As an avid Tears of the Kingdom player boasting over 200 hours of playtime, few side quests intrigue me more than the tricky task of taming a wild horse called Spot. Spot‘s one-of-a-kind dotted coat and skittish temperament present a thrilling challenge unlike any other quest.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll unravel all the secrets to successfully tracking down and befriending this evasive steed. You‘ll learn optimal strategies for sneaking up on Spot undetected, wrestling his wild spirit, and integrating him into your journey as a loyal companion.
So let‘s saddle up and master the mystifying Spotting Spot quest once and for all!
Initiating the Spotting Spot Quest
The first step is meeting the prerequisites to activate Spot‘s side quest. You‘ll need to:
- Travel to Lookout Landing along Hyrule‘s southