The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is easily one of the most ambitious titles to ever grace the franchise. Hyrule is bigger than we’ve ever seen it, stretching far and wide, with many locations and hidden treasures scattered about. Traditional dungeons are gone, replaced by elaborate (moving) Divine Beasts, and powerful mini-bosses who roam the countryside. It’s an experience too epic for words and it can be rather overwhelming the first time you adorn the Sheikah Slate.

For some, the wide world can be a bit intimidating. There is a main questline that will have you traveling to a variety of locations. Along the way, you’ll discover new gear, weapons, items, and abilities. By the time you’re ready to face Calamity Ganon, you’ll be a battle-hardened warrior. That being said, it’s entirely possible to bring down the dark lord without truly exploring Hyrule. Whether it’s your second playthrough or your first attempt, chances are you missed SOMETHING. Obtaining 100 percent completion in Breath of the Wild is no small task, and there are many hidden secrets and side quests that you probably don’t even know about.

Updated May 15, 2022, by Gabrielle Huston: The sequel to Breath of the Wild is coming out soon, and the building hype has plenty of players revisiting the original. Looking for things to keep you busy when you return to your save file? Look no further.

10 Hunt For The Giant Horse

  • Where To Get The Quest:
  • Mounted Archery Camp, Faron Grasslands
  • Quest Giver:
  • Straia
  • Prerequisite(s):
  • None

There are some interesting steeds that Link can command during his adventure throughout Hyrule. A lot of players will shuffle endlessly through the night to find themselves an elusive Stalhorse, but there is another equine that deserves just as much attention.

If you head to the Mounted Archery Camp and speak to Straia, he will tell you about a large horse that’s been roaming around the Taobab Grasslands. Link is tasked with taming and riding this monstrosity and you shouldn’t have a hard time finding the giant horse when you reach its whereabouts since it sticks out like a massive sore thumb. Once you manage to tame it, you can register it at a nearby stable (Highland Stable) to gain access to it for the rest of your adventure.

9 The Stolen Heirloom

  • Where To Get The Quest:
  • Impa’s House, Kakariko Village
  • Quest Giver:
  • Paya
  • Prerequisite(s):
  • Complete the quests: Find the Fairy Fountain, Flown the Coop, & By Firefly’s Light

Not all quests within Breath of the Wild have to do with obtaining powerful gear or extravagant items. There are some side quests that have you doing nominal tasks for small rewards. Take, for example, most of the quests in Kariko Village. Here, you’ll do things like corral chickens, catch fireflies, or cook a tasty stew. The completion of each quest will reward you with a small stash of rupees or a common item.

The real reward of Kariko Village comes from the completion of these little side quests. After helping some denizens, you’ll unlock access to a quest with a much more useful reward. The Stolen Heirloom side mission will allow you to uncover the hidden shrine that’s east of town. The quest itself is pretty straightforward, but the story behind it is actually pretty interesting. A lot of Breath of the Wild has you running, climbing, hacking, and slashing. This story-driven side quest is a refreshing change of pace.

8 The Thunder Helm

  • Where To Get The Quest:
  • Royal Palace, Gerudo Town
  • Quest Giver:
  • Riju
  • Prerequisite(s):
  • Complete the quests: Divine Beast Vah Naboris, Tools of the Trade, The Mystery Polluter, Medicinal Molduga, & The Search for Barta

Gerudo Village also has a slew of sidequests that have the Hylian hero performing all sorts of unique tasks. One quest has you collecting the guts of a mighty Molduga, while another (it’s a shrine quest too) has you toting a valuable ice block from deep within the desert to make a famous Gerudan drink. You’ll even cosplay as the police, by stopping a litterbug from tossing her trash around town.

After completing the main quest, ‘Divine Beast Vah Naboris,’ you can find the Thunder Helm on a pedastal in the royal palace. If you approach it, Riju asks if you want to “borrow” the helm. If you agree, she sends you to prove you deserve it by helping all the needy desert-dwelling NPCs. Once you’ve done the quests in Gerudo Village, this handy headwear is yours! It makes you lightning-proof, which comes in handy when you’re drudging through a thunderstorm or fighting those ever-annoying Electric Lizalfos.

7 Special Delivery

  • Where To Get The Quest:
  • Bank of Wishes, Zora’s Domain
  • Quest Giver:
  • Finley
  • Prerequisite(s):
  • Complete the quest: Divine Beast Vah Ruta

Link is a man of few words, but many sounds. He’s also a hopeless romantic, as evident by this side quest. This random mission has you escorting a love letter down a rapid-filled river, waiting for it to fatefully arrive at its recipient.

The quest is noble, but the premise is a little creepy. For one, the love letter is being sent by a rather small Zora, but it’s received by an adult travelling merchant. The quest itself is pretty straightforward, but it can be a bit annoying to complete.

6 The Eighth Heroine

  • Where To Get The Quest:
  • Gerudo Desert, outside Gerudo Town
  • Quest Giver:
  • Bozai
  • Prerequisite(s):
  • Wearing the Gerudo Set

If you’ve been down to Gerudo Town, you’ve probably noticed how annoyingly slow Link moves in sand. It’s not his fault, he just doesn’t have the proper footwear for such arid conditions. If you want to pick up the pace, you’ll need some Sand Boots. Thankfully, there’s a nearby quest-giver with a shiny pair that you can obtain.

