Summary

  • TOTK is filled with expertly concealed secrets that even Zelda veterans will struggle to uncover, but the effort is worth it for the advanced adventure and equipment rewards.
  • The inclusion of Divine Helms modeled after the four Divine Beasts from BOTW is a welcome tribute, and wearing them initiates an interesting Easter Egg.
  • TOTK includes iconic weapons from previous Zelda games, such as the Dusk Bow and Claymore, adding practical references to the franchise and enhancing the gameplay experience.

As a result of the enormity of plethora of secrets to investigate and unearth, and the series' latest installment, TOTK, is no different.

Though some secrets in TOTK are widely known and easily uncovered, some are easily missed by the uninformed. These range from near-unnoticeable to overt; however, some TOTK secret activities and features are so well concealed that even Zelda veterans will have a tough time discovering them. Although time-consuming to unearth, some of the most obscure TOTK secrets are well worth the effort to locate, offering Link rewards ranging from the simple pleasure of advanced adventure to the stat boosts provided by excellent equipment. Here are some of the rarest ones.

Related
Zelda: TOTK's Death Mountain Secret Is An Easy (& Hilarious) Way To Travel

Death Mountain contains a comedically simple way to exploit travel in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which can help players unlock Skyview Towers.

10 Zelda: TOTK Has Several Secret Nude Interactions

All Around Hyrule

A nude Link in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom.

One of the better-known and more easily discoverable secrets in TOTK involves the consequences of Link's public indecency. If Link decides to forgo armor or clothing altogether, he will be greeted with some unique dialogue from NPCs - many of whom are confused by Link's lack of apparel. Interestingly, if Link manages to get into the Gerudo Shelter while naked, he will be ejected. If he removes his clothes while in the Shelter, he will be imprisoned until he gets dressed.

9 Zelda: TOTK Includes Helmets Referencing BOTW

In Hebra, Lanayru, Eldin, & Gerudo

A throwback to an Amiibo bonus from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the four Divine Helms are modeled on the four Divine Beasts: Vah Ruta, Vah Rudania, Vah Medoh, and Vah Naboris. Although the Divine Beasts are nowhere to be found in TOTK, the inclusion of the Divine Helms is a welcome tribute to one of BOTW's most significant elements. Unlocked after completing each of the four main dungeons, wearing the Divine Helms will initiate an interesting and little-known Easter Egg.

If Link is wearing one of the Divine Helms, the sage from the region of the helm's origin will don the matching Divine Helm.

Each one requires tracking down, however, and some of them are truly difficult to find. For an easier way out, players can also scan the same Amiibo that granted the Divine Helms in BOTW.

8 Zelda: TOTK's Dusk Bow & Claymore Reference Twilight Princess

In Hyrule Castle & Thyphlo Ruins

Two images of Link from BOTW blended together - him drawing an Ancient Arrow on a bow to the left, and him looking past the camera in a cutscene on the right.

TOTK is full of brilliant references to previous installments from The Legend of Zelda franchise. Perhaps the most practical of these is the inclusion of a number of iconic weapons from past Zelda games. Although there are a number of these reference weapons, perhaps the most recognizable are the Dusk Bow and Dusk Claymore, both of which are modeled after powerful weapons from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Though the original weapons have different names, the Twilight Bow and Sword of the Six Sages, the new versions are immediately recognizable in design.

The Dusk Bow can be found in Hyrule Castle, and the Claymore is located amid the Thyphlo Ruins north of Great Hyrule Forest. The latter can only be found after completing the main quest "Regional Phenomena," and beginning the "Investigate Thyphlo Ruins" side adventure.

7 Zelda: TOTK Includes Hidden Yiga Armor Interactions

In Kakariko Village & Others

Link wearing the Yiga Armor set inside a Yiga Depths base in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, with a sealed treasure room behind him.

The Yiga play a rather large part in the BOTW-TOTK duology, and although it is no secret that you can obtain a set of Yiga Armor in TOTK, the consequences of wearing that armor in certain locations are less widely known. Notably, if Link wears a full set (or even just the Yiga Mask) in a select list of locations, including Kakariko Village, he will be greeted with unique, perhaps even hostile, dialogue from some NPCs, including Paya and Dorian. Furthermore, if Link wears the set in Gerudo Town, he will be thrown in the town's prison.

6 Penn Has Extra Dialogue After The Lucky Clover Gazette Questline

At Washa's Bluff

The Lucky Clover Gazette is one of the most expansive tasks in TOTK. Completing all 12 will take a great deal of time, but will see Link handsomely rewarded by the Clover Gazette. Beyond these tangible rewards, Link will also unlock some incredibly interesting extra dialogue from his fellow journalist Penn.

