You just walked out of the Great Plateau. The world of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is suddenly massive, intimidating, and overwhelming. Most players naturally follow the road toward Kakariko Village, which leads you right through the massive split mountain known as the Dueling Peaks. It’s an iconic landmark. But for many, the BOTW Dueling Peaks shrines represent the first real "vibe check" of the game. They aren't just about hitting switches; they require you to think about physics, memory, and even the geography of the mountain itself.
Honestly, the Dueling Peaks area is a masterclass in game design. It teaches you that the environment isn't just scenery—it’s the puzzle. You can’t just brute force these. Well, you can, but it’s a lot more satisfying when you actually understand the logic Link is supposed to be following.
The Twin Memories Gimmick
This is where most people get stuck. There are two shrines sitting almost exactly opposite each other near the top of the peaks: Shee Vaneer and Shee Venath. If you walk into one, you see a grid of holes and a specific pattern of blue orbs. You move them, nothing happens. You leave, frustrated.
Here is the trick: the two shrines are mirrors.
The layout of the orbs in Shee Vaneer is actually the solution for Shee Venath, and vice versa. It’s a literal memory game. Unless you have a photographic memory or a Quick Share button on your controller, you’re going to want to snap a picture of the floor layout using your Sheikah Slate camera before you start moving things around.
Think about the lore for a second. The mountain was split in two by a dragon (supposedly). The shrines are split too. It’s poetic, but it’s also a massive pain if you didn't realize you needed to climb to the literal top of the southern peak just to solve a puzzle on the northern one. It’s also worth noting that the paraglider is your best friend here. Don't try to climb down and back up. Just warp or glide.
Bosh Kala and the Wind Lessons
Down at the base of the mountains, near the Proxim Bridge, sits Bosh Kala. This is usually the first of the BOTW Dueling Peaks shrines that players encounter. It’s titled "The Wind Guides You," and it’s basically a tutorial on how the paraglider interacts with updrafts.
It's simple. You stand in front of a fan, you jump, and you deploy the glider.
But there’s a hidden chest that most people miss because they’re too focused on getting the Spirit Orb. If you look to your right while gliding toward the final platform, there’s a lone pillar with a chest on it. You have to time your drift perfectly. If you miss, you’re falling into the abyss. It’s not a high-stakes failure since you just respawn at the start of the room, but it’s a good lesson in spatial awareness.
Ha Dahamar: The Cryonis Test
Located right next to the Dueling Peaks Stable, Ha Dahamar is the shrine most people use as a fast-travel point because it's so convenient. This one is all about Cryonis. If you’ve been ignoring your ice block rune because you think it’s only for crossing rivers, this shrine will force you to reconsider.
The puzzle involves a large orb rolling down a ramp. You have to use Cryonis to create platforms that catch the ball and guide it into the socket. If you're slightly off, the ball bounces into the water. It’s annoying. You’ll probably do it three or four times before you get the angle right.
Pro tip: You can actually use the ice blocks as physical barriers to stop the ball from moving too fast. You don't always have to build a "bridge." Sometimes you just need a wall.
Ree Dahee and the Timing Problem
Further into the pass, tucked away on a ledge above the river, is Ree Dahee. This one focuses on pressure plates. You step on a switch, a platform tilts, and a ball rolls.
The difficulty here is the release. If you stay on the switch too long, the ball gains too much momentum and flies off the edge. If you get off too early, it doesn't clear the gap. It’s all about the "click." You have to listen to the sound of the ball hitting the platform.
Most veteran players actually skip the intended solution for the final chest here. There’s a chest high up on a platform that seems unreachable. You’re supposed to use Magnesis on a metallic barrel to hold down a switch, but honestly? You can just use a Stasis launch or a well-timed jump if you're feeling spicy.
Ta’loh Naeg: The Combat Barrier
Technically, this shrine is in Kakariko Village, but it’s considered part of the Dueling Peaks regional set in many completionist guides. This is the "Combat Teaching" shrine. If you’ve been mashing the Y button to get through fights, the Guardian Scout here is going to destroy you.
