How to Get the Hylian Shield in Tears of the Kingdom

If you want the best chance of surviving in Tears of the Kingdom (TotK), you’ll need to equip a strong shield to defend yourself. The Hylian Shield is one of the best in the game, providing a massive defense boost. With this iconic shield, tackling the game’s toughest enemies and challenges should be much easier.

This guide will show you exactly how and where to find the Hylian Shield, as well as describe its capabilities.

The Location of the Hylian Shield

The Hylian Shield is a highly-prized item. It’s well-hidden and guarded by fearsome creatures. There are several ways to get to it, and even a method that involves no fighting at all. But first, you need to know where to look.

The Hylian Shield can be found in a secret chest in the docks of Hyrule Castle, at the coordinates (-0161, 1159, 0037).

If you played Breath of the Wild (BotW), you’ll have no trouble finding the docks, as they’re in exactly the same location as they were in the previous game. If you’re new to this world, the docks are situated just north of Hyrule Castle.

Finding this spot on your map is easy enough, but actually accessing the docks is another matter. There are two main methods to get there: sailing and gliding.

Method 1: Sailing to the Docks

For this method, you’ll require a boat and a steering stick or tool to guide it in the right direction. There are two ways of getting the equipment you need:

• If you have the Ultrahand or Autobuild abilities, you can construct a boat yourself using materials you find in the world.
• If you’re not able to make your own boat, the game conveniently provides one for you to use. Head over to the west side of Hyrule Castle Moat to find it. It’s a sailboat, so you’ll need a Korok-Frond guster to steer it. You can make your own Korok-Frond guster with a frond and a tree branch.

Once you have your boat, climb aboard and sail over to the northwest part of the moat. Go past the outer docks and look for an opening in the wall. It looks like a secret cave, and it will lead you to a hidden interior docking area, under the castle. Guide your boat through the opening and jump out on the stone platform to the left.

Method 2: Gliding to the Docks

If you don’t have access to the necessary sailing equipment, you can also head up above the docks and glide your way in.

This method will require you to first unlock the Serutabomac Shrine. This shrine can be found to the northeast of Hyrule Castle, east of the docks. Its coordinates are (-0179, 1170, 0280). The easiest way to get there is to launch yourself from the Lookout Landing tower and glide towards it.

From the edge of the shrine, you can jump off and glide around the northern side of the castle until you see the opening in the wall. Glide through it to get to the docks. It’s best to prepare some stamina elixirs before you go so you have enough stamina to glide all the way.

Navigating the Docks to Find the Shield

No matter whether you choose to sail or glide, this part will be the same. Once you get to the docks, you’ll need to navigate through them, either fighting or avoiding enemies along the way.

1. The docks are relatively easy to navigate. Just follow the path and head up the stairs. However, enemies will try to swarm you, including a group of Gloom Hands. These hands can grab hold of you, quite literally squeezing the life out of you and inflicting Gloom. You can either fight them or avoid them.
   
   • If you choose to fight, the easiest option is to shoot them with bomb flower arrows. With good aim, you can damage multiple hands with each shot. Keep your distance and continue firing until the group is dead.
2. After that, a new enemy, Phantom Ganon, will appear. Close-quarters combat is the best method to beat him. Get up close and strafe left and right to dodge his attacks, waiting for the right time to hit back.
   
   • If you prefer to avoid the enemies entirely, you can do so. You can either sprint right past them or climb the nearby pillar and wait for them to fade away.
3. After dealing with the enemies one way or another, continue along the ramp. You’ll reach a large, open area with an unlit torch in the center. You need to light that torch to summon the chest with the Hylian Shield. Use either your own torch, a Fire Fruit, or some Chu Chu Jelly to light the flame.
   
4. The chest should then appear. Open it up and claim your prize.
   

What Does the Hylian Shield Do?

The Hylian Shield is a highly effective piece of equipment that has been part of the Zelda franchise since Ocarina of Time. It’s one of the most iconic items for Zelda fans to get their hands on, right up there alongside the Master Sword. Link is often pictured with this shield, which is decorated with the famous Triforce symbol and Hylian Crest.

In TotK, just like in other games, this shield is definitely worth obtaining. It has a defense score of 90, making it the strongest shield in the game. It can take multiple heavy hits without breaking, and it’s ideal for keeping you alive during some of the late-game battles and challenges.

FAQs

Can the Hylian Shield break?

Yes, despite being immensely strong, the TotK is not indestructible. It can take a lot of hits, but it’ll break eventually. So, even with a shield like this one, you still need to be careful and avoid any unnecessary damage.

Can I rebuy the Hylian Shield if it breaks?

Fortunately, yes, even if your Hylian Shield gets smashed to pieces during the course of your adventure, you can rebuy it. However, you’ll need to have finished “The Mayoral Election” quest first and have access to Cece’s shop in Hateno Village. Cece will sell you the shield for 3,000 rupees.

Is the Hylian Shield the best in the game?

Yes, in terms of defense rating and durability, the Hylian Shield is the best in the game. However, there are some other decent shields to try if you’re unable to obtain the Hylian Shield, like the Royal Guard’s Shield and Savage Lynel Shield.

How early in the game can you get the Hylian Shield?

You can access the Hylian Shield quite early on, as soon as you obtain a paraglider.

Strengthen Your Defenses with the Hylian Shield

The Hylian Shield is such a classic piece of Legend of Zelda equipment, you simply have to find it for the full TotK experience. Its superior stats will make a lot of the game’s hardest foes easier to fight. Follow the steps above to find it for yourself, but remember to look after it well, as the price of a replacement is very high.

Have you found the Hylian Shield yet? Do you know another way to access it? Let us know in the comments.