If Link seeks out Penn at Washa's Bluff after completing the quest line, he will be able to engage in an extra conversation with Penn - a conversation that would be of particular interest to veterans of the series. What is particularly fascinating about this additional dialogue is its subtle reference to Kass, an immensely popular BOTW character absent from TOTK.

5 Zelda: TOTK's Nostalgic Fabric References BOTW

In The Temple Of Time Ruins

Nostalgic Paraglider Fabric in Zelda_ Tears of the Kingdom

There are 53 paraglider fabrics in TOTK, and although they are mostly visually stunning, perhaps the best is the Nostalgic Fabric. Obtainable from a chest located in the Temple of Time Ruins in the Great Plateau, the same location where Link first receives his Paraglider in BOTW, the Nostalgic Fabric is identical to Link's paraglider in BOTW. Although it is easy enough to get to, many will see the crumbling ruins and presume that there is no reason to visit, especially since it was such a pivotal location in the last game.

4 Helping Calyban Leads To Unique Dialogue In Zelda: TOTK

Beneath Gerudo Town

Potentially a reference to Shakespeare's The Tempest, Calyban is a lonely Gerudo located in the sewers beneath Gerudo Town. Whilst traversing the sewers, Link will encounter several bottled messages floating down the stream, attributed to the forlorn Gerudo author Calyban. Although this is intriguing, and many will stumble across her messages, speaking with Calyban will not result in a side quest. However, for those determined to uncover the mystery of Calyban, returning a bottle to her, a difficult task on its own, will initiate a unique dialogue and cause her to fall in love with Link.

Instead, Link will have to speak with Dalia near The Noble Canteen to start Calyban's side quest. She's having trouble with her orchard, as piles of trash have been polluting the water supply. In the quest "The Mystery Polluter," Link will learn that Calyban is the one responsible, as she's been tossing her Hydromelon rinds into the waterways. Bring her ten Wildberries, and she'll apologize by helping Dalia with the cleanup.

3 Climbing In The Rain Is Easier (But Not Easy) In Zelda: TOTK

At The Lucky Clover Gazette

Froggy Armor

Although players can still not yet pet the dogs, TOTK has fixed one of the more contentious game-play mechanics from BOTW - the ability to climb in the rain. Although rain will still impede Link's ability to climb in the rain, he now has a few options to mitigate this annoying weather condition drawback. These are creating a Sticky Elixir from Sticky Frogs and obtaining the Froggy Armor, an armor set that is slip-resistant.

Obtaining the Froggy Armor set is fairly easy, albeit moderately time-consuming. Doing so necessitates the completion of the nine Lucky Clover Gazette side adventures and all 12 "Potential Princess Sightings" side adventures - a justifiably good reward for so much work.

2 Defeating King Gleeoks Provides Unique Rewards

On The Sky Islands & In The Depths

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom's Flame Gleeok roaring in the distance with its three heads while Link stands looking at it.

Though there are a vast number of challenging bosses Link will encounter throughout the TOTK story, King Gleeoks are somewhat of a secret boss that Link will have to put in effort to seek out. King Gleeoks are located on Sky Islands or within The Depths, and are formidable foes that can inflict stunning damage in several forms, including gloom. Deafeating a King Gleeok is no easy feat, and as a result, they offer rare materials and unique rewards. These are certainly worth the effort of finding and defeating these hydra-esque beasts.

1 Zelda: TOTK's Hyrule Castle Has A Secret Chest

The Champion's Leathers In Hyrule Castle

The apparently restored, empty Throne Room of Hyrule Castle, as seen in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

In BOTW, the inner sanctum of Hyrule Castle was the location of Calamity Ganon; however, in TOTK, the ruins of Hyrule Castle lie abandoned and can be visited at the start of the game. If Link does make the trip, he will notice two extinguished fires. Lighting them will reveal a cleverly concealed chest. This chest contains the upgraded Champion's Leathers tunic, an excellent reward for discovering a masterfully hidden chest. Although this armor is weak compared with late-game armor sets, if Link comes at the start of the game, he will have an enormous defensive advantage until the mid-game.

Secrets can take a lot of effort to find in TOTK, but they help make the time spent between bigger dungeons more interesting. While it's certainly not necessary to track down every secret in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, finding these ten coolest ones can provide some significant rewards.

zelda-tears-of-the-kingdom-cover.jpg
10/10

ESRB
Rated E for Everyone 10+ for Fantasy Violence and Mild Suggestive Themes
Developer(s)
Nintendo
Publisher(s)
Nintendo
Platform(s)
Nintendo Switch
How Long To Beat
59 Hours