Where is Hestu located after leaving Kakariko Village in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild?

After leaving Kakariko Village, Hestu, the large Korok who helps Link expand his inventory, can be found in two different locations depending on your progress in the game. Hestu is essential for players who want to increase their weapon, bow, and shield slots by trading Korok Seeds, which are collected by solving Korok puzzles scattered throughout Hyrule. Understanding where to find Hestu and how to interact with him is crucial for optimizing your inventory and making the most of your equipment.

The first location where Hestu can be found after leaving Kakariko Village is along the road to the Dueling Peaks Stable. This is the most common place players encounter him early in the game. To reach this location, head southwest from Kakariko Village toward the Dueling Peaks region. Follow the main road, and you will eventually come across Hestu standing near a large tree just before the Dueling Peaks Stable. He will be worried about his maracas, which have lost their power, and will ask for your help. This is where you can start trading Korok Seeds to expand your inventory.

The second location where Hestu can be found is in the Korok Forest, which is deep within the Lost Woods. This is his permanent home, and he will move here after you interact with him at the Dueling Peaks Stable location. To reach the Korok Forest, you must navigate the Lost Woods, which is a challenging area due to its foggy environment and maze-like structure. The key to navigating the Lost Woods is to follow the direction of the wind and the embers from the torches. If you go the wrong way, you will be teleported back to the entrance. Once you successfully make it through, you will find Hestu near the Great Deku Tree in the Korok Forest.

When interacting with Hestu, you will need Korok Seeds to expand your inventory. Korok Seeds are obtained by solving Korok puzzles, which are small environmental challenges such as lifting rocks, shooting targets, or completing patterns. These puzzles are scattered all over Hyrule, and there are over 900 of them in total. Each time you trade Korok Seeds with Hestu, the cost for additional inventory slots increases. For example, the first few upgrades may cost only one or two Korok Seeds, but later upgrades can require up to 20 or more seeds per slot.

One important tip is to prioritize which inventory slots you want to expand first. Early in the game, it is often more beneficial to focus on weapon slots, as weapons break frequently and having more slots allows you to carry a variety of tools for different situations. As you progress, you may want to expand your bow and shield slots as well, depending on your playstyle. Another tip is to mark Korok puzzle locations on your map as you explore. This way, you can return to them later if you need more seeds.

A common mistake players make is ignoring Korok puzzles early in the game, thinking they are not important. However, collecting Korok Seeds and expanding your inventory early on can significantly improve your gameplay experience by giving you more flexibility in combat and exploration. Additionally, some players may not realize that Hestu moves to the Korok Forest after the first encounter, so they might waste time looking for him near the Dueling Peaks Stable after he has already relocated.

For advanced players, optimizing Korok Seed collection can involve using online maps or guides to locate all 900 seeds. While this is not necessary to complete the game, it can be a fun challenge for completionists. Additionally, some players may choose to focus on specific regions of the map to collect seeds efficiently, rather than randomly exploring. This approach can save time and ensure you have enough seeds for all the upgrades you need.

In terms of preparation, you do not need any special items to interact with Hestu or collect Korok Seeds. However, having a good understanding of the game's mechanics and being familiar with the types of Korok puzzles can make the process smoother. For example, knowing that some puzzles involve lifting rocks or shooting arrows at targets can help you spot them more easily as you explore.

An alternative approach to finding Hestu is to skip the Dueling Peaks Stable location entirely and head straight to the Korok Forest. This is more challenging, as navigating the Lost Woods requires careful attention to the environment, but it can save time if you are confident in your ability to find the forest. Additionally, some players may choose to delay expanding their inventory until later in the game, focusing instead on other upgrades or story progression. However, this approach can make combat and resource management more difficult, as you will have fewer slots to carry weapons, bows, and shields.

In summary, Hestu is a key character for expanding your inventory in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. After leaving Kakariko Village, he can be found near the Dueling Peaks Stable or in the Korok Forest. Trading Korok Seeds with him allows you to increase your weapon, bow, and shield slots, which is essential for managing your equipment effectively. Prioritizing which slots to expand, marking Korok puzzle locations, and understanding the mechanics of the Lost Woods are all important strategies for making the most of your inventory. By following these tips and avoiding common mistakes, you can optimize your gameplay experience and tackle the challenges of Hyrule with confidence.