You're standing at the edge of the Tabantha Tundra, looking at a giant, square block of stone that looks like it was dropped out of the sky by a bored god. It’s cold. Your stamina is probably lower than you’d like. And you’re wondering if the North Lomei Labyrinth BOTW experience is actually worth the headache.
Honestly? It depends on how much you like hitting things very hard.
The North Lomei Labyrinth is one of three massive mazes scattered across Hyrule, and while the Akkala one gets all the hype because of the "scary basement" full of Guardians, the North Lomei version is arguably the most annoying to navigate on foot. It’s a mess of Malice, misdirection, and ice-cold winds. But if you want to complete the Barbarian Set—the undisputed king of early-to-mid-game armor—you don’t really have a choice.
Finding the North Lomei Labyrinth BOTW Without Getting Lost
Before you even step inside, you have to find the thing. It sits at the far northern edge of the map, east of the Hebra Mountains. If you’ve unlocked the Qaza Tokki Shrine quest (which triggers the moment you step inside), you're in the right place.
The easiest way to get there isn't trekking through the snow. You'll want to glide from a high point in the Hebra range or use a Revali’s Gale jump if you’ve cleared the Divine Beast Vah Medoh. Most players approach from the North Tabantha Snowfield. It’s a bleak trek, but once that massive stone structure looms over the horizon, the real fun starts.
The Cheat Code: Don't Walk the Maze
Let’s be real for a second. The "intended" way to solve this is to wander the corridors, dodging Electric Chuchus and climbing over Pools of Malice.
That’s a sucker’s game.
The smartest way to beat the North Lomei Labyrinth BOTW is to simply climb on top of it. Once you're on the roof, you have a bird's-eye view of everything. You can see the Malice patches, you can see the enemies, and more importantly, you can see the path to the center.
If you look at your map while standing on the roof, you’ll notice a large, hollowed-out section in the North-Central area. That’s your target.
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How to Solve the North Lomei Labyrinth (The Fast Way)
If you insist on doing things the "legit" way, or if your stamina bar is too pathetic to scale the outer walls, here is the basic pathing logic.
- Enter from the main front entrance (the south side).
- Head deep into the maze until you hit the central structure where the shrine is visible behind bars.
- Turn right. You’ll eventually find a set of stairs.
- Keep moving toward the northeast corner. You’re looking for a specific Malice Eye.
- Pop that eye with an arrow. This clears out a massive chunk of the "goo" blocking the interior corridors.
Once the Malice is gone, you can find a hidden ladder in the north-central part of the maze. This ladder leads to a raised walkway. Follow that walkway, and it will drop you right into the chamber where the Qaza Tokki Shrine sits.
What’s Actually Inside? (Loot Breakdown)
The main reason anyone comes here is the Barbarian Leg Wraps. These are tucked away in the shrine’s treasure chest. Since it’s a "Blessing" shrine, you don't have to do any extra puzzles once you're inside. Just walk up, grab your pants, and take the Spirit Orb.
But wait. Don't just warp out.
There is a ton of other junk hidden in these hallways that most people miss because they're in a hurry to leave the cold.
- Edge of Duality: A solid two-handed sword found in a chest in the eastern wing.
- Silver and Gold Rupees: Scattered in various chests—look for the ones tucked behind breakable walls.
- Ice Arrows: Pretty much mandatory for surviving the Hebra region anyway.
- The Roof Chest: There is a Diamond waiting for you on the roof directly above the shrine. If you didn't climb up there earlier, do it now.
Dealing with the Malice and Enemies
The North Lomei Labyrinth is crawling with Lizalfos. Some of them have ice arrows, which is a great way to get frozen and then shoved into a pile of Malice.
My advice? Bring a Fire Rod or some Fire Arrows. Not just for the enemies, but because there are several spots where thorns block your path to secondary chests. Burning them is much faster than trying to find a way around. Also, the Malice (that purple/black glowing sludge) will eat your hearts faster than a Lynel on a bad day. If you’re playing on Master Mode, the enemies here are significantly tankier, so stealth is actually a viable option for once.
The "Hidden" Reward Nobody Mentions
While the Barbarian Leg Wraps are the star of the show, completing all three labyrinths in BOTW is secretly about the Set Bonus. When you wear the full Barbarian set (Helm, Armor, and Leg Wraps) and upgrade them twice at a Great Fairy, you get the "Stamina Up" bonus for your charged attacks.
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This makes Link a literal blender. You can hold down the attack button with a heavy weapon and just spin until everything in a 20-foot radius is dead. The North Lomei Labyrinth is the final piece of that puzzle for many players.
Mistakes to Avoid
Don't go in without cold-resistance gear. The Rito set from Rito Village is perfect. If you don't have it, cook up some spicy peppers. It's embarrassing to die of frostbite inside a stone maze.
Also, don't forget to check the map frequently. The 3D map in Breath of the Wild is actually very detailed. If you zoom in all the way, you can see the corridors that have roofs and the ones that are open to the sky. The path to the shrine is almost always under a covered section that isn't immediately obvious from the top.
Next Steps for Your Hyrule Run
Once you’ve cleared the North Lomei Labyrinth BOTW, you should head straight for the other two mazes if you haven't done them yet. The Lomei Labyrinth Island in Akkala (northeast) holds the Barbarian Helm, and the South Lomei Labyrinth in the Gerudo Desert holds the Barbarian Armor.
Grab some wood and flint before you go; you'll want to be able to make a fire to pass the time or create an updraft if things get hairy.
Actionable Insight: If you’re struggling to find the entrance to the shrine room, look for the torches. Nintendo loves using light to guide players. In the north-central area, if you see a ladder with torches nearby, that is your golden ticket. Climb it, follow the corridor, and you're done.
If you have the DLC, don't forget that the Travel Medallion is actually located in the basement of the Akkala labyrinth, not this one. A lot of players get them mixed up and spend hours searching the North Lomei basement for it, only to find nothing but disappointment and ice Chuchus. Keep your mazes straight!
Check your inventory for Lynel materials. You’ll need Lynel Horns and Hooves to upgrade those new Leg Wraps you just found. If you’re not ready to hunt Lynels, the base 1.5x attack boost from the gear alone is still a massive help for the mid-game.
Go get those pants. Link’s legs are probably freezing.