Lynel locations, how to beat Lynel in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

The Lynel is a recurring sub-boss in the Legend of Zelda series, and can be very intimidating — especially for the uninitiated and unprepared. These centaur enemies are not only fast, but also strong and resistant against all the elements. The quote is: Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom compendium, “Only challenge a Lynel if you’re very well prepared.”

Use our trick if that’s what you want to do, or, if it suits your fancy, try out the little tip we used. Kill a Lynel within 45 seconds without any damage.

Find Lynel on Tears of the Kingdom

The following are some of the many possibilities. LynelThe following are some examples of how to use Tears of the Kingdom — including in the Depths for those so inclined — but the easiest way to find a Lynel is to head to the West Hyrule Plains, specifically at the location marked below.

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon

As long as you keep your distance and don’t ready a weapon, Lynel will watch you cautiously. However, if it perceives you as aggressive it may charge.

How to defeat the Lynel on Tears of the Kingdom

Lynel is defeated by two methods in Zelda, Tears Of the Kingdom. There are two ways to defeat Lynel in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom. Let’s cover the “proper” way first.

Traditional way of beating a Lynel

When fighting a Lynel traditionally, you’ll want to play it cool and keep up the defensive. With a powerful shield (and possibly a Beam Emitter if you want to do some extra damage), firm control of ZL, and the ability to trigger the X key with just the tip of your finger, Flurry Rush a Lynel until it is within an inch or two from its death.

You want to sneak up on Lynel.

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon

When you’re close enough to it, you can mount the centaur like you would any other horse. You want to attack it as hard as you can, not try to make it a friend. You will lose stamina. The following are some examples of how to use You will be fired if you don’t act quickly.

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon

You’ll now have a very annoyed Lynel who will run away — and an exercise in dodging arrows and waiting for it to charge. Keep sprinting if it remains upright. Once it starts to rush, you will need to be ready to Flurry Rush and dodge.

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon

While it’s upright, you can try to land a headshot, like in the screenshot below, but you see that big shield it carries? You can damage yourself with those blades as the runner runs by.

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon

Keep dodging and flurry rushing and you might eventually beat it, but you will likely lose a lot of hearts in the process — unless you’re very deft at the game.

Instead, we present to you a second option that requires a little prep, but significantly less skill, time, effort… Y’know, all that good stuff.

How to easily kill Lynel Zelda Tears Of The Kingdom

Thanks to the invention — or at least rediscovery — of Zonai devices, Hyrule has a new string in its bow when it comes to taking down baddies. This may sound a bit odd and unusual, but we urge you to stick with us.

This method requires:

• About a dozen of arrows
• Bomb flowers
• Gibdo Bones (or similar strong bones)
• Spring (as used in the Zonai Device)
• You can use any weapon in melee range (even a torch will work)
• We recommend that you use a strong bow The mighty Lynel BowYou can find one at the map location below. You can find one at the map location below, and you should track it down, as it’s key when fighting Gleeok as well).

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon

First, head to the Lynel’s location and save (in case everything goes wrong). As soon as it notices, jump onto it and stop it. The Lynel’s attack will start once you have grabbed your weapon (probably with an arrow). Ground-pound quickly and then get up in the air.

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon

You don’t want to get too high, just high enough that you can glide close enough to see its health bar. You can slow time by drawing your bow as soon as this happens. Send some bomb arrow(s) at the Lynel (plural if you’re using the mighty Lynel bow, single if you’re not).

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon

The reason for the bomb is twofold: first, it deals a chunk of damage, but second (and more importantly), it sets fire to the grass and creates an updraft that you’ll need to use. Fuse another arrow and prepare it. Gibdo Bone+40 Attack or similar. If you’ve done the Gerudo part of the story, you should have dozens of these.

Pay attention to your stamina wheel — when it’s almost empty, you’ll want to drop to the ground and open your paraglider just before you hit the ground so you don’t take damage.

This part is clutch; recover as much stamina as you think you can get away with — half a wheel to a wheel was enough for us. Catch the air current to regain your height.

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon

Fire another Gibdo Arrow salvo while in the air. After two rounds, we were completely unharmed.

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon

The tactic is granular, and it does work. The only damage we took was from the fire, running in to get a cool finishing shot for posterity’s sake. Hubris hurts, as they say…

What are the rewards of a Lynel device?

The boss offers a collection of Lynel treasures, which will interest you. The first thing to note is the Lynel bowThen, there is the Lynel shield. The bow has 3×10 power of attack, while the shield provides 30 defense with counterattack.

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon

As to the monster bits, you’re looking at a Lynel saber hornThis gives you a massive +22 Fuse Attack, as well as a less powerful Lynel mace horn(+18) Lynel hoof(Fuse Attack Power: +10)