Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Guide: Shrines, Fusions & Armor
Key Takeaways
- You can complete over 50 shrines in the first 10 hours by focusing on the Great Sky Island and Hyrule Field regions.
- Fusion is the most powerful mechanic—combine a base weapon with a monster part for 2x damage or unique effects.
- The Fierce Deity armor set (attack up) is best for combat, while the Zora set (swim speed up) is essential for water traversal.
- Full walkthrough: prioritize the main quests up to "Crisis at Hyrule Castle" before exploring the Depths.
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Getting Started: Your First 10 Hours in Tears of the Kingdom
If you just started *Tears of the Kingdom*, forget everything you know from *Breath of the Wild*. This game throws you into the sky with no warning. I spent my first hour falling off islands and dying to construct heads. Here’s how to survive.
Shrine Locations: Where to Find Them Fast
Shrines are your main source of Light of Blessing (for heart/stamina upgrades). There are 152 in total, but you only need about 20 to feel powerful early on.
- Great Sky Island: 7 shrines. Start with *In-isa Shrine* (right after the tutorial) for the Ultrahand ability. Then *Gutanbac Shrine* for the Combat Training—it teaches you how to parry, which saves you from Lynels later.
- Hyrule Field: 12 shrines scattered around the central area. Look for the *Kyonosis Shrine* near Outskirt Stable—it’s a simple combat shrine that gives you a free weapon.
- Hebra Mountains: 4 shrines, but only go here if you have cold-resistant armor. The *Motsa-Nisa Shrine* is hidden in a cave; bring a torch.
Pro tip: Use the Sensor+ upgrade (from Robbie at Hateno Village) to track shrines. It costs 3 Ancient Blades, but it’s worth it.
Weapon Fusion: The Only Combos That Matter
Fusion lets you attach monster parts, gems, or even other weapons to your base weapon. It’s not just for damage—it changes the weapon’s behavior.
| Base Weapon | Fused Item | Effect | Damage (approx) |
| ------------- | ------------ | -------- | ----------------- |
| Traveler’s Sword | Lynel Horn | +15 attack, sharp edge | 25 base, 40 total |
| Zora Spear | Sapphire | Freeze on hit, -10 durability | 20 base, 35 total |
| Boko Bow | Keese Eyeball | Homing arrows, no headshot needed | 15 base, 30 total |
| Tree Branch | Flame Emitter | Fire damage over time | 5 base, 20 total |
My favorite early combo: Take a Zora Spear (from Zora’s Domain) and fuse a Lizalfos Tail. It gives you long reach and 35 damage. Plus, when you’re wet (thanks to Sidon’s ability), damage doubles to 70. It’s broken.
Armor Sets: Which to Upgrade First
Armor in TotK is split into sets (3 pieces each). Upgrading at a Great Fairy gives set bonuses. Here’s the priority list:
1. Fierce Deity Set (from the *King of the Mountain* quest) – Attack Up +50%. Best for all combat. Get it before your first Lynel fight.
2. Zora Set (from Mipha’s statue quest) – Swim Speed Up and Swim Dash Stamina Up. Essential for navigating rivers and lakes. The chest piece is hidden underwater near Zora’s Domain.
3. Stealth Set (Sheikah Set, sold in Kakariko Village) – Silent movement and night speed up. Great for sneakstrikes and farming bugs.
4. Climbing Set (from the Rito Village quest) – Climb speed +20%. Use it for the main sky islands.
Don’t upgrade: The *Ancient Hero’s Aspect* set. It looks cool, but the defense is low, and the set bonus (charge attack up) is useless compared to attack up.
Full Walkthrough: Main Quests in Order
Here’s the optimal route to avoid confusion:
1. Great Sky Island: Complete all 7 shrines, get the Paraglider from Purah, then jump down to Hyrule.
2. Crisis at Hyrule Castle: Head to Lookout Landing, talk to Purah, then investigate the castle. Don’t fight the Gloom Hands—just run and grab the Hylian Shield (hidden in a locked room).
3. Regional Phenomena: Visit each race (Zora, Goron, Rito, Gerudo) in any order. I recommend Rito first for the *Tulin* ability (wind gust for gliding).
4. The Depths: After the four regions, go to the Great Plateau’s Abandoned Mine. Bring Brightbloom Seeds (100+) and a 40+ damage weapon. You’ll fight the Demon King’s army here.
5. Final Battle: Head to the Depths under Hyrule Castle. The final boss has 3 phases. Use the Master Sword (it glows in the Depths) and Fierce Deity armor.
A mistake I made: I explored the Depths too early (right after the sky islands). Don’t do that. You need at least 10 hearts and a good bow. The Gloom damage reduces your max HP permanently until you eat a Sunshroom.
FAQ
How many shrines are in Tears of the Kingdom?
152 shrines total. 120 on the surface, 32 in the sky. You need to complete 114 to max out hearts and stamina (assuming you use the 4 Blessings from the main quests). The fastest way to find them is to activate all Skyview Towers and use the Sensor+ upgrade.
What is the best weapon fusion for early game?
The best early fusion is a Zora Spear + a Blue Lizalfos Tail. You get the spear from a chest in Zora’s Domain (near the throne room). The tail drops from any blue Lizalfos in Hyrule Field. This combo gives 35 damage, long reach, and doubles to 70 when you’re wet. It carries you through the first 20 hours.
Do I need to play Breath of the Wild first?
Not really. TotK has a tutorial that teaches you all new mechanics (Ultrahand, Fuse, Ascend). The story stands alone, but you’ll miss some references (like the sages from BOTW). If you want context, watch a 10-minute recap on YouTube. Otherwise, jump in. The game is designed for newcomers.