The Truth About 900 Korok Seeds: Is the Golden Turd Worth It?
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Yes, something does happen if you collect all 900 Korok Seeds in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (and 1000 in Tears of the Kingdom)! You get a gift from the musically inclined, maraca-shaking Hestu: Hestu’s Gift. What exactly is Hestu’s Gift? It’s a large, golden… well, let’s just say it resembles a golden pile of poo. The item description even hints at its unsavory appearance, calling it “a gift of friendship given to you by Hestu” that “smells pretty bad.” While it’s not exactly the Master Sword upgrade you might be hoping for, the journey and completionist satisfaction are major draws for many players. Plus, upgrading your inventory is extremely helpful. Let’s dig deeper into the implications of Korok Seed collection in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.
Unpacking the Korok Seed Conundrum
The allure of collecting all Korok Seeds stems from a fundamental desire for completion, exploration, and a touch of masochism. Hyrule is a vast and beautiful world, and the Korok Seeds are cleverly hidden in nearly every nook and cranny. Finding them requires solving simple puzzles, exploring hidden locations, and thinking outside the box. For many, this is an enjoyable gameplay loop. However, the reward for ultimate completion is… underwhelming, to say the least.
Hestu’s Gift serves as a testament to Nintendo’s sense of humor. It’s a gag gift, a playful jab at completionists who dedicate countless hours to finding every last collectible. Functionally, it does absolutely nothing. It doesn’t boost your stats, unlock new abilities, or even look particularly impressive. Its primary purpose is to trigger a unique animation of Hestu dancing on command when Link holds the item.
The Real Value: Inventory Upgrades
The real benefit of collecting Korok Seeds lies in the ability to upgrade your inventory. By trading seeds with Hestu, you can increase the number of weapon slots, bow slots, and shield slots you have available. This is crucial for survival in Hyrule, as you’ll constantly be finding new weapons and equipment that you’ll want to carry with you.
You don’t need to collect all 900 (or 1000) Korok Seeds to fully upgrade your inventory. In Breath of the Wild, you only need 441 seeds to max out all your stashes. In Tears of the Kingdom, 440 Korok seeds are required. Once you reach that threshold, any additional seeds you collect are essentially worthless in terms of gameplay benefits.
Completionism vs. Practicality
This brings us to the central question: Is it worth finding all the Korok Seeds? The answer depends entirely on your personal playstyle and goals.
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Completionists: If you’re driven by the desire to achieve 100% completion, then finding all the Korok Seeds is a must. The golden poo becomes a badge of honor, a symbol of your dedication to the game.
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Practical Players: If you’re more focused on gameplay and efficiency, then you should prioritize collecting enough seeds to max out your inventory. After that, you can safely ignore the remaining seeds.
It’s also worth noting that the act of exploration itself can be a reward. Finding Korok Seeds often leads you to discover hidden areas, interesting landmarks, and challenging encounters that you might otherwise miss.
FAQs: Your Korok Seed Questions Answered
Here are some frequently asked questions about Korok Seeds and their impact on your Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom experience.
1. What happens if you collect all 900 Korok Seeds?
You receive Hestu’s Gift, a golden poop trophy, and bragging rights. It serves no practical purpose other than making Hestu dance.
2. How many Korok Seeds do I need to fully upgrade my inventory in Breath of the Wild?
You need 441 Korok Seeds to fully expand your weapon, bow, and shield slots in Breath of the Wild.
3. How many Korok Seeds do I need to fully upgrade my inventory in Tears of the Kingdom?
You need 440 Korok Seeds to fully expand your weapon, bow, and shield slots in Tears of the Kingdom.
4. Is Hestu’s Gift useful?
No, Hestu’s Gift is entirely ornamental. It has no impact on gameplay and serves only as a gag reward.
5. Do Korok Seeds count towards 100% completion?
Yes, collecting all 900 Korok Seeds is necessary to achieve 100% completion in Breath of the Wild. It is part of the map completion percentage, which includes locations, shrines, divine beasts, etc.
6. What is the hardest Korok Seed to find?
Difficulty is subjective, but many players consider those requiring precise timing, complex puzzle solutions, or traversal of treacherous terrain to be the hardest. Metal structures at Cora Lake are often cited as challenging.
7. Can I sell Korok Seeds?
No, you cannot sell Korok Seeds. They can only be used to upgrade your inventory with Hestu.
8. Where do I find Hestu?
In Breath of the Wild, Hestu initially appears on the road to Kakariko Village. He later moves to Korok Forest. In Tears of the Kingdom, he is located at Lookout Landing and then will travel to various stables before returning to Lookout Landing.
9. Are Korok Leaves important?
Korok Leaves can be used to propel rafts, create gusts of wind, and stun enemies. They are useful but not essential, as other methods exist for achieving similar effects.
10. Do I need all 1000 Korok Seeds for 100% in Tears of the Kingdom?
Achieving 100% in Tears of the Kingdom requires locating and completing all dungeons, shrines, and caves, along with activating all Skyview Towers and filling the Hyrule Compendium. It is generally assumed that all 1000 seeds must be located, although there may be other means to increase the percentage.
11. Does Hestu’s Gift do anything in Tears of the Kingdom?
Hestu’s Gift continues to be a purely symbolic reward in Tears of the Kingdom, possessing no practical function beyond serving as a humorous collectible.
12. What is the best use of Korok Seeds?
The best use of Korok Seeds is undoubtedly to upgrade your inventory slots. This allows you to carry more weapons, bows, and shields, significantly improving your combat and exploration capabilities.
13. How many Korok Seeds does it take to max out a sword?
Korok Seeds are not tied to specific items like swords, shields, or bows. In total, 441 seeds are required to maximize all the stashes.
14. Does anything change for Hestu after you give him all Korok Seeds?
Once you’ve given Hestu all 900 (or 1000) seeds, he will reward you with Hestu’s Gift but otherwise, no, nothing else changes. He will dance on command if you take the item out.
15. Is it worth it to use a guide to find all the Korok Seeds?
Whether or not to use a guide is a matter of personal preference. Using a guide can save you time and frustration, but it can also diminish the sense of discovery. If you’re struggling to find the last few seeds, a guide can be a helpful tool. Resources, like the Games Learning Society, offer a vast array of information and articles on gaming related topics! Check out GamesLearningSociety.org to find out more.
The Golden Verdict: Should You Embark on the Korok Seed Quest?
In conclusion, collecting all Korok Seeds in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom is a challenge reserved for the most dedicated completionists. The reward, Hestu’s Gift, is a humorous but ultimately useless item. The real value lies in the inventory upgrades you receive along the way. If you enjoy exploring Hyrule and solving puzzles, then the Korok Seed quest can be a rewarding experience. However, if you’re primarily focused on gameplay and efficiency, you can safely stop collecting seeds once you’ve maxed out your inventory. So, go forth, explore Hyrule, and decide for yourself if the golden poo is worth the effort.