What Happens When You Get Every Shrine: The Ultimate Reward in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

You’ve spent countless hours exploring Hyrule, deciphering cryptic clues, and conquering every single one of the 120 Shrines scattered across the vast landscape. The question on every dedicated Breath of the Wild player’s mind, the ultimate carrot dangling before them as they meticulously tick off each trial, is simple: what happens when you get every shrine? The answer, for those who have persevered through every puzzle and combat challenge, is a mix of tangible rewards and a profound sense of accomplishment, culminating in a special in-game acknowledgment that, while not game-breaking, feels incredibly earned.

I remember the feeling vividly. After what felt like an eternity of exploring every nook and cranny, backtracking through familiar territories and venturing into the most obscure corners, I finally activated the last Shrine. There was a quiet sense of finality, a deep breath of satisfaction as the familiar chime echoed for the 120th time. It wasn’t a dramatic explosion of light or a sudden surge of overwhelming power that greeted me. Instead, it was a subtle, yet significant, acknowledgment from the game itself, a final reward for an immense undertaking. For many, this journey is as much about the exploration and the personal growth within the game as it is about the final prize.

The primary, and perhaps most sought-after, reward for completing all 120 Shrines in *The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild* is a unique piece of armor: the Tunic of the Wild. This isn’t just another piece of equipment; it’s a symbolic culmination of your efforts, a stylish testament to your mastery of Hyrule’s trials. Let’s dive into the specifics of how you obtain this coveted item and what it represents within the game’s narrative and gameplay mechanics.

Unlocking the Tunic of the Wild: The Grand Prize

After you successfully complete your 120th Shrine, you’ll be prompted to return to the Shrine of Resurrection, a pivotal location from the very beginning of your journey. Upon arriving, you’ll find a special pedestal waiting for you. Interacting with this pedestal triggers a cutscene where you are presented with the Tunic of the Wild.

This isn’t a case of finding a chest or receiving it from an NPC; it’s a direct reward from the game’s system, acknowledging your completion of a monumental task. The Tunic of the Wild is the final piece of the legendary “Champion’s Tunic” set, which also includes the Champion’s Tunic itself (obtained after defeating Divine Beast Vah Ruta), the Hylian Trousers, and the Hylian Hood. Wearing the complete set grants a significant gameplay bonus: the “Master Sword Beam” ability when your health is full. This means that when Link is at full health and wielding the Master Sword, he can unleash its iconic energy beam attack, a powerful offensive option that was historically a signature move of the hero.

The Tunic of the Wild itself is purely cosmetic when considered as a singular item before the full set is worn. However, its true value lies in its contribution to the complete set and the prestige it carries. It’s a visual cue to other players, a silent declaration of your dedication and skill. The design of the Tunic of the Wild is reminiscent of Link’s iconic green tunic from earlier *Zelda* titles, offering a nostalgic nod to fans of the series while fitting seamlessly into the aesthetic of *Breath of the Wild*.

The Master Sword Beam: A Blast from the Past

The Master Sword Beam ability is a game-changer, especially for players who enjoy a more aggressive playstyle or are looking for an edge in challenging combat encounters. Historically, this beam attack was the Master Sword’s primary ranged option. In *Breath of the Wild*, its reintroduction as a bonus for completing all Shrines and wearing the full Champion’s set feels like a fitting reward for mastering the game’s challenges. It’s not just about raw power; it’s about the symbolic return of a classic ability, unlocked through dedication.

The ability functions just as you’d expect: when Link is at full health and has the Master Sword equipped, pressing the attack button will unleash a beam of energy. This attack consumes no extra durability from the Master Sword, making it an invaluable tool for conserving its power or for dealing damage from a safe distance. It’s particularly useful against flying enemies or when you need to conserve resources, allowing you to engage threats without necessarily closing the distance and risking damage.

Personally, I found the Master Sword Beam to be a fantastic addition to my arsenal, especially during the more challenging Blood Moon Bokoblin camps or when dealing with Lynels from afar. It adds a layer of strategic depth, encouraging players to maintain their health to maximize offensive potential. It’s a subtle yet potent reminder of the journey undertaken to achieve this level of mastery.

