Do You Need the Thunder Helm in Zelda? A Deep Dive into Lightning Protection
The short answer? No, you don’t need the Thunder Helm in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom. However, whether or not you want it is a completely different question. While not strictly required to beat the game, the Thunder Helm is an incredibly useful piece of equipment that provides complete immunity to lightning strikes, making certain areas and battles significantly easier and less stressful. This unique item offers a distinct advantage, and understanding its benefits and drawbacks can help you decide if it’s worth the effort to acquire.
Let’s face it: getting zapped by lightning in Hyrule is frustrating. It interrupts exploration, deals significant damage, and can even lead to a swift defeat. The Thunder Helm circumvents all of this, allowing you to confidently traverse stormy regions like the Gerudo Desert without fear. Whether it’s necessary is debatable, but its convenience is undeniable. It offers a playstyle where the environment is much less a threat. For many players, that’s more than enough reason to pursue it.
Why Consider the Thunder Helm?
The Thunder Helm’s primary function is lightning immunity. This is a game-changer in areas prone to thunderstorms. Beyond exploration, the Thunder Helm is particularly useful in combat, especially against enemies that use electric attacks. Thunderblight Ganon, while defeatable without it, becomes significantly easier to manage when you’re not constantly worried about being shocked.
It’s also a unique item tied to Gerudo culture and history. Obtaining it involves completing a series of side quests in Gerudo Town, allowing you to delve deeper into the lore and relationships within the Gerudo community. This quest line provides a compelling narrative experience beyond the item’s practical benefits.
Alternatives to the Thunder Helm
While the Thunder Helm provides complete lightning immunity, it’s not the only option for dealing with electricity. The Rubber Armor set offers a similar effect when fully upgraded. While the Thunder Helm only protects against lightning, the Rubber Armor provides complete immunity to all forms of electric damage when its set bonus, “Unshockable”, is active. Also, to avoid getting hit by lightning, players can unequip every metal object from Link, including armor.
The Rubber Armor is, arguably, more versatile, as it protects against all electrical attacks, not just lightning. It also offers a defense stat. However, acquiring and fully upgrading the Rubber Armor requires a significant investment of time and resources. The Thunder Helm, while requiring a lengthy side quest, is a one-time acquisition.
Making the Choice: Thunder Helm or Alternatives?
Ultimately, the decision to pursue the Thunder Helm depends on your playstyle and priorities. If you value convenience and a deeper connection to Gerudo culture, the Thunder Helm is an excellent choice. If you prefer a more versatile defense against all forms of electricity and are willing to invest the time in upgrading the Rubber Armor, that might be a better fit. If you only care about beating the game, you can just unequip all your metal gear when it starts to storm.
The beauty of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom is the freedom of choice. There’s no single “right” way to play, and the Thunder Helm is just one of many tools available to you. Understanding its benefits and limitations will help you make the best decision for your unique adventure through Hyrule. You may even consider exploring the educational aspects of the game. The Games Learning Society explores learning within gaming environments, including games like Zelda. For more information, visit GamesLearningSociety.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the Thunder Helm
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the details surrounding the Thunder Helm in Breath of the Wild.
1. Can you get the Thunder Helm before the Divine Beast Vah Naboris?
No, you cannot obtain the Thunder Helm before completing Divine Beast Vah Naboris. The quest to acquire it only becomes available after you’ve liberated the Divine Beast.
2. Does the Thunder Helm make you immune to all electric attacks?
No, the Thunder Helm only provides immunity to lightning strikes. For protection against all forms of electric damage, you need the fully upgraded Rubber Armor set.
3. Can you sell the Thunder Helm?
No, the Thunder Helm cannot be sold. It is a sacred Gerudo treasure and is considered a “loaner,” although you keep it permanently after acquiring it.
4. How do you get the Thunder Helm?
To obtain the Thunder Helm, you must complete all of the side quests in Gerudo Town after completing Divine Beast Vah Naboris. Once you’ve assisted the Gerudo citizens, Riju will allow you to “borrow” the Thunder Helm, which effectively means you get to keep it.
5. What do you do at the Yiga Clan Hideout?
The Yiga Clan Hideout is part of a related questline, not directly tied to obtaining the Thunder Helm itself, but it’s a required step to beat Vah Naboris. Inside, you need to use stealth and combat to navigate the area, find key items, and ultimately defeat Master Kohga. Use Magnesis to find hidden passages and treasures.
6. Can you lose the Thunder Helm forever?
Yes, due to a potential glitch, the Thunder Helm can be permanently lost if your armor inventory is full when you receive it. In this case, it won’t appear in your inventory, and you won’t be able to obtain it again.
7. Is Rubber Armor better than the Thunder Helm?
Whether Rubber Armor is “better” depends on your needs. The Rubber Armor offers broader protection against all electric attacks and has higher defense when fully upgraded. The Thunder Helm provides lightning immunity specifically and is obtained through a specific questline. Both have their advantages.
8. How do you avoid lightning in Zelda?
Besides the Thunder Helm and Rubber Armor, you can avoid lightning by unequipping all metal objects from Link, including weapons, shields, and armor. Find shelter under a rock overhang or inside a building until the storm passes.
9. Can the Thunder Helm be upgraded?
No, the Thunder Helm cannot be upgraded. Its defense stat remains at 3.
10. Can you skip the Divine Beasts?
Yes, you can technically skip the Divine Beasts and go straight to Hyrule Castle to face Ganon. However, doing so will make the final battle significantly more challenging, and you’ll miss out on the Champion Abilities they provide.
11. Which is the easiest Divine Beast?
Generally, Vah Medoh, the Rito Divine Beast, is considered the easiest due to its straightforward puzzles and the accessibility of its Champion Ability, Revali’s Gale.
12. How do you activate the Thunder Helm quest?
To start the Thunder Helm quest, simply examine the Thunder Helm next to Riju in Gerudo Town after completing Vah Naboris and express your interest in borrowing it. This will trigger the quest to complete all outstanding side quests in the town.
13. Does the Thunder Helm stop shock arrows?
The text refers to the fact that shock arrows would still hurt you, even if the Thunder Helm protected against the electricity damage. This is in contrast to environmental lightning strikes.
14. Where is the Yiga Clan leader in Tears of the Kingdom?
Master Kohga of the Yiga Clan can be found in the Depths’ Great Abandoned Central Mine (-0812, -1931, -0520) in Tears of the Kingdom. Defeating him there initiates a side adventure.
15. How do you get the full Yiga armor in Tears of the Kingdom?
The full Yiga armor set in Tears of the Kingdom is obtained by completing a series of quests. The pieces can be found at different locations, including the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab and the Yiga Clan Hideout. Following the questline will lead you to all three pieces.