You're wandering through the Gerudo Shelter, dodging sand seals and trying to ignore the heat, when you run into Boraa. She’s standing by a pedestal, looking frustrated. This is where the Decorate with Passion TotK side quest begins, and honestly, if you aren't prepared for it, it’s one of those "wait, what do they actually want from me?" moments that Tears of the Kingdom loves to throw at you.
Boraa wants something specific. She wants a weapon that is both "sparkly" and "radiant." She wants passion.
The game doesn't give you a waypoint for this. It doesn't tell you which materials work. It just expects you to understand the inner psyche of a Gerudo artisan who has very high standards for aesthetics. If you’ve spent the last three hours fighting Moldugas, pivoting to interior design feels like a lot. But it’s actually pretty simple once you stop overthinking it.
What Boraa is Actually Looking For
The core of the Decorate with Passion TotK quest is the Fuse mechanic. Boraa needs to see a weapon that has been fused with a material that meets her two-pronged criteria. Most players stumble here because they try to use high-damage monster parts.
Listen: Boraa doesn't care about your Silver Lynel Saber Horn. That thing is ugly. It's jagged. It lacks the "sparkle" she’s craving.
To satisfy the "sparkly" requirement, you need a gemstone. To satisfy the "radiant" or "passionate" requirement, you need something associated with the color of fire or light. While there are a few combinations that technically work, the most straightforward solution involves a Ruby.
The Step-by-Step Fix
First, grab any base weapon. It doesn't have to be a Gerudo Scimitar, though it feels more thematic if it is. A basic Travelers Sword or even a stick will do the trick.
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Drop a Ruby on the ground.
Use your Fuse ability. Attach the Ruby to the weapon.
Now, walk up to Boraa with that glowing, red, sparkling wand of destruction. When you talk to her, Link will hold it up, the Ruby will catch the light of the underground shelter, and she’ll finally be satisfied. It’s that easy. You don't need to quest across the map for a rare dragon part, though a piece of Dinraal’s horn would also work if you’re feeling particularly extra. Rubies are just easier to find in the nearby desert caves or by smashing ore deposits on the way to the Kara Kara Bazaar.
Why Some Materials Fail
You might think a Topaz would work. It’s a gem! It sparkles! But Boraa often rejects it because the "passion" element is missing. In the visual language of Tears of the Kingdom, passion equals red. Red equals fire.
If you try to use a Fire Fruit, it won't work either. Why? Because a Fire Fruit on a stick looks like a piece of produce on a stick. It lacks the "sparkle." You need the mineral shimmer of a gemstone to bridge the gap between "pointy object" and "artistic statement."
Where to Find a Ruby Fast
If you’re stuck in the shelter and realize your inventory is empty of gems—maybe you sold them all to Ramella in Goron City for a quick buck—don’t panic.
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Go outside.
Check the Gerudo Great Cliffs or the various small caves dotting the desert floor. Look for the ore deposits that have a slight golden tint or sparkles emanating from them. These have a much higher drop rate for rare gems like Rubies and Sapphires. Alternatively, if you’ve been diligent about your side adventures, you might have some "Bubbul Gems" to trade, though those won't help with the weapon itself.
Honestly, the easiest way is to just fast travel to any well-known ore spot. The Sahasra Slope Skyview Tower area has several clusters nearby. Grab a Ruby, warp back to the Gerudo Shelter, and finish the job.
The Reward for Your Interior Design Skills
Once Boraa stops swooning over your ruby-encrusted sword, she’ll reward you with a Gerudo Shield.
Now, is a Gerudo Shield worth a Ruby? Economically? Probably not. A Ruby sells for a decent amount of Rupees, and Gerudo Shields are fairly common once you start exploring the desert ruins. But completing Decorate with Passion TotK is about more than the physical reward.
It’s about clearing that quest log. It’s about helping an NPC find her muse.
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Plus, the Gerudo Shield has a high "fuse durability" and looks great with a star fragment attached to it if you want to keep the "radiant" theme going for your own gear.
Advanced "Passion" Combinations
If you want to be fancy—and some players really do—you can use materials other than the Ruby.
- Dinraal's Scale: This works. It glows, it’s red, and it’s arguably more "passionate" than a rock.
- Fire Talon: Also works, though it’s less "sparkly" than the gem.
- Star Fragment: This provides the sparkle, but sometimes Boraa is picky about the "passion" (color) aspect unless it's paired with something else.
Stick to the Ruby. It's the intended solution, it's visually striking, and it gets you back to the actual gameplay faster.
Actionable Tips for Gerudo Quests
The Gerudo region is unique in Tears of the Kingdom because so many of its puzzles are based on aesthetics and environmental logic rather than just "hit this with an arrow."
When you're dealing with NPCs in the shelter, keep a few things in mind. Always hold onto at least two of every gemstone. You never know when a quest or an armor upgrade at a Great Fairy will require them. Also, pay attention to the dialogue clues. "Sparkly" almost always refers to the Fuse properties of gems (Ruby, Sapphire, Topaz, Opal, Diamond).
To wrap this up and get you back into the game:
- Check your inventory for a Ruby and any one-handed or two-handed weapon.
- Fuse them immediately to avoid wasting time searching.
- Talk to Boraa while the weapon is equipped and drawn.
- Keep the Gerudo Shield for your next encounter with an Electric Lizalfos—it's got great base stats for the mid-game.
If you’ve already used your Rubies, head to the North Gerudo Ruins. There are several ore deposits there that are relatively safe to farm without running into a Gleeok. Once you hand over the weapon, the quest clears, and you're one step closer to completing the Gerudo regional phenomenon storyline.