This is an obvious statement, but there is a lot to do and see in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Players can easily beat it in a dozen hours if they know what they are doing and are skilled at action games. That’s not the record right now, but it is a good average estimate for those that want to skip extra content.
It would be weird to not fully ingest everything The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has to offer though. It has been six long years since Breath of the Wild and it might be another six more before another full Zelda game is released. So, best to enjoy everything in TOTK. For example, here are some notable side quests to tackle as soon as possible.
Updated on August 15, 2023 by Renri Seong: Since the teaser trailer, Tears of the Kingdom has been a highly-anticipated game for fans of the Legend of Zelda franchise. As a sequel, there are mechanics that the game has improved on from Breath of the Wild, and one of those are side quests. It's debatable whether the side quests in Tears of the Kingdom are "more meaningful" than the ones in Breath of the Wild, but regardless, some are worth prioritizing over others. In fact, several quests will give out armor as a reward. The following list has been updated to include seven more side quests/adventures that Tears of the Kingdom players should not miss out on in their playthroughs.
15 Bring Peace To Hyrule Field
Players can access the Bring Peace To Hyrule Field quest once they finish Purah’s request ending with her giving Link the Paraglider in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Hoz, the captain who was searching for Zelda at the castle, returns to Lookout Landing briefly. Once business with Purah has finished, NPCs will tell Link that they saw Hoz leave again and then take some men directly south of town to fight some monsters.
Players can catch up with Hoz and his little brigade to then begin this quest. After defeating the monster’s lair with the storming troops, Hoz will reward players with a hundred Rupees. It’s a cool quest that leads to an epic battle followed by some easy money.
14 Who Goes There
Who Goes There is another quest that can begin in Lookout Landing. It is undetermined when this quest can begin, but after returning to the shelter below the town a few times, a new entryway will greet players. Jerrin, the sweeper in the underground hideout, confesses to Link that she accidentally broke the wall while sweeping.
Investigating this new cave will lead players to a statue that they will recognize if they played Breath of the Wild. Discovering this statue will begin another quest, A Deal With The Statue, which then ends with players being allowed to swap stamina and heart upgrades around in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
13 Hestu's Concerns
Another returning quest line and character in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is Hestu. Hestu was the giant Korok in the first game that expanded the weapon, bow, and shield inventories for Link in exchange for Korok Seeds.
Mechanically, he works the same way in the sequel except that after the first encounter, Hestu makes a residency in Lookout Landing, so that players can easily access this inventory upgrading ability. Players can find this first location on the hill leading up to Lindor’s Brow Skyview Tower. It is located Northwest of Lookout Landing.
12 Serenade To A Great Fairy
Besides inventory and stat upgrades, players can boost the effectiveness of clothing and armor too. It works the same way in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom as it did in the first game via the Great Fairies. There are four to discover in the game and each one is tied to a quest of wandering minstrels.
Players have to locate missing band members in the troop and somehow repair their carriage to get them to see the Great Fairy in that region too. To get things rolling, head Northeast of Lookout Landing to the Woodland Stable to start part one of this quest, Serenade To A Great Fairy.
11 The Incomplete Stable
The Incomplete Stable can be found in Lookout Landing, and it is an easy side quest one to miss. Players who got into the last game know that there are established stables all over Hyrule. The same is true in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom with stables built across the kingdom. So, it may come as a surprise that Lookout Landing has one too since it isn’t a stand-alone stable, unlike the rest in the game.
Players can find Karson, a worker for Hudson Construction, by one of the gates, and he will ask for help fixing the stable. All players have to do is replace a board on the roof and then players can capture a horse in that region.
10 Team Cece Or Team Reede
Team Cece or Team Reede is an elaborate quest in Hateno Village. It begins with players trying to help a local designer, Cece, win the next mayoral election. From there, multiple mini-side quests will erupt including one where players have to chase squirrels for acorns and another involving giving people mushrooms for hats.
The result will allow players to buy clothing and armor from Cece. Her best piece of armor in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the Royal Guard Uniform which has a starting plus four to defense.
9 Gloom-Borne Illness
Gloom-Borne Illness is a quest in a neighboring village, Kakariko Village, and it will inevitably lead players to another armor-buying opportunity. Lasli is afraid that her Nanna will pass due to Gloom. Players need to gather Hylian Rice, Fresh Milk, and Sundelionsc to make Sunny Veggie Porridge and heal Nanna.
