Throughout The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, you will come across loads of side quests. Every village, city, and stable you find will have some sort of side quest that one of the NPCs will send you off on. Some of these give amazing rewards, while others don't.
It can become tedious trying to decide which quests are worth it and which ones aren't. Some can give you armor sets, more inventory, or even more features on your Purah Pad. Those quests are the ones that you want to focus on, and this list will help you figure out which ones are the best.
Updated by Erin Rice on July 26, 2023: The longer The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is out, the more quests players will discover. This update added 5 additional entries that players should try out if they want to get the most out of their time playing the game.
25 Photographing A Chuchu
This quest is given to Link by Sayge, the owner of Hateno Village's Dye Shop. At first, it seems like this quest is just a pretty ridiculous one. After all, Sayge wants you to photograph a Chuchu so that he can create a paraglider fabric out of it. Taking a picture of a blue Chuchu and returning to him is all this quest entails.
While the Chuchu fabric might not be the best choice out of all the fabrics, some of the others you can unlock after this quest are. This opens up the opportunity to get tons of new fabrics, including some inspired by horses, Gleeoks, Lynels, etc. You can get some pretty interesting fabrics that certainly beat the default fabric. The Gleeok one is extremely interesting.
24 Legend Of The Great Sky Island
If you return to the Temple of Time on the Great Sky Island and climb to the top, you will find a Zonai Stewart waiting for you. He will tell you that he was asked to tell the story of the Great Sky Island to anyone who is able to light all the campfires around the island without landing.
Once you do this, you will get the Zonai Fabric for your paraglider. However, that is not why this quest is worth it. You will then learn the truth behind why there are floating islands in the sky and what their purpose is.
23 Master Kohga Of The Yiga Clan
While exploring The Depths, you will run into Master Kohga of the Yiga Clan. He will tell you that he has been planning his revenge since Link shoved him into The Depths during the events of Breath of the Wild.
While following this questline, players will get to see multiple Abandoned Mines throughout The Depths. They will also obtain Crystallized Charges and different Yiga Schematics for following Kohga and trying to stop him, making it well worth it.
22 The Legacy Of The Rito
The Legacy of the Rito involves Link finding some materials for Teba so that he can make the Great Eagle Bow. These materials include 3 diamonds, 5 pieces of wood, and a Swallow Bow. Upon returning to Teba, he will craft Link one as well.
This is so important because the Great Eagle Bow was used by Revali, the Champion of the Rito. This is one of the best bows in the game. It has a damage of 28 and can shoot 3 arrows at once, essentially tripling the bow's damage.
21 Walton's Treasure Hunt
Aftering curing the Great Deku Tree, Link is able to freely move around the Korok Forest and a small amount in the Lost Woods. While exploring, you will come across Walton on top of the Great Deku Tree. He has hidden a Forest Dweller's Spear, Sword, and Shield around the area and needs you to find it.
The reward for completing the quest is that you get a Forest Dweller's Spear, Sword, Shield and Bow. The Spear and Sword offer a special effect where single-use fusion items can be reused. The bow offers a damage of 15 but has a triple shot, making the damage 45. Finally, the shield has a defense of 30. These amazing items make this quest worth it.
20 The Labyrinth Quests
If you travel to one of the 3 labyrinths in the game (North Lomei, South Lomei, or Lomei Island), you will start a quest for that specific labyrinth. You will want to complete all 3 in order to get the quest reward.
The reason this is so great is because it gives you the Evil Spirit Armor, one of the best armor sets in the game. This is something that you certainly don't want to miss out on and will want to complete as soon as possible.
19 The Duchess Who Disappeared
While exploring the snowy expanse around Rito Village, you may come across a cabin located in an area known as Selmie's Spot. Inside the cabin, a young man will tell you that his mentor has gone missing. She is the world's best shield surfer and needs your help returning to the cabin.
Once you finish the quest, you will unlock the mini-game for shield surfing. You can pay her 20 Rupees, and she will set a course up for you on the slopes that you can shield surf down, trying to beat the best record. This is one of the best mini-games and is a must.
18 The Hidden Treasure At Lizard Lakes
The Hidden Treasure at Lizard Lakes is given to you by Bludo in Goron City after completing the quest "Yunobo of Goron City." Bludo will tell you a nursery rhyme told to the Goron children. He believes there is hidden treasure at the location in the rhyme.
Once you follow the rhyme to the two lakes shaped like lizards, you can begin your quest. The conclusion of this quest gives you the Vah Rudania Divine Helm, the same helmet that Daruk wore as the Champion of the Goron.This is a great callback to Breath of the Wild.
17 Treasure Of The Gerudo Desert
The Treasure of the Gerudo Desert quest is given to Link by Riju after the "Riju of Gerudo Town" quest. She says that while she was reading ancient texts she noticed an indication that there is a buried treasure out in the Gerudo Desert waiting to be claimed.
After following Riju's riddle, you will end up in the West Gerudo Ruins. From here, you can find the secret treasure, the Vah Naboris Divine Helm. This is the helmet that Urbosa, the Champion of the Gerudo, used in battle.This is a great callback to Breath of the Wild.
16 Secret Treasure Under The Great Fish
This quest is obtained from Sidon after completing the quest "Sidon of the Zora." Sidon will tell you that he found a passage in a book mentioning a treasure that is hidden under the Great Fish. He says if you can find it, you can have it.
After following the riddle, you will find a cave called Cave Under Zora's Domain. Inside this cave sits Vah Ruta Divine Helm, the helmet that Mipha, Champion of the Zora, used during the battle against the Great Calamity. This is a great callback to Breath of the Wild.