It forces you to learn:
- Perfect Guards (Parrying)
- Side Hops
- Backflips
- Flurry Rushes
You cannot damage the Scout until you perform these moves. It’s a scripted tutorial, but it’s essential. If you don't master the Flurry Rush here, the rest of the game—especially the Blight Ganons—is going to be a nightmare.
Hidden Details Most Players Overlook
Did you know there’s a specific pathing logic to these shrines? The developers intentionally placed them to lead you toward specific resources. For instance, the area around the Shee Vaneer shrine is loaded with Swift Violets. These are crucial for upgrading the Climbing Gear, which you actually find a piece of in the Ree Dahee shrine.
Everything is connected.
The game wants you to find the climbing bandana in the Ree Dahee shrine so that you have an easier time climbing the peaks to reach the Twin Memories shrines. It’s a subtle loop of "reward and utility" that many modern open-world games fail to replicate.
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Also, keep an eye on the weather. The Dueling Peaks are notorious for sudden thunderstorms. If you’re trying to reach the higher BOTW Dueling Peaks shrines while wearing metal gear, you’re going to get struck by lightning. Switch to wooden weapons or unequip your sword entirely while navigating the cliffs.
The Total Count and Completion
There are nine shrines total in the Dueling Peaks region, though some are tucked away in the southern reaches toward Lake Hylia.
- Bosh Kala
- Ha Dahamar
- Ree Dahee
- Shee Vaneer
- Shee Venath
- Ta’loh Naeg
- Toto Sah (The one with the tilting apparatus)
- Hila Rao (The "Flower Blight" shrine)
- Lakna Keeze (Linked to a side quest in Kakariko)
Toto Sah is particularly polarizing because it uses the Nintendo Switch gyro controls. You have to physically tilt your controller to rotate a platform. If you're playing in handheld mode, you'll end up twisting your body into a pretzel. It’s usually easier to detach the Joy-Cons or use a Pro Controller for this one.
Hila Rao is famous not for its puzzle, but for the NPC outside, Magda. If you step on her flowers, she loses her mind and attacks you. It’s a community meme at this point, but for a new player, it’s a genuine "what just happened" moment. The shrine itself is just a simple navigation puzzle involving floating rafts.
Why These Shrines Matter for Your Mid-Game
Clearing this specific cluster gives you enough Spirit Orbs to get your first two Stamina Vessels or a couple of Heart Containers. If you’re planning on getting the Master Sword early, you need 13 hearts. You can’t get there without clearing the Dueling Peaks.
Furthermore, the loot in these shrines is surprisingly good for the early game. You get the Climbing Bandana, various Opal and Amber pieces for selling, and decent bows.
The most important takeaway is the habit-building. These shrines teach you to look up. They teach you that the solution isn't always in the room you're standing in. Sometimes, the solution is on the mountain across the valley.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Playthrough
- Check your inventory for the Climbing Bandana. If you missed it in Ree Dahee, go back. It’s at the very end of the shrine, tucked behind the monk’s platform. You'll need to use a well-timed jump or a metallic block to reach it.
- Photograph the floors. When you enter Shee Vaneer or Shee Venath, immediately go to the top elevator and take a picture of the orb pattern. Do not try to memorize it. You will forget.
- Farm the Swift Violets. While you are at the peaks, grab every purple flower you see on the cliffside. You need dozens of them later to max out your climbing speed.
- Cook stamina food. The climb to the top of the peaks is brutal early on. Mix three Stamella Mushrooms with a piece of raw meat to give yourself that extra boost needed to reach the higher shrines without falling.
- Unlock the Dueling Peaks Stable. It’s the hub for this area. Talk to the NPCs there; they give you the clues for the "Misko’s Treasure" side quest, which is located very close to these shrines and rewards you with even more gear.
The Dueling Peaks isn't just a gateway to the rest of Hyrule. It's a training ground. Once you’ve conquered these nine shrines, the logic of the rest of the game starts to click. You stop looking at the world as a map and start looking at it as a giant, interconnected puzzle box.