Breath of the Wild is the first voice acted Zelda game, but its story is delivered almost entirely through flashback – and you need to unlock each memory. Here's where to find all of the Recovered Memories to learn the truth of 100 years ago.
Once you visit Impa in Kakariko Village and have all of the basic runes of your Sheikah Slate restored, she offers you a task and triggers a new main quest: you'll need to locate places you visited in the past in order to reawaken memories of 100 years ago. This is how much of Breath of the Wild's story is delivered, through lovely context-filled flashbacks. They’re well worth viewing, though getting access to them can be a little bit frustrating depending on how much you like easter egg hunts.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: Locked Memories Quest – where to find all the recovered memories
Impa will unlock 12 photos in your Sheikah Slate, and each points to a different part of the world. When visited each will trigger the awakening of a major event from 100 years prior for Link, offering important information.
There are 18 memories recovered. Twelve are found through the Sheikah Slate, one is revealed to you when the other 12 have been found, and the others are given via story events. Here's how to get them all.
Recovered Memories #2, #4, #6, #10 and #18
As an important note, the second, fourth, sixth, tenth and eighteenth recovered memories will be awarded to you over the course of the game’s main story – so don’t worry about these. The eighteenth and last in particular is optional and will be revealed generally very late on (though as always with Breath of the Wild, it depends how you play) – it triggers if and when you pick up . They're not part of this main quest.
Subdued Ceremony / Photo 1 – Recovered Memory #1
This memory is the first photo on your Sheikah Slate and is pretty easy to find – if you look on the map, there’s a circular sort of place right in front of Hyrule Castle. This is the Sacred Ground Ruins. Head there and you'll find this memory - it's an interesting one, since it introduces you to some very key characters. There are a number of guardians around this area, so be careful when you go to grab this one, especially if you do it early on.
Recovered Memory #3 / Photo 2 – Resolve and Grief
This memory is the second photo on the Sheikah Slate. It's found just north of the plateau where you started the game. Look on the map for the area in Central Hyrule marked Hyrule Field. Zoom in – you'll find the Exchange Ruins, Aquame Lake, the Forest of Time and the Gatepost Town Ruins. The nearest landmarks are the Oman Au Shrine and the Great Plateau Tower – Lake Kolomo is slightly north from both of these. The memory overlooks Lake Kolomo, looking towards the Dueling Peaks – the route to Karariko.
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Recovered Memory #5 / Photo 3 - Zelda's Resentment
This is the 3rd photo in the Sheikah Slate. You'll find this memory in the Tabantha area of the map. Just to the south of Piper Ridge (which is to the West of Tabantha Great Bridge), you’ll find an area called Ancient Columns. There's a Shrine here - the challenging Tena Ko'sah Shrine. The memory spot is right in front of said shrine.
Recovered Memory #7 / Photo 4 – Blades of the Yiga
This memory is associated with the 4th photo in the Sheikah Slate. It's found at the Kara Kara Bazaar. Look at the Gerudo Desert on the map and then find Gerudo Town and Gerudo Desert Gateway. The Bazaar is at the halfway point between the two, and is difficult to miss. The memory trigger can sometimes be hard to see in the bright desert heat, but it's on the right side of the Bazaar when you look from the main shop.
Recovered Memory #8 / Photo 5 – A Premonition
This memory is the 5th on the Sheikah Slate and is found in the Eldin Canyon area, the area on the outskirts of Death Mountain. The closest recognisable landmarks are the Woodland Tower and Minshi Woods – this is to the east of those. It's also to the north and slightly to the east of Pico Pond and the Mirro Shaz Shrine. It's up on the hills overlooking Hyrule Castle.
Recovered Memory #9 / Photo 6 – Silent Princess
This memory is the 6th image on the Sheikah Slate and is found just north of Central Hyrule and Hyrule Castle, between Hyrule Ridge and the Great Hyrule Forest. The nearest landmarks are the Monya Toma Shrine and the Serenne Stable. Head a little south east from these; there are two small pools that are (if you zoom in) near Irch Plain.
