How do I start the "The Statue's Bargain" side quest in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild?

To start "The Statue's Bargain" side quest in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, you need to visit the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab, which is located in Hateno Village. This quest is tied to the game's mechanics involving spirit orbs and heart containers or stamina vessels, and it allows you to exchange one for the other. Here is a detailed guide on how to initiate and complete this quest.

First, you need to reach Hateno Village, which is located in the eastern part of Hyrule. You can get there by traveling east from Kakariko Village or by following the main story quests that lead you to this area. Once in Hateno Village, head to the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab, which is situated on a hill to the northeast of the village. You will need to light the furnace outside the lab to gain access, which requires a blue flame. You can obtain the blue flame from the ancient furnace near the village entrance. Use a torch or a wooden weapon to carry the flame to the lab, being careful to avoid rain or enemies that can extinguish it.

Inside the lab, you will find a statue that looks like a small, creepy figure. Interact with the statue, and it will offer to trade your heart containers or stamina vessels for the other. This is the core mechanic of "The Statue's Bargain" quest. The statue will explain that it can exchange one of your heart containers for a stamina vessel or vice versa. This is useful if you want to reallocate your stats to better suit your playstyle.

To proceed with the quest, you need to have at least one heart container or stamina vessel to trade. If you have not yet collected any spirit orbs from shrines, you will need to complete a few shrines to gather enough orbs to exchange for a heart container or stamina vessel. Once you have at least one, return to the statue and initiate the trade. The statue will take one of your heart containers and give you a stamina vessel, or take a stamina vessel and give you a heart container.

There are a few important tips and considerations to keep in mind. First, make sure you are certain about the trade before proceeding, as the statue will not warn you again before making the exchange. Second, if you want to revert the trade, you can return to the statue and exchange back, but this will cost you another heart container or stamina vessel. Third, consider your current needs and playstyle before making the trade. If you find yourself struggling in combat, having more hearts might be beneficial. Conversely, if you are exploring a lot and need more stamina for climbing or running, a stamina vessel might be more useful.

Common mistakes to avoid include not having enough spirit orbs to make the trade and not being prepared for the consequences of the trade. Make sure you have saved your game before initiating the trade, so you can reload if you change your mind. Additionally, avoid trading away all your heart containers, as this can make combat much more difficult.

Advanced techniques and optimizations involve planning your stat allocation based on your current objectives. For example, if you are about to tackle a difficult dungeon or boss fight, you might want to prioritize heart containers. On the other hand, if you are planning to explore a large area with lots of climbing, stamina vessels might be more beneficial. You can also use this quest to experiment with different stat allocations to see what works best for your playstyle.

Required items and preparation include having at least one heart container or stamina vessel to trade. You will also need to have completed enough shrines to gather the necessary spirit orbs. It is also helpful to have a torch or wooden weapon to carry the blue flame to the lab if you have not already done so.

Alternative approaches include focusing on completing more shrines to gather additional spirit orbs before making any trades. This way, you can have a buffer of extra hearts or stamina to fall back on if needed. You can also use this quest as an opportunity to fine-tune your stats based on the challenges you are currently facing.

In specific scenarios, such as preparing for the final boss fight, you might want to maximize your heart containers to increase your survivability. Conversely, if you are working on completing all the shrines and need to climb a lot, having more stamina vessels can be a huge advantage. The flexibility offered by "The Statue's Bargain" quest allows you to adapt your stats to your current needs, making it a valuable tool in your journey through Hyrule.