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 Thunder Helm is a unique piece of headgear that grants the wearer immunity to lightning strikes, making it a valuable item for traversing areas with frequent thunderstorms. However, Riju is initially reluctant to part with the helm, as it is a treasured heirloom of the Gerudo people. To convince her to lend it to you, you must complete a series of tasks that demonstrate your worthiness and help the people of Gerudo Town.

The first step in the quest is to speak to Riju in the throne room. She will explain that the Thunder Helm is a symbol of the Gerudo's strength and that she cannot simply give it away. However, she will agree to lend it to you if you can prove yourself by helping the townspeople with their problems. This involves completing four specific side quests within Gerudo Town, each of which addresses a different issue faced by the residents.

The first quest is "The Mystery Polluter," which involves investigating the source of a foul smell in the town's water supply. To complete this quest, you need to speak to Dalia, who can be found near the town's water reservoir. She will explain that the water has been contaminated, and she suspects that someone is dumping waste into the reservoir. You will need to climb to the top of the reservoir and confront the culprit, a Gerudo named Calyban, who has been throwing hydromelons into the water. Once you confront her, she will stop polluting the water, and the quest will be complete.

The second quest is "The Search for Barta," which involves helping a Gerudo named Liana find her missing friend, Barta. Barta has gone to the Gerudo Highlands to search for a rare treasure, but she has not returned. To find her, you will need to travel to the Gerudo Highlands and locate Barta, who is trapped in a cave. You can find her by following the path north of Gerudo Town and looking for a cave entrance near the base of the mountains. Once you find her, you will need to defeat the enemies in the cave and escort her back to Gerudo Town.

The third quest is "Medicinal Molduga," which involves helping a Gerudo named Malena find a Molduga Guts to create a medicinal potion for her sick husband. Moldugas are large, sand-dwelling creatures that can be found in the Gerudo Desert. To defeat a Molduga, you will need to lure it out of the sand by throwing a bomb or other explosive item onto the surface. Once the Molduga emerges, you can attack it with arrows or melee weapons. After defeating the Molduga, you will receive Molduga Guts, which you can give to Malena to complete the quest.

The fourth and final quest is "The Secret Club's Secret," which involves gaining access to the Gerudo Secret Club, a hidden shop in Gerudo Town that sells rare and valuable items. To gain access, you will need to speak to a Gerudo named Greta, who can be found near the town's entrance. She will give you a password that you need to say to the door of the Secret Club. The password changes each time you play, so you will need to listen carefully to Greta's instructions. Once you have the password, you can enter the Secret Club and purchase the Thunder Helm from the shopkeeper.

After completing all four quests, return to Riju in the throne room. She will be impressed by your efforts and will agree to lend you the Thunder Helm. You can then equip the helm and enjoy its lightning immunity, which can be particularly useful in areas with frequent thunderstorms, such as the Faron region or during certain shrine quests.

In terms of preparation, it is helpful to have a good supply of weapons, arrows, and healing items before attempting these quests, as some of them involve combat with strong enemies like Moldugas. Additionally, having the Gerudo Vai outfit, which allows you to enter Gerudo Town, is essential for completing these quests. If you do not already have the outfit, you can purchase it from the clothing shop in Gerudo Town.

One common mistake to avoid is attempting to complete these quests without proper preparation. For example, the Molduga can be a challenging enemy if you are not equipped with strong weapons and armor. It is also important to pay attention to the details of each quest, as some of them require specific actions or items to complete. For example, in "The Mystery Polluter," you need to climb to the top of the water reservoir to confront Calyban, and in "The Secret Club's Secret," you need to remember the correct password to gain access to the club.

Advanced techniques for completing these quests include using stealth to avoid unnecessary combat, especially in the Gerudo Highlands where enemies can be tough. Additionally, using the environment to your advantage, such as hiding behind rocks or using the terrain to avoid enemy attacks, can make these quests easier. For the Molduga fight, using bombs to lure it out of the sand and then attacking it with a powerful weapon can quickly defeat it.

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 complete four specific tasks within Gerudo Town. By helping the townspeople with their problems, you can prove your worthiness to Riju and gain access to the Thunder Helm. Proper preparation, attention to detail, and strategic combat techniques are key to successfully completing this quest and obtaining the valuable Thunder Helm.