How do I start the "The Thunder Helm" side quest in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild?

To start "The Thunder Helm" side quest in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, you need to visit Gerudo Town, which is located in the Gerudo Desert in the southwestern part of Hyrule. This quest becomes available after you have completed the main quest "Divine Beast Vah Naboris," which involves freeing the Divine Beast from Calamity Ganon's control. Once you have completed this main quest, you can begin "The Thunder Helm" side quest by speaking to Riju, the chief of the Gerudo, who resides in the throne room of Gerudo Town.

The quest revolves around helping the Gerudo people with various tasks in exchange for the Thunder Helm, a powerful piece of armor that grants immunity to lightning strikes. Riju will explain that the Thunder Helm is a sacred relic of the Gerudo, and she cannot simply give it to you. Instead, you must prove your worth by assisting the townspeople with their problems. This involves completing four specific side quests within Gerudo Town, each given by a different NPC. These quests are "The Mystery Polluter," "The Search for Barta," "Medicinal Molduga," and "The Eighth Heroine."

To begin, you should first speak to Riju in the throne room. She will inform you about the Thunder Helm and the tasks you need to complete. The first quest, "The Mystery Polluter," is given by Dalia, who can be found near the town's water reservoir. She will ask you to find out who is polluting the water supply. You will need to investigate and eventually confront a man named Bozai, who is throwing hydromelons into the water. Once you confront him, he will stop, and the quest will be complete.

Next, you should find Isha, who is located near the entrance of Gerudo Town. She will give you the quest "The Search for Barta." Barta is a Gerudo woman who has gone missing in the desert. You will need to locate her by following her tracks and eventually find her trapped in a sand pit. After rescuing her, return to Isha to complete the quest.

The third quest, "Medicinal Molduga," is given by Malena, who can be found in the town's bar. She will ask you to collect Molduga Guts, which are dropped by Moldugas, large sand-dwelling creatures found in the Gerudo Desert. You will need to defeat a Molduga to obtain the guts. Moldugas are tough enemies, so it is recommended to prepare with strong weapons, armor, and healing items. Once you have the Molduga Guts, return to Malena to complete the quest.

The final quest, "The Eighth Heroine," is given by Rotana, who is located in the Gerudo Shelter. She will ask you to find the missing statue of the Eighth Heroine, which is located in the Gerudo Highlands. You will need to travel to the highlands and locate the statue, which is hidden in a cave. Once you find it, return to Rotana to complete the quest.

After completing all four quests, return to Riju in the throne room. She will be impressed by your efforts and will allow you to take the Thunder Helm as a reward. The Thunder Helm is a valuable piece of armor that provides immunity to lightning, making it extremely useful in areas with frequent thunderstorms or when fighting enemies that use electric attacks.

Some important tips and considerations for this quest include ensuring you have enough resources and equipment to handle the various challenges. For example, defeating a Molduga can be difficult without proper preparation, so make sure to stock up on weapons, arrows, and healing items. Additionally, when searching for Barta, pay close attention to the tracks in the sand to avoid getting lost in the desert.

Common mistakes to avoid include not thoroughly investigating the water pollution in "The Mystery Polluter" quest, which can lead to confusion and wasted time. Also, when fighting a Molduga, avoid standing on the sand for too long, as the creature can detect your movements and attack you from below.

Advanced techniques for this quest include using stealth to approach the Molduga without alerting it, allowing you to set up a bomb or other trap to deal significant damage. Additionally, using the Sheikah Sensor to track the location of the Eighth Heroine statue can save time and effort.

Required items and preparation for this quest include strong weapons, armor, and healing items, as well as the Sheikah Sensor for tracking the Eighth Heroine statue. It is also helpful to have a good supply of arrows and bombs for combat and exploration.

Alternative approaches to this quest include completing the side quests in any order, as there is no specific sequence required. However, it is generally recommended to start with "The Mystery Polluter" and "The Search for Barta" as they are relatively straightforward and can be completed quickly.

In summary, "The Thunder Helm" side quest in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a multi-step quest that requires you to assist the Gerudo people with various tasks. By completing these tasks, you will earn the Thunder Helm, a powerful piece of armor that provides immunity to lightning. Proper preparation, attention to detail, and strategic combat techniques are essential for successfully completing this quest and obtaining the valuable reward.