He is impossible to miss. You’re trekking through a torrential downpour in the Faron region, stamina wheel flashing red, when you hear it. A faint, wheezing squeeze of an accordion. It cuts through the thunder. You climb a little higher, and there he is—a massive, blue-feathered Rito perched on a mushroom-shaped pillar, completely indifferent to the lightning hazards. This is Breath of the Wild Kass, and honestly, the game would feel empty without him.
Most players treat him as a glorified quest marker. They see the musical notes on the screen and think, "Okay, another Shrine Quest." But if you actually stop to listen—and I mean really listen to the lyrics of his "Ancient Songs"—you realize Kass is doing way more than just handing out Spirit Orbs. He is the bridge between the tragedy of 100 years ago and Link’s current journey. He’s the only character who truly bridges the gap between the era of the Champions and the wild, broken world you’re exploring.
The Mystery Behind the Music
Kass isn't just some traveling bard who picked up a hobby. He’s a student. Specifically, he was the disciple of the Court Poet of Hyrule, a man who served the Royal Family before the Calamity. This is a huge detail that people often skim over. His teacher was a Sheikah who was actually in love with Princess Zelda. That unrequited love turned into a lifelong obsession with the ancient legends, which he eventually passed down to Kass.
When you find Kass in various locations, he’s performing "Ancient Songs" passed down by his master. These aren't just catchy tunes. They are literal blueprints for interacting with the Sheikah technology hidden beneath the earth.
Think about the "Sign of the Shadow" quest at Gerudo Tower. Or the "Two Rings" quest in West Hyrule Ridge. Kass is basically translating dead data into music that Link can understand. It’s a clever bit of world-building by Nintendo; they took the standard "tutorial" trope and wrapped it in a blue feathered NPC with a penchant for folk music.
Where to Find Breath of the Wild Kass (and Why He’s Hiding)
Finding him feels like a reward in itself. He doesn’t hang out in stables like the other Rito. He’s usually in the middle of nowhere. You’ll find him at Pagos Hollow, near the Horon Lagoon, or standing on a tiny rock in the middle of the ocean at Cape Cales.
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One of his most famous spots is the "Crown of the Sky" quest near the Rabac Plateau. You have to find a pedestal, but the clue is buried in his lyrics. This is where the game expects you to actually pay attention to the world. If you just skip through his dialogue, you’re going to be wandering around for hours.
Kass travels because he made a promise. He left his wife, Amali, and their five daughters back in Rito Village to fulfill his master’s dying wish. His master wanted to ensure that the hero—Link—would hear these songs and be able to defeat Ganon. It’s actually a pretty heavy burden for a guy who just wants to play the accordion. You can see the conflict in him when you talk to his daughters later in the game. They miss him. He knows he’s being a bit of an absentee father, but he believes his mission is the only way to ensure they have a world to grow up in.
The Secret Ending Most Players Miss
If you complete every single one of his Shrine Quests, something cool happens. Most people finish the "Hero's Cache" or the "Fragmented Monument" and think they’re done. They aren't.
Once you’ve cleared all eight of his specific overworld quests, Kass finally returns home to Rito Village. If you go there at night, you’ll find him standing on the landing near the shrine, playing his accordion while his daughters sing along. This is the moment where he finally reveals his full backstory. He tells you about his teacher’s feelings for Zelda. He acknowledges that he knows exactly who you are.
It is one of the few moments of pure, unadulterated closure in a game that is mostly about silence and ruins.
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The Musical Significance of the Accordion
The choice of instrument is fascinating. The Legend of Zelda is a series built on flutes, ocarinas, and harps. An accordion feels modern. It feels out of place.
Manaka Kataoka, the lead composer for the game, used the accordion to represent the wind and the wandering nature of the Rito. But it also serves a functional purpose. The sound carries. In a game with a massive open world and a very minimal soundtrack, the accordion is a beacon. It’s a "sonic lighthouse."
When you hear those first few chords, your brain immediately switches gears. You stop hunting for Lizalfos and start looking for a puzzle. That’s intentional game design. It’s a psychological cue that says, "Hey, stop rushing. There’s something to solve here."
Dealing with the Hardest Kass Quests
Some of his puzzles are genuinely annoying. Let’s talk about "The Blood Moon's Destiny."
You have to stand on a pedestal, naked, during a Blood Moon. It’s the ultimate test of patience. You can’t force a Blood Moon to happen (well, you can by killing a lot of enemies, but it’s still RNG-heavy). Kass just stands there, playing his song, while you sit by a campfire for seven nights in a row waiting for the sky to turn red.
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Then there’s the "Master of the Wind" quest at Horon Lagoon. You have to blow up rocks to redirect wind currents. It’s fiddly. It’s frustrating. But because it’s Kass, you do it. Any other NPC giving you that quest would be ignored, but because he has that iconic theme song, players tend to stick it out.
Why He Was Cut from Tears of the Kingdom
This is the elephant in the room for any fan of Breath of the Wild Kass. When the sequel, Tears of the Kingdom, launched, Kass was nowhere to be found.
His daughters are there. His theme song is occasionally hinted at in the ambient music. But the man himself is gone. Some fans think he’s out traveling another continent. Others think Nintendo simply didn't have a place for him in a world dominated by the Zonai and the sky islands.
Personally? I think his story was done. He fulfilled his master’s wish. He helped Link find the shrines. He went back to his family. To drag him back out for another world-ending threat might have felt forced. Still, the lack of his accordion in the sequel makes the world feel a little bit quieter. A little less soulful.
How to Get the Most Out of Kass’s Story
If you’re replaying the game or just starting out, don't rush him. When you see him, put the controller down and just listen to the full loop of his song. Look at the lyrics in the dialogue box.
- Read the Teacher's Journal: Head to the library in Hyrule Castle. You can find more context about the man who taught Kass everything he knows. It adds a layer of melancholy to every encounter.
- Complete the DLC: If you have the Champions' Ballad, Kass is the central figure. He’s writing his own song now—a song to honor the Champions. This is where he truly shines as a character, moving from a messenger of the past to a creator of his own legacy.
- Visit Rito Village at Night: Don't consider his questline "finished" until you see him with his family. It’s the only way to see the "human" side of this Rito.
Kass represents the best of what Breath of the Wild offers. He isn't a warrior. He isn't a king. He's just a guy with a heavy instrument and a long memory, trying to make sure the mistakes of the past aren't forgotten. He reminds us that even in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, there’s still room for art.
If you want to track him down systematically, start by exploring the regions of Faron and Lanayru. These are his most frequent haunts. Watch for smoke from his campfire or the silhouette of his massive accordion against the horizon. Once you find him, take a moment to mark his location. Even if you don't solve the puzzle right away, knowing where he is makes the map feel a little friendlier.