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 is tied to the Gerudo people and their leader, Riju, who is the chief of the town. The Thunder Helm is a powerful artifact that grants the wearer immunity to lightning strikes, and Riju is willing to lend it to you if you prove yourself worthy by completing a series of tasks for the townspeople.

First, you must gain access to Gerudo Town. Since the town only allows women to enter, you will need to disguise yourself as a woman. To do this, you must acquire the Gerudo outfit, which consists of the Gerudo Veil, Gerudo Top, and Gerudo Sirwal. You can purchase these items from the clothing shop in Kara Kara Bazaar, a small settlement located just outside Gerudo Town. Once you have the full outfit, you can enter Gerudo Town without any issues.

Once inside Gerudo Town, head to the palace in the northern part of the town. This is where Riju resides. Speak to her, and she will mention that she cannot lend you the Thunder Helm until you have helped the people of Gerudo Town. This is where the side quest begins. Riju will direct you to speak with various townspeople who have tasks for you to complete. These tasks are designed to prove your worth and show that you are capable of handling the responsibility of borrowing the Thunder Helm.

The first task is to help a woman named Dalia, who is concerned about the lack of fresh watermelons in the town. She will ask you to find and bring her a wildberry. Wildberries can be found in the Gerudo Highlands or other cold regions of Hyrule. Once you have the wildberry, return to Dalia and give it to her. She will reward you with a hydromelon, which you can then give to Riju as proof of your assistance.

The second task involves helping a woman named Malena, who is worried about the safety of her husband, who is out in the desert. She will ask you to find him and ensure he is safe. Head to the Gerudo Canyon Stable, which is located to the east of Gerudo Town. There, you will find Malena's husband, who is safe and sound. Return to Malena and inform her of his safety to complete this task.

The third task is to assist a woman named Liana, who is having trouble with a persistent sandstorm. She will ask you to find the source of the sandstorm and put an end to it. Head to the East Barrens, located to the east of Gerudo Town, and you will find a group of Molduga, large sand-dwelling creatures that are causing the sandstorm. Defeat the Molduga to stop the sandstorm and return to Liana to complete this task.

The fourth and final task is to help a woman named Patricia, who is concerned about the lack of fresh fish in the town. She will ask you to catch a hearty salmon and bring it to her. Hearty salmon can be found in the Tabantha Tundra or other cold regions of Hyrule. Once you have the hearty salmon, return to Patricia and give it to her to complete this task.

After completing all four tasks, return to Riju in the palace. She will be impressed by your efforts and will agree to lend you the Thunder Helm. The Thunder Helm is a powerful piece of equipment that grants immunity to lightning strikes, making it extremely useful in areas where lightning storms are common, such as the Faron region or during thunderstorms.

It is important to note that the Thunder Helm is only lent to you temporarily, and you will need to return it to Riju after you are done using it. However, completing this side quest and proving your worth to the Gerudo people will earn you their trust and respect, which can be beneficial in other aspects of the game.

In terms of preparation, it is recommended to have a good supply of healing items and weapons before attempting to complete the tasks for this side quest. The Molduga, in particular, can be challenging to defeat, so having strong weapons and armor is essential. Additionally, having a good understanding of the game's combat mechanics and being able to dodge and parry effectively will make the battles easier.

One common mistake to avoid is attempting to complete the tasks without proper preparation. The Molduga, for example, can deal significant damage if you are not careful, so it is important to have a strategy in place before engaging them. Another mistake is not having the necessary items, such as the wildberry or hearty salmon, before starting the tasks. This can lead to unnecessary backtracking and wasted time.

An advanced technique for defeating the Molduga is to use bombs to lure them out of the sand and then attack them while they are vulnerable. This can be done by throwing a bomb into the sand and waiting for the Molduga to surface. Once it does, detonate the bomb to stun it and then attack with your strongest weapons.

In conclusion, "The Thunder Helm" side quest is a rewarding and challenging task that requires you to prove your worth to the Gerudo people. By completing the tasks given to you by the townspeople, you can earn the trust of Riju and borrow the powerful Thunder Helm. Proper preparation, understanding of the game's mechanics, and strategic thinking are key to successfully completing this quest.