Why fight Ganon when you could do art instead?

Breath of the Wild is a versatile game full of compelling narratives, interesting npc’s, and plenty of fun things to do and see. The game’s open world concept gives players a lot more freedom in exploring the world and its story, however there are a few things that should be done first for the best experience. Here’s a list of the top 10 things players should do first in the game.

 

1. Claim Your First Tower

The best place for a bird’s-eye view of Hyrule that doesn’t involve plummeting through the sky 

The Great Plateau Tower is a great starting point for new and old players, immersing people in not only the mechanics but also the story of Breath of the Wild and the world that it encompasses. It is a physical marker of the beginning of Link’s incredible journey to save Hyrule.

Why Do This First:

Not only is it a big achievement for starting players, but claiming this Tower gives Link his first section of map on his Sheikah Slate. It also provides players a first glimpse at the wide world of Hyrule beyond the Great Plateau so they can see everywhere they will soon be able to go - definitely one of the best examples of a bird’s-eye view.

Just be aware that a few Bokoblin camps are scattered around the Tower. While they aren’t guarding it like with some of the other Towers, for new players who stray too far from the path this can be a bigger threat than anticipated, so it’s good to be alert and aware of your surroundings whenever approaching a Tower unless you wanna get whacked. 

 

2. Use a Cooking Pot

A filling meal is in your future, as long as you don’t set your ingredients on fire

As Link travels further across Hyrule, he will come across cooking pots scattered throughout the landscape. These evoke both a cozy atmosphere and a sense of safety and reliability. With cooking pots, mushrooms and fruits and meat that Link collects have the chance to become tasty dishes.

Why Do This First:

Cooking pots allow Link to access once of the most interesting and unique game mechanics seen in an open world combat/adventure game. As you can probably imagine, cooking pots grant Link the ability to cook, which can increase Link’s stats but also restore hearts, both very useful in Breath of the Wild. They also allow Link to sit at them in order to pass time - a helpful option when the nights seem particularly long or you're eager to start a nighttime Bokoblin Camp raid.

Cooking pots can be found at stables, towns, and other inhabited areas across Hyrule - even in enemy campsites. While campfires can be used to cook food, cooking pots allow Link to make complex recipes with up to five ingredients, which will provide a much bigger boost in the resulting stats. If not already lit, cooking pots can be lit by holding a source of flame next to them, such as a Fire Arrow or Flameblade, or by striking a piece of flint next to it with a metal weapon, but be careful because the fire will go out if it rains, rendering a cooking pot unusable until the rain stops.

 

3. Go to Dueling Peaks Stable

A taste of pastoral comfort in the midst of a century-old battlefield

Personally, my favorite aspect of Breath of the Wild are the stables. They’re a place of safety populated with characters like Kass the Rito musician, Beedle the wandering merchant, and Pikango the artist. Whether Link is in need of a cooking pot to replenish his meals inventory, a chance to take a horse out for a ride, or just a much-deserved rest after a long day of traveling and fighting, stables are a prime location for in-game rest and relaxation.

Why Do This First:

Dueling Peaks Stable is the first stable players will come across, offering not only a place of safety but also a place to learn more about the world and some of its mechanics such as horse taming and cooking. Except for King Rhoam and the odd traveler, Dueling Peaks Stable is also the first real settlement Link will find where he can interact with the people living in Hyrule.

It’s easy to feel alone in the vast, post-apocalyptic world of Hyrule. Stables, however, dispel that sense of loneliness, offering opportunities for Link to restock, rest, and participate in various side quests as well. While cozy, they are also convenient: say you left your horse to go wander along a mountain range as I often did - just go to the nearest stable and you can use it to take out the horse who might be hundreds of miles away and teleport them back to your side in a matter of seconds.

 

4. Unlock the Ha Dahmar Shrine

Finally, a shrine that gives Link the chance to chill - quite literally

While not the first Shrine players will unlock, the Ha Dahamar Shrine is located in an idyllic pond at the base of the Dueling Peaks surrounded by spikes. Yes, you heard me. Spikes.