Beyond the Tunic: The Intangible Rewards

While the Tunic of the Wild is the primary tangible reward, the true value of completing every shrine often lies in the intangible benefits reaped throughout the journey. These are the skills you hone, the knowledge you acquire, and the sheer breadth of your exploration.

Unparalleled Map Knowledge: After finding all 120 Shrines, you will possess an intimate understanding of Hyrule’s geography. You’ll know the quickest routes between locations, the best places to find resources, and the hidden corners that even seasoned players might miss.
Mastery of Combat: The combat Shrines, in particular, force you to adapt to various enemy types and learn their attack patterns. By the time you’ve completed them all, you’ll likely be a formidable warrior, capable of taking on even the most dangerous foes with confidence.
Puzzle-Solving Prowess: The puzzle Shrines are designed to test your intellect and your understanding of the game’s physics engine. You’ll develop a keen eye for detail and a creative approach to problem-solving, skills that extend beyond the game itself.
Resourcefulness and Inventory Management: To tackle every challenge, you’ll become adept at gathering resources, managing your inventory, and utilizing the right tools for the job. This includes understanding weapon durability, cooking for buffs, and crafting elixirs.
A Deep Sense of Accomplishment: Perhaps the most significant reward is the profound sense of accomplishment that comes from achieving such a difficult and time-consuming goal. It’s a testament to your patience, perseverance, and dedication to the game.

From my own experience, the journey through the Shrines transformed my perception of Hyrule. What initially seemed like a vast, intimidating world became a playground of possibilities. I learned to see the landscape not just as a backdrop, but as a series of interconnected challenges and opportunities. Each solved Shrine felt like unlocking another piece of the world’s puzzle, and the cumulative knowledge gained was immense.

The Role of the Sheikah Slate in Your Shrine Journey

Throughout your quest to find every shrine, the Sheikah Slate is your indispensable companion. This ancient device is not just a tool for activating shrines; it’s the key to unlocking new abilities and interacting with the world in a profound way. Let’s consider how the Sheikah Slate’s functions directly contribute to your shrine completion efforts.

The primary function of the Sheikah Slate in relation to shrines is its ability to detect and activate them. When you approach a Sheikah Shrine that you haven’t yet completed, the Slate will emit a distinct audible ping and a visual indicator on your map will appear. This makes finding them significantly easier. More importantly, the Slate is required to enter the Shrine and to claim your reward from the Monk within. Each Monk bestows a Spirit Orb, and it’s the accumulation of these Orbs that allows you to increase Link’s health or stamina.

Beyond activation, the abilities granted by the Sheikah Slate are absolutely crucial for solving the puzzles within the Shrines themselves. The Magnesis Rune allows you to manipulate metallic objects, which is essential for many physics-based puzzles where you need to move platforms, doors, or create pathways. The Remote Bombs (both square and spherical) are invaluable for breaking cracked walls, triggering switches, and clearing debris. The Stasis Rune, perhaps one of the most versatile, allows you to freeze objects in time. This not only lets you examine them for weaknesses or hidden elements but also enables you to build up kinetic energy by striking them while frozen, launching them when the Stasis wears off. This is key for puzzles involving moving heavy objects or reaching distant platforms. Finally, the Cryonis Rune lets you create ice pillars on bodies of water, allowing you to traverse lakes, ascend waterfalls, or create platforms to reach elevated areas. Without these four core abilities, a significant number of Shrines would be utterly impassable.

The progression of these runes is intrinsically linked to your shrine journey. While the basic runes are acquired early in the game, some upgrades and additional functionalities are often unlocked through specific Shrines or by visiting the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab. This creates a feedback loop: you need the Slate’s abilities to complete Shrines, and completing Shrines often leads to upgrades or further understanding of how to best utilize those abilities. It’s a masterful design that ensures players are constantly engaged with the core mechanics of the game.

