When the first few trailers for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild released, numerous features immediately stood out. One such feature was the game's open world, which promised to offer a level of freedom that the Zelda series hadn't seen since the original game back in 1986. One aspect that exemplifies Breath of the Wild's openness is the climbing mechanic, which lets players scale almost any vertical surface in the game.
Another new feature was the huge range of customizable gear. Thankfully, there is climbing gear that will greatly improve the player's ability to scale the game's hills, buildings, and mountains. There are three pieces of climbing-related gear to find in Breath of the Wild, which make up the Climbing Set and provide a bonus when worn together.
Climbing Gear Location
The Climbing Gear can be found in the Chaas Qeta Shrine. The shrine is located on Tenoko Island, which is in the Necluda Sea southwest of Hateno Village. The area is too far to swim to, even with a well-upgraded stamina meter. Instead, use a raft, or glide off one of the surrounding hilltops.
The shrine is one of the game's many Major Test of Strength challenges, with a guardian lying in wait. Defeat the guardian, and open the chest at the end of the shrine to get the Climbing Gear.
Climber’s Bandana Location
Players can find the Climber’s Bandana in the Ree Dahee Shrine, which is located in Dueling Peaks. The shrine is a bit tricky to spot, so it's worth enabling the Sheikah Sensor to help find it.
The Climber's Bandana is in a chest within the Ree Dahee Shrine. Players can reach this chest about halfway through the challenge.
Climbing Boots Location
The Climbing Boots are also located in a shrine, though it's considerably more tricky to locate than the others. Head to the location pictured above while wearing gear suitable for snowy conditions. There will be a rock formation that sticks out like a sore thumb implying that, in classic Zelda fashion, players can blow it up.
Chucking a bomb at the precarious rocks will clear a pathway straight to the Tahno O'ah Shrine. Thankfully, Link doesn't have to worry about any form of challenge lying within. This shrine is one of many in the game where simply finding it was the puzzle. The Climbing Boots will be in a chest at the end. Finding this shrine will also complete the Secret of the Cedars shrine quest.
How To Upgrade The Gear
As mentioned before, the Climbing Gear, Climber's Bandana, and Climbing Boots make up the Climbing Set. Each piece provides a climbing speed bonus. The set can be upgraded at a Great Fairy Fountain, which are found all over Breath of the Wild's map. For anyone struggling to find one of the game's Fairy Fountains, most villages have an NPC who will hint at their location or even guide Link straight to one.
To upgrade the set, Link must bring the following items to a Great Fairy Fountain. Each set piece requires the same materials at each upgrade level:
- Level one upgrade (+2 defense) - 3x Kesse Wing & 3x Rushroom
- Level two upgrade (+3 defense) - 5x Electric Keese Wing & 5x Hightail Lizard
- Level three upgrade (+4 defense) - 5x Ice Kesse Wing & 10x Hot-Footed Frog
- Level four upgrade (+ 8 defense) - 5x Fire Kesse Wing & 15 Swift Violet
When Link wears the set together upgrading each piece to level two or higher, he receives a stamina bonus to climbing jumps, letting him scale cliffs like never before.