What is the best way to approach Divine Beast Vah Ruta in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild?

Approaching Divine Beast Vah Ruta in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild requires careful preparation, strategic thinking, and an understanding of the mechanics involved. Vah Ruta is the first Divine Beast most players encounter, and it is located in the Zora Domain region. The quest to free Vah Ruta begins with speaking to Sidon, the Zora prince, who will guide you through the initial steps. Here is a detailed breakdown of how to approach and complete this Divine Beast quest.

First, you need to prepare for the journey. Vah Ruta is surrounded by water, and you will need to deal with both environmental challenges and enemies. Make sure you have plenty of arrows, especially shock arrows, as they are crucial for the upcoming battle. You can find shock arrows by defeating enemies or purchasing them from shops. Additionally, stock up on healing items and meals that provide extra hearts or stamina. Cooking dishes with hearty ingredients like durians or radishes can give you a significant health boost. Armor that provides resistance to electricity, such as the Rubber Armor set, can also be helpful.

Once you are prepared, head to the Zora Domain and speak with Sidon. He will explain that Vah Ruta is causing heavy rainfall and flooding in the area, and you need to stop it. Sidon will guide you to the East Reservoir Lake, where Vah Ruta is located. Along the way, you will encounter enemies like Lizalfos and Octoroks. Use your bow and arrows to take them out from a distance, and avoid getting too close to the water, as it can slow you down.

When you reach the lake, Sidon will explain that you need to shoot shock arrows at the glowing orbs on Vah Ruta's body to stop its water attacks. These orbs are located on its shoulders and back. You will need to use Cryonis, the ice rune, to create ice blocks in the water and climb onto them to get a better vantage point. From there, use your bow to aim and shoot the orbs. Be careful of the water jets that Vah Ruta shoots at you, as they can knock you off your ice block. Timing and accuracy are key here, so take your time to line up your shots.

After disabling the orbs, Vah Ruta will lower its trunk, allowing you to board it. Once inside, you will need to solve a series of puzzles to gain control of the Divine Beast. The main mechanic inside Vah Ruta involves manipulating the trunk to change the water flow and access different areas. Use the map to rotate the trunk and create pathways. For example, rotating the trunk to the left or right can open up new rooms or reveal hidden chests. Pay attention to the map and experiment with different trunk positions to progress.

One of the key puzzles involves using Cryonis to block water jets and create platforms. In one room, you will need to block a water jet to stop a spinning wheel, allowing you to climb up and access a terminal. In another room, you will need to use Cryonis to create ice blocks that redirect water flow and activate switches. Take your time to observe the environment and think about how to use the trunk and Cryonis to solve each puzzle.

Combat inside Vah Ruta is minimal, but you will encounter a few Guardian Scouts. These enemies are relatively easy to defeat if you have decent weapons and armor. Use your shield to block their attacks and counter with your own. If you have any ancient weapons or arrows, they are particularly effective against Guardians.

Once you have activated all the terminals, you will face the boss, Waterblight Ganon. This boss has two phases. In the first phase, it will attack you with a spear and create ice blocks that it throws at you. Use Cryonis to destroy the ice blocks before they hit you, and use your bow to shoot Waterblight Ganon in the eye to stun it. When it is stunned, attack it with your strongest weapon. In the second phase, Waterblight Ganon will teleport around the arena and create more ice blocks. Use the same strategy to defeat it.

After defeating Waterblight Ganon, you will regain control of Vah Ruta and receive Mipha's Grace, a powerful ability that revives you with extra hearts when you die. This ability is incredibly useful for the rest of the game, so make sure to use it wisely.

In summary, approaching Divine Beast Vah Ruta requires preparation, strategic thinking, and careful use of your abilities. Stock up on arrows and healing items, use Cryonis to manipulate the environment, and take your time to solve the puzzles. Pay attention to the map and experiment with different trunk positions to progress. Defeat Waterblight Ganon by using Cryonis to destroy ice blocks and shooting it in the eye to stun it. With these strategies, you will be able to free Vah Ruta and gain a powerful ability to aid you in your journey.