Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Facing a Lynel, how to get shock arrows by visiting Shatterback Point on Ploymus Mountain
How to survive an encounter against the fearsome shock arrow-wielding Lynel.
Zelda: Breath of the Wild's Lynel is one of the game's tougher enemies. Though largely an optional foe located all across Hyrule, one has to be faced following your visit to Zora's Domain, where you have to visit Shatterback Point on Ploymus Mountain to obtain some shock arrows to restore Vah Ruta.
If you're after help for parts of the game, consult our Zelda: Breath of the Wild walkthrough and guide.
How to get to Shatterback Point on Ploymus Mountain
After you've spoken to King Dorephan in Zora's Domain and completed the Reach Zora's Domain quest, you're told you need 20 shock arrows in order to restore Divine Beast Vah Ruta, which can be found in a Lynel den near Shatterback Point on Ploymus Mountain.
The location is to the east, and to get there, on the same level as the Mipha statue, take the bridge going east out towards the cliffs.
Head to the giant waterfall, and while wearing the Zora Armour you received from the King, you will get a prompt at the base to Swim Upward. Doing so will propel you to the top. Do it again and you'll come to a clifftop area, with a story slate on the right and another waterfall to scale.
After that, follow the trees going up the hill, taking the shock arrows embedded in them as you go, until you reach the top to Ploymus Mountain, where the beast awaits.
How to face Lynel
Though you might have done well against the likes of a Stone Talus and Hinux so far, the Lynel - another one of the game's mini-bosses - is very tough, especially at your current equipment level.
Fighting it from a distance will see you lose against its barrage of shock arrows, so you need to take it on up close - while it can one hit kill you, you should be able to dodge and parry most of its attacks.
If you press the Y button to dodge its attacks - such as holding back for a backflip as it swings - it'll allow you dodge and follow up with a flurry of attacks. Another thing to be wary of is if it's on all fours, it'll charge straight at you, so quickly move out the way.
If either to put in a lot of practice, or have powerful equipment and bonus effects to make the ride easier. Of course, there is another way...
Thanks to a new update, it's now possible to play Zelda Breath of the Wild in VR. Want help with the main game? Our Zelda: Breath of the Wild walkthrough can help complete Divine Beasts Vah Ruta, Vah Rudiana, Vah Medoh and Vah Naboris and more. There's also how to get the Master Sword, Hylian Shield and all Zelda Captured Memories and Great Fairy Fountain locations, while our Shrines locations and Shrine maps hub explains where to find and solve every puzzle room, including dragon locations and Labyrinth solutions. We also have a DLC 1 guide and DLC 2 guide, including all Tingle, Majora's Mask, Phantom, Midna outfit locations.
How to avoid Lynel and get shock arrows from Ploymus Mountain
Thankfully, you don't need to fight Lynel at all, and our recommendation is to avoid confrontation entirely. As soon as you see it - or when you load back in after a quick save from dying, in our case - immediately crouch and start going round the outskirts of the mountain, collecting shock arrows from the trees and rocks are you go.
Watch where Lynel goes to make sure it doesn't look in your direction (a question mark will tell you it's spotted something - just stay out of sight until it's disinterested again) and if it's far away, feel free to break into a regular stride as you continue arrow hunting.
There's some more at the base of the hilltop, as well as many in a tree at the top on the edge by the sign, and soon you should be able to collect the 20+ arrows you need.
It should also be noted that, while 20+ is the recommendation and the in-game objective will update to signify you have collected enough, in theory the following section might only require four if you waste none at all. It's a risky strategy, and one we haven't tried and something the game may not allow you to continue with, but if you're really struggling with the Lynel encounter, it's something to consider.
When you're ready, head to the top of the cliff overlooking the Divine Beast Vah Ruta in the reservoir below, and glide down and chat to Sidon who is one the north pier to start entering.