There are a number of obstacles that Link faces in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, from murderous soldier constructs and challenging shrines to the climate he's in. The open-world design of Tears of the Kingdom uses the weather to aid realism, and unfortunately for players, that means no easy passes in the cold. Here's how to beat the cold and stay on track in Tears of the Kingdom.
Why is Cold Protection Needed?
Cold resistance is essential for preventing damage from freezing environments in Tears of the Kingdom. Link will take damage and die very quickly without any protection, and eating food to restore hearts will only last so long. Cold protection is required in the early game to get to the Gutanbac Shrine and receive the Ascend ability and essential in certain areas of Hyrule.
Best Cold Resistance Recipes in Tears of the Kingdom
By using a nearby cooking pot or the Zonai Device 'Portable Pot' (which can only be used for one recipe), Link can cook recipes that grant temporary cold resistance. This will be especially helpful in the early game, where armor is harder to come across. The more of the same ingredient in a meal, the more significant buff it grants. The most common and effective ingredient for cold resistance is spicy peppers. Here are a few recipes to get started with:
- Sauteed Peppers: Cooking any number of peppers with nothing else will grant a low-level cold resistance buff lasting longer the more spicy peppers are added.
- Spicy Simmered Fruit: Any number of spicy peppers and fruit (as long as the fruit doesn't grant its own buff).
- Spicy Elixir: A warm darner and any monster parts will create a spicy elixir that grants temporary cold resistance.
Snowquill Armor for Cold Resistance in Tears of the Kingdom
Like in Breath of the Wild, the Snowquill Armor set is available to purchase in Rito Village in Tears of the Kingdom. Cold resistance armor is the only way to permanently set the cold resistance buff, allowing the player to use other buffs as well. The Snowquill Armor set costs 2150 rupees in total:
- Snowquill Leggings: 1000 rupees
- Snowquill Chestpiece: 500 rupees
- Snowquill Headdress: 650 rupees
Other Ways to Resist the Cold in Tears of the Kingdom
For very temporary relief from the cold, Link can rest near a fire, cooking pot, or anything aflame. Unfortunately, carrying a weapon that is on fire will not negate the effects of the cold. This should only be done in emergencies or when cooking more spicy meals, as it is the least sustainable way to stay warm.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is available for the Nintendo Switch.