The Hylian Shield is, pardon the expression, simply the bomb. What’s that, you ask? No, it does not drop bombs. Eh? No, it’s not unbreakable. It’s just really, really, sturdy. And before you ask, no, it doesn’t auto-parry, like the Ancient Shield. Nonetheless, we love the Hylian Shield, and we think you will, too. You just might not love what you’re required to do to obtain it.
You see, the Hylian Shield is found in a treasure chest in the bowels of Hyrule Castle. Cue the annoying (to Itzal) or nostalgic (to Demelza) Ganon soundtrack.)
Frequent readers of this blog (Hi, Itzal’s kids! Thanks, Demelza’s spouse!) will recall our earlier musings on sneaking into Hyrule Castle on shopping excursions, long before one walks boldly in to defeat Ganon or die trying. Obtaining the Shield is one of those excursions.
Getting There
It’s easiest to enter the abandoned mine on the Castle’s island from the west. Because, well, it’s ON the west and, as we have opined, the Castle map is crap, so if you enter from the previously opened Castle shrine and walk around – or even if you walk in the front door and, again, walk around – well, that map is for crap, and you’ll face a bunch of Guardians besides. Thus, we suggest the following:
Fly from Ridgeland Tower to the large-ish island to the southwest of the Castle. It’s a charming place that boasts the Castle Town Prison. Open the Noya Neha shrine while you’re visiting. Skirt the island’s rim and make your way to a couple treasure chests lurking on the ruined walls and bridges. Then – assiduously avoiding the notice of a Guardian Stalker and a Skywatcher – swim or fly across the moat to a point on the cliff where you see an abandoned railroad track and a small ledge with a few barrels left lying about.
Once Inside
You’re heading for the basement dungeons of Hyrule Castle, more affectionately known as the Lockup. To get there, you’ll need to run into the tunnel – icy things will try to kill you near the end; kill them first – and ride the abandoned mine cart into the basement. This is it! Your Indiana Jones moment! And you didn’t have to eat monkey’s brains or bugs beforehand.
To operate the cart, drop a round bomb in its, um, exhaust pipe. When you detonate the bomb, the cart rolls forward. It’s fun. Once you get the hang of it.
At the end of the cart ride, you’ll need to make your way through the dungeon, which of course is full of things that want to kill you. Ergo, it’s not as fun as the cart.
Zelder Tip #1: Look for the bombable wall!
At the end of your meandering, you’ll reach a big jail cell with a skeleton Stalnox.
Itzal: (shouting) What the heck is that? [Editor’s note: he did not say “heck” and while this blog is restricted to drinking age readers, Reader is still in polite company.]
Demelza: (lecture voice): That is a Stalnox. If you had been listening when we had our pre-planning planning meeting, you would know that this monster is a mini-boss, essentially a Hinox in skeletal form, and—
Itzal: Please tell me you’re not going to say I have to fly in and land on its hand?
Demelza (annoyed voice): No, that won’t work here. And, by the way, you have never managed the climb-on-hand trick even on a regular Hinox. Just walk over there and read that sign – it tells you everything you need to know.
Itzal: Oh, yes. That’s what I will do. Stop to read a sign, while in the Lockup with a Stalnox. Tra-la-la. (Takes out Master Sword and flails about.)
Demelza: (shouting): Use a spear for up-close wet work! You know you can’t handle a claymore. Don’t you have a spear! But, since you are using the Master Sword, did you know it is worth 60 points inside the Castle, but only 30 points outside? And you really need to shoot the Stalnox’s eye first!!
Itzal: [CENSORED. Does not say “heck” again.]
Demelza: Honestly. Sometimes I think you should stick to Animal Crossing!
Ahem.
We have read on the Internet that a “neat trick” is to use Stasis on the Stalnox and then shoot its eye. We have also read on the Internet about a prince in far off Africa who will send us millions of dollars. The Wise Reader can surmise whether Itzal used the hated Stasis rune during this fight or not.
The Shield
With the Stalnox defeated, the Reader can, if the Reader is so inclined, read the silly sign; gather up all the gifts the dead Stalnox left behind; and open the treasure chest, thereby obtaining the Hylian Shield.
This shield is, as we said, the bomb. It’s durable – meaning that although it will break, it doesn’t break all the time, the way nearly everything else in BOTW does – and thus it’s excellent for parrying. It’s not as excellent as the Ancient Shield when it comes to parrying Guardians, but that – like so many things – is a story for another blog, Reader. In the meantime, take good care of your Hylian Shield. We once dropped it in a fight with a Lynel and we (okay, fine, it was Itzal) left it behind, owing to the general state of distraction, anger, malaise, and Bad Mood that Lynels inflict upon an elder gamer.
Zelder Tip #2: The shield does break. But fear not, it can be replaced! In Tarrey Town, a secret vendor named Granté will sell you replacements for certain things you’ve already found but lost. (Demelza: What is this lost of which you speak? You mean, DROPPED and LEFT BEHIND?) You’ll find Granté (and his snooty I’accent aigu) on the first-floor terrace of a house to the northeast side of town. Bring your wallet; his wares are extremely expensive!
Armed with this Shield, you can wander about the Castle or, like us, press “Leave the Area” and find yourself on the front steps of Hyrule Castle before frantically opening your map and finding a travel point to Anywhere But There. Have fun practicing with your shield on Guardians! Or don’t: we’ve read on the Internet of All Things Accurate that the Hylian Shield can take only a couple dozen bad parry attempts before breaking. We wouldn’t know, of course, having “lost” our Hylian Shield before putting it to the test.