How to defeat Lynel in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

The Lynel is a recurring underboss in the Legend of Zelda series and can be very intimidating, especially for the uninitiated and unprepared. Not only are these centaur baddies nimble on foot, they’re also incredibly strong and resistant to all elements. Around the Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom compendium, “Only challenge a Lynel if you are very well prepared.”

That, or if you feel like using our little trick that allowed us to be reliable kill a Lynel in about 45 seconds, without taking any damage.

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Where to find Lynel in Tears of the Kingdom

There are several Lynel in Tears of the Kingdom — also 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 highlighted below.

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon

As long as you keep your distance and don’t ready a weapon, Lynel will watch you carefully. However, if you do something that is considered aggressive, you will be charged.

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How to defeat the Lynel in Tears of the Kingdom

There are at least two ways to beat Lynel in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom. One is the traditional, skill-intensive way; the other is an absolute cakewalk. Let’s discuss the “right” way first.

The traditional way to beat a Lynel

When you traditionally fight a Lynel, you want to play it cool and stay defensive. A strong shield (possibly with a Beam Emitter attached if you fancy dealing some extra damage), a firm grip on ZL, and a hair trigger on the X button, ready to Flurry the Lynel to within an inch of its life Rushing.

First, you want to approach Lynel from behind, as sneaky as you can.

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon

Once you get close enough, you can mount it like any other horse in the game. Instead of trying to calm it down and make a centaur friend, you want to hit the attack button like your life depends on it. Your stamina wheel is depleting terribly quickly and eventually you will be thrown off.

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon

You now have a very annoyed Lynel who will run away – and an exercise in dodging arrows and waiting for him to attack. If it stays upright, just keep sprinting away. But once it bends down and tries to rush you, get ready to dodge and Flurry Rush.

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon

While it’s upright you can try to get a headshot like in the screenshot below, but see that big shield it’s carrying? It uses it, and those blades will damage you as it runs past you.

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon

Keep dodging and rushing and you might eventually beat it, but you’ll probably lose a lot of hearts in the process – unless you’re very skilled at the game.

Instead, we present you with a second option that requires a bit of prep, but significantly less skill, time, effort… You know, all that good stuff.

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The easy way to kill Lynel in 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 bad guys. It may seem a bit strange and unconventional, but bear with us.

For this method you will need:

• About a dozen arrows
• Bomb flowers
• Gibdo Bones (or similarly strong)
• A spring (as in the Zonai device)
• Any melee weapon (even a torch will do)
• A strong bow (we recommend a mighty Lynel bow, while shooting three arrows at once. You can find one in the map location below and you’ll need to track it down as it’s also key when battling Gleeok).

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon

First, go to the location of the Lynel and save (just in case everything goes wrong). As soon as he notices you, stop and place the feather and jump on it. Once you grab your weapon, the Lynel will begin its attack (probably with an arrow). Hit the ground quickly and fly into the air.

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon

You don’t want to get too high, just high enough to slide close enough to see the health bar. In that case, draw your bow quickly to slow down time. Send some bomb arrow(s) to the Lynel (plural if you use the mighty Lynel bow, only if you don’t).

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon

The reason for the bomb is twofold: first, it does a lot of damage, but second (and more importantly) it sets the grass on fire and creates an updraft that you have to use. Prepare another arrow, but this time Fuse a Gibdo Bot (+40 attack) or similar. If you did the Gerudo part of the story, you should have dozens.

Watch your stamina wheel – when it’s low you’ll want to drop to the ground and open your paraglider just before you hit the ground so you don’t take any damage.

This part is clutch; recover as much stamina as you think you can get away with – half a wheel per wheel was enough for us. Quickly catch the updraft to get airborne again.

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon

Fire another burst from Gibdo Arrows in the air. It took us two laps before we landed on the ground completely unscathed.

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon

This is admittedly a fairly detailed tactic, but it works. The only damage we took was from the fire, rushing in to get a cool finishing shot for posterity. Hubris hurts, as they say…

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What rewards do you get from a Lynel?

This boss drops a selection of Lynel riches, almost all of which you will be interested in. First and foremost are the Lynel bow and the Lynel shield. The bow is 3×10 attack power and the shield provides 30 defense, with counterattack.

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon

As for the monster bits, you’re looking at a Lynel saberhornwhich gives a whopping +22 Fuse attack, along with a slightly less powerful one Lynel mace horn (+18) and Lynel hoof (+10 Fuse attack power).