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Diving into the Depths: Your Guide to the First Dungeon in Tears of the Kingdom

Alright adventurers, gather ’round! You’ve braved the skies, you’ve descended into the depths, and now you’re wondering where to begin your temple-trekking journey in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Let’s cut right to the chase:

The first dungeon you should tackle in Tears of the Kingdom is the Wind Temple. Located high above the Hebra region, accessible after completing the Tulin of Rito Village questline, this airborne adventure is the perfect starting point for your quest to save Hyrule.

Why the Wind Temple First?

Several factors make the Wind Temple the ideal introductory dungeon:

Narrative Guidance: The game gently nudges you towards the Rito region early on. Characters in Lookout Landing, including Purah, explicitly suggest investigating the disturbances affecting the Rito, naturally steering you towards the temple’s location.
Manageable Difficulty: Compared to some of the later temples, the Wind Temple boasts a relatively straightforward design and puzzle complexity. This allows players to ease into the mechanics of dungeon exploration in Tears of the Kingdom without feeling overwhelmed.
Valuable Reward: Completing the Wind Temple grants you the power of Tulin’s Wind. This ability allows you to create gusts of wind, propelling yourself forward while gliding and activating certain mechanisms, making exploration significantly easier. This is incredibly beneficial for traversing the vast landscapes of Hyrule early in the game.
Early-Game Accessibility: While the Hebra region experiences harsh cold conditions, with proper preparation (warm clothing, meals that grant cold resistance), it is relatively accessible early in the game. It is much more manageable at a low level than heading straight to the volcanic conditions of the Goron.
Teamwork: The dungeon’s mechanics are well-designed to showcase the power of teamwork with the Sage companions, allowing players to utilize their abilities effectively.

How to Reach the Wind Temple

The path to the Wind Temple is a quest in itself. Here’s a breakdown of the steps involved:

Head Northwest: From Lookout Landing, begin your journey towards the northwest region of Hyrule, the home of the Rito.
Investigate the Regional Phenomena: As you approach the Rito Village, you’ll encounter signs of the blizzard plaguing the area. This triggers the “Tulin of Rito Village” questline.
Ascend to the Sky Islands: Follow the quest markers and interact with the Rito characters to learn about the source of the blizzard: a mysterious storm cloud above the village. The Rito will point you toward Tulin, and his location will become known as you continue the story.
Work With Tulin: You will need to work with Tulin to navigate the Sky Islands and overcome challenges. You will get the opportunity to use Tulin’s Wind to travel a great distance.
Confront the Temple: As you get closer to the source of the storm, you will reach the Wind Temple, a floating structure amidst the turbulent skies.

Inside the Wind Temple

Once inside the Wind Temple, you’ll face a series of challenges:

Unlocking the Wind Mechanism: The primary objective within the temple is to unlock several locks by activating turbines to release the wind.
Utilizing Tulin’s Power: Tulin’s Wind ability is crucial for solving puzzles, traversing gaps, and activating certain mechanisms. This makes the Wind Temple a fantastic tutorial for integrating Sage abilities into your gameplay.
Battling Enemies: You’ll encounter a variety of enemies within the temple, testing your combat skills and requiring you to adapt your strategies.
Facing the Boss: At the end of the Wind Temple is the boss battle. After defeating it, you will be rewarded with a heart container, and with Tulin’s vow.

Is the Water Temple truly the easiest dungeon?

It is true that some players find the Water Temple in Tears of the Kingdom easy. However, the consensus is that the Wind Temple is the easiest and most approachable dungeon in the game. It is all based on player skill, and preferences, of course!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Let’s tackle some of the burning questions you might have about dungeons in Tears of the Kingdom:

How many dungeons are there in Tears of the Kingdom? There are a total of seven dungeons in Tears of the Kingdom, a larger count than the four Divine Beasts in Breath of the Wild.
What are the traditional four dungeons in Tears of the Kingdom? The four traditional dungeons, directly tied to the “Regional Phenomena” questline, are the Wind Temple, the Fire Temple, the Water Temple, and the Lightning Temple.
Are there more than four temples in Tears of the Kingdom? Yes, there is a total of five temples associated with the five Sages in the game including Wind, Fire, Water, Lightning, and Spirit.
Can you revisit dungeons in Tears of the Kingdom? Yes, you can revisit dungeons in Tears of the Kingdom.
What makes the Spirit Temple the hardest dungeon in Tears of the Kingdom? The Spirit Temple is generally considered the hardest due to its more demanding requirements and the fact that it can’t be completed before the other four main temples.
What should I do first in Tears of the Kingdom besides the Wind Temple? After completing the Wind Temple, consider heading towards the Fire Temple in the Eldin region, or perhaps the Water Temple in the Zora’s Domain. However, completing the tutorial sky island is the most important, even before heading to Rito Village.
What is the Great Sky Island? The Great Sky Island is the prologue area of Tears of the Kingdom, serving as a tutorial zone where players learn the basic mechanics and abilities of the game.
How many shrines are in Tears of the Kingdom? There are a total of 152 Shrines in Tears of the Kingdom: 120 on the surface of Hyrule and 32 scattered throughout the Sky Islands.
What is the best dungeon in Tears of the Kingdom? Opinions vary, but some of the highly regarded dungeons include Hyrule Castle, the Lightning Temple, and the Forgotten Temple.
How old is Riju in Tears of the Kingdom? Riju is roughly around twelve years old, although the Gerudo mature faster than Hylians, giving her a more grown-up impression.
What are the 5 temples in TotK? The 5 temples are Wind Temple, Fire Temple, Water Temple, Lightning Temple, and Spirit Temple.
How many hearts are in Tears of the Kingdom? In practice, there are a maximum of 38 hearts available in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
Is the Water Temple truly the easiest dungeon in Tears of the Kingdom? While some players find the Water Temple easy, the Wind Temple is generally considered the most accessible starting point due to its straightforward design and narrative guidance.
What if I want a REALLY easy Zelda experience? If you really want the easiest experience in the Zelda franchise, try Twilight Princess.
I want to learn more about gaming and learning! Where should I look? You can check out the Games Learning Society to find a great community and learn more about the intersection of gaming and education at GamesLearningSociety.org.

Final Thoughts

Embarking on your dungeon-crawling adventure in Tears of the Kingdom can feel daunting. However, by prioritizing the Wind Temple and taking advantage of Tulin’s Wind ability, you’ll gain valuable experience, crucial skills, and a significant advantage for the challenges that lie ahead. So, grab your warmest gear, prepare for the skies, and may the Triforce be with you!

What is the first dungeon in Tears of the Kingdom?