InThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom(TOTK), players are tasked with investigating four major regional phenomena across Hyrule as part of the main storyline. Each region is experiencing strange disturbances, and Link must assist key allies in solving the mysteries. While the game allows freedom in choosing the order of these quests, approaching them strategically can make your journey smoother and more efficient. Understanding the optimal regional phenomena order can help you gain useful abilities earlier, face easier combat challenges first, and navigate the map more effectively.
What Are the Regional Phenomena?
Overview of the Questline
After completing the opening sequence and reaching Lookout Landing, players receive a quest called Regional Phenomena. This mission points Link to four major areas affected by unusual disturbances. Each area is tied to one of the game’s major dungeons and involves reuniting with the Sage champions:
- Hebra (Rito Village)
- Eldin (Goron City)
- Lanayru (Zora’s Domain)
- Gerudo Desert (Gerudo Town)
Each region comes with unique environmental conditions, enemies, and gameplay mechanics. The order in which you tackle them can significantly impact your experience.
Recommended Order for Regional Phenomena
1. Hebra Region – Rito Village
Start with the Hebra region, located in the northwest. It’s the most accessible of the four regions and provides one of the most useful abilities early on. Rito Village is suffering from an unnatural snowstorm, and Link teams up with Tulin to resolve the issue.
Why Start Here:
- The enemies are relatively manageable compared to later regions.
- Tulin’s Sage ability, which provides a powerful gust of wind, greatly enhances gliding and traversal.
- This skill is especially helpful for exploring sky islands and reaching difficult platforms.
With Tulin’s help, moving around Hyrule becomes significantly easier, especially in areas with tricky vertical design.
2. Eldin Region – Goron City
After Rito Village, head northeast to Eldin and help Goron City. This area involves investigating strange behavior among the Gorons and exploring the Fire Temple. Link partners with Yunobo, whose rolling attack is essential for navigating the region.
Why Second:
- Yunobo’s ability can break through rocks and barriers, helping in combat and cave exploration.
- The area has less punishing weather than other regions if you come prepared with heat resistance gear or elixirs.
- Fire-based hazards make it more manageable with Tulin’s wind boost allowing you to avoid direct danger.
The Eldin region introduces lava-based puzzles and fire enemies, but with the tools from Hebra, it becomes far more manageable.
3. Lanayru Region – Zora’s Domain
Next, head east to the Lanayru region and Zora’s Domain, which is plagued by sludge contaminating its waters. This questline pairs Link with Sidon, who provides water-based attacks and protection.
Why Third:
- The sludge-covered environment can be frustrating to deal with early on.
- Sidon’s water ability becomes useful in both offense and environmental cleansing.
- By now, you should have upgraded weapons and armor to handle stronger enemies here.
Lanayru’s puzzles and boss fights require more precise timing and gear preparation, making it a good mid-to-late game challenge. It also adds a strong elemental countermeasure with Sidon’s shield bubble.
4. Gerudo Region – Gerudo Town
Lastly, travel to the harsh Gerudo Desert in the southwest. This region is being ravaged by sandstorms and mysterious monsters. The Gerudo people have taken shelter underground, and Link joins Riju to solve the crisis.
Why Last:
- The sandstorm and heat make navigation challenging without proper gear.
- Enemies here are tougher, with increased difficulty compared to earlier regions.
- Riju’s lightning ability is strong but requires more precise timing to use effectively.
Gerudo Desert’s environmental hazards and complex dungeons are best tackled when you’re fully geared and comfortable with combat mechanics. It’s a fitting finale to the regional quests.
Alternative Orders and Flexibility
Open-Ended Design
While the above order is optimized for accessibility and ability synergy, TOTK is designed to be flexible. You can visit any region in any order based on your interests or exploration. Some players may prefer to explore freely and stumble upon these quests naturally.
For example:
- If you want to focus on water puzzles early, Zora’s Domain might be your first stop.
- Players who enjoy heat-based challenges may go to Eldin right away.
- Those seeking high-difficulty battles may dive into Gerudo Desert early for a more intense experience.
The game rewards curiosity and experimentation, so don’t feel locked into one path.
When to Delay a Region
There are some cases where delaying a region is ideal:
- Lack of heat or cold resistance: Without the right gear, Eldin and Hebra can be tough early on.
- Underleveled weapons: Tougher regions like Gerudo may require stronger weapons and armor.
- Missing traversal tools: Areas with vertical designs or long gliding sections are easier with Tulin’s ability unlocked first.
Adjust your route based on what you’ve acquired and your personal playstyle. If a region feels overwhelming, take time to explore shrines and side quests before returning.
How Sage Abilities Affect Exploration
Unlocking New Possibilities
Each Regional Phenomena quest gives Link access to a Sage’s Vow, which summons a ghostly companion and unlocks a special ability. These abilities significantly change how you interact with the world:
- Tulin: Creates gusts of wind for extended gliding and platforming.
- Yunobo: Performs a rolling attack to break rocks or strike enemies.
- Sidon: Summons a water shield for protection and water-based attacks.
- Riju: Channels electricity to power weapons or attack groups of enemies.
Unlocking Tulin first is especially beneficial because his ability improves both combat and traversal, making subsequent areas easier to handle.
The Regional Phenomena questline inZelda: Tears of the Kingdomoffers players the freedom to chart their path across Hyrule. However, choosing an efficient order starting with Rito Village, then visiting Eldin, followed by Lanayru, and ending with Gerudo can smooth the difficulty curve and grant you the most useful abilities early. Each region has its charm, challenges, and story to uncover. Whether you follow the recommended order or forge your own path, investigating the regional phenomena is a key step in uniting the Sages and restoring balance to Hyrule.