So, you finally made it down to the far southeastern corner of Hyrule. You probably expected a breezy tropical vacation after dealing with the gloom-infested depths and those annoying sky islands. Instead, you found a nightmare. Lurelin Village is a wreck. The palm trees are splintered, the huts are charred husks, and Monster Forces have basically turned a seaside paradise into a dump. It’s depressing. But honestly, that’s why the Lurelin Village restoration project is one of the most satisfying things Nintendo has ever put into a Zelda game.
It isn't just about killing monsters. It’s about rebuilding a community from the ground up, quite literally. You aren't just Link the Savior; you’re Link the General Contractor.
Getting Started: The Mess Before the Magic
Before you can even think about hammers and nails, you have to deal with the squatters. The "Ruffians of Lurelin" quest is the prerequisite here. It’s a combat gauntlet. You’ve got Red, Blue, and Black Bokoblins, Moblins, and a Boss Bokoblin scattered across the village. Don’t forget the one hiding in the well. Seriously, people always miss the guy in the well and spend twenty minutes running around wondering why the quest won't progress.
Once the monsters are evicted, Rozel and Bolson—yes, the legendary Bolson from the previous game—will survey the damage. It’s grim. Bolson is ready to work, but he’s out of materials. This is where the Lurelin Village restoration project truly kicks off. It's a massive resource sink, but the payoff is worth every single log.
The Material Grind
Bolson is picky. He doesn't want just any wood; he needs specific types of logs. Specifically, you need 15 logs and about 20 bundles of Hylian Rice.
Here’s the thing: you cannot use the palm trees in the village for the logs. Bolson won't let you. It’s a bit of a "game logic" moment that feels slightly annoying, but it makes sense—you're trying to save the village's scenery, not strip-mine it. You’ll need to head to the forest areas near the Rabella Wetlands Skyview Tower or the nearby hills to find standard trees.
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Don't just chop them and leave them. You’ve got to use Ultrahand to glue them all together into a giant wooden raft or a "log-pede" and drag them back to Bolson. It's clunky. It's slow. But there is something weirdly therapeutic about hauling a massive stack of timber across a hillside while the sun sets over the Necluda Sea.
Rebuilding the Icons
The Lurelin Village restoration project isn't a "one and done" cutscene. You have to manually help Bolson fix individual buildings. This is where the game’s physics engine really shines, and where your Ultrahand skills get a workout.
- The Village Head’s House: This one is a vertical challenge. You have to hoist a massive palm log into a center pillar. If you misalign it, Bolson just shakes his head. It’s a bit of a trial-and-error process that makes you appreciate the architecture of the village.
- The Restaurant: Everybody’s hungry. Fixing the kitchen is a priority.
- The Inn: You’ll need to clear out debris—mostly those pesky "water-bloated" logs—from the foundation before Bolson can get to work.
- The Treasure Shop: This is probably the most important one for your long-term gameplay.
What's cool is that Bolson doesn't just use your materials. He uses Link as a crane. You’ll find yourself standing on rooftops, trying to drop a log perfectly into a hole while fighting the wind. It’s tactile. It feels like you’re actually building something rather than just watching a progress bar fill up.
The Economy of a Rebuilt Town
Why bother? Honestly, because Lurelin becomes the best utility hub in the game once you're done.
Most towns in Hyrule charge you for everything. Beedle is out here charging a premium for arrows, and the inns usually cost a handful of Rupees. Not Lurelin. Once you complete the Lurelin Village restoration project, the villagers are so grateful that almost everything is free.
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The Inn? Free.
The Restaurant? Free meals that give you decent buffs.
The Treasure Shop? You can play the chest game for free once a day.
There is also a guy named Cloyne who runs a mini-game involving a rally on the water. It’s a great way to earn some extra rewards. But the real MVP is the Sizzly Seafood Paella. Once the restaurant is up and running, Kiana will cook for you. It’s one of the best ways to replenish hearts and get heat resistance without burning through your own inventory of ingredients.
Why This Questline Hits Different
Most of Tears of the Kingdom is about destruction or preventing further catastrophe. You’re constantly fighting the decay of the world. The Lurelin Village restoration project is the opposite. It’s an act of creation.
It reminds me of the Tarrey Town quest from Breath of the Wild, but it feels more personal because Lurelin was an existing place with a history. In the previous game, Lurelin was just a sleepy fishing spot where you went to gamble for Star Fragments. In Tears of the Kingdom, it becomes a symbol of Hyrule's resilience.
There’s a specific moment at the end of the quest—the Lurelin Village Water Rally festival. Everyone is cheering, the lights are back on, and the music shifts from that somber, ruined-village theme back to the upbeat, tropical bop we love. It’s one of the few times in the game where Link gets to just... sit. Relax. Look at what he did.
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Real Talk: The Friction Points
Is it perfect? No.
The Hylian Rice requirement is a pain. If you don't know where to look, you’ll spend hours cutting grass. Pro tip: Go to the ponds near Hateno Village and start swinging a sword. You'll find plenty.
Also, the log transportation can be buggy. If you leave your log pile too far away and a blood moon happens or you teleport, they might despawn. It’s heartbreaking. I’ve seen players try to fly the logs in with Zonai fans and batteries, which is hilarious but often ends in a fiery disaster if you aren't careful.
But these "problems" are actually what make the quest memorable. It’s a struggle. Rebuilding a village in a post-apocalyptic world should be a bit of a hassle. It makes the final result feel earned.
Actionable Steps for Your Restoration Run
If you’re about to head down to Necluda to start the Lurelin Village restoration project, do yourself a favor and prep first.
- Stock up on Hylian Rice early. Don't wait until Bolson asks for it. Check every general store you pass.
- Bring a high-durability axe. You’re going to be felling a lot of timber. An Iron Sledgehammer also works for clearing debris, but a Sharp Axe-head fused to a sturdy stick is your best friend here.
- Use a Hoverbike or a Wagon. Dragging logs with Ultrahand is fine for short distances, but if you're hauling from the forest to the village center, build a basic motorized sled. It’ll save you ten minutes of walking.
- Look for the hidden monsters. If the "Ruffians" quest won't end, check the well and the boat. There's always one guy hiding.
- Talk to everyone after the rebuild. Some villagers offer unique items or "thank you" gifts that aren't marked as official quests but are totally worth the time.
The Lurelin Village restoration project is more than a checklist. It’s the heart of the game's "rebuilding" theme. Once the salt spray is in the air and the shops are open, you’ll realize it’s the one place in Hyrule that actually feels like home. Plus, free roasted porgy. You can't beat that.
Go find Bolson. Get to work. The beach is waiting.