Why Do This First:

The Ha Dahmar Shrine is important for one primary reason: its proximity to a stable. As players will discover, there is a Shrine conveniently located near every stable in the game, giving Link an easy way to jump across Hyrule, be that to reach a specific place, take out a horse, or to collect materials scattered around the stable in question. This Shrine introduces the concept of fast travel between other Shrines which is a very handy mechanic for when running all the way to Gerudo Town in hot, shifting sand feels a bit like just a bit too much on the day’s agenda. 

In order to activate a Shrine as a teleportation point, you don’t even have to clear the Shrine - simply activate the first module as seen in the above photo and you’re good to go. Paraglide over the spikes that surround Ha Dahamar’s base and be sure to have your cryonis rune out for the puzzles that await you inside.

 

5. Get a Horse

Never will Link not spook at least one horse

Whether you’re a horse fan or just a fan of quick and convenient travel in games, horses are a must-have in Breath of the Wild. Just be careful not to spook them and make sure to give them lots of pets and apples to strengthen your bond. The fact that you can pet your horses is always a win in any game, in my biased opinion.

Why Do This First:

Having Dueling Peaks Stable as the first stable players arrive at isn’t a coincidence - it is also home to several wild horses that roam the fields behind the stable, although keep an eye out for monsters and the rare active Guardian half-buried in the ground. Traveling by Shrine and Tower teleportation is quick and convenient, but the true Breath of the Wild experience comes in having a horse of your own to gallop across the Akkala Region, through Faron Jungle, or toward sea-side Lurelin Village.

Stealth and stamina are required for taming horses, as well as patience. A few side quests involve horses, such as Royal White Stallion or Hunt for the Giant Horse, which allow you the opportunity to get special horses in the game different from the regular wild horses Link can tame like those found near the Dueling Peaks Stable. What’s even more fun is that the Lord of the Mountain found on Satori Mountain can be calmed and ridden like a regular horse, although it cannot be registered at a stable and will disappear soon after Link dismounts - still makes for a good photo op though!

 

6. Go to Kakariko Village

A windy valley perfect for getting roped into endless games of tag

In contrast to the monster-riddled countryside full of ruined structures abandoned long ago, Kakariko Village is a warm place full of people and life. It’s an excellent first stop for rookie players and always brings me a sense of nostalgia and peace in every new playthrough.

Why Do This First:

A character named Impa lives in Kakariko Village, and it’s only by talking to her that players are able to progress onto the main story. Kakariko Village is also the first large settlement apart from Dueling Peaks Stable and monster camps that players will likely encounter. It’s here that Link can peruse the general store, shop for clothes, and take a well-earned rest at the local inn.

Not only are there valuable resources and important plot elements in Kakariko Village, there is also a shrine and a Great Fairy Fountain up on the cliff beside the village which grants Link the chance to obtain another Spirit Orb and unlock the ability to upgrade his armor respectively.

 

7. Participate in the Cucco Side Quest

Cuccos: the alternative paraglider

One of Impa’s guards, Cado, has lost all his precious Cuccos! For a fifty-rupee award, it’s Link’s job to find them and bring them home, in the side quest Flown the Coop. Fun and simple, this is a great way to get a better look at Kakariko Village.

Why Do This First:

While some players might not find this quest exciting, I still recommend it for those who enjoy climbing and clambering across every possible surface and especially for those who recognize the Cuccos from previous Legend of Zelda games. It’s a taste of nostalgia, and the Cuccos are just plain funny when you pick them up, so I find my enjoyment outweighs any possible tediousness when it comes to this side quest.

Don’t be afraid to go on roofs, inside sheds, or up near the Tal’oh Naeg Shrine when searching for the missing Cuccos. One is even located in a plum garden - but be wary, because if Mellie is standing guard in her garden, she won’t let you in to snatch up the Cucco so you’ll have to wait until she’s gone or use the campfire to advance to nighttime. Also, if you jump off a high place like a roof or cliff while holding a Cucco, you’ll fly for a little bit.

 

8. Collect Korok Seeds

“We’re technically inside the Great Deku Tree’s Stomach, you know. Try not to think too hard about it.” - a certain Korok having an existential crisis

Players will likely see strange metallic blocks, incomplete rock circles, or glowing streaks of leaves and petals darting about as they travel across Hyrule. These puzzles along with numerous others belong to the elusive Korok Spirits, who upon being found - whether that’s picking up a rock or completing the puzzle - will gift you a Korok Seed.

