Whether you want it for the iconic design or the massive amount of defense it provides, you can get the Hylian Shield fairly early into Tears of the Kingdom if you know where to look. As long as you have the glider and a bit of extra stamina, getting the shield will be a quick task.
There are all kinds of shields in Tears of the Kingdom, and out of the list so far, the Hylian Shield has the highest defense. That makes this the perfect item to use in a tough fight later on in the game when you need it most, and I’m here to help outline the process of getting the shield early.
Tears of the Kingdom – Where to Find the Hylian Shield
This item is found in the Hyrule Castle, which is directly in the center of the Hyrule map on the ground. There is the moat around the castle, the first level, and then the center sanctum, which is higher up in the sky. It’s easy to find the shield by jumping from the sanctum and gliding down, but it’s not required. Instead, we simply need to head to the northern side of Hyrule Castle.
Reaching the Hylian Shield in Tears of the Kingdom:
- Head to the northern side of Hyrule Castle.
- Climb over the wall and glide down into the chasm.
- Inside is the docks section of the castle, and this is where you want to be.
- Shoot the three torches with fire-fused arrows.
- When all of them are lit, the chest with the Hylian Shield will appear.
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In this area, it’s important to watch out for the Gloom Hands. Even if you can’t take these down just yet, it’s still possible to kite them around the area and climb the walls above to avoid them as you shoot the torches. There is technically no need to take out these enemies for the Hylian Shield in Tears of the Kingdom.