A novice's roadmap for initial steps in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

With the vastness of the map and the multitude of activities in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, it’s natural to feel uncertain about where to begin. Even if your intention is to concentrate solely on the main storyline, the allure of side quests, treasure hunts, and the insights of other travelers eager to recommend places to explore will likely pull your attention in various directions.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, there’s no need to worry. This introductory guide outlines the initial steps to take in Tears of the Kingdom, highlighting improvements that enhance your travel experience and essential mechanics that will support you throughout your journey.

Make sure you have the Archaic Warm Greaves before you exit the starting zone.

In Tears of the Kingdom, dealing with cold temperatures is crucial, so having the appropriate gear is essential. While exploring the Great Sky Island, you’ll find the Zonai Dispenser located on the eastern part of the map. As you make your way there, near the Bottomless Cave, you’ll notice a gigantic tree that has been sliced in half, which you can enter.

Image credit: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo

In that location, you will discover a chest that holds the Archaic Warm Greaves, accompanied by various useful items. These greaves not only have an appealing design, but they also provide protection against cold. If you happen to overlook them, you can return to collect them later, but it’s advisable to pick them up now to avoid an extra journey. Additionally, the Archaic Tunic can be found on the Great Sky Island, but be aware that it does not offer cold resistance.

This piece of armor will be incredibly beneficial for your upcoming adventures, particularly if you’re planning to visit Rito Village. We were so impressed with it that we included it on our specialized best armor page, where we highlight other armor pieces and sets worth your attention.

Once you arrive, make your way to the Castle Ruins.

Once the tutorial concludes, you may feel inclined to wander and discover the surroundings. Although this is certainly a reasonable desire, it’s advisable to stick to the primary quest and head to the Castle Ruins when directed.

When you get back to Lookout Landing, Purah will provide you with information on how to obtain the paraglider, an essential tool for your adventure. It’s important to have it before venturing into the wilderness!

Explore Lookout Landing (and keep coming back for more).

Lookout Landing is the initial village you encounter for a reason. While Hyrule is vast, this central hub plays a crucial role in the overall experience.

From the very beginning, engaging in conversation with Purah after being assigned the mission to explore the four primary regions will result in her marking these locations on your map. Speaking with Robbie will provide various insights regarding the capabilities of your Purah Pad. Over time, a Refinery will become accessible, and the armor pieces available in the clothing shop will change based on your advancement in the main storyline.

Essentially, be sure to visit Lookout Landing at the earliest opportunity, and then return periodically to engage in conversations with the key characters.

Image credit: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo as reported by Polygon.

Engage with these altars to simplify your life.

You don’t have to fully finish a shrine to activate a fast travel location to it. In Tears of the Kingdom, simply engaging with the shrine is enough.

Always take the time to engage with the shrines scattered throughout Hyrule, even if you’re not ready to solve the puzzles they contain at the moment. This is particularly beneficial for areas you’re merely passing through, as it will simplify your return to those locations in the future. Furthermore, for places lacking a direct fast travel point, you will often find a nearby shrine that you can activate, making navigation throughout the world much more convenient.

Here are several recommendations for shrines that serve as convenient fast travel locations in the early stages:

• Kyonosis Shrine: Located along the path to the Castle Ruins, it’s perfect for the unavoidable retracing of steps.
• Ekochiu Shrine is located to the northeast of Lookout Landing, near the Woodland Stable.
• Makasura Shrine is located to the east of Hyrule Field, just before reaching Kakariko Village, making it an excellent location for quick travel to the town.
• Sinakawak Shrine: Located to the northwest of Lookout Landing, it offers a convenient route to New Serenne Stable.
• Orochium Shrine: Located to the north close to the Tabantha Tundra, it serves as a useful waypoint for accessing the Snowfield Stable.

Make your way to this tower.

Once you unlock Skyview Towers in Lookout Landing, I suggest making your way northwest to Lindor’s Brow Skyview Tower, located at the coordinates (-1903, 1243, 0297). Simply follow the main road leading to Hyrule Ridge, and continue north until you find the tower situated on the hill.

This region is ideal for exploration in the initial stages of your gameplay, as the foes are relatively manageable and resources are abundant. Additionally, you’ll be closer to Rito Village, simplifying your future visit.

Starting from that point, you have the option to approach the towers either slowly or in rapid succession, as soon as you can. Regardless of the method you choose, you will be benefiting yourself both in the short term and in the long term, particularly as you will also be revealing the aerial section of the map.

Image credit: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo as reported by Polygon.

Visit the New Serenne Stable.

The stable located at Lookout Landing isn’t accessible immediately, but there’s an alternative close by that can assist you. New Serenne Stable can be located at the coordinates (-1349, 0736, 0085), just by taking the main road that heads northwest from Lookout Landing. If you’re heading towards Lindor’s Brow, you will come across it along the way.

The New Serenne Stable is an excellent initial location to register a horse, simplifying your journey along the roads as you learn to construct Zonai devices. Additionally, stables serve as fantastic meeting points for other adventurers eager to exchange tips on treasures and quests.

The key aspect is that engaging in conversation with the staff member at the counter will initiate the Pony Points system, providing a variety of rewards, including a harness for your horse and a complimentary ticket for a stay at the stables.

Conquering the primary story temples offers a benefit in navigation.

The four primary areas of Hyrule are facing distinct environmental challenges that complicate movement. Fortunately, by finishing the main story temples, you can eliminate the dangers present in each of the main villages.

We suggest beginning your journey in Rito Village. When you visit Lookout Landing, Purah will advise you to explore the Rito region first, and there’s a solid rationale behind this. Provided you have equipped the top armor to withstand the northern blizzard, the challenges you encounter will be manageable for newcomers. Additionally, without revealing the specifics, the reward you’ll receive after completing the Wind Temple is certainly worthwhile to seek out before tackling the other three.

When it comes to deciding your next destination after Rito Village, the choice is yours. However, our recommended sequence for the Regional Phenomena can provide some assistance if you’re looking for direction.

Obtain Link’s remaining skill at the earliest opportunity.

As you explore the vastness of Hyrule, you’ll discover a missing slot in your abilities wheel. This absent ability is — spoiler alert — Autobuild, which you can acquire by completing Robbie’s questline, a key part of the main storyline. Once you get the task to assist the four main regions, don’t forget to speak with Robbie in Lookout Landing.

Image credit: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo as reported by Polygon.

You will then embark on your initial journey through the Depths during the quest aptly named “Camera Work in the Depths.” As you progress, you will unlock a second quest, “A Mystery in The Depths,” which will introduce you to the Autobuild feature. This ability is highly beneficial to focus on, as it enables you to create Zonai structures from blueprints, eliminating the need to manually gather and combine materials each time.

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