Unveiling Secrets: Conquer the Fort at Ja'Abu Ridge - Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Quest Walkthrough

Quick Links

Defeat the Monsters at Ja'Abu Ridge

Completing The Fort at Ja'Abu Ridge in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

When Link is not pursuing his archenemy, Ganondorf, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom offers a wide range of engaging side quests to keep him entertained. Throughout the vast Kingdom of Hyrule, Link will come across adventures of all types, each with its own unique rewards. The game's innovative gameplay loop ensures that the overall experience is extremely rewarding.

How to Begin The Fort at Ja'Abu Ridge in TotK

In Tears of the Kingdom, “The Fort at Ja'Abu Ridge” stands out as a prime illustration of a side quest that perfectly encapsulates the game's essence. Within the vast expanse of secondary content in TotK, Link can utilize quests like this to temporarily diverge from the main narrative, breathing new life into his adventure even after completing the primary storyline.

Prior to assisting the Zora with their quest, Link is required to fulfill the main quest of the region, known as "Sidon of the Zora." Only after the successful completion of this task and the purification of Zora's Domain from the detestable sludge, is Link permitted to embark on the adventure known as "The Fort at Ja'Abu Ridge."

To embark on this quest, make your way to the bridge that extends eastward from Zora's Domain. Locate the bridge on your map that points towards Mikau Lake. Once you reach the conclusion of the bridge, you will encounter Gaddison, a vigilant Zora warrior on patrol. Gaddison reveals to Link that, despite the eradication of the sludge, a group of nefarious troublemakers persistently disrupt the peace within Zora's Domain.

Gaddison will proceed to elaborate on the fact that a formidable stronghold has been constructed by these creatures beyond East Reservoir Lake, situated in the northern expanse of Ja'Abu Ridge. Adding to the gravity of the situation, they also disclose that, as per hearsay, one of the Hylians has been taken hostage by the monsters. The commencement of the mission will be initiated promptly after Gaddison concludes the detailed report.

Returning to the map, the quest marker is located at the center of what seems to be a sprawling fortress. This is the destination where Link must swiftly proceed to launch the assault and potentially save the Hylian hostage.

Defeat the Monsters at Ja'Abu Ridge

How to Reach the Fort

To reach the fort quickly, Link has limited options for fast-travel points. However, one viable choice is the Ihen-a Shrine situated at the base of Mipha Court, precisely at coordinates 3874, 0578, 0485. Afterward, Link can ascend to the top of Shatterback Point, just beyond the statue of Mipha at coordinates 3754, 0382, 0538, from where he will have a clear view of the fort.

From the high ground, there are several ways for Link to reach his destination. If the player has unlocked TotK's Autobuild ability, they may opt for the always-reliable Hoverbike. Another reliable option is to use Tulin's assistance and simply float there, provided that the player has completed "Tulin of Rito Village" and unlocked Tulin's Vow. Alternatively, if Link prefers to avoid the air entirely, he can make the journey to the fort on foot, although it will take a bit longer.

How to Clear the Fort

Upon reaching the fort in Tears of the Kingdom, Link will encounter a distinct feature common to many other encounters in the game: a 'Monster Forces' health bar will appear at the top of the screen. Within this challenging encounter, Link will confront a formidable group of enemies, led by a dominant Bokoblin Boss. The color of the boss will vary depending on Link's progress in the game, with a silver hue usually indicating advancement into the late-game stages.

Link will also come across at least one armored Bokoblin, which can only be defeated by using a 'bludgeoning' type weapon. Combining a rock, spike ball, or Talus Heart with any weapon will be effective. Additionally, weapons from the Eldin region, such as the Cobble Crusher, can also be highly useful in this situation.

Fortunately, Link won't encounter a large number of enemies. While most of the monsters will rush out of the fort when Link arrives, there might be a few stragglers that remain inside. If Link cannot locate a monster and the Monster Forces bar is nearly depleted, it is advisable to check the upper levels.

Free the Hostage & Gather Rewards

Link will discover the hostage Gaddison mentioned in the furthest section of the fortress, concealed behind a substantial barrier. Utilize the Ultrahand to displace the encasing cage and liberate him. Link will come to know that this captive goes by the name of Hino, a character whom Link may encounter on multiple occasions. Hino is conducting research on the Blood Moon phenomenon of TotK and frequently finds himself besieged by monsters resurrected by the lunar event. As a token of gratitude, Hino will offer Link an improved meal before embarking on a quest to confront further adversities. It is crucial to thoroughly examine all the chests within the stronghold before concluding the mission.

How To Complete The Fort at Ja'Abu Ridge

In order to accomplish the mission, you need to return and have a conversation with Gaddison, who will still be present at the exact location on the eastern bridge. In return for his gratitude, Gaddison will reward Link with a silver rupee, which is valued at 100 rupees. Once the conversation with Gaddison concludes, "The Fort at Ja'Abu Ridge" will come to an end.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is available now on Nintendo Switch.