So, you’re hunting Red Lynels. Kinda funny, right? Most people spend their time screaming and running away from these half-man, half-horse nightmares, but here you are, actively looking for them.
Maybe you need their horns to upgrade that Barbarian Armor so you can finally stop eating three-course meals just to survive a minor scrap. Or maybe you just want to practice your parries without getting vaporized by a Silver Lynel’s explosion. Whatever the reason, finding red lynel locations totk is actually a lot harder than it sounds.
The game is actively working against you.
Basically, Tears of the Kingdom uses a hidden "World Level" system. The more bosses you kill—Gleeoks, Temple bosses, even those annoying Hinoxes—the more the world levels up. Eventually, those "easy" Red Lynels get replaced by Blue, then White, and finally Silver ones. If you've spent dozens of hours clearing the map, you might find that your favorite hunting grounds are now occupied by monsters that can one-shot you through your best armor.
But don't panic. A few of these guys are stubborn. They refuse to level up.
Where to Find Red Lynels on the Surface
Honestly, there aren't many left. In the old days (looking at you, Breath of the Wild), they were everywhere. Now? You've gotta be specific.
1. North Akkala Valley
This is probably the most famous spot. If you head west from the East Akkala Stable, you’ll find a Red Lynel hanging out in the autumn-colored forest. He’s usually just wandering around near the coordinates 3674, 2940, 0028. The cool thing about this guy? He stays red. He’s a permanent fixture of the Akkala landscape, like the falling leaves or the overpriced stable beds.
2. West Hyrule Plains
Over in Hyrule Ridge, there’s another one. He’s located roughly at -1549, 0145, 0109. If you warp to the Runakit Shrine and head south, you’ll run right into him. It’s a pretty flat area, which makes the fight straightforward, but watch out for his bow if you try to cheese him from the hills. He’s got surprisingly good aim for a guy with no neck.
3. Lake Illumeni
This one is tucked away between the Gerudo Highlands and Hyrule Ridge. Look for the small body of water at -3311, -0096, 0092. He’s a bit of a trek to get to, but he’s reliable.
4. Tanagar Canyon
Specifically, the area between the canyon and the Illumeni Plateau. You’ll find a Red Lynel at -3389, 0001, 0089. The verticality of the canyon can be a bit of a pain if he spots you early, so try to glide in from above to get that first headshot.
5. Near Tama Pond
He’s chilling in the Tabantha Frontier at -2794, 1832, 0308. It’s cold up there. Bring a spicy pepper dish or wear your Rito gear. Nothing ruins a Lynel hunt faster than Link turning into a Hylian popsicle mid-swing.
The Depths: A Different Kind of Red
The Depths are a whole different beast. Literally.
If you venture underground, you’ll find Lynels that have been hitting the gym. They wear stone armor. You can’t even hurt them until you break that shell with a blunt weapon—think hammers, Lynel hooves fused to arrows, or a sturdy stick with a boulder on the end.
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Mu-ustust Lightroot
There is a specific Armored Red Lynel near the Mu-ustust Lightroot at -1423, -1299, -0485. He’s basically directly underneath the area where you'd find a Lynel on the surface.
The Floating Coliseum
If you’re feeling brave (or masochistic), head to the Floating Coliseum at -1127, -1159, -0499. This is the ultimate gauntlet. You have to fight five Lynels in a row to get Majora’s Mask. The very first one out of the gate? A standard Red Lynel.
The catch? Once you kill him, the gates open and a Blue one walks out. Then a White one. Then a Silver. It’s a great way to farm materials, but it’s definitely not "easy."
Why Can't I Find Any Red Lynels?
I get this question a lot. "I went to the spot on the map, and there was a Silver Lynel instead!"
That’s the scaling system I mentioned. Most red lynel locations totk are subject to change. As you progress through the main story and defeat "high-value" enemies, the game replaces the base models with tougher versions.
There is a point system happening behind the scenes.
- 10 kills per enemy type: You only get "experience points" for the first 10 of a specific enemy you kill.
- Bosses are worth more: Defeating a Gleeok gives you way more points toward your World Level than killing a Red Bokoblin.
- Static Spawns: A handful of Lynels are "static," meaning they never change color. The North Akkala Valley one is usually the most reliable "forever red" spawn.
If you’ve already leveled up your world too far, the Floating Coliseum is your best bet for a Red Lynel because the sequence always starts at the bottom.
Tips for Farming Red Lynel Parts
If you're hunting these guys, you probably need Lynel Horns (Saber and Mace varieties) or Lynel Hooves. Red Lynels actually have a 0% chance of dropping Lynel Guts, so if you're looking for those, you're gonna have to man up and fight a Blue or White one.
Here is a quick checklist for a successful hunt:
- Puffshrooms are broken. Seriously. Throw one at a Lynel’s feet, and he’ll just stand there, confused. You can walk behind him, mount his back, and whack him with your strongest weapon without losing any durability.
- Multishot Bows. Once you kill your first Lynel, you’ll get a x3 Lynel Bow. Use it. Fusing Keese Eyes to arrows from a multishot bow is basically an auto-aim headshot that stuns the Lynel instantly.
- Mounting is Key. When a Lynel is stunned (kneeling on the ground), run up and press A to mount him. Attacks made while mounted do not consume weapon durability. This is how you save your best Royal Guard’s Claymore for the big fights.
- The Blood Moon. Every time the moon turns red, all the Lynels you've killed will respawn. Mark the locations on your map with a skull icon so you can do a "Lynel Run" every time a Blood Moon hits.
Honestly, the hardest part isn't the fight; it's the travel. Hyrule is big, and these guys like their privacy.
Actionable Next Steps
Start with the North Akkala Valley location. It’s the easiest to find and the most likely to still be Red even if you’ve finished most of the game. If he’s there, mark it. Then, head over to the West Hyrule Plains. If both of those have leveled up to Blue or higher, your only choice for a "true" Red Lynel encounter is the first round of the Floating Coliseum in the Depths.
Pack a few blunt weapons for the Depths, stock up on Puffshrooms from the trees near any Lightroot, and make sure you've got at least one weapon with high "fresh" damage to make the mounted phases go faster. Once you've got the rhythm down, you'll realize Lynels aren't monsters—they're just loot chests with legs.