Quick Answer
For a first playthrough, start with Rito Village. Its reward helps exploration across the whole map, especially when crossing gaps, moving between sky islands, and recovering from awkward jumps.
A steady first-run order is Rito Village, Zora’s Domain, Goron City, then Gerudo Town. It is not mandatory, but it is friendly for new players.
Recommended Order
| Order | Region | Why here | Prep |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rito Village / Hebra | Strong map-wide travel value | Cold resistance food or clothing, arrows, stamina meals |
| 2 | Zora’s Domain / Lanayru | Clear route and moderate pressure | Throwables, healing meals, ranged options |
| 3 | Goron City / Eldin | Heat and fire ask for more preparation | Flame protection, rupees, fire-safe planning |
| 4 | Gerudo Town / Desert | Temperature, visibility, and combat stack together | Heat/cold planning, ranged materials, extra meals |
Why Not Start In The Desert?
Gerudo can ask you to manage heat, cold, sandstorm visibility, and combat pressure before your hearts, armor, arrows, and food supply are comfortable. It is a great region, but a rougher first stop.
After Each Region
| After clearing | Check next |
|---|---|
| Rito Village | Return to Lookout Landing, open nearby towers, clear easy shrines |
| Zora’s Domain | Review water routes, caves, wells, and material stops |
| Goron City | Keep flame protection ready and mine for rupees |
| Gerudo Town | Clean up desert shrines, armor materials, and Depths entrances |
First-Run Rhythm
- Stabilize Lookout Landing: paraglider, towers, fast travel, and basic gear.
- On the way to Rito Village, open towers and clear shrines instead of rushing.
- After each region, return to Lookout Landing for new quest context.
- If a main quest fight feels bad, open the map, clear shrines, and upgrade gear.
- After the four regions, focus Dragon’s Tears, the Depths, and final-route prep.
FAQ
Is this order required?
No. Tears of the Kingdom lets you choose freely. This is a comfort route, not a rule.
Should I grind shrines first?
You do not need to overprepare, but clearing shrines around Lookout Landing and along your path gives a useful safety margin.
What if I do not own cold gear yet?
Use cold resistance meals first. Buy or complete cold gear once your route and rupee supply are more stable.