Bozai can be found running laps around the perimeter of Gerudo Village. You can get the quest if you talk to him while wearing the armour that makes people think you’re a woman. You’ll be tasked with locating and photographing a fabled statue. The statue itself sits high on a Gerudan peak, surrounded by piles of deep snow. When you start the quest, Bozai will give you Snow Boots to help you get there (they function the same as Sand Boots, but for snow). When you finally finish the quest, you’ll return Bozai’s Snow Boots and obtain the Sand Boots.

5 The Secret Club’s Secret

  • Where To Get The Quest:
  • Gerudo Town, Gerudo Desert
  • Quest Giver:
  • Greta
  • Prerequisite(s):
  • Complete the quest:
  • Forbidden City Entry

Not all gossip is a bad thing, as you’ll learn from a peculiar quest within Gerudo Town. Hidden down a back alleyway is an inconspicuous door which requires a password to bypass. The doorwoman will quiz you on the sequence of letters (and one shape) before letting you in. In order to find out this password, you’ll need to “overhear” some town gossip. There’s no better place for ranting and raving than a bar.

Once you have the password, you’ll gain entry to the “secret club” behind the door. The shopkeeper here sells two unique sets of armor: the Desert Voe Set and the Radiant Set. The Radiant Set is glow-in-the-dark, and the Desert Voe Set is super fashionable. It even has the added bonus of increasing your attack power with bone weapons, while simultaneously attracting skeletal enemies.

4 A Shady Customer

  • Where To Get The Quest:
  • East Akkala Stable, Deep Akkala
  • Quest Giver:
  • Hoz
  • Prerequisite(s):
  • Camera Rune

At times, you’ll notice your inventory is overflowing with monster parts. Horns, claws, teeth, and sometimes even guts, can quickly pile up if you find yourself raiding camps and defeating mini-bosses. You’ve most likely made a few elixirs or even sold some parts during times of financial struggle, but one unique side quest will offer you much more for your hoarded trophies. Once you receive the quest from Hoz, travel to a skull-shaped island near Deep Akkala, in the northernmost part of the world map. Look out for the big, cobbled-together hot air balloon on the western eye island.

There, at night (9 pm to 5 am), you’ll find a mysterious merchant named Kilton. This will give you access to the Fang and Bone shop, and allow you to trade your monster parts for a special currency. Kilton offers the visually stunning Dark Link armor, as well as some other useful monster-tricking items. After this first encounter, Kilton isn’t found on this island anymore. Rather, he’ll appear between 9 pm and 5 am outside every major village. Keep an eye out in the sky for his balloon if you want to trade!

3 A Gift From The Monks

  • Where To Get The Quest:
  • In the last Ancient Shrine you complete, then go to the Forgotten Temple
  • Quest Giver:
  • Monk
  • Prerequisite(s):
  • Complete all 120 Ancient Shrines

Armor-equipping in Breath of the Wild takes some getting used to. We’re accustomed to seeing Link in one outfit (with some color variants), so it’s strange to see him changing armor types and designs on the fly. Through your travels, you’ll find elaborate costumes, heavy plated armors, and even monster masks, but you may find yourself craving that original Legend of Zelda ensemble.

If you have all the Legend of Zelda Link Amiibo, you can try on any classic outfit your heart desires. For those of us that don’t have access to these small statues, there is one hidden in-game alternative. This is one of the best side quests in BoTW if you’re looking for some nostalgia. The ‘Hero of the Wild’ armor set can be obtained by completing all 120 shrines found throughout Hyrule and then returning to the Forgotten Temple. It’s an arduous task indeed, but the armor is actually quite powerful when upgraded.

2 Stranded On Eventide

  • Where To Get The Quest:
  • Eventide Island, the Necluda Sea
  • Quest Giver:
  • Eventide Island
  • Prerequisite(s):
  • None

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is nothing short of challenging. It’s easily one of the hardest titles within the franchise and it can be downright punishing to an inexperienced player. Some enemies will rip you to shreds, while hazardous conditions can wear you down. As you progress through the game, you’ll find yourself growing and adapting. By the end of the journey, you’re a battle-hardened hero.

There is one shrine challenge, though, that will test your mettle like no other. Eventide Island, located far southeast on the map, will strip Link of all of his weapons and armor, forcing you to scavenge a small area for items and protection. You’ll need to complete three tasks (including killing a Hinox mini-boss) and dying will force you to start from the beginning.

1 From The Ground Up

  • Where To Get The Quest:
  • Hateno Village, East Necluda
  • Quest Giver:
  • Hudson
  • Prerequisite(s):
  • Hylian Homeowner

This is the one side quest you NEED to do. It is arguably the best side quest in the game and easily the most worthwhile. It’s quests like these that made the original 3D Zelda releases such a fun and engaging journey. You’ll find yourself travelling the world, engaging with NPCs, and directly influencing a beautiful story of togetherness.

To receive the sidequest, “From The Ground Up,” you’ll need to own the home in Hateno Village. With nothing left to build, Bolson will send one of his crewmen, Hudson, on a surveying mission to the Akkala region. You’ll find Hudson again near Lake Akkala, and after finishing the quest, you’ll have created a new shopping area called Tarrey Town. Here you can purchase low-priced goods, a special armor set, and buyback rare items like the Hylian Shield.

NEXT: Breath Of The Wild: Recipes Everyone Should Know How To Cook