The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, or BotW for short, remains one of the most celebrated action-adventure games in recent memory. Shrines are a vital part of the game’s structure and exploration, serving as mini-dungeons scattered throughout the vast kingdom of Hyrule. If you’re wondering how many shrines there are in BotW, or how to find them efficiently, you’re not alone. Shrines directly fuel Link’s progression and play a big role in how players experience the game world. Here’s what you need to know about finding, completing, and making the most of every shrine in Breath of the Wild.
Total Number of Shrines in Breath of the Wild
The base version of Breath of the Wild contains 120 shrines. Each of these shrines acts as an independent challenge or puzzle, offering rewards that enhance your adventure.
With the addition of downloadable content (DLC), specifically the “Champions’ Ballad” expansion, the total number increases. If you purchase all DLC packs, you gain access to 17 more shrines. This brings the potential shrine total in the complete game to 137.
Here’s the breakdown:
Base game: 120 shrines
DLC: 17 shrines
Total with all expansions: 137 shrines
Not every shrine in the DLC behaves the same way as those in the base game, so be sure to check which ones offer certain rewards.
Base Game Shrines: Variety, Challenges, and Rewards
Base game shrines form the backbone of Link’s journey across Hyrule. In the standard version of the game, you’ll find 120 shrines peppered across dramatic mountains, quiet forests, icy peaks, and ancient ruins.
These shrines come in two major types:
Puzzle Shrines: Here, you’ll solve logic riddles, handle physics-based puzzles, use your slate’s powers, or interact with mechanisms. You may have to manipulate metal blocks, redirect balls using magnets, or align ancient switches.
Combat Shrines: In these, you’ll face robotic guardians or other enemies in straightforward battle scenarios. You’ll need to defeat foes within the shrine to earn your reward.
Every completed shrine rewards you with a Spirit Orb. Collecting Spirit Orbs is the main way to upgrade your health (hearts) or stamina (stamina wheel). Four Spirit Orbs let you upgrade one of these stats at a time, so you’ll need to complete a good number of shrines to become more resilient.
As you work through the game, these upgrades are essential. More hearts help you survive tougher encounters, while more stamina is crucial for climbing, gliding, and exploring. Be sure to keep this progression in mind when planning your route.
DLC Shrines: The Champions’ Ballad and New Challenges
If you pick up the game’s DLC, you unlock “The Champions’ Ballad” expansion, which adds more content for avid players. The DLC brings a total of 17 new shrines. You may find these shrines more difficult or creative than the base game options.
Of the new shrines, not all behave the same as the original 120. Only 4 of the 17 DLC shrines provide Spirit Orbs. The remaining 13 are closely tied to specific quests or serve as gateways to a boss fight or storyline event, so they don’t offer Spirit Orbs.
Here’s what you need to know:
Spirit Orbs from DLC: 4 shrines grant Spirit Orbs
Story/Quest shrines: 13 focus on unique puzzle or narrative challenges
Total DLC shrines: 17
Be sure to track which shrines offer Spirit Orbs if maximizing upgrades is your primary goal. Save your best food and gear for the more challenging trials in the DLC, which often test both your puzzle-solving and combat skills at once.
Strategies for Finding Shrines Efficiently
Shrines may be spread across the landscape, sometimes in plain view and other times cleverly hidden. Here are practical strategies you can use to find and complete shrines without unnecessary frustration.
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Use Your Sheikah Sensor: Once you unlock your sensor in Kakariko Village, you’ll hear beeping sounds when a shrine is nearby. Move in the direction that strengthens the beeping.
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Climb High for a View: Scale towers or mountains to scout with your scope. Orange-glowing shrine entrances stand out, especially at dusk or nighttime.
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Explore New Regions: Every region usually contains several shrines. If you’ve cleared the obvious ones, move to an unexplored province and walk or glide through likely paths.
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Talk to NPCs: Many villagers and travelers provide hints or rumors about nearby shrine locations, especially in stables, towns, or village centers.
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Look for Environmental Cues: Puzzles often use environmental hints, such as rocks lined up, circles of flowers, or odd geological formations.
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Document Your Progress: Mark completed shrines on your map. Document suspected shrine spots or places with unusual features, for follow-up searches.
Completing all shrines is a marathon, not a sprint. Plan accordingly and set aside time to revisit areas with missing shrines. The process is usually more enjoyable if you solve shrines at your own pace.
Tips for Solving Shrine Trials
Every shrine poses a different kind of challenge, so it helps to approach each with a few best practices in mind.
