Mastering the Hyrule Compendium: Your Guide to Buying Pictures

So, you’re looking to complete your Hyrule Compendium in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom? Well, the answer to how you buy pictures for the Hyrule Compendium is straightforward: You visit Symin at the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab after completing specific quests related to the Compendium. He offers to sell you pictures of entries you haven’t photographed yourself.

Delving Deeper: Filling the Hyrule Compendium Gaps

The Hyrule Compendium is an invaluable resource in both games. It’s a comprehensive encyclopedia of enemies, creatures, materials, equipment, and treasures found throughout Hyrule. Completing it is a worthwhile endeavor for any completionist or someone seeking to maximize their understanding of the game world. While taking your own photographs with the Sheikah Slate (or Purah Pad in Tears of the Kingdom) is the primary way to populate the Compendium, sometimes you’ll miss enemies, have difficulty locating certain items, or simply prefer to bypass the hunting process. That’s where Symin comes in.

Symin’s Services: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Rupees

After triggering the main quest “Locked Mementos” in Breath of the Wild, and completing the “Camera Work in Akkala” quest in Tears of the Kingdom, you’ll unlock the ability to purchase pictures from Symin. He offers photos in several categories, each with its own pricing structure:

• Creatures: This category includes all manner of beasts, from Bokoblins to Lynels. Expect to pay a substantial sum for photos of rarer enemies.
• Equipment: Armors, weapons, and shields all fall under this category. Purchasing equipment photos can be useful for identifying items you’ve found but haven’t yet added to the Compendium.
• Monsters: All types of monsters from the weaker ones to bosses in Hyrule can be found here.
• Materials: From apples to rare monster parts, this category covers ingredients used in cooking and crafting. Buying material photos can be helpful if you need a visual reference for a specific recipe or upgrade.
• Treasure: This includes chests and the items found inside them.

The price of each picture varies depending on its rarity and difficulty to obtain. Common materials will be relatively cheap, while elusive enemies and rare weapons will command a higher price. You can see the price of each picture before purchasing it. This helps to make informed decisions about what is most needed in your gallery!

Strategies for Economical Compendium Completion

While buying pictures is a convenient way to fill in the gaps in your Compendium, it can quickly become expensive. Here are some tips for maximizing your rupee efficiency:

• Prioritize Difficult-to-Find Items: Focus on purchasing photos of enemies that are rare, located in remote areas, or only appear during specific events (e.g., Blood Moons). Taking your own photos of common enemies and materials will save you a considerable amount of rupees.
• Complete Side Quests: Many side quests reward you with rupees. Taking on these quests can help fund your Compendium purchases and unlock new areas on the map to explore.
• Sell Unnecessary Items: You probably have more materials and monster parts than you need. Selling duplicates or items you don’t use frequently is a great way to boost your rupee stash. Check the local merchants or travel to specific merchants for a higher price.
• Hunt for Treasure Chests: Treasure chests often contain valuable gems and other items that can be sold for a good price. Explore every nook and cranny of Hyrule to uncover hidden treasure.
• Consider the Upgrade Path: If you need a specific monster part to upgrade your armor, and you haven’t yet encountered that monster, buying its picture can help you identify it and know where to look.

Beyond the Basics: Understanding Compendium Upgrades

In Breath of the Wild, once you’ve completed the Hyrule Compendium, you can return to Symin to upgrade your Sheikah Slate. This allows you to set your Sheikah Sensor to detect items from the Compendium, making it easier to find specific materials or enemies. This feature is incredibly useful for gathering ingredients for cooking and crafting, as well as hunting down rare enemies for specific drops. This feature is similar in Tears of the Kingdom with the Purah Pad.

GamesLearningSociety.org and Experiential Learning

The Hyrule Compendium is more than just a checklist; it’s a powerful tool for experiential learning. By observing creatures, identifying materials, and understanding the relationships between different elements of the game world, players develop critical thinking skills and a deeper appreciation for the intricate design of Hyrule. Games like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom offer immersive environments where learning happens organically. For more information about the intersection of games and education, visit the Games Learning Society website: https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.

Hyrule Compendium FAQs: Your Burning Questions Answered

Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the process of buying pictures and maximizing your Hyrule Compendium experience:

1. Can I buy pictures of key story characters, like Zelda or the Champions? No, pictures of key story characters are typically obtained through story progression and cannot be purchased from Symin.
2. Does Symin’s inventory change or refresh over time? No, Symin’s inventory remains the same throughout the game. He offers pictures of everything available in the Compendium.
3. Is there any benefit to taking my own pictures after I’ve already purchased them from Symin? Absolutely! While the Compendium entry will be filled, taking your own pictures allows you to use your own images for the Sheikah Sensor and Purah Pad.
4. What happens if I lose or break an item after adding it to the Compendium? The item will remain in your Compendium. You only need to obtain an item once to add it to the database.
5. Can I purchase pictures in any order, or are there restrictions? You can purchase pictures in any order you like, as long as you have the rupees to pay for them.
6. Are there any items or enemies that cannot be added to the Compendium, even through purchase? No, everything that can be added to the Compendium can be either photographed or purchased from Symin.
7. How many rupees should I save up before visiting Symin? That depends on your budget and what you’re trying to complete in your Compendium. Start with a few thousand rupees.
8. Do amiibo-exclusive items appear in the Compendium? Amiibo items do appear in the Compendium once you’ve obtained them through scanning.
9. Is there a difference in the Compendium between Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom? Yes, the content of the Compendium differs to reflect the different creatures, materials, and equipment available in each game.
10. Can you sell pictures back to Symin after buying them? No, you cannot sell pictures back to Symin. Once you’ve purchased a picture, it’s yours to keep in the Compendium.
11. Does buying pictures affect the “completion rate” of the game? Yes, filling the Compendium contributes to your overall game completion percentage.
12. Is there a specific time of day that Symin is available? Symin is available at the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab during the day and evening. He can normally be found inside of his lab.
13. What’s the cheapest item I can buy from Symin? Common materials like apples or basic monster parts are usually the cheapest pictures available.
14. What’s the most expensive item I can buy from Symin? Rare enemies like Lynels and unique weapons often command the highest prices.
15. Does the weather affect my ability to buy pictures from Symin? No, the weather does not affect Symin’s availability or your ability to purchase pictures.

By following these tips and strategies, you’ll be well on your way to completing your Hyrule Compendium and experiencing everything that these incredible games have to offer! Remember to enjoy the journey and explore every corner of Hyrule. Happy hunting, and may your Sheikah Slate (or Purah Pad) always be charged!