This recipe will heal players for three normal hearts and then three lost hearts due to Gloom. It’s a good recipe to have while exploring the depths below Hyrule. Also, completing the quest will give players access to the Stealth and Radiant armor sets in the game.
8 The Hunt For Bubbul Gems
Players are probably going to find glowing giant frogs in caverns as they explore Hyrule. Defeating them will reward players with Bubbul Gems which are important for this quest. Players can begin The Hunt For Bubbul Gems by the Woodland Stable which is located northwest of Lookout Landing.
Behind the stable, there is a pond wherein players will meet two of the strangest characters in the game: Kilton and Koltin. They will take Bubbul Gems from the player and reward them with various monster masks. They are like this game’s version of the Happy Mask Salesman from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, but they are a little more horrific looking.
7 Camera Work in The Depths
The Purah Pad may have a handy map and Character Profiles at its disposal when Link first obtains it on the Sky Islands. "Camera Work in The Depths" is one of the first side quests that players can get after obtaining the Paraglider from Purah and activating the first Skyview Tower. It's also how players can unlock the Camera. Since there are countless scenarios that require photos in Tears of the Kingdom, it's best to complete this side quest immediately.
Speaking to Josha and Robbie after getting the paraglider will unlock "Camera Work in The Depths." Players will then need to enter the Hyrule Field Chasm, which is south of Lookout Landing. This also serves as a "tutorial" for The Depths. Navigate through the abyss, and activate the first Lightroot. Players can find Robbie by reading the clues he's left behind at the campfires set up in The Depths. Once Link finds him, he'll obtain the Camera and the Hyrule Compendium, then he'll need to take a picture of the nearby statue. It's best to return to Lookout Landing and show Josha the picture to formally complete the quest.
6 Potential Princess Sightings!
Returning fans may have noticed a certain character missing from Tears of the Kingdom. While Kass unfortunately doesn't make his return in the base game, he's mentioned by Penn, a new Rito character, at the end of the "Potential Princess Sightings!" side adventure. This is a series of quests that investigate rumors around Hyrule about Princess Zelda.
"Potential Princess Sightings!" has no deadline, and since it will literally take Link to several places in Hyrule, it's easier to complete when players have Activated more Skyview Towers and Shrines of Light. Despite this, players can pick it up on their way to Rito VIllage at the Lucky Clover Gazette. The gazette's headquarters is in the stable right before the broken bridge leading into Rito Village. Simply go inside and speak to Traysi and Penn to unlock the side adventure. If Link manages to complete all the "Potential Princess Sightings!" side adventures, he'll get the complete Froggy Armor Set. This armor will give Link "slip resistance," which makes it easier for him to climb up slippery surfaces (ex, ice) or while it's raining. If players manage to get the Froggy Armor Set's Set Bonus, then Link won't slip at all while climbing. It's a very worthwhile reward for an arguably long side adventure.
5 Infiltrating the Yiga Clan
The Yiga Clan are a banana-loving group that has turned their back on the Kingdom of Hyrule in favor of Ganon. Although somewhat goofy, they've served as a threat to the Sheikah, Gerudo, and of course, Link and Princess Zelda. In Tears of the Kingdom, there is a side quest called "Infiltrating the Yiga Clan" that requires Link to wear the Yiga Armor Set. Each piece of armor is obtained from three Yiga bases on The Surface (one on the Great Plateau, in East Akkala, and near the Great Hyrule Forest). Link will need to defeat an army of Yiga at each base before he can go in and rescue the tailor they've captured. As a reward, for saving all three tailors, Link will get the Yiga Armor.
Fortunately, the Yiga Armor is enough to fool all Yiga... except Master Kohga, who will see through Link's disguise. When equipped with the Yiga Armor Set, go to the Yiga Hideout in the Gerudo Region ("Infiltrating the Yiga Clan"). Mistaken for a new recruit, Link can then take on a trial to unlocking the Lightning Helmet, a knockoff of the Gerudo's Thunder Helm from Breath of the Wild. If he manages to successfully complete the trial three times, he'll be taught the Earthwake Technique. This is an ability that can only be used if Link doesn't have a melee weapon equipped. It's nice to have in case Link's weapon breaks at the wrong time.