Why Do This First:

These adorable little Spirits grant you a shot of Dopamine every time you find them, and the Seeds are a valuable resource too. As Link gets stronger and increases his number of Heart Vessels and Stamina Wheel, the option to increase your number of weapon inventory slots is incredibly helpful. It’s good to get started on collecting Korok Seeds early, so be sure to pick up any rocks placed on the tops of mountains or large trees and look out for formations in the environment that don’t seem like they naturally belong there.

Once you have enough Korok Seeds, you can stop to see a large Korok named Hestu located along the road to Kakariko Village in West Necluda and complete a side quest to retrieve his infamous red maracas. Hestu is a Korok capable of exchanging Seeds for extra inventory space for weapons, bows, and shields after a fantastic musical number. After the second inventory upgrade, Hestu will relocate to three locations: near the Riverside Stable, north of Owlan Bridge; near the Wetlands Stable, northeast of the Bottomless Swamp; and near the Woodland Stable, near Pico Pond. After six more inventory upgrades, he will move to his final and permanent location in Korok Village.

 

9. See Sidon

“Yes, you are the greatest of Hylians and my most treasured friend of all time!”

Prince of the Zora Domain, Sidon is a fan favorite and an easily recognizable character from Breath of the Wild. Link’s number one cheerleader, Sidon is a breath of fresh air in a new world where most things prove to be unfamiliar and oftentimes dangerous.

Why Do This First:

In my own playthrough, I visited Kakariko Village first and then traveled up to the Zora Domain, finding Sidon at the top of Lanayru Tower where he eagerly recruited me in a quest to help his people. It felt natural and it was especially refreshing to encounter a character so lively and animated in a world left desolate by Calamity Ganon. Although Breath of the Wild is an amazing game due to the sheer freedom of its open world concept - allowing players to go anywhere they desire and visit any region first on a whim - I quite enjoyed having Sidon and the Zora Domain at the start of my playthrough and so I recommend it to all players.

There are many monsters littered along the river and road to the Zora Domain, so be alert and make sure you have some arrows and a couple weapons to spare for the occasional fights you can’t evade. Sidon is always eager to sing your praises so if you need an ego boost after a difficult fight, just pay the Zora Domain a visit.

 

10. Find a Shooting Star

In this case, it’s good to follow the light

How many of you have experienced the delight of looking up in the night sky only to see a shooting star go past, quick as a blink? For those of us who have had the honor of spotting one, we know that it’s a beautiful sight, and maybe even just a little magical. Players will be excited to hear that finding the fragments of shooting stars is in fact a reality in Breath of the Wild.

Why Do This First:

Locating shooting stars is a fun and exciting time for anyone. Shooting stars sell well and can be used in cooking, but they also encourage players to climb high for the best vantage points and scramble across miles of forests and hills that might’ve gone unexplored otherwise. While rare, when one does fall, there’s no reason except perhaps distance to deter a player from gallivanting across the Hyrulian countryside in pursuit of a shooting star fragment. 

For the best outcome, be sure to get somewhere high, like a Tower or a mountaintop, and keep your eyes peeled for a falling streak of light against the nighttime sky. It doesn’t always happen, but it’s unmistakable when it does, and leaves a thin beam of light in it’s place for Link to follow. Be quick though! Shooting stars only last until morning, so be sure to place down a marker with your Sheikah Slate and sprint or glide on over before it disappears. 

 

In conclusion, Breath of the Wild is a flexible and unique game where if the whim to climb up a mountain strikes you, the only thing that would get in your way is the rain. It forges an incredible atmosphere, perfectly capturing the isolation of what it feels like to wake up alone without any of your memories, and the beauty in the bonds that are formed as you traverse the different regions, meet new  people. Link’s journey of survival becomes a lesson in how to live again, both for himself and for us. Through Link you become someone different, someone stronger, and there’s truly no right way to accomplish this, meaning players can become the Champion of Hyrule in the way that best suits them, but if you’re still a little unsure, well, here’s a guide to help you out.

 

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