15 Treasure Of The Secret Springs
The quest is given to you by Tulin after completing the "Tulin of Rito Village" quest. He will tell you that there is a book that the Rito love that mentions a place containing a secret treasure. You need to go find it for him.
Following the riddle Tulin gave you, you will end up in the North Biron Snowshelf Cave. In this cave, you will find the Vah Medoh Divine Helm. This is the helmet that Revali, the Champion of the Rito, wore into battle. This is a great callback to Breath of the Wild.
14 The Hunt For Bubbul Gems!*
This quest begins in Eldin Canyon when you run into Koltin and Kilton. Koltin wants to turn into a Satori, but needs Bubbul Gems in order to make this happen. While this quest only requires you to give Koltin a single Bubbul Gem, it opens up a whole host of opportunities.
For instance, you can obtain the Mystic Armor set from Koltin. You can also get different Monster Masks that will allow you to blend in with the different types of monsters. Finally, you can obtain a great Paraglider Skin from Koltin as well.
13 A Monstrous Collection*
This is an extremely fun quest that lets you be creative. Kilton will be in Tarrey Town by a raised area that looks similar to a stage. He will tell you that he wants to create monster statues so that those in the town can see what these monsters look like close up. He and Hudson will ask you for pictures of certain monsters to place on the stage.
After you have obtained the monsters Kilton asks you to get, you can add whatever other monsters you want. You can also arrange them around the stage to create whatever type of scene you feel looks the best. This is a fun little quest that gives you a unique opportunity.
12 Ruffian-Infested Village*
The quest Ruffian-Infested Village can be obtained by Rozel near Lurelin Village. You will be told that the village has been overrun by pirates and everyone had to evacuate, leaving the village to fall to these evil monsters. This seems to be an easter egg to The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.
Once you clear out the village (which should be done after obtaining some Hearts and good armor), you will be asked to restore the village to its former glory. This will add a restaurant Link can visit, a new mini-game, new characters to meet, and a new inn to stay at. It is a great addition to the game.
11 A Call From The Depths
This quest can be obtained by heading to the Great Plateau and destroying a rock wall. This will allow water in the area to drain, and a mysterious voice will ask for help. You will end up needing to explore the Depths looking for Bargainer Statues. Finding all 7 of these statues will allow Link to unlock the Dark armor set and the Depths armor set. These two sets can be extremely useful.
The Depths set is a must for fighting Phantom Ganon. It will give you extra health to lose to the Gloom rather than losing your own health. The better the enhancement is on the set, the more health you will get. The quest itself isn't bad, but finding the other Bargainer Statues is tedious. No matter what, this quest is worth it, so you can unlock those two armor sets. The Depths armor is absolutely a must for exploring the area.
10 Gloom-Borne Illness
This quest can be obtained from Lasli in Kakariko Village. She is a young woman who is trying to cure her grandmother of a mysterious illness that seems to be coming from Gloom. Link will need to make the grandmother some Sunny Veggie Porridge. This will allow the grandmother to get better, and her granddaughter, Claree, will lower the prices at the armor shop in Kakariko Village.
This allows you to purchase the Stealth set for a fraction of the price. Considering this is one of the few sets in the game (in addition to the Yiga armor set) that helps with stealth, it is certainly worth the effort. If you want to catch more bugs or critters, you will need some stealth.
9 A New Champion's Tunic
This quest can be obtained by going to Link's old house in Hateno Village. There, you will find Zelda's Secret Well behind the house. Inside the well, her diary indicates that she purchased a new Champion's Tunic for Link that she hid in the Throne Room in Hyrule Castle. This Campion's Tunic has a defense of 5 and is definitely worth picking up.
You will already be in the area when you need to fight Ganon, so you may as well get the Champion's Tunic. This is based on the iconic tunic from Breath of the Wild. It is worth it just to know that Zelda thought enough of Link to surprise him with something so simple yet so useful.
8 Infiltrating The Yiga Clan*
Infiltrating The Yiga Clan is a quest that can easily be overlooked. First, you need to obtain all 3 pieces of the Yiga Armor set scattered around Hyrule. These pieces can be found in different branches of their hideout. Once you do that, wear the armor set to their main hideout in the Gerudo region.
Once there, you are able to infiltrate the hideout. They will have no idea you are Link as long as you keep the armor on. This lets you obtain new fusion vehicles, you can purchase Mighty Bananas and Yiga weapons, and finally, you can participate in the Yiga Clan Training. The training will net you some great rewards.
7 Mattison's Independence*
Mattison's Independence is a pretty easy side quest given to Link by Hudson and his wife in Tarrey Town. Their daughter, Mattison, is about to head to Gerudo Town for some time. Link is tasked with helping her get ready for the big move. At first, this may seem like a quest with nothing special. However, that is not the case.
Once Mattison leaves, her parents will tell Link that they have property near Tarrey Town they are selling. They will offer it to Link at a discount and allow him to build a home there. Not only do you get a house, but you can customize it however you want.
6 A Deal With The Statue
During one of your visits to Lookout Landing, you may notice someone in the shelter asking for help. She heard a strange voice coming from behind a wall. Traveling behind the wall and blowing a few things up, you will find the Horned Statue from Breath of the Wild that will exchange your essences for you.
This will allow you to trade a Heart Container for a Stamina Vessel and vice versa. This can be super helpful when needing to do certain activities. For example, it takes two wheels of stamina to obtain the Master Sword. If you want to get it now, you can trade a few Heart Contains for Stamina Vessels and switch back later.