You're standing in the middle of a torrential downpour in the Rabacla Plains, lightning is cracking overhead, and Kass is playing that accordion tune that’s basically been burned into your brain at this point. He starts talking about a "crown of bone." Honestly, if you’re like me, the first time you heard that, you probably looked at Link’s inventory or started searching for a literal piece of armor made of skeletons. But crown of bone botw isn't an item you wear; it's a riddle you have to solve to reveal the Mezza Lo Shrine.
It’s one of those classic Breath of the Wild moments where the game expects you to look at the environment differently. The "crown" isn't a physical object in a chest. It’s a biological feature of an animal. Specifically, it's the antlers of a Mountain Buck.
The Riddle of the Crown of Bone
The quest is officially titled "The Crowned Beast." You find it in the Lanayru Great Spring region, specifically north of Hateno Village. Kass is perched on a rock, and he recites an ancient song that mentions a beast with a crown of bone. The song says you need to "ride" this beast onto a glowing pedestal to open the path to the shrine.
A lot of people think any deer will do. That's a mistake. You can’t just jump on a doe and hope for the best. Does don’t have antlers. No antlers, no crown. You specifically need a Mountain Buck. These guys are skittish as hell. If you approach them like a maniac, they’ll bolt, and you’ll be chasing them halfway across the map while your stamina bar drains into nothingness.
How to Actually Catch the Buck
Here’s the thing: catching the buck is actually harder than finding the shrine location itself. You’ve basically got three ways to handle this, and one of them is significantly easier than the others.
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The "Pro" way—or at least the way the game wants you to do it—is pure stealth. You’ll want at least two pieces of the Stealth Armor set from Kakariko Village. Without it, the crunch of the grass is basically a dinner bell telling the deer to leave. Crouch down. Move slowly. When you get close enough, hit the mount button and prepare to soothe.
Expert Tip: Don't waste your time if it’s raining too hard or if there are monsters nearby. If a ChuChu pops up, the buck is gone. Focus on clearing the immediate area of Keese or Stalkoblins before you commit to the hunt.
If you aren't into the whole "Metal Gear Solid" vibe, you can use the Paraglider. Find a high point—there are plenty of cliffs surrounding the plains—and glide down directly onto the buck’s back. It’s faster, but you have to be precise. If you miss, you’re just a guy face-planting in the dirt while a deer laughs at you.
The third way? Use an ice arrow. It sounds mean, but if you freeze the buck, it stays still. You can run up to it, wait for it to thaw, and mash the A button to mount it the split second it becomes mobile again. It’s a bit of a "cheese" tactic, but hey, it works when you're frustrated.
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Finding the Pedestal
Once you are actually on the buck, do not get off. I repeat: do not get off. You need to steer that antlered beast toward the orange glowing platform nearby. It’s not far from where Kass is standing.
The controls for riding a deer are clunkier than a horse. They don't have the same "pathfinding" logic, so you really have to fight the analog stick a bit. Just trot onto the pedestal while remaining mounted. The platform will turn blue, the ground will shake, and the Mezza Lo Shrine will rise from the earth. Once the cutscene starts, you can hop off. The deer will run away, and honestly, good for him. He’s had a stressful day.
Inside the Mezza Lo Shrine
The shrine itself is titled "Ancient Trifecta." It’s a puzzle involving a moving platform, a crystal switch, and a laser.
- Use Magnesis on the metal block to block the laser.
- Use Stasis on the laser launcher itself if you want to get fancy.
- Strike the crystal switch to rotate the platform.
There is a chest in here, too. Most people miss it because they're so focused on getting the Spirit Orb. Use Magnesis to pull the chest toward you; it usually contains a Thunderblade. It’s a decent mid-game weapon, especially if you like disarming enemies during combat.
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Why This Quest Matters for 100% Completion
If you're going for all 120 shrines (in the base game), you can't skip this. It's one of the few that requires interaction with the local fauna in a specific way. It’s also one of the best examples of how the "Chemistry Engine" in BotW works—where the weather, your armor's noise level, and the animal AI all collide.
Interestingly, many players confuse this with the "Satori" or the Lord of the Mountain. While the Lord of the Mountain also has glowing antlers that look like a crown, he has nothing to do with this quest. Don't waste your time trying to ride the glowing ghost horse to the Rabacla Plains. It won't trigger the shrine. Stick to the regular, brown, fleshy Mountain Buck.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Is the pedestal not glowing? That usually means you haven't talked to Kass yet. The quest needs to be active in your log for the trigger to work properly. If you've talked to him and it’s still not working, make sure you are definitely on a Buck (with antlers) and not a Doe (no antlers).
Sometimes the Buck won't spawn. If you’ve cleared the area of wildlife while failing to mount them, you might need to leave the area and come back, or sit at a campfire until the next morning to reset the spawns.
Actionable Steps for Success
- Gear Up: Put on your Stealth Set or cook a Sneaky Elixir (Sunset Fireflies + Monster Parts).
- Locate: Head to the Rabacla Plains, north of Hateno, and find Kass.
- Identify: Look for the deer with antlers. Ignore the females.
- Mount: Crouch-walk from behind or glide from above. Mash "L" to soothe immediately.
- Trigger: Stay on the animal and walk it onto the orange glowing circle.
- Loot: Grab the Thunderblade inside the shrine before finishing the puzzle.
The "Crown of Bone" is a test of patience more than anything else. It forces you to slow down in a game that usually lets you sprint everywhere. Take a breath, watch the grass move, and wait for your opening.