You’re freezing. Your stamina is low. You’ve just climbed the Hebra North Summit in Tears of the Kingdom and you’re wondering why on earth you’re bothering with this frozen wasteland. Then, you see it. An ornate, ceremonial archway tucked into the side of a cliff. Inside is the Hebra Great Skeleton, a massive leviathan fossil that looks like it belongs in a museum, not a damp cave at the edge of the world.
Honestly, it’s one of those "wow" moments that TotK does so well. But if you’re like most players, you probably took one look at the giant bones, saw they were broken, and thought, "I'll deal with this later."
Don't wait. Finding and "fixing" this skeleton is part of a multi-region quest line that actually gives you some solid rewards and helps clear out your side adventure log.
Where Exactly Is the Hebra Great Skeleton?
If you haven’t found it yet, the coordinates are roughly -3823, 3602, 0257. It's way up in the northwest corner of the map, southeast of the Hebra North Summit.
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Basically, look for the Toledano Peak and keep heading north. The entrance isn't just a hole in the ground; it’s a legit entrance with stone pillars. If you’ve already unlocked the Eutoum Shrine, you’re literally right there. Just paraglide down a bit and look for the cave opening.
The "Hebra's Colossal Fossil" Quest
You can’t just walk in and start gluing bones together—well, you can, but it won't count for much unless you've started the quest. You need to find an NPC named Loone.
You’ll first meet her over by the Eldin Great Skeleton. Once you help her there, she moves to Hebra. She’s obsessed with these "Leviathans," which are basically the extinct giant whales of Hyrule. When you talk to her inside the Hebra cave, she’ll point out that this specific skeleton is a mess. It’s missing a fin bone and a vertebra.
Fixing the Fin
The first piece you need is the fin. It’s trapped in some breakable rocks on the left side of the cave (if you’re facing the skeleton).
- How to get it: Use a bomb flower or a hammer weapon to smash the rocks.
- The puzzle: Once the bone is free, use Ultrahand to pick it up. You have to slot it into the right-hand side of the skeleton’s back. It’s a bit finicky. You’ll know it’s right when it "snaps" into place with that satisfying Zelda chime.
Finding the Missing Vertebra
This one is trickier because it’s not just behind a rock; it’s inside a massive block of ice. Head toward the back/middle section of the skeleton. You’ll see a huge ice chunk near the cave wall.
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You’ve got options here. You can build a fire with wood and flint, shoot it with Fire Fruits, or just stand next to it with a fire-imbued weapon equipped. Once it melts, you'll find the spinal bone. Drag it over to the gap in the skeleton’s tail/spine area and rotate it until it fits.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Rewards
A lot of players complain that the reward for this quest—50 Rupees—is kind of a joke.
And yeah, 50 Purple Rupees isn't going to buy you a house in Hateno. But that's not the real reason to do it. The cave itself is a gold mine for resources. There are Bomb Flowers all over the walls and Hearty Truffles tucked away in the corners. In the early-to-mid game, these are way more valuable than currency.
Plus, there are Korok Seeds hidden right in the skeleton's face. If you climb up to the head, check the eye sockets. You’ll find a balloon in the right eye (Hebra Mountains Korok Seed 23) and another in the left (Seed 22). Shooting those gets you two easy seeds while you're already there for the quest.
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The Bigger Picture: The Leviathan Connection
If you played Breath of the Wild, you might remember three scientists at Serenne Stable who wanted pictures of these skeletons. They all had different theories: an ice age, a volcanic eruption, or a drought.
In Tears of the Kingdom, the game leans harder into the mystery. After you finish the Hebra leg of the journey, Loone will head south to the Gerudo Great Skeleton. Completing all three doesn't just clear your quest log; it gives you a sense of the sheer scale of Hyrule's history. These aren't just props; they are remnants of a world that existed long before Link or Zelda were even a thought.
Actionable Next Steps
- Prep for the Cold: Ensure you have Level 2 Cold Resistance (either the Snowquill armor set or a spicy pepper meal) before heading to the North Summit.
- Bring Fire: Don't waste your precious Fire Fruits if you don't have to; bring a Torch or a Flame-Emitter shield to melt the ice block for the vertebra bone.
- Check the Ceiling: While you’re in the cave, look up. There are often ore deposits or Brightcaps that are easy to miss while you're staring at the giant floor-whale.
- Finish the Chain: Once Loone thanks you, immediately head to the Gerudo Desert to finish the final part of the questline and get the "Gerudo's Colossal Fossil" reward.