4 Presenting: The Travel Medallion!
Once players get the Auto-Build Ability at the Great Abandoned Central Mine in The Depths (below the Great Plateau) and have completed one of the "Regional Phenomena" main quests, they should return to Lookout Landing. Speak to Josha, and she'll give Link a Schema Stone that can be used to repair Robbie's hot-air balloon. After this, speak to Robbie, and he'll return to the Ancient Tech Lab in Hateno Village, where Link can get side quests for enhancing the power of the Purah Pad.
"Presenting: Sensor+" and "Presenting: Hero's Path Mode" are nice to have, and the former is great for tracking down Shrines or materials. However, it's the "Presenting: The Travel Medallion!" that players will want to complete. In BotW, the Travel Medallion could be placed to create a Fast Travel Point, but it was DLC-exclusive. In TotK, players will need to get the medallion prototype from Robbie's Tech Lab up in East Akkala (which is also home to one of the Yiga bases) before they can get the medallion, but it's worth the hard work. Furthermore, if players manage to Activate all the Skyview Towers, they can get up to a total of three Travel Medallions.
3 Ruffian-Infested Village
One of the side quests that players may have trouble with is the "Ruffian-Infested Village." This involves going to Lurelin Village and getting rid of all the monsters. While not a requirement, it's better to attempt this quest when players have a few of the Sages on their side and more than three Heart Containers.
After completing the "Ruffian-Infested Village," Link can help Bolson renovate Lurelin Village ("Lurelin Restoration Project"). As a reward, Link is hailed as Lurelin Village's "savior" and can rest at the inn free of charge. It's a good place to go if players want Temporary Hearts and Temporary Stamina without having to pay. Although, players will want to bring x5 Rock Salt if they plan on getting the Temporary Hearts/Stamina buff from the inn.
2 Amber Dealer
Rupees are unfortunately difficult to come by in Tears of the Kingdom, and it doesn't help that armor upgrades now cost money, something they didn't do in Breath of the Wild. Players can burn through their wallet before they know it if they're not careful. The only way to get more Rupees is to complete certain side quests or sell materials, meals, or armor. Unfortunately, it doesn't help that ore, such as diamonds, are also extremely difficult to come by. Selling ore is a quick way to make hundreds of Rupees, but ore is also used in armor upgrades, so there's a reason to hold onto them. Furthermore, the price of some ore (particularly Amber) has dropped thanks to The Upheaval making them more common. If players intend on getting thousands of Rupees for a bundle of ore, they'll need to complete the side quest "Amber Dealer."
In Goron City, there's a Gerudo Merchant named Ramella. Depending on where players are at in their playthrough, they can get "Amber Dealer" by speaking to the two Gorons at one of Goron City's front gates, or they can get it by speaking to Ramella at the Goron City store that sells sapphires. If players have x10 Amber, they can sell them to Ramella for 200 Rupees. After this, Ramella will ask for x10 ore. She'll also pay more for them than any other merchant in Hyrule. However, she won't take anything less or more than 10 ore, and she cycles through rubies, topaz, sapphires, and diamonds. A x10 bundle of diamonds sold to Ramella can earn Link 5500 Rupees, which isn't a bad deal at all.
Ramella also won't ask for a new set of ore until she receives the first one she's requested. So, if she wants x10 rubies but TotK players want to sell their diamonds, they'll need to give her the rubies first. Despite this setback, "Amber Dealer" is a Must-Do side quest if players intend on farming Rupees for armor.
1 Mattison’s Independence
Perhaps one of the more heartwarming side quests/adventure in Tears of the Kingdom is "Mattison's Independence." This is unlocked by going to Tarrey Town (in Akkala Region) and speaking to Hudson and Rhondson. Link will then need to help their daughter, Mattison, complete her "miss-son" before she leaves for Gerudo Town. This involves a series of tasks around Tarrey Town and its Construction SIte, but the payoff is worth it.
Once Link has helped Mattison and her family, he can speak to Rhondson to start the "Home on Arrange" side quest. This allows players to build their own house with the power of Ultrahand at the one-time-only price of 1500 Rupees. After this, he can purchase more rooms in order to expand the house. Rooms that can be added include a kitchen, gallery, and rooms to store weapons. The sky's (mostly) the limit as far as creativity goes when making Link's house, so it's a nice reward for completing the "Mattison's Independence" side quest.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was released on May 12, 2023 and is available on Switch.