Recovered Memory #11 – Shelter from the Storm / Photo 7
This memory overlooks Lake Hylia's enormous bridge, but is a little distance away. It's the 7th memory on the Sheikah Slate. It's found on a hill that's sandwiched between Scout's Hill and Deya Lake. These hills are marked on the map as the Hills of Baumer. If you look for Scout's Hill on the map, it's just the other side of the Hylia river.
Recovered Memory #12 / Photo 8 – Father and Daughter
This memory is a risky one to get – it's in Hyrule Castle, AKA the final dungeon of the game, of sorts. The thing is, you can explore Hyrule Castle any time without consequence so long as you don't go to Ganon's lair, though you do so at your own risk as deadly enemies are all over. There are multiple ways in, such as via swimming up waterfalls, going to the docks or gliding in from afar to avoid the attention of guardians or simply stocking up on health items and making a full-on assault. The castle itself is threatening and oppressive but also absolutely surviveable for a brief visit from early on.
Once inside, this memory is found on the Western side of the castle, high up. As far as I can tell you'll need to head outside and do at least a bit of dodging guardians. In a Western Keep sort of area look for a room you'll notice is Zelda's quarters – there's a diary written by her in here. Climb the wall to the second floor here and you'll notice a small walkway - the memory takes place here. Consult our images, as finding the exact room can be a challenge.
Recovered Memory #13 / Photo 9 – Slumbering Power
This memory is found in the Akkala Region. It's the 9th photo on the Sheikah Slate. Find the North Akkala Foothill – there you’ll be able to see the East Akkala Stable and Katosa Aug Shrine. Head directly West from there towards North Akkala Valley and Ordorac Quarry. Nestled between these two is the Spring of Power, and this is where the memory is recovered.
Recovered Memory 14 / Photo 10 – To Mount Lanaru
You’ll be able to find this memory, the 10th photo on the Sheikah Slate, up in the Safula Hill area to the west of Central Hyrule and east of Satori Mountain. Among this area is the Sanidin Park Ruins – once you get onto these high mountains look out for the ruins with a huge horse statue – this is where this memory is found.
Recovered Memory #15 / Photo 11 – Return of Calamity Ganon
This memory is the 11th on the page of memory photos in your Sheikah Slate. It's found in the shadow of Lanayru. To the West of the mountain you’ll find Naydra Snowfield – this is actually very useful, and the snowfield leads past Purifier Lake into Lanayru Promenade. It’s between these points at Lanayru Road – East Gate that you’ll find this memory to recover. Things got pretty bad, huh.
Recovered Memory #16 / Photo 12 – Despair
This memory is the final one, the 12th on the Sheikah Slate pictures. It's located just to the North-East of the Bottomless Swamp on the east side of Hyrule Field. If you look for some text on the map that says ‘Hylia River’ in between the Bottomless Swamp and the Kaya Wan Shrine and Wetland Stable, this memory is discovered right by this text in a small forested area.
Recovered Memory #17 - Zelda's Awakening
The final memory that isn't recovered naturally through story progression, this one isn't backed up by a photo. After recovering all of the other 12 memories in the Sheikah Slate photos, return to Impa. She will reveal this final memory location to you… and it’s been under your nose since she gave you first back these memories.
Once she’s shown you the image, head south from Kakariko, back over the bridge towards the Dueling Peaks Stable and Ha Dahamar Shrine. To the east of this is Fort Hateno, and between the two is the Ash Swamp area. The final memory is found in this location, the place where things came to a head 100 years ago.
Memory locations in the Legend of Zelda™: Breath of the Wild are a very important thing for the player to find. Link lost his memories and finding these lost mementos is important in order to discover his past and uncover the story of how things are the way they are, but also, recovered memories take you on the path of finding one of the endings in the game ( some would call it the true ending of the game). By recovering all lost memories you will truly set yourself up on being the hero Hyrule needs.