The Journey Itself: More Than Just the Destination

It’s easy to focus on the endgame reward, but the real magic of *Breath of the Wild* lies in the journey. The Shrines are not merely obstacles to be overcome; they are meticulously crafted experiences that teach you about the world and about Link’s capabilities.

Variety is the Spice of Shrine Life

One of the most impressive aspects of the Shrines is their sheer variety. Nintendo didn’t simply create 120 copy-pasted challenges. Instead, they designed distinct categories of Shrines, ensuring that each one offers a unique experience:

Combat Trials: These Shrines often pit you against waves of enemies, including Guardian Scouts. They test your combat prowess, your ability to utilize different weapons and techniques, and your understanding of enemy patterns. Some of these combat trials are particularly notorious for their difficulty, forcing you to think strategically about weapon choices and defensive maneuvers.
Puzzle Challenges: The vast majority of Shrines fall into this category. They require you to use your Sheikah Slate abilities in clever ways to manipulate the environment, solve riddles, and overcome obstacles. These can range from simple switch-pressing puzzles to complex physics-based conundrums that require a deep understanding of the game’s mechanics.
Guidance of the Temple: These are the Shrines that rely on navigating a labyrinthine environment, often with environmental hazards or hidden pathways. They test your spatial awareness and your ability to explore meticulously.
Blessing Shrines: These are the simplest Shrines. They contain no puzzles or combat. Upon entering, you’ll find a treasure chest containing a valuable item (often a Spirit Orb and sometimes a special weapon or shield), and the Monk awaits to grant you your reward. These Shrines are often found in more remote or difficult-to-reach locations, rewarding exploration.

The genius of this design is that it keeps the gameplay fresh. Just when you might be getting tired of one type of puzzle, you’ll stumble upon a combat trial that requires a completely different approach, or a blessing Shrine that offers a moment of respite and a quick reward. This constant shift in gameplay keeps players engaged and eager to discover what the next Shrine will hold.

Shrines as Skill-Building Tools

Beyond mere entertainment, the Shrines serve as ingenious skill-building tools. Each one is a contained lesson in a specific aspect of *Breath of the Wild*’s gameplay. For instance:

The “Proving Grounds” Shrines (e.g., “A Modest Test of Strength,” “The Tough Test of Strength”): These combat-focused Shrines are instrumental in teaching players how to effectively fight Guardian Scouts. You learn to parry their laser attacks, dodge their melee assaults, and exploit their weaknesses. By the time you’ve completed all the “Proving Grounds” Shrines, you’ll be a master at fighting these challenging foes, making encounters outside of Shrines much more manageable.
Physics-Based Puzzles (e.g., “Flow Like Water,” “Ethereal Embrace”): Shrines that involve manipulating water currents, using momentum, or utilizing Stasis to launch objects are fantastic for teaching players about the game’s intricate physics engine. You learn to experiment with different angles, weights, and forces to achieve the desired outcome. This knowledge is often transferable to solving environmental puzzles in the overworld.
Sheikah Slate Mastery (e.g., “Path of Light,” “Restless Flame”): Many Shrines are designed specifically to showcase the versatility of a particular Sheikah Slate rune. You might encounter a Shrine that requires extensive use of Magnesis to construct a complex mechanism, or one that demands precise timing with Stasis to navigate a hazardous course. These Shrines push the boundaries of what you thought was possible with each ability.

From my perspective, these Shrines are far more than just arbitrary challenges. They are miniature tutorials, expertly integrated into the game world. They encourage experimentation and reward clever thinking. I often found myself experimenting with new strategies within a Shrine, only to realize that the same strategy could be applied to a more difficult enemy encounter in the wild. This is a testament to the brilliant design of the game.

The Lore and Narrative Connection

While the Shrines are primarily gameplay-focused, they are not entirely devoid of narrative significance. The Sheikah, an ancient technologically advanced race, constructed these Shrines as training grounds and places of testing for the hero destined to face Calamity Ganon. Each Monk inside a Shrine is a manifestation of the Sheikah technology, a guide to help Link prepare for his ultimate battle.

