When humans still believed the world was flat, before cartography became a science, maps would depict the “end” of the known world as water running over a cliff or some similar device meant to depict NOTHING GOOD. “Here be dragons,” many a map was inscribed. (NOTE: While Itzal and Demelza are elders, we don’t remember these maps, so none of you wags should be thinking that!) That was bad, but that wasn’t BOTW.
Many’s the area of Hyrule where one might proclaim, “Here be dragons.” And we’re glad of that!
BOTW fans will know, after even a short time wandering around Lake Hyrule or the Faron Tower region, that a lovely yellow(ish) dragon flies lazily – almost tauntingly – overhead from time to time. His name is Farosh, and he comes complete with a dreamy soundtrack of Siren Song. Indeed, when we first played this game, Itzal was always sighing plaintively “It’s a dragon!” and trying to follow Farosh off to what Demelza claimed would be certain death. Itzal whined a lot about wanting to follow that first dragon – and when we then found Dinraal over in the Tabantha Region, things went from whiny to worse.
Demelza turned to the Internet for research.
Friends, there are THREE dragons in Hyrule, if you haven’t found them yet: Farosh, Dinraal, and Naydra. They each play the Siren Song, urging you to abandon your present quest and follow them. But most importantly, they each have their own quests for you to complete – and they provide dragon parts that you’re going to want and need. (Itzal yawns as Demelza prepares to repeat Lecture #5: Armor Upgrades.)
Here, then, be our take on dragons.
In short, you will want to find all three, and you’re going to spend a lot of time sailing on the updrafts they create so you can use a bow and (regular) arrow to “farm” scales, horns, and fangs. They’re harmless, but they do emit elemental orbs that can harm Link, and don’t touch them. (Demelza suggests Itzal tell the tale of when he tried to ride a dragon; Itzal suggests Demelza recite another prepared lecture.) The trick is to pick a location and time, do your dragon-part farming, reset time at a campfire, fly, shoot, and repeat. Fair warning: Naydra is not very dependable!
Zelder Tip #1: Pick a favorite place to farm each dragon and stick to it. They fly all over, and it’s annoying that they keep time like Italian trains. You can find several helpful online schedules as to when each dragon appears where, but we found there was no timetable like the one we knew from our own experience. Until, of course, the dragon didn’t show when and where expected.
My Friend Farosh
Farosh is an electric dragon, so it’s handy to have your Rubber armor when you meet. Just know that he’s our favorite – and he’s easy to find to at Lake Floria in the early morning. Sit by the fire at Lakeside Stable (handy nearby arrival point at Shai Utoh Shrine) and you can reset the clock to your heart’s desire as you farm away. You’re shooting from the bridge over Lake Floria, so there’s lots of swimming to collect parts; have stamina ready.
Dinraal’s Hot
That is to say, Dinraal is covered in fire. Everyone calm down. He’s also as regular as clockwork at the Great Tabantha Bridge. Again, you have a handy arrival point at Shae Loya Shrine and a fire for sitting by at Tabantha Bridge Stable. His parts fall randomly in the canyon, however, so be prepared for some frustration. Suggested armor: Flame Burner, in case he burns you accidentally. Not that you cause the accident, certainly.
Naydra, Naydra, Naydra
Naydra is the Jan Brady of BOTW dragons. She never seems very dependable – though try staking out East Lanayru Gate and the Lanayru Bay for some frustrating mornings and nights (respectively). The fun of Naydra is the Spring of Wisdom. (We don’t know why we think of Naydra as a female dragon, but there it is.)
Unlike Farosh and Dinraal, who fly around taunting you from the start of the game, Naydra is trapped in Malice at the Spring and must be freed – much more interesting than the Springs quests associated with Farosh and Dinraal (blog about that forthcoming). The Spring is right on top of Mount Lanayru. Open the quest in Hateno by speaking with Medda; then find your way to the Tahno O’ah Shrine and walk uphill. (NOTE: You will want the Snowquill armor for this quest!)
Naydra is laying around the Spring like she’s either tired or eating Cheetos while binge-watching Dragon HGTV or both. But she’s harmless, so waltz up and shoot one of the eyes that control her Malice. Without so much as a “by your leave” she flies away and you must follow her to a couple more stops, politely killing all the Malice eyes with some truly outstanding paragliding on her updrafts. Finally, Naydra remembers her manners – okay, after you shoot her in the stomach – and drops a scale, which you are to carry back to the Spring and “pray” about, thus opening the Jitan Sa’mi Shrine.
Zelder Tip #2: Just drop the scale in the water. We spent a lot of time trying to drop it on the Goddess Statue’s altar (right? like an offering?), but that doesn’t work; eventually it tumbles into the water as it’s supposed to. Grab a bag of Cheetos or mix a drink and toss the ol’ scale in the pond. Voila! Instant Shrine opening!
And speaking of drinks, herein lies the first difference of opinion on appropriate cocktail pairing. Demelza does not like “brown” liquor – anything in the whiskey family. (During the rare event she is persuaded to try some, she makes the “whiskey face.”) Itzal, on the other hand, enjoys an occasional tipple. And since Itzal has the most heart for chasing dragons and goes all gooey at their songs, and since “here be dragons” is really an old saying, we compromise to recommend a classic: the whiskey sour. Yum! (Blech!)