In the Adventurers log, right at the beginning of the game, you'll see that there are 18 Memories that remain hidden and that you need to recover. As you play through the game, doing the main quest, you'll go to Kakariko Village and talk to Impa. After you go to Hateno Ancient Tech Lab and finish what you have to do for Purah she will send you back to Impa and she will unlock 12 old camera photos on your Sheikah Slate. These pictures are from Zelda and they point to places that hold old memories that you can unlock. She gives you the Locked Mementos Quest and your task is to find these exact locations and unlock the long lost memories of Link and Zelda. Once you have found all 18 you will get the .
This guide will show you all locations of Memories in Zelda: Breath of the Wild and how to find them.
Recovered memory #1 – Photo 1 – Subdued Ceremony
Go to Central Hyrule and enter Hyrule Field. It is the big field in front of Zelda's castle. Be careful, because the place is crawling with Stalker Guardians and big skeletons. You need to head towards the main gate into the castle and find Sacred Ground Ruins. In the middle of these ruins is the memory recovery spot. Watch it to find out about the ceremony of Zelda making Link a knight.Recovered memory #3 – Photo 2 – Resolve and Grief
You can get this one fairly early in the game (as soon as you get the paraglider) since it is close to the starting land. You want to start searching from the Great Plateau Tower to north. There is Lake Kolomo in southern Hyrule Field. You want to go along the southwest edge of the lake looking at the woods alongside it and you should see the faint glow of the memory recovery spot. Collect it to see Link and Zelda walk along the lake discussing the divine beasts and the sword. Other memories are recovered as you do the main story quests and can't be found otherwise.
After a small introductory cutscene, go to the blue control panel, which is located in the same room where Link woke up. Near the panel, a dialogue will begin, during which the young hero will receive the “Shiika Stone”. After that, the door ahead will open, so it's time to get out. In the corridor there will be chests with the first equipment, so look into them and get the following things: "Old Pants" and "Old Shirt". Get dressed, walk to the next panel a little further ahead, wait for the cutscene to end, and get out into the fresh air.
: By crouching, you move more slowly, but it will make you much more difficult to notice.
Well now the protagonist found himself on the territory of the "Great Plateau". What to do? First of all, carefully look around, because there is a branch nearby that needs to be raised so that there is at least something to defend against enemies. In any case, turn to the right side and go down to the unknown character, who was introduced in a small cutscene. You can also collect various items along the way.
: On the way down, Link will come across a red-orange mushroom called "Hairulovik", so I recommend collecting these mushrooms, as they are quite edible and will restore half a heart at a time. In addition, such mushrooms grow, as a rule, near trees.
When you get closer to the unknown old man, pick up apples and talk to him. After the conversation, be sure to take the torch (you can light it from the fire, but if you put it in your bag, the fire will go out), which is located behind it.
Quest: On the Road with the Shiika Stone
When you move a little forward from the old man, the voice of an unknown girl will again turn to Link, who will order you to go to a key point on the map. However, first of all, pay your attention to the stump - a lumberjack's ax will be stuck into it. Although the weapon will be slow and ineffective, it will still be much better than a wooden stick, so take it and go to the marked point on the map.
Along the way, Link encounters bobblins for the first time. The first fight will be easy, so after the kill, collect all the dropped items and move on. Along the way, you can also notice on the left side of the road two huge stones that can be pushed onto two bobblins. After the kill, it will be possible to collect all sorts of ingredients and a weapon called the "Sideball", which may come in handy in further adventures.
: Keep an eye on the strength of the main character, because if he gets tired, he will not only be able to run, but also swim, climb and perform many other actions.
: Right next to the key point there will be other bobblins. However, now it will be possible to get a Bokoluk from them, which at first will play the role of a bow, and a Camping Sword and a Bokoshield can be taken away from a lonely Bokoblin. Moreover, all this equipment will come in handy in the initial stages of the game.
