Finding every shrine and freeing all four Divine Beasts in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild requires exploring all of Hyrule's 15 distinct regions. The base game contains 120 shrines, while the Champion's Ballad DLC adds another 16, bringing the absolute total to 136. If you want to max out your health and stamina or prepare for the final confrontation against Ganon inside Hyrule Castle, you'll need to uncover these hidden trial locations and tame the mechanical giants scattered across the map.
This guide breaks down how to efficiently map out every region, locate the four Divine Beasts, and tackle the most obscure hidden shrines that standard maps miss.
Strategy for Unlocking the Full Map
Before you can spot shrines or Divine Beasts in the distance, you must climb and activate all 15 Sheikah Towers. Each tower acts as a regional checkpoint that downloads terrain data and reveals nearby landmarks to your Sheikah Slate scope.
- Prioritize stamina: Climbing high towers like Hebra Tower or Gerudo Tower early on drains your stamina quickly. Stock up on Enduring food items made from Endura Shrooms or Endura carrots.
- Use your scope wisely: Click the right control stick to bring up the scope, then place custom pins on glowing orange-blue shrine structures or moving mechanical behemoths before you climb down.
- Unlock towers without fighting: Many towers are surrounded by enemies or environmental hazards. Glide from higher surrounding cliffs whenever possible to bypass ground-level combat entirely.
The Four Divine Beast Locations and Core Regions
The core narrative of the game centers around freeing the four Divine Beasts from Calamity Ganon's control. Each beast is tied to a specific major culture in Hyrule and requires completing a distinct regional questline and a set of local shrines.
Divine Beast Vah Ruta (Lanayru Region)
Located in Zora's Domain to the east, Vah Ruta is an elephant-shaped mechanical beast controlled by the water-blight.
- Access path: Follow the river path past Inogo Bridge where guards point you toward Zora's Domain. Meet King Dorephan to receive the Zora Armor, which lets you swim up waterfalls.
- Key shrines to clear: Ne'ez Yohma Shrine right inside Zora's Domain and Kaya Wan Shrine near the Lanayru Wetland Stable. Gather Shock Arrows from Ploymus Mountain before facing the beast.
Divine Beast Vah Rudania (Eldin Region)
Stationed around Death Mountain, Vah Rudania is a lizard-like beast threatening the Goron settlement.
- Access path: Travel north past the Foothill Stable and through the Goron City approach. You'll need Flamebreaker armor from the Goron armor shop to survive the extreme ambient heat without burning.
- Key shrines to clear: Mo'a Keet Shrine near Foothill Stable and Shae Mo'sah Shrine north of Goron City.
Divine Beast Vah Medoh (Tabantha Region)
Perched high above Rito Village in the northwestern corner of the map, Vah Medoh resembles a massive bird.
- Access path: Make your way to Tabantha Tower, then glide and ride horses northwest to Rito Village. Speak to the village elder to learn about Teba, located at the Flight Range.
- Key shrines to clear: Sha Warvo Shrine in Dronoc's Pass and Akh Va'quot Shrine right beside Rito Village.
Divine Beast Vah Naboris (Gerudo Region)
Roaming the southwestern desert, Vah Naboris is a colossal camel that requires stealth and thunder-resistance to board.
- Access path: Travel to Gerudo Canyon Stable, then cross the desert wasteland to reach Gerudo Town. You must sneak into the Yiga Clan Hideout to retrieve the Thunder Helm before you can stop the beast's rampage.
- Key shrines to clear: Dako Tah Shrine and Daqo Chisay Shrine near Gerudo Town.
Finding Hidden and Quest-Locked Shrines
Many shrines across Hyrule don't appear openly on the surface; instead, they are hidden behind Shrine Quests or environmental puzzles. If your shrine detector is beeping but you can't see a structure, look around for a nearby NPC or a structural oddity.
- The Forgotten Temple: Located at the northern edge of the Great Hyrule Forest canyon, this massive stone structure houses Rona Kachta Shrine at the very end. Be prepared to dodge automated Guardian laser sights.
- Eventide Island: Tucked away in the southeastern sea of the Faron region. Landing on the island strips you of all weapons and armor, forcing you to survive entirely using scavenged items to place three orb spheres into their respective altars for Korgu Chideh Shrine.
- Hidden Labyrinths: The South Lomei Labyrinth, North Lomei Labyrinth, and Lomei Labyrinth Island all conceal high-tier shrines (Dila Maag, Qaza Tokki, and Tu Ka'loh). Hug the right-hand wall inside each maze to navigate the corridors without getting lost.
Common Mistakes When Mapping Hyrule
- Ignoring weather patterns: Trying to climb shrine cliffs or scale towers during heavy rain leads to slipping and wasted stamina. Build a campfire under shelter and pass time until dry weather returns.
- Skipping minor side quests: Many villagers give hints or direct shrine quests when you talk to them repeatedly. Always exhaust dialogue options in stables and towns.
- Forgetting to fast-travel to active shrines: You don't have to complete a shrine's inner trial immediately upon discovering it. Simply interacting with the yellow-orange pedestal registers it as a fast-travel point on your map so you can return later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to beat all 120 base shrines to finish the game?
No. You can head straight to Hyrule Castle and face Calamity Ganon as soon as you feel ready, though having extra heart containers and upgraded stamina from shrine Spirit Orbs makes the final boss fights significantly easier.
How do I know which shrines I've completed?
Completed shrines display a small blue icon on your map screen, whereas discovered but unfinished shrines show an orange-yellow center inside the blue marker outline.
Can I track DLC shrines on the same map?
Yes. Once you install the expansion pass, the hero's path feature and DLC shrine detectors will guide you toward the additional trials on your standard map interface.
What is the reward for finding every single shrine?
Visiting all 120 base game shrines earns you the Ancient Hero's Outfit (or the Tunic of the Wild set) from the forgotten monk at the Forgotten Temple, rewarding your dedication with classic nostalgic attire.
