*The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild* (BOTW) is known for its vast, open-world experience and flexible gameplay. In this adventure, shrines play a vital role, serving as both challenge arenas and quick-travel points. Many players aim to track down every shrine both for the rewards and the satisfaction of fully exploring Hyrule. If you’re wondering exactly how many shrines exist in BOTW, what they offer, and how they change with downloadable content (DLC), you’re in the right place.
This guide will help you understand shrine counts in both the base game and with all DLC included. We’ll also cover why shrines matter, explain their different types, and offer practical tips to help you find them all.
2. Shrines in the Base Game
In the standard version of *Breath of the Wild*, you’ll find **120 shrines** scattered throughout Hyrule. Each shrine acts as a mini dungeon. Inside, you’ll usually face a puzzle, combat challenge, or a combination of the two. Once completed, you’ll earn a Spirit Orb, which you can trade for heart containers or stamina upgrades.
It is vital to explore and mark shrine locations as you travel. Shrines are often visible from high places, and you can place pins on your map for easier navigation. Some shrines require solving overworld puzzles or finishing quests before you can access them.
Finding all 120 shrines is not required to finish the story, but it’s highly rewarding. Each completed shrine expands both your fast-travel network and your character’s abilities. Players aiming for 100% completion will need to visit every single one.
3. DLC Content and Additional Shrines
If you purchase the Expansion Pass, the *Master Trials* and *Champions’ Ballad* DLCs add new shrines and extra content to your game. The total number of shrines you can visit rises to **136**. This includes new puzzles, combat scenarios, and even some unique shrine experiences that go beyond what you’ll see in the main game.
The *Master Trials* mostly focus on new challenge modes, but the *Champions’ Ballad* introduces new shrines tied to a lengthy quest. Once you begin the Champions’ Ballad questline, you’ll encounter several new shrine locations. Four of them grant additional Spirit Orbs, while the remainder present other challenges or rewards.
While the main game has 120 shrines, with DLC installed, your map can eventually show up to 136 shrines. Be sure to keep your game updated if you plan to access this expanded content.
4. Types of Shrines
In BOTW, not all shrines are exactly the same, and the DLC shrines introduce a little more variety. Here’s what to expect:
– Spirit Orb Shrines: The base game has 120 of these. Each one gives a Spirit Orb when completed. The Champions’ Ballad DLC adds four more shrines that grant Spirit Orbs, bringing the total to 124.
– Special DLC Shrines: The additional shrines in the DLC packs often focus on unique mechanics or advanced puzzle-solving but do not reward Spirit Orbs. There are 12 of these DLC-exclusive shrines, bringing the complete count to 136 locations. These shrines typically reward you in other ways, such as unique items or advancement in the Champions’ Ballad storyline.
If your main concern is collecting Spirit Orbs for health or stamina, you can stop at 124 shrines. However, if you’re aiming to complete all in-game content, you’ll want to clear every shrine, including those that offer different kinds of rewards.
5. How to Approach Shrines
Base Game Shrines
Finding shrine locations can be tricky at times, especially if you prefer not to use a guide. Start by climbing towers to reveal more of the map, then scan the horizon for orange glow—the tell-tale sign of an undiscovered shrine. Mark these locations with pins for easier tracking.
Be sure to equip the Sheikah Sensor on your map. This tool beeps when you’re close to a shrine you haven’t visited yet. Walking or paragliding across each region will help you trigger these alerts more often. In some cases, you must solve a puzzle or complete a side quest to make a shrine appear. Examples include moving specific stones, following a character, or solving environmental riddles.
DLC Shrines
DLC shrines are often tied to questlines, especially in the Champions’ Ballad. Pay attention to new main quests that appear after installing the DLC. Complete required objectives, which may range from defeating enemies to retrieving hidden items, to unlock the shrine entrances.
For these shrines, refer to your adventure log often so you don’t lose track. Unlike regular shrines, some DLC shrines may only appear after completing specific challenges in certain locations, so always review quest instructions closely.
6. Benefits of Completing Shrines
Clearing shrines provides immediate and ongoing benefits. The most obvious reward is the Spirit Orb, which directly improves Link’s health and stamina—making combat, running, and climbing easier. Completing shrines also expands your network of warp points, letting you travel quickly and efficiently between regions. This saves you time, especially when chasing side quests or exploring hard-to-reach areas.
Once you have accumulated four Spirit Orbs, you can visit the Goddess Statues in various villages and trade them for either heart containers or stamina vessels. For players interested in surviving tougher fights or scaling larger mountains, this upgrade path is critical.
Unique shrines, especially those introduced in the DLC, will often reward you with rare items or new gear. For example, the Champions’ Ballad quest leads to new armor and even an exclusive transportation item. These rewards can enhance your experience and make subsequent exploration easier.
7. Tips for Efficient Shrine Hunting
Prioritize climbing the nearest Sheikah Tower in each region as soon as you arrive. This opens up your map and increases your sight lines, making it much simpler to spot shrines. Always place map markers for shrine locations you notice in the distance. This step ensures you won’t forget or overlook a tricky site.
Keep your Sheikah Sensor tuned to “Shrines,” and adjust based on what you are actively searching for. If you find yourself frustrated by hard-to-find locations, consider referencing a complete online map as a backup. Many players print checklists to track their progress and minimize missed shrines.
For DLC shrines, stay alert to new quests after triggering the Champions’ Ballad. Often, you’ll need to complete an activity or fight a mini-boss before the shrine appears. Patience and experimentation are essential, especially for shrines that require solving environmental challenges.
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8. Conclusion
To answer the main question: *Breath of the Wild* includes *120 shrines* in the base game, offering puzzles, battles, and valuable Spirit Orbs. If you play with all DLC content, the total number of shrine locations becomes **136**. Out of these, 124 will grant you Spirit Orbs—enough to maximize your essential upgrades for health and stamina.
Shrines are more than just collectibles. They help you grow stronger, let you travel quickly across Hyrule, and add new challenges to extend your playtime. Whether you aim to complete every shrine for 100% or just want enough health to fight Ganon, the choice is yours. Use strategic exploration, make good use of your Sheikah Slate, and stay attentive to new quests, especially after installing any DLC.
Once you have completed all shrine challenges—base game and DLC—you’ll be among a group of players who’ve truly experienced everything BOTW has to offer. Keep documentation of your progress, so you can always pick up where you left off or offer advice to friends starting their own journey in Hyrule.
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