Zelda Breath Of The Wild How Many Shrines Are There

Let’s talk about shrines. You know, those glowing orange puzzle boxes dotting Hyrule. If you’ve played Breath of the Wild, you’ve probably asked: “How many are there, exactly?” The answer is 120. Seriously. One hundred and twenty little tests of your patience and creativity.

But why 120? It’s not random. The number was carefully chosen to fill a massive world. Every shrine offers a reward: a Spirit Orb. Collect four orbs, and you get a heart or stamina. It’s Nintendo’s way of saying, “Explore, dummy, and we’ll make you stronger.”

Here’s the kicker: you don’t need to find all 120. You can beat the final boss after just a handful. But where’s the fun in that? The shrines are the real game. They’re mini-dungeons packed with physics puzzles, combat trials, and the occasional “What if I put a metal box on a fire?” moment.

The Quirky Chaos of Shrines

Not all shrines are created equal. Some are stupidly easy. Like, “walk in, grab the chest, leave” easy. Others are fiendishly hard. One shrine called “A Major Test of Strength” will wreck you if you’re not prepared. Bring weapons. Bring patience.

Then there are the shrine quests. These are hidden gems. You might need to roll a snowball into a hole, or shoot a dragon’s horn at midnight. Yes, that’s a real thing. One quest asks you to strip naked and stand on a pedestal. No armor, no weapons, just Link in his underwear. Why? Because ancient Sheikah tech has a sense of humor.

Fun fact: 120 shrines means 120 Spirit Orbs. That’s 30 Heart Containers or 30 Stamina upgrades. But you can mix and match. Want 30 hearts and no stamina? Go ahead. Prefer to sprint forever? Max stamina is a thing. You’ll never have enough for both—so choose wisely.

Discovery Is the Real Treasure

Finding shrines is half the fun. You’ll spot them as orange glows on the map. But some are hidden. Really hidden. Like, “inside a giant rock” hidden. Or “under a lake” hidden. One shrine is literally inside a divine beast’s memory. You need to solve a riddle about time. It’s wild.

How many shrines in zelda breath of the wild - heartguide

Pro tip: Use the Sheikah Sensor. It beeps when you’re near a shrine. But it’s buggy. Sometimes it’ll beep for a treasure chest instead. You’ll spend ten minutes hunting a rock pile only to find a Ruby. Rubies are nice, but not a shrine. Rookie mistake.

Don’t forget the DLC. The Champions’ Ballad adds 16 more shrines. That brings the total to 136. These are harder. Much harder. One requires you to beat a boss while riding a giant horse. Yes, a horse. Link on a horse, fighting a giant skeleton. Pure chaos.

The Shrine That Broke Everyone

Let’s talk about the infamous “Eventide Island” shrine. It’s not a shrine—it’s a trial. You land on an island with no weapons, no armor, and no food. Everything’s taken away. You have to fight monsters using tree branches and the kindness of strangers. It’s brutal. It’s terrifying. And it’s one of the best moments in gaming.

Another legend: “The Green Robot’s Maze.” There’s a shrine inside a labyrinth. A literal hedge maze. But the walls are made of stone. And there’s a guardian chasing you. You’ll run in circles, panic, and accidentally fall off a cliff. Then you’ll do it again. That is Breath of the Wild.

Master Of All The Shrines | Zelda Breath of the Wild Shrine locations

Why do we love these things? Because every shrine is a story. You’ll remember the one where you had to guide a laser beam through a mirrored room. You’ll laugh about the time you used a Korok leaf to blow a ball into a goal. Each puzzle is a mini masterpiece.

The Final Countdown

So, 120 shrines in the base game. 136 with DLC. That’s a lot of puzzles. But here’s the secret: you don’t have to do them all. The game respects your time. Want to stop after 40? Fine. Want to find every single one? You’ll earn a special surprise. (Spoiler: It’s a smear of green poop. Yes, really. The reward is a giant golden turd. Nintendo’s trolling at its finest.)

Still, the journey is worth it. You’ll climb mountains. You’ll drown in rivers. You’ll fight a Lynel with a tree branch because you’re out of weapons. And through it all, those orange glows will pull you forward. One more shrine, you’ll say. Then another. Then another.

Before you know it, you’ll be at 119. Searching for that last shrine. Checking online guides. Cursing the map. And then—finally—you’ll find it. Under a bridge. Behind a waterfall. Or randomly inside a skull-shaped cave. And you’ll smile. Because that is why we play.

So go ahead. Start your count. Or don’t. Just explore. Let the shrines find you. And when you find that last one, remember: you’ve earned the right to flex. And a golden poop. But mostly the flex.