The completion of all Shrines ties into the larger narrative by symbolizing Link’s complete preparation. He has honed his combat skills, his mental acuity, and his understanding of the ancient Sheikah technology. This readiness is crucial for facing the ultimate threat. While there isn’t a grand cinematic reveal at the end that re-writes the story, the Tunic of the Wild and the Master Sword Beam ability serve as fitting acknowledgments of this preparedness.

Furthermore, the Shrines are scattered across Hyrule, from the snowy peaks of the Hebra Mountains to the scorching deserts of Gerudo. This wide distribution emphasizes that the hero’s journey is one of encompassing the entire land. He cannot be fully prepared by training in only one region; he must prove his worth across all of Hyrule.

A Checklist for Shrine Completion: Your Path to the Tunic of the Wild

For those embarking on the quest to find every shrine, a methodical approach can be incredibly beneficial. Here’s a checklist that can help you stay organized and ensure you don’t miss a single one:

Utilize Your Sheikah Sensor: As you explore, keep the Sheikah Sensor tuned to “Shrine.” This will alert you when you are within range of an undiscovered Shrine.
Investigate Strange Landmarks: Many Shrines are hidden behind subtle environmental clues. Look for unusual rock formations, glowing symbols on walls, or areas that seem out of place.
Talk to NPCs: Many characters in the game offer clues about the location of Shrines or even outright quests that lead to them. Pay attention to dialogue, especially from researchers or those who seem knowledgeable about Hyrule’s history.
Complete Divine Beasts and Main Quests: Some Shrines become accessible only after completing certain main story quests or Divine Beasts, as these events can alter the landscape or provide necessary items/abilities.
Trek to Remote Areas: Don’t neglect the edges of the map or difficult-to-access regions like the highest peaks or deepest canyons. Some of the most rewarding Shrines are found in these out-of-the-way locations.
Use Your Map Effectively: Mark off areas you’ve thoroughly searched. If you have a particular region you’re struggling with, consider using a printed map or an online resource as a reference, but try to rely on your in-game exploration first for the full experience.
Revisit Areas: Sometimes, you might not have the correct Sheikah Slate ability or a necessary item to solve a Shrine. Make a note of its location and return later when you’ve progressed further in the game.
Prioritize Spirit Orbs: As you collect Spirit Orbs, use them to increase your health and stamina. This will make tackling the more challenging Shrines, especially the combat ones, significantly easier.
Don’t Be Afraid to Look Up Hints (Sparingly): If you are truly stuck on a specific Shrine for an extended period, consulting a guide for that particular Shrine can be a good way to break through a mental block without spoiling the overall experience.
Keep Track of Your Progress: The game does a good job of marking completed Shrines on your map, but it’s wise to mentally (or even physically) tick them off as you go, especially if you’re aiming for 100% completion.

Following this checklist, combined with a spirit of adventure, will undoubtedly lead you to every last Shrine. The sense of satisfaction when you finally mark the last one as complete is unparalleled.

The Impact of the Tunic of the Wild on Gameplay

The Tunic of the Wild, and the Master Sword Beam ability it unlocks when worn with the rest of the Champion’s set, has a tangible impact on gameplay. While it doesn’t fundamentally change the way you play *Breath of the Wild*, it certainly enhances your capabilities and offers strategic advantages.

Offensive Augmentation

The most direct impact is on combat. The Master Sword Beam allows for ranged attacks without expending arrows or using other limited resources. This is incredibly useful in a variety of situations:

Engaging Distant Threats: Enemies like Keese, Lizalfos, or even Bokoblins stationed on high perches can be dealt with from a distance, preventing them from closing the gap and initiating a melee.
Conserving Ammunition: For players who are frugal with their arrows or have a limited supply, the Master Sword Beam provides a much-needed alternative for ranged combat.
Dealing with Flying Enemies: While arrows are effective against flyers, the beam offers a consistent and reliable way to target them without needing precise aiming under pressure.
“Safe” Damage: Against enemies with powerful melee attacks, the ability to chip away at their health from a distance while maintaining full health yourself is a significant tactical advantage.