Practice Patience: Many shrine puzzles look more complicated than they actually are. Pause to study your options before rushing in.
Try Every Tool: Your Sheikah Slate powers (Magnesis, Stasis, Cryonis, Bombs) are often the solution. Experiment with combinations, especially if stuck.
Observe Enemy Patterns: In combat shrines, watch guardian attack cycles. Learn dodge-timing and take advantage of flurry rushes to maximize your advantage.
Use In-Game Physics: Sometimes the answer is to use real-world physics ideas—momentum, weight, leverage—to solve ball or block puzzles.
If stuck, you can always leave a shrine and return later with better gear or a fresh perspective. There’s no penalty for pacing yourself. See if talking to other players or checking a community guide helps shed light when you hit a real wall.
The Shrine Reward System: How Spirit Orbs Work
Spirit Orbs are the primary reward from most shrines. Each orb brings you one step closer to increasing your character’s survivability and mobility. Here’s a step-by-step guide on using Spirit Orbs effectively:
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Complete Four Shrines: For each set of four Spirit Orbs, you can exchange them at a Goddess Statue. You’ll find statues in several towns and important temples throughout Hyrule.
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Choose Your Upgrade: Each exchange gives you a single heart container (increases your life) or stamina vessel (extends your stamina wheel).
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Balance Your Stats: Decide based on your play style. If you often take damage, prioritize hearts. If you climb, glide, or swim frequently, more stamina is helpful.
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Reallocate if Needed: Later in the game, you can swap hearts for stamina and vice versa by visiting a shadowy character (the Horned Statue) in Hateno Village. There’s a small fee, but it’s a flexible system for adjusting your build.
Keep in mind that you’ll need enough upgrades to wield the legendary Master Sword. Specifically, you need 13 hearts. Plan your upgrades accordingly if acquiring the sword is one of your goals.
Are Shrines Worth Completing?
In most cases, yes. Shrines provide practical rewards that increase your chances of success in combat and exploration. Besides Spirit Orbs, they often reward you with rare weapons, shields, or armor. Some even hold special clothing items, like the Climbing Gear, that permanently boost your abilities.
Completing a set number of shrines is also the best way to unlock fast travel points, which makes moving around Hyrule much faster and safer. If you’re working through major story missions or late-game side quests, these fast travel spots save considerable time.
Reaching all 120 shrines in the base game grants you access to a special outfit—the “of the Wild” armor set—once you complete the final quest given by the old monk in the Forgotten Temple. Many see this as the ultimate endgame achievement.
What to Do Next After Finding All Shrines?
After you’ve finished every shrine, you may be seeking new challenges. You can try speedruns, strive for 100% completion (including all Korok seeds), or explore DLC content for new mini-dungeons and equipment.
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Conclusion: Commitment and Strategy Pay Off
Shrines provide a structured, rewarding path through Breath of the Wild—but reaching them all takes real commitment. Still, the process can be enjoyable and relaxing with the right approach. Set aside dedicated time, break up big goals into smaller milestones, and don’t hesitate to document your progress.
Here’s the short answer to the core question:
There are 120 shrines in the base game.
There are 17 additional shrines with DLC, bringing the grand total to 137.
Most shrines grant Spirit Orbs, essential for health and stamina upgrades in the game.
Tackling every shrine isn’t the fastest route to finishing BotW, but if you value challenge, progression, and mastery, it’s worthwhile. The learning from the shrine system in BotW—small steps, careful checks, and steady investment—applies to many new business and personal projects too.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shrines in BotW
How do shrines compare to traditional Zelda dungeons?
Shrines are shorter, self-contained puzzle rooms instead of expansive dungeons. Each one typically takes 5 to 15 minutes, though the most complex may last longer. You can tackle them in any order, providing flexibility for your play style.
Are all shrines required to finish the main storyline?
No. You only need to complete a few early shrines to get basic upgrades. Finishing all shrines is for optional upgrades, fast travel spots, and 100% completion.
Can you miss a shrine permanently?
No. Every shrine remains accessible throughout the game. Some are well hidden or require triggering certain side quests, but you can find them at any time.
Is there a way to track which shrines you have completed?
Yes. Visited shrines show as blue icons on your map. Uncompleted ones glow orange. Keep notes or use a map checklist for additional tracking.
Do all DLC shrines provide Spirit Orbs?
No. Out of the 17 DLC shrines, only 4 will give Spirit Orbs. The others relate to quests or upgrades.
With this knowledge and a steady plan, you’re well-equipped to discover, solve, and complete every shrine challenge in Breath of the Wild. Enjoy the process—and happy exploring.
