The breathtaking mountains of Breath of the Wild

Some of the most breathtaking sites in Breath of the Wild are its mountains. With the climbing mechanic being such a major component of the game, it is only natural that the mountains are the pinnacles of Hyrule’s scenic majesty. Between epic fights, incredible danger, and even the occasional spirit, these locations hold great importance to the world of Hyrule.

In general, the mountains of Hyrule are usually fun climbing challenges for Link. Oftentimes, the straightforward paths on these mountains are fraught with danger. Should Link want to avoid enemies, he will have to gather his courage — and plenty of stamina boosting meals — in order to complete the perilous task ahead of him. But the reward is almost always worth it, be it a Shrine, treasure, or even just a sense of accomplishment.

These mountains can also provide interesting stories to the world of Hyrule. Sometimes they are part of the main quest and other times they are simply part of sidequests. Regardless, they still add to the overall lore of the world, making Hyrule feel all the more expansive. However, there are a few mountains in particular that stand out in Breath of the Wild and are true examples of what makes them so great.

Death Mountain

Perhaps one of the most iconic mountains in the Zelda series, Death Mountain looms over the Eldin region of Hyrule. It honestly would not feel like a true Zelda game with the absence of such an important geographical landmark.

Death Mountain lives up to its name, as the path to it is covered in enemies, including even a Guardian Stalker among its inhabitants. As Link makes the climb further up the mountain, he is unable to withstand the heat without the appropriate armor or potions. Death Mountain proper is an active volcano, after all. And to make matters worse, most if not all of the enemies are covered in flames.

Climbing around Death Mountain’s peak is the Divine Beast Vah Rudania, which has gone out of control. Link, with the help of Yunobo (the descendent of the Goron Champion, Daruk), must find a way to calm the Divine Beast. This includes evading the dangerous falling rocks and sneaking past the Guardian Sentries that patrol the area.

This entire sequence is thrilling to play through. Tensions are high as Link and Yunobo basically battle the mountain and the Divine Beast at the same time. Climbing to the summit of Death Mountain is a true test of courage that is rewarded with Link swan diving into the volcano to reach Van Rudania. It is no wonder that Death Mountain continues to be one of the most exciting and iconic mountains to grace the Zelda series.

Mount Lanayru

Continuing the theme of epic and dangerous mountains, Mount Lanayru is another notable mountain in Breath of the Wild. Instead of the searing heat of Death Mountain, Mount Lanayru is freezing cold, and its ascent is just as perilous as its fiery counterpart.

If the dangers of climbing Mount Lanayru were not enough to dissuade adventurers, the frigid mountain is off-limits to anyone under the age of 17. Zelda explains this to Link on the eve of her 17th birthday, as she is to climb the dangerous mountain to pray in the Spring of Wisdom that rests at its summit. It appears that Mount Lanayru is sacred ground, connected to the Goddess of Wisdom, Nayru.

However, when Link climbs the mountain 100 years later, the sacred spring and its dragon protector have been corrupted by Calamity Ganon’s Malice. In order to free Naydra from Malice’s influence, Link must battle the dragon atop Mount Lanayru’s summit.

After an epic battle with the ice dragon, Naydra gifts Link with one of its scales, allowing Link to place it in the spring and open up a new Shrine. Despite only being a sidequest, there is nothing cooler than fighting a dragon on top of a mountain. Mount Lanayru truly is one of the more epic mountains in Breath of the Wild.

Satori Mountain

Pivoting from the harsh environments of Death Mountain and Mount Lanayru is the peaceful Satori Mountain. As far as notable locations go, Satori Mountain is one of the calmer places in Hyrule. There are no epic battles, and the enemy population is quite minimal.

At first glance, Satori Mountain appears to be rather empty, home only to a Shrine and some beautiful scenery. There is a small little pond off to one side of the mountain, with a large cherry blossom tree looming over it. Pink petals cover the area, along with some Silent Princess flowers and Endura Carrots. However, this little pond has more to it than meets the eye.

On some nights, a bright green glow illuminates Satori Mountain, which can be seen from miles away. These mystical lights signify that the pond of Satori Mountain is being visited by a hoard of Blupees and the noble spirit of Satori Mountain, the Lord of the Mountain.

Should Link feel brave enough, and possess enough stamina-increasing food items, he can attempt to tame the Lord of the Mountain and take it for a ride around the land of Hyrule. Though, there is really nothing to be gained from such a feat, since the stables will not let you register a literal spirit.

Satori Mountain and the Lord of the Mountain are also believed to be homages to Satoru Iwata since their names are derived from “Satoru.” It makes sense, then, that Satori Mountain is such a calming and peaceful place to visit. After all, not every mountain can have such epic battles. And it is nice to know that such a majestic spirit watches over Hyrule.

Why Breath of the Wild’s mountains are so amazing

Mountains are present in almost every Zelda game and provide fun and interesting backdrops for cool battles and quests. Breath of the Wild is no different in this regard. However, Hyrule in Breath of the Wild is massive, making the mountains that populate the world feel so much grander.

They are legitimately challenging to scale, sometimes requiring Link to even change his armor to cope with the climb. And when Link finally manages to reach the top of a mountain after a difficult climb, the breathtaking view makes it all worth it. Forget the treasures and other rewards. Seeing the beautiful world of Hyrule from the top of the Dueling Peaks or any other summit is a reward all by itself.

From the treacherous Death Mountain and Mount Lanayru, to the serene Satori Mountain, the mountains of Breath of the Wild are truly some of the most magnificent sights in all of Hyrule’s history.