In general, there will be a lot of Bokoblins in the area, so when you get to the right place, go into a small gorge between the hills. So you will find a panel in which you will need to insert a Shiika Stone. After that, the screensaver will start.
Quest: "Abandoned Plateau"
“As soon as I came down from the tower, an old man appeared. He revealed that Hyrule was destroyed a hundred years ago by Calamity Ganon. To get to the castle where the voice came from, I need to go down from the plateau, and for this I need a glider, like the old man. He agrees to give it up in exchange for some treasure…”
So, at the request of the Old Man, you will have to go in search of treasure. The desired place with the treasure is called "Oman-Au Sanctuary" and the white-bearded grandfather will show where this place is, so go there. Upon arrival, use the Shiika Stone at the control panel. As a result, not only the doors will open, but also the first point of movement. In any case, go inside and go downstairs. The download will start.
: Don't know how to put out a burning shield? In fact, everything is quite simple, because if a shield or even a weapon catches fire, then it is enough to put the equipment in the bag - and the fire will go out.
Sanctuary "Oman-Au"- Test: "Magnetism"
Well, inside the shrine, first go to the control panel (which will have orange colored ornaments) as usual to get the unique abilities for Link's Shiika Stone. As a result, the main character will receive a skill / ability (as convenient) called "Magnesis", which will allow you to move metal objects: by catching a metal object in a magnetic field, you can pick it up and move it freely.
Now it's time to use Magnesis, but first of all, pay attention to the large two plates that lie on the floor in the center of the hall - they are metal, so they can be lifted and put aside, thereby opening your way further. After that, jump down and go along the linear corridor, where at the end go up the stairs. Now Link is blocked by a wall of metal cubes, so remove one of them, then use it to move the rest of the cubes, or build a kind of staircase or completely dismantle the passage - it's up to you to decide what to do.
In any case, on the other side of the hero, a battle with an ancient mechanism awaits, but nothing complicated: a couple of accurate blows with a sword or an ax will quickly disable him. By the way, the robot can even be killed with a metal cube. Pick up the dropped items and move on. When you find yourself near a small abyss, then take a huge iron plate from behind and rearrange it to another place forward. As a result, a kind of bridge will turn out. Now open the metal gate and go to the pedestal with the statue. After a short final speech, Link will receive a unique reward called "Spirit Orb". After receiving the reward, a cutscene will begin, during which the hero will be outside. A dialogue with the Old Man will begin.
: Before you approach the statue and get the "Orb of the Spirit", you can also get a chest, inside of which there will be a "Camping Bow". This chest is located on the left side in front of the gate that leads to the talking statue. To get this chest, you need to get as close as possible to the edge of the road and use the magnet, with which you can pull the chest towards you and open it.
“When I left the sanctuary, the old man appeared again. He said that there are three more shrines on the plateau and he will only give me a glider if I get a Spirit Orb in each of them. He also advised me to move to the tower with the help of the Shiika Stone and look for the shrines from there.
The mission continues and now you have to get three more spheres, so move to the tower using fast movement (teleportation). At the top, use the visor to mark the next three temples. One temple will be located in the southern part of the map with mountains in the background. The second is located on the left side of the cathedral. And the last sanctuary will be located on the left side of the tower in ruins.
: Remember that each weapon has its own margin of safety. Therefore, in order not to lose an important weapon, always try to monitor its condition.
First of all, I propose to go to the Sanctuary called "Ja-Baizh", which is located on the left side of the tower in ruins. However, be aware that there are dangerous machines in the ruins that can quickly deal with a young hero without any problems, so you should go around them to get to the sanctuary.
Sanctuary "Ja-Baizh"- Challenge: "Explosive Strength"
As usual, go to the control panel with an orange ornament, after which the cutscene will begin. So now Link got the Telebomb. With this skill, it will be possible to create an explosion at a distance. The explosion will destroy items and deal a lot of damage to monsters. In addition, bombs can be either cubic or round - you should choose based on the situation.
