in the depths, as this will provide an easy point of reference, especially if you’ve played Breath of the Wild. The mine can be found directly beneath that game’s starting area, the Great Plateau. In a cool nod, the Great Plateau of this game has four chasms into the depths, each one located in the same spot as one of the four tutorial shrines in Breath of the Wild. Take one of these chasms down and proceed to the center of the plateau, with some of the chasms dropping you near minecart rails you can ride along on the way. I’d also recommend activating the nearby Koradat Lightroot, on an elevated cliff towards the south side of the inverse plateau, so that it’s easier to make out your surroundings. You’ll definitely know the mine in question when you see it: it’s a huge white building with some constructs and some shady-seeming researchers. Be on your guard while in the area: this mine features a very cool power you can’t find anywhere else, but also a fairly challenging fight. I’ll let you discover for yourself what exactly each of those entail.
Yiga Blademaster Station
(-2428, -1822, 0147) (Gerudo Canyon)
Well, what do you know, the Yiga Clan shows up again. You can hardly blame us though; these lovably goofy villains have been made into one of the best parts of Tears of the Kingdom, with their cool depths fortresses and their ability to make ultrahand contraptions just like yours. But have you ever dreamt of joining the ranks of their commanders, the blademasters? Well those dreams can be a reality if you make your way to this very tucked-away spot. The entrance is very easy to miss, so I’d recommend you start from the Gerudo Canyon skyview tower. Don’t shoot yourself out of the top; you’ll have more than enough height from the mountain the tower stands on. Look to the north towards the waterfall and glide towards it. Don’t do this wearing Zora armor, because you’ll want to glide through the waterfall, not up it. Behind the waterfall, you should see a narrow cavern carved out of the cliffside. Look around in here and you’ll find a small wooden door guarded by two frog statues. Enter the door wearing the full Yiga outfit and you’ll be sent on your quest to become one of Master Kohga’s best.
The Giant Horse
(0800, -3719, 0080) (Faron Grassland)
While Tears of the Kingdom does let you keep all of your unique steeds from Breath of the Wild, more horses can never hurt, and Tears of the Kingdom introduces a second giant horse, a lovable but temperamental big guy great for running over enemies and small woodland creatures across Hyrule. The new giant horse can be found in an area that Breath of the Wild players will remember as the location of the Horse God, the mystical fairy-like deity who could revive your fallen horses. But the Horse God has since found new stomping grounds in Akkala, leaving the little ravine in which he once resided vacant but for the new giant horse. To get there, start at the Highland Stable in Faron Grassland and follow the road southward, preferably on a horse for thematic consistency. When the path splits in the canyon, go east (your left) and follow the road until it ends. Here you’ll find a lovely little lake enshrining the legendary giant horse itself. Careful, though; don’t try to tame it unless you’ve got a lot of stamina or at least some stamina-restoring mid-rodeo snacks. The big guy won’t make taming him easy. It’s worth it, though, to befriend this majestic creature.
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