What to do first in Tears of the Kingdom?

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Wondering what to do first in Tears of the Kingdom? When you first head down to the surface, it can be overwhelming. So many places to see, so many things to do. It can be difficult trying to narrow down even one thing to do once you’ve left the Great Sky Island in TotK.

Luckily for you, we’ve got some ideas for you to help get you started. So whip out that Tears of the Kingdom map and watch out for any nearby Tears of the Kingdom enemies, because we’re about to set you off on your journey across Hyrule.

Here are the first things you should do in Tears of the Kingdom:

  • Head to Lookout Landing
  • Get the Paraglider
  • Get the Camera
  • Explore the depths
  • Help the Monster Control Crew
  • Get a Horse
  • Get some more stamina 
  • Find the first Geoglyph
  • Start the Rito questline
Tears of the Kingdom what to do first: Purah and Link with Lookout Landing in the background.
Captured by VideoGamer, copyright Nintendo.

Head to Lookout Landing

This is an obvious one, since it’s where the game actually tells you to go – and you should listen. When you first reach the surface, you’ll be poorly equipped, with no quests to do, and nowhere to fast travel to. Head to Lookout Landing, and you’ll find all of that and more. It’s made to be a base for you to begin your travels from, and there’s plenty of content there to help you get started.

Tears of the Kingdom what to do first: Link receiving the Paraglider from Purah.
Captured by VideoGamer, copyright Nintendo.

Get the Paraglider

After Breath of the Wild, not having a Paraglider on the Great Sky Island just felt wrong. That’s why you’ll want to get yours as soon as possible. At Lookout Landing, go and talk to Purah. She’ll start you on a little quest to go to Hyrule Castle and back. Keep following this questline and eventually you’ll receive the Paraglider from Purah, and suddenly all will be right in the world again (Your world, that is. Link’s world is still pretty messed up). Our how to get the paraglider in Tears of the Kingdom guide will help you out in more detail.

Tears of the Kingdom what to do first: Link taking a picture of himself in front of the Lookout Landing Skyview Tower.
Captured by VideoGamer, copyright Nintendo.

Get the Camera

If you, like me, didn’t really use the Camera very much in BotW, then you might be tempted to just ignore getting it early on in TotK. But even if you’re not out snapping photos everywhere you go, the Camera is something you’ll want to have. The Camera is used in several side-quests, and you’ll want to have it on you. Once you’ve set up the Lookout Landing Skyview Tower, go and have a chat with Robbie and Josha in the north of the town. You’ll start a quest where you explore a Chasm to the south, and will receive the Camera at the end.

Tears of the Kingdom what to do first: Link underneath a Lightroot in the Depths.
Captured by VideoGamer, copyright Nintendo.

Explore the depths

Speaking of Chasms, you should take the chance to do a bit of exploring in the Tears of the Kingdom depths. For those brave enough to venture in, there are plenty of useful items you’ll find down here, including huge amounts of Zonaite. You’ll also get to grips with the mechanics of Tears of the Kingdom gloom down here, which is something that will come in handy later on in the game.

Tears of the Kingdom what to do first: Link preparing to shoot a fire arrow at a group of Bokoblins.
Captured by VideoGamer, copyright Nintendo.

Help the Monster Control Crew

South of the Chasm where you helped out Robbie, you’ll find a group of fighters on their way somewhere. Talk to Captain Hoz who is riding the horse, and you’ll learn they’re the Monster Control Crew, who are on their way to clear a Bokoblin camp. Agree to help them out and follow them to the camp and take out all the monsters. As well as being rewarded with a shiny 100 rupees, you’ll get plenty of weapons and monster parts, too.

Tears of the Kingdom what to do first: Link on a horse outside the front of a stable.
Captured by VideoGamer, copyright Nintendo.

Get a Horse

When you start out, you won’t be able to run for very long, so trekking across the wide, open Hyrule Field can be draining. That’s why you should get yourself a horse. You’ll find them all over Hyrule Field, so you should be able to get one pretty quickly. If you have BotW save data on your Switch, register your new horse at a stable and you’ll be able to access your previous horses. Check out our how to get a horse in Tears of the Kingdom guide for help on how to get yourself one.

Tears of the Kingdom what to do first: Link talking to a Goddess Statue to receive a Stamina Vessel.
Captured by VideoGamer, copyright Nintendo.

Get some more stamina 

Horses are great, but you can’t take them everywhere. That’s why you should try and boost your stamina early on. Take on any Shrines you find to receive a Light of Blessing and once you’ve got four or eight of them, head to the Goddess Statue in the Lookout Landing Emergency Shelter and get yourself a couple of Stamina Vessels. You’ll thank us later.

Tears of the Kingdom what to do first: Link on a small platform overlooking a Geoglyph in the grass.
Captured by VideoGamer, copyright Nintendo.

Find the first Geoglyph

Tears of the Kingdom Geoglyphs are key to unlocking certain aspects of the game’s story, and with the first one so nearby, you should definitely check it out. Head north out of Lookout Landing and take the road west all the way over the Regencia River, and you’ll find a giant white picture drawn on the ground. Talk with Impa opposite the New Serenne Stable to learn more about it, and from here, you’ll be able to get started looking for the rest.

Tears of the Kingdom what to do first: A close-up of the young Rito Tulin.
Captured by VideoGamer, copyright Nintendo.

Start the Rito questline

It’s tempting to get carried away with exploring every nook and cranny TotK throws your way, but following the story for a bit is certainly worth your while, especially visiting Rito Village as part of the Regional Phenomena main story quest. By finishing the Rito questline, you’ll make the whole Hebra region far more traversable, gain a nifty new ability, increase your health, and get some pretty good weapons and armour along the way. By completing this storyline first, you’ll be much more prepared to go and do all that exploring you wanted to do before.

That’s it for our Tears of the Kingdom what to do first guide. There’s so much to do in TotK, and there’s certainly no wrong way to play it, but we hope this helps you out if you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed. If you’re looking for some Tears of the Kingdom tips, we have a guide for that. And if you’re struggling to find the Tears of the Kingdom Rito Village, we’ve got you covered there, too.

About the Author

Alex Raisbeck

Alex is a Guides Writer for VideoGamer. He is an indie gaming obsessive with a soft spot for Zelda, roguelikes, and Football Manager, as well as an unhealthy relationship with his backlog.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

  • Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
  • Genre(s): Action, Action Adventure, Adventure
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