I found myself relying on the Master Sword Beam extensively during Blood Moon events, especially when dealing with large encampments of enemies. It allowed me to thin out the herd before I had to get into the thick of close-quarters combat, which often saved me a considerable amount of health and resources.

Defensive Considerations

The Master Sword Beam also indirectly influences your defensive strategy. To maximize its effectiveness, you are encouraged to maintain Link’s full health. This, in turn, promotes:

Careful Engagement: Players are incentivized to approach combat encounters more cautiously, prioritizing defense and healing to keep Link at full health.
Effective Healing: The importance of cooking and consuming potent healing meals or elixirs becomes even more pronounced.
Dodging and Parrying: To prevent taking damage and losing the beam, players are likely to focus more on perfecting their dodging and parrying techniques.

This focus on maintaining full health can lead to a more deliberate and skillful approach to combat, making players more aware of their surroundings and their enemy’s attack patterns. It elevates the importance of preparation, a core theme of *Breath of the Wild*.

Comparing Shrine Rewards: What Else Do You Get?

It’s important to clarify that the Tunic of the Wild is the *primary* and *unique* reward for completing all 120 Shrines. However, the journey to reach that goal is punctuated by many other rewards:

Spirit Orbs: The most frequent reward from Shrines is a Spirit Orb. You get one from each Shrine. These are used at Goddess Statues to upgrade Link’s Heart Containers (health) or Stamina Vessels. This is arguably the most significant gameplay progression reward throughout the game.
Treasure Chests: Many Shrines contain treasure chests with valuable items. These can include weapons (swords, spears, bows), shields, arrows, elixirs, food items, and crafting materials. The quality and quantity of these items vary depending on the Shrine.
Ancient Materials: Some Shrines, particularly those involving combat trials, may reward you with Ancient Materials like Ancient Screws, Springs, and Gears, which are crucial for upgrading your armor at Great Fairy Fountains and for purchasing Ancient weapons and shields from the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab.
Unique Items: A handful of Shrines offer unique or powerful items as their primary reward, such as the Hylian Shield (found in a special Hyrule Castle Shrine) or powerful elemental weapons.

The Tunic of the Wild stands out because it’s not found within a Shrine chest, nor is it a consumable or a standard piece of equipment. It’s an earned achievement, a unique cosmetic and functional reward that signifies the completion of a monumental task. It’s a reward that directly reflects your dedication to mastering the game’s challenges.

The Ultimate Goal: Beyond the Credits

For many players, “beating” *Breath of the Wild* doesn’t end with defeating Calamity Ganon. The true endgame often involves achieving 100% completion, and finding every Shrine is a major component of that. The Tunic of the Wild becomes the symbol of this ultimate accomplishment. It signifies that you have explored every corner, solved every puzzle, and conquered every trial that the developers so meticulously crafted.

The journey to obtain every shrine is a testament to the design philosophy of *Breath of the Wild*. It prioritizes player freedom, encourages exploration, and rewards curiosity and perseverance. The Shrines are not just filler content; they are integral parts of the game that teach, challenge, and ultimately enrich the player’s experience.

Frequently Asked Questions About Shrine Completion

How do I know which Shrines I’ve completed?

Nintendo has made it incredibly easy to keep track of your Shrine progress. Once you’ve successfully completed a Shrine and received your Spirit Orb and reward, the entrance to that Shrine will be sealed shut, and a glowing symbol will appear on its exterior. More importantly, when you open your map, each completed Shrine will be marked with a distinct green glowing icon. Uncompleted Shrines will appear as greyed-out icons. This visual indicator is your primary tool for knowing which Shrines you’ve already conquered and which ones still await you. There’s no need for external checklists within the game itself, which is a testament to the game’s user-friendly design.

Can I get the Tunic of the Wild in the Master Mode difficulty?

