How do I activate the Divine Beast Vah Rudania in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild?

To activate the Divine Beast Vah Rudania in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, you must complete a series of steps that involve preparation, puzzle-solving, and combat. Vah Rudania is located on Death Mountain in the Eldin region, and its activation is tied to the main quest "Divine Beast Vah Rudania." HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to achieve this.

First, you need to prepare for the journey to Death Mountain. The environment is extremely hostile due to the intense heat, so you must acquire fireproof gear or elixirs. You can buy the Flamebreaker Armor set from the armor shop in Goron City, or you can craft fireproof elixirs using Fireproof Lizards and monster parts. Fireproof Lizards can be found near the Foothill Stable, where youÔÇÖll meet a character named Kima who gives you a side quest to collect 10 Fireproof Lizards. Completing this quest rewards you with a Flameproof Elixir, which is useful for the initial part of the journey.

Once youÔÇÖre prepared, head to Goron City and speak with Bludo, the boss of the Gorons. He will explain that Vah Rudania has been causing trouble by attacking the city with its laser. Bludo will ask you to help him deal with the Divine Beast. However, he is suffering from back pain and cannot accompany you. To proceed, you must retrieve his missing cart from the Abandoned North Mine. The mine is infested with enemies, so be ready for combat. After retrieving the cart, return to Bludo, and he will give you a Remote Bomb to use against Vah Rudania.

Next, youÔÇÖll need to board Vah Rudania. The Divine Beast is perched on Death Mountain, and youÔÇÖll need to use the cannons around the mountain to shoot it down. The cannons are operated by Yunobo, a Goron who is initially reluctant to help due to fear. You must convince him to assist you by using the Remote Bomb to destroy the rocks blocking the path to the cannons. Once the path is clear, Yunobo will operate the cannons, and youÔÇÖll need to aim them at Vah Rudania. Timing is crucial here, as you must hit the Divine Beast while itÔÇÖs stationary. After a few successful hits, Vah Rudania will fall to the ground, allowing you to board it.

Once inside Vah Rudania, youÔÇÖll need to activate the main control unit by solving a series of puzzles. The Divine Beast is filled with terminals that you must activate to regain control. The puzzles involve manipulating the beastÔÇÖs body, such as tilting it or rotating parts, to access hidden areas. For example, one terminal requires you to tilt Vah Rudania to create a path to a higher platform. Another involves using the map to rotate a section of the beast to align a ball with a hole. Pay close attention to the map, as it shows the layout of the Divine Beast and helps you navigate its complex structure.

Combat is also a key part of activating Vah Rudania. Inside the Divine Beast, youÔÇÖll encounter corrupted Guardians and other enemies. Use your weapons and abilities wisely, as the confined spaces can make combat challenging. The final challenge is the boss fight against Fireblight Ganon, a powerful enemy that uses fire-based attacks. To defeat Fireblight Ganon, use ice-based weapons or arrows to exploit its weakness. Dodging its attacks and using perfect parries can also give you an advantage. Once you defeat Fireblight Ganon, youÔÇÖll regain control of Vah Rudania and receive DarukÔÇÖs Protection, a powerful ability that creates a shield around you to block attacks.

Important tips and considerations include managing your resources, such as weapons, arrows, and healing items, as the journey to Vah Rudania is long and challenging. Make sure to save your progress frequently, especially before entering the Divine Beast, as the puzzles and combat can be difficult. Additionally, upgrading your stamina and health through shrines can make the journey easier.

Common mistakes to avoid include not preparing adequately for the heat of Death Mountain, which can lead to constant damage and death. Another mistake is rushing through the puzzles inside Vah Rudania without carefully observing the environment, which can lead to frustration and wasted time.

Advanced techniques or optimizations include using the environment to your advantage, such as using the cannons to deal damage to enemies before engaging them in combat. Additionally, mastering the timing of DarukÔÇÖs Protection can make the boss fight against Fireblight Ganon much easier.

Required items and preparation include fireproof gear or elixirs, weapons with high durability, and plenty of healing items. ItÔÇÖs also helpful to have ice-based weapons or arrows for the boss fight.

Alternative approaches include using stealth to avoid combat in the Abandoned North Mine or using the environment to your advantage in the puzzles inside Vah Rudania. For example, you can use the tilting mechanism to create paths that allow you to bypass certain enemies.

Specific examples and scenarios include the puzzle where you must tilt Vah Rudania to create a path to a higher platform. This requires careful observation of the map and the environment to determine the correct angle. Another example is the boss fight against Fireblight Ganon, where you must use ice-based attacks to exploit its weakness and avoid its powerful fire-based attacks.

By following these steps and tips, you can successfully activate the Divine Beast Vah Rudania and progress through the main story of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.