Uncover the Secrets of Gerudo Town Shelter in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
As you embark on your epic adventure across the vast lands of Hyrule in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, one location that should definitely be on your radar is the desert haven known as Gerudo Town. This settlement, tucked away in the arid region of Gerudo Desert, is home to the proud Gerudo people—a race of skilled warriors exclusively made up of women.
While Gerudo Town itself is a sight to behold with its adobe architecture and bustling marketplace, there‘s an even more intriguing area hidden beneath its sun-baked streets: Gerudo Town Shelter. Accessing this secret refuge is key to progressing Link‘s quest and uncovering more about the mysteries that threaten the kingdom of Hyrule.
So how exactly do you find your way into Gerudo Town Shelter? Never fear, intrepid hero—we‘ve got you covered with this complete guide. But first, let‘s take a deeper look at what makes Gerudo Town and its subterranean sanctuary so important in Tears of the Kingdom.
The Significance of Gerudo Town
The Gerudo have a rich history that spans many generations in the Zelda universe. They are known as highly skilled fighters and thieves, with a culture centered around power and survival in the harsh desert. Gerudo Town serves as their central hub, a thriving desert oasis full of merchants, artisans, and warriors.
In Tears of the Kingdom, set many years after the events of Breath of the Wild, Gerudo Town remains an influential location in the southwestern corner of the map. It is ruled by a chieftain and serves as a key trading post and source of valuable items. However, some dark new threat seems to lurking in the region, emanating from deep underground.
To unravel these sinister mysteries, Link will need to find a way into Gerudo Town Shelter—an ancient hideaway for the Gerudo in times of crisis that has been sealed off for generations. Only by braving its depths can our hero hope to aid the Gerudo and dispel the evil forces gathering in the desert sands.
Step-by-Step: Sneaking Into Gerudo Town Shelter
Now that you know what‘s at stake, let‘s get into the nitty-gritty of infiltrating this hidden Gerudo refuge. The entrance to Gerudo Town Shelter lies somewhere within Gerudo Town itself, but the Gerudo warriors are wary of any men who dare enter their city walls. As a male Hylian, Link will need to use all his wits and abilities to sneak inside. Here‘s a step-by-step breakdown:
Arrive at the front gates of Gerudo Town, located in the Gerudo Desert region of the map. If you‘re having trouble finding it, look for the tall stone walls and colorful banners fluttering in the desert wind.
Since the Gerudo guards won‘t let any voe (men) enter the premises, scout around the perimeter of the town until you spot a cracked wall on the eastern side. Use your Ultrahand ability to move a nearby crate and push it up against the wall.
Climb up the crate and use Link‘s new Ascend power (more on that in a bit) to merge into the wall and pop out on the other side within Gerudo Town.
Once inside, quickly duck behind a building before the patrolling guards spot you. Stick to back alleys and side streets to avoid detection as you explore the town.
Head towards the northwest section of Gerudo Town. There, concealed in a shadowy corner, you should spot a somewhat conspicuous hole in the ground covered by a grate.
Use your Ultrahand to grab the metal grate and pull it aside, then jump down into the exposed hole to land in an underground sewer tunnel.
Follow the sewer passageway until you reach an apparent dead end. Don‘t worry, you‘re in the right spot! This is where it‘s time to whip out that nifty Ascend ability again.
Activate Ascend and aim Link‘s arm towards the ceiling. He should merge into the stone and warp to the space directly above the sewer. Congratulations, you‘ve now entered Gerudo Town Shelter!
Cutscene: A Warm Gerudo Welcome
After using Ascend to warp out of the sewer, a cutscene will play out showing Link emerging into a candlelit stone chamber. Suddenly, he‘s surrounded by a group of surprised Gerudo women, including a character named Ploka.
"A voe! There‘s a voe here! Stop him!" Ploka shouts, as the Gerudo ready their weapons at the unexpected intruder.
However, before the scene can erupt into violence, the Gerudo leader, Chief Tiarta, steps forward and halts her warriors. She sizes up Link shrewdly and says, "Wait…I sense no evil in this one. You…you are the hero of legend, aren‘t you? The one who freed Divine Beast Vah Naboris years ago. Lower your blades—he may be the key to saving our people."
The other Gerudo hesitate for a moment before sheathing their swords at the chief‘s command. Ploka still looks pretty miffed, however, and walks off with a huff.
Chief Tiarta turns to Link and says, "Our ancient shelter is no place for outsiders…but dark forces stir in the deep and I fear we cannot face them alone. Prove you are a friend to the Gerudo, and perhaps we can help one another. But be warned, hero—one wrong move and my blade will taste your blood."
With that ominous welcome, Link is now free to explore the Gerudo Town Shelter and interact with the people within to learn more about the threats rising from beneath the desert.
Navigating Gerudo Town Shelter
Now that you‘ve gained access to this hidden sanctuary, take some time to explore its ancient chambers and talk to the Gerudo refugees sheltering inside. The shelter consists of a warren of candlelit stone rooms connected by crumbling passageways. You‘ll find resting areas with colorful rugs and cushions, storage rooms packed with supplies, and even an underground spring providing fresh water.
As you delve deeper into the shelter, you‘ll overhear snatches of conversation between worried Gerudo women and learn more about the dark events that drove them underground. Some talk of monsters tunneling up from some ancient cavern deep in the sand and overrunning the Gerudo outposts. Others mention an evil blight infecting their water supply and food stores. All of them whisper prayers to the Goddess of the Sand for deliverance from this creeping menace.
