If you want to get the best weapons in The Legend of Zelda: BOTW, you'll need to defeat some of the most powerful enemies in the game. This guide covers killing Lynel in BOTW, including everything you need to prepare for the fight.
The information in this article applies to the Nintendo Switch and Wii U versions of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Before you consider taking on BOTW's toughest enemies, take the following steps to make sure you're fully prepared:
- Find the four fairy fountains and upgrade your best gear to the highest level. The Great Elves are located in the Kakariko Village, Akala Lake, Gerudo Desert, and Tortori Lake in the Tabantha region.
- Equip a one-handed weapon, a durable shield, and light gear such as a soldier's armor. Two-handed weapons and heavy armor will weigh you down, so you won't be able to dodge the powerful attacks of House Lennar. Bring several weapons, as at least one of them is likely to be damaged in combat.
- Practice blocking to achieve the perfect guard. Hold ZL to target your opponent while holding the shield, then press A when your enemy is about to attack. If you time it well, you can stun the Lynel for a moment, allowing you to counterattack.
- Bring plenty of healing items, including some from the bazaar. Use any consumable item that increases your strength, defense, and heart.
Mix any fruit with a radish to create a dish that restores all your health and gives you a temporary extra heart.
Here are some general tips for fighting Lynels:
- Block and counter attack. Your best chance to attack is after you follow the Perfect Guard to stun Lynel.
- Use your stasis rune ability. Activate it when Lynel launches a quick attack at you, then step aside and let it run past you.
- stay close. The Linnell's close-range attacks are devastating, but their ranged attacks rarely miss, so don't go too far once you've attracted the Linnell's attention. The exception is when Lynel summons fireballs, in which case you should run and hide behind something that will protect you from the blast.
- If the ground is on fire, you can use the updraft it creates to paraglide upward and perform an aerial attack with a bow and arrow.
- Use your bow for a headshot at close range, which will stun Lynel. If you can hit it in the head with an ice arrow, you'll freeze it long enough to climb on top of it and land more hits on the head.
- Defeating Lynel in BOTW requires a lot of patience, so be prepared for a long battle.
Here are the rewards you can get for defeating the different types of Lynel and where to find them:
| Linnell type | loot | Place |
|---|---|---|
| red mane linnell | Common Lynel weapons, Lynel horns, hooves and guts | Ruins of the Colosseum, Cama Plateau, East Gate of Ranayru Road, Noter Wetland, Osela Plain, Mount Plomus |
| blue mane linnell | Powerful Lynel weapons, Lynel horns, hooves and guts | Akala Wilderness, First Gate House, Rapola Mesa, Lodrum Point, North Akala Valley, Osella Plains, Rowan Plains |
| white mane linnell | Brutal Lynel Weapons, Lynel Horns, Hooves and Guts | Depurian Wasteland, Drennan Highlands, East Depurian Wasteland, Gerudo Peak, Great Plateau, North Tabantha Snowfield, Second Gatehouse |
| Kim Linnell | Brutal Lynel Weapons, Fire Swords, Lynel Horns, Hooves and Guts | Arena Ruins (Master Mode Only) |
The above tips apply to all Lynel, but here is some more specific information about the different types of Lynel in Breath of the Wild.
Once you get close, Redmane Lynel will start firing shock arrows in your direction, so close the distance between you as quickly as possible. When it prepares to jump, move out of the way or use your shield to avoid the onslaught.
Blue-maned Lynels are identical to Red-maned Lions, except they are much more powerful. Likewise, the rewards for defeating them are better.
White-maned Lynel (also known as Silver-maned Lynel) has twice the health of Red-maned Lynel and nearly twice as much strength. Before the addition of Golden Lynels, they were the toughest enemies in the game and they dropped some of the most powerful weapons in BOTW.
If you have the Master Trials DLC and are playing in Master mode, you can only fight Golden Lynels. They have twice the attack power of the White Mane, meaning they can wipe you out in one hit even if Link is at full health.