Yes, absolutely! The Tunic of the Wild is obtainable in Master Mode, the game’s harder difficulty setting, just as it is in the standard game. The process remains the same: complete all 120 Shrines, then return to the Shrine of Resurrection to claim your reward. Master Mode doesn’t alter the rewards for completing Shrines; it primarily affects enemy health, regeneration, and the introduction of tougher enemy variants earlier in the game. Completing all Shrines in Master Mode is an even more impressive feat, showcasing a deep mastery of the game’s mechanics under increased pressure.

What if I miss a specific reward from a Shrine chest? Can I get it again?

This is a common concern for players aiming for complete item collection. For most treasure chests found within Shrines (weapons, shields, arrows, etc.), the answer is generally no, you cannot get them again from the same Shrine once you’ve already opened the chest and taken the item. The game tracks which chests have been opened. However, there are a couple of nuances to consider. First, if you leave a Shrine and return later without opening the chest, it will still be there. Second, some of the more powerful or unique items found in Shrines, like the Hylian Shield, are often tied to specific puzzle solutions or locations within the Shrine, and while they don’t respawn in the same chest, they are unique drops. If you’re concerned about missing specific gear, it’s always a good idea to explore each Shrine thoroughly before exiting, and if you’re truly desperate for a specific piece of gear, you might need to rely on farming from enemies in the overworld or purchasing from specific merchants. However, for the primary goal of obtaining the Tunic of the Wild, the contents of individual Shrine chests are secondary.

Does completing all Shrines unlock any other unique dialogue or cutscenes besides the Tunic of the Wild?

While the Tunic of the Wild is the primary and most significant reward, there are subtle acknowledgments within the game. Upon returning to the Shrine of Resurrection and receiving the Tunic, you’ll experience a special cutscene. Additionally, the game’s overall completion percentage will tick up significantly. While there aren’t lengthy new narrative arcs or extensive cutscenes added solely for completing every Shrine, the game does register this accomplishment. It’s worth noting that some players have reported very minor NPC dialogue changes or a subtle increase in the game’s overall perceived “completeness” feeling. However, the Tunic of the Wild and the associated Master Sword Beam ability remain the most impactful and direct rewards for this monumental undertaking. The true narrative reward is the feeling of having fully prepared Link for his destiny, which is implicitly recognized by the game.

Are there any Shrines that are missable or can only be accessed at certain times?

For the most part, no, the Shrines in *The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild* are not missable in the traditional sense, nor are they time-sensitive. Once a Shrine becomes accessible, it remains so throughout the game, regardless of the time of day, weather, or your progress in the main story (with the exception of Shrines that are directly unlocked by story progression or Divine Beast completion, which themselves are not missable). For example, the Shrines related to the Divine Beasts become accessible as you progress through those quests, and they will remain available even after you’ve completed the Divine Beast. The only caveat is that some Shrines require specific abilities (like Cryonis or Stasis) that you might not have when you first discover them. In such cases, you simply need to mark their location on your map and return later once you’ve acquired the necessary tools. The game is designed to allow for thorough exploration at your own pace.

What happens if I die inside a Shrine before completing it?

If you happen to fall in battle or succumb to environmental hazards within a Shrine, you won’t be penalized by losing progress on the Shrine itself. Instead, you will simply respawn at the entrance of that specific Shrine. This is a thoughtful design choice that allows players to experiment with different strategies and learn from their mistakes without having to backtrack significantly or restart the entire Shrine. Your inventory and collected items remain as they were before your demise. You can then re-enter the Shrine and continue your attempt from where you left off. This mechanic ensures that the focus remains on solving the Shrine’s challenge rather than on the frustration of repetitive backtracking due to failure.

The quest to complete every Shrine in *The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild* is a journey that defines the endgame for many players. It’s a testament to the game’s intricate design, its vast world, and its ability to provide challenges that are both rewarding and deeply satisfying. The Tunic of the Wild, while the ultimate prize, is merely the capstone on a mountain of experiences, learned skills, and intimate knowledge of Hyrule. It’s a journey that transforms the player as much as it rewards them.

What Happens When You Get Every Shrine: The Ultimate Reward in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild