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When Link is not chasing down his nemesis Ganondorf, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom provides him with a massive array of side content to keep him occupied. Across the Kingdom of Hyrule, Link will find adventures of every size waiting for him. And while the rewards vary, Tears of the Kingdom's creative gameplay loop makes the experience itself incredibly fulfilling.
"The Fort at Ja'Abu Ridge" is a side quest in Tears of the Kingdom that serves as a perfect example. Like so much of the side content in TotK, Link can use quests like this to step away from the main story for a moment, or extend his adventure once the main story is complete.
How to Begin The Fort at Ja'Abu Ridge in TotK
Before Link can set out to help the Zora with this quest, he must first complete the region's main quest, "Sidon of the Zora." Once this is complete, and the awful sludge removed from Zora's Domain, Link can begin "The Fort at Ja'Abu Ridge."
To begin this quest, head to the bridge that leads east out of Zora's Domain. Looking at the map, find the bridge that leads in the general direction of Mikau Lake. Near the end of the bridge, Link will find a patrolling Zora warrior named Gaddison. They'll reveal to Link that, even with the sludge gone, a group of 'foul villains' keep showing up to cause trouble for Zora's Domain.
Gaddison will go on to explain that these monsters have built a fort past East Reservoir Lake, in the northern section of Ja'Abu Ridge. To make matters worse, they also explain that, according to rumor, the monsters have a Hylian hostage. The mission will start in earnest once Gaddison concludes the report.
Returning to the map, the quest marker is sitting in the heart of what appears to be a large fort. This is where Link must head to press the attack, and possibly rescue the Hylian hostage.
Defeat the Monsters at Ja'Abu Ridge
How to Reach the Fort
While there isn't much in the way of fast-travel points near the fort, one option Link can use is the Ihen-a Shrine (coordinates 3874, 0578, 0485), at the base of Mipha Court. If Link then heads to the top of Shatterback Point (coordinates 3754, 0382, 0538), just beyond Mipha's statue, he'll be able to see the fort.
From the high ground, Link can then use several methods to reach his destination. If the player has unlocked TotK's Autobuild ability, he may want to use the always-reliable Hoverbike. Another reliable option is to simply float there with the help of Tulin, given that the player has completed "Tulin of Rito Village" and unlocked Tulin's Vow. If Link would like to avoid the air altogether, he can even head to the fort on foot, though it will take a bit longer.
How to Clear the Fort
Like many similar encounters in Tears of the Kingdom, when Link reaches the fort, a 'Monster Forces' health bar will show up at the top of the screen. He will have to face multiple enemies, with a Bokoblin Boss being the leader of the pack. The color of the boss will depend on where Link is at in the game. If he has reached the late-game stages, it will almost certainly be silver.
Link will also encounter at least one armored Bokoblin, which will require a specific 'bludgeoning' type weapon to destroy his defenses. Fusing a rock, spike ball, or Talus Heart, to any weapon will do the trick. Eldin regional weapons, like the Cobble Crusher, are also useful in this regard.
Luckily for Link, there are not a huge number of enemies. While many of the monsters will charge out of the fort when Link arrives, there will likely be a few stragglers that remain inside. Check the upper levels if the Monster Forces bar has only a sliver remaining and Link cannot find a monster.
Free the Hostage & Gather Rewards
Link will find the hostage Gaddison spoke of in the very back of the fort, behind a large wall. Use Ultrahand to move the cage that is trapping him. Link will learn that the hostage is named Hino, a character Link can actually encounter multiple times. Hino is out researching TotK's Blood Moon phenomenon, and often finds himself surrounded by monsters after the moon revives them. He will give Link an enhanced meal as a reward, then head off to find more trouble. Make sure to open all chests before leaving the fort to complete the mission.
How To Complete The Fort at Ja'Abu Ridge
To complete the mission, return and speak with Gaddison, who will still be in the exact location on the eastern bridge. Gaddison will reward Link with a silver rupee (worth 100 rupees), and a heartfelt thank-you. As soon as Gaddison finished the conversation, "The Fort at Ja'Abu Ridge" will come to a close. .
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is available now on Nintendo Switch.
