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The Great Plateau is one of the most iconic locations inBreath of the Wild, and alongside all the other revamps to Hyrule inZelda: Tears of the Kingdom, the Great Plateau got some updates, too. Though still a familiar location, there’s a lot that’s new about the Great Plateau inTears of the Kingdomthat players might not be expecting.
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Unfortunately, the sequel toBreath of the Wilddoesn’t give players Link’s old abilities at the Great Plateau like it did when it was a tutorial area. However, this location is still worth visiting for more than nostalgia’s sake, as there’s a unique new quest chain, new Shrines, and thereturn of a certain Clanwho have made Link their number-one enemy.
Where Is The Great Plateau in Tears of the Kingdom?
InTears of the Kingdomplayersstart out on the Great Sky Island, then drop down smack-dab in the middle of Hyrule Field near Lookout Landing, an area that was once relatively high-level inBreath of the Wild. As such, the Great Plateau is actually a little bit of a journey from the beginning of TOTK, insouthwest Hyrule between the Gerudo, Faron, and Hyrule Field areas.
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Players who want to head to the Great Plateau from the beginning of the game should think twice, asit’s not nearly as beginner-friendly as it was inBreath of the Wild. However, determined players canhead out from Lookout Landing, take the road that leads southwest through a Chasm, and just keep following that roadwithout taking any of the forks. It should turn south, then connect to the middle of a road that spans the Great Plateau’s northern cliffs.
The Great Plateau is most easily reached by heading to theHyrule Field Skyview Tower, which can be found on the road south of Lookout Landing atcoordinates (-0754, -1019, 0064). Jump out of the Skyview Tower and aim directly south, and the familiar sight of the Temple of Time and Mount Hylia should pop out like a sore thumb. Once Link completes a short quest that involves draining a lake, he can also access the Great Plateau via a shortcut.
Everything That Has Changed on The Great Plateau
A lot has changed on the Great Plateau in the years it’s been since Link first stepped out of the Shrine of Resurrection. Though its layout is mostly the same, there are new points of interest, new questlines, and of course new sky and depths areas for players to explore.
Thetwo biggest additions are the Call from the Depths questline and the resurgence of the Yiga Clanin two places players expected it least: the Shrine of Resurrection itself, and the Old Man’s Cabin. There are new Shrines, new enemies, and new Korok seeds to track down, too, but these two changes are the most noticeable.
The Yiga Clan at the Shrine of Resurrection & Shack
The Yiga Clan are back inTears of the Kingdom, and they can be found intwo places on the Great Plateau: the Shrine of Resurrection, and the Woodcuter’s House, also called the Old Man’s House. The Shrine of Resurrection is right up the hill from the Temple of Time behind an overgrown entrance, while the Woodcutter’s House is on the southeast of the Great Plateau below the cliffs.
In theShrine of Resurrection, Link can find a new schematic– a motorcycle-type vehicle that could be a reference to theBreath of the WildDLC’s Master Cycle. In the Old Man’s House, Link can find one ofCece’s avid fashion designers, whogives Link aYiga Mask– part of the Yiga Clan armor set, which will let him blend into these enemies when all three pieces are worn.
A Call From The Depths at the Temple of Time
The other major change to the Great Plateau is a multi-branching questline that takes place all across the once-tutorial area. Players may have noticedfour chasms on the Great Plateauwhile flying in. After arriving at the Temple of Time,speak to the statue of the Goddess Hylia, where players are directed to find a “statue trapped under the water”. Once the water is drained, and players return, the statue asks Link torecover its eyes and throw them down the four chasms.
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What is in the depths beneath the Great Plateau can only be described as one of the creepiest parts ofTears of the Kingdom, but the reward for answering thisCall From The Depths is well worth the effortof bringing therealstatue its eyes through the Depths. To start this quest, head to the Temple of Time and speak with what looks like a bust of the Goddess Hylia, and get ready for a multi-branching quest toreunite a giant Poe statue with its eyes.
New Shrines, Sky Islands, and Enemies, – and No Guardians
There are a handful of new Shrines on the Great Plateau –one in the snowy south, one hidden in the side of a cliff in the west, and one that’s hidden behind a waterfall close to the center of the area. There are also new enemies, like the aforementioned Yiga Clan, as well as Battle Talus and a handful of other mobs. The Sky Islands can be visited via the Skyview Tower to the north or other, more creative ways to ascend upwards, while the Depths are mostly oriented around the Call From The Depths questline.
There are a few things noticeably missing from the Great Plateau, too. For one, Link doesn’t have to worry about any Guardians tracking him down with hit-scan lasers, though he can’t get new abilities here, either. King Rhoam won’t make an appearance, though some players report seeing aYiga Clan member impersonating Zeldanear the Shrine of Resurrection.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomisavailable on the Nintendo Switch.