To get more concrete leads, talk to Chief Tiarta and the other named Gerudo NPCs. They may task you with side quests like mapping the tunnels leading to the monstrous hordes, retrieving lost supply caches, or clearing out pockets of infected creatures. Completing these missions will earn you the trust of the Gerudo and unlock new sections of the shelter to explore.
Tools of the Trade
To help you survive the dangers of Gerudo Town Shelter and the surrounding desert, keep an eye out for useful items and gear. The Gerudo value both toughness and grace, which is reflected in their choice of arms and armor. Some key pieces to acquire include:
- Gerudo Veil: This silken head covering not only protects Link from the harsh sun and stinging sand, but also conceals his identity as a voe to help him blend into Gerudo Town.
- Scimitar of the Seven: A wickedly curved sword favored by Gerudo warriors for its deadly slashing ability. Its unique shape also lends itself well to surfing on sand and using Link‘s Ultrahand to grapple and pull objects.
- Golden Claymore: A massive two-handed blade made of rare golden steel that is brutally heavy but unmatched in its sheer destructive power. Slow but devastating against armored foes.
- Gerudo Spaulder: An ornate piece of shoulder armor that increases Link‘s defense and boosts his resistance to heat and fire attacks.
- Molduga Guts: The cured entrails of the dreaded Molduga beast that lurks beneath the sands. Can be used to upgrade armor or brewed into elixirs.
As you gather more weapons and resources, don‘t forget to return to the Gerudo blacksmiths and craftswomen in the Shelter and Town to buff up your gear and create new accessories.
Gerudo Lore and History
As you aid the Gerudo and explore Gerudo Town Shelter, take some time to appreciate the rich lore and history behind this proud desert-dwelling people. In past Zelda games like Ocarina of Time and Breath of the Wild, we‘ve seen how the harsh environment of the Gerudo Desert has shaped its inhabitants into a hardened warrior society.
However, Tears of the Kingdom sheds more light on other aspects of Gerudo culture beyond combat. Throughout the shelter and Gerudo Town, you can spot intricate works of art, carvings, and tapestries depicting Gerudo myths and legends. Examine them to glean bits of lore about the Gerudo‘s relationship to the sand goddess, their ancient heroes, and their eternal rivalry with the Yiga Clan.
In particular, pay attention to any tales you hear about a figure known as the Harbinger—a mythical Gerudo king and sorcerer of old that some whisper has returned to threaten the land once again. Unraveling the truth about this ominous presence may be the key to saving both the Gerudo and all of Hyrule.
Gerudo Town and Tears of the Kingdom
While long-time Zelda fans will definitely recognize Gerudo Town from its appearance in Breath of the Wild, the location has been expanded and transformed in Tears of the Kingdom. In the sequel, set many years later, Gerudo Town has grown in size and splendor. What was once a humble desert outpost is now a sprawling sandstone city full of towers, gardens, and aqueducts.
However, this growth has come at a cost. As the dark forces bubbling up from beneath Gerudo Desert encroach on the city, its people have been forced to retreat to the ancient Gerudo Town Shelter. This has created a tense and desperate atmosphere, with once-proud Gerudo warriors now huddled in fear in crumbling underground chambers.
It falls to Link to venture beyond the shelter, braving the monster-infested dunes and haunted ruins of the desert to trace the source of this creeping corruption. Use the Gerudo Town Shelter as your base of operations as you explore the surrounding region, uncovering long-lost secrets of the Gerudo and their ancestral lands.
Oases in a Desert Sea
The Gerudo Desert region is vast and full of mysteries to uncover beyond just Gerudo Town and its hidden shelter. Keep an eye out for other notable landmarks and points of interest, such as:
Kara Kara Bazaar: A smaller desert outpost that specializes in rare and exotic goods. Chat up the local merchants to get tips on treasure hunting spots.
Great Cliffs: Towering mesas that overlook the desert. Use your Ascend ability to scale these lofty heights and scout out distant shrines and oases.
Toruma Dunes: An endless sea of shifting sand dunes that conceal ancient ruins and half-buried dungeons. Tread carefully, as Moldugas and other desert predators lurk beneath the surface.
Southern Oasis: The only verdant and lush spot in the entire desert. Its waters are said to have mystical healing properties, but the oasis is heavily guarded by the Gerudo.
Exploring these far-flung corners of the map will yield valuable resources, powerful weapons, and ancient knowledge to aid you in your quest to save the Gerudo and defeat the evil bubbling up from beneath the sands.
To the Ends of the Desert
From its bustling markets to its sun-baked streets, Gerudo Town is a true jewel of the desert that shines as a beacon of hope in an increasingly dark world. However, the key to aiding the Gerudo and unraveling the mysteries threatening Hyrule lies underground, in the twisting passageways of Gerudo Town Shelter.
By following the steps in this guide, you should now be able to successfully sneak into this hidden Gerudo sanctuary, win the trust of its denizens, and begin your investigation into the malevolent forces lurking in the deep. Just remember to stay cool under pressure, equip the right desert gear, and keep your blade and wits sharp.
The Gerudo may prefer to solve their own problems, but with their ancestral home now under threat from all sides, they‘ll need a true hero‘s aid more than ever. Luckily, you have the grit, the gadgets, and the gumption to brave any challenge this unforgiving landscape throws at you. So go forth, hero, and show Gerudo Desert why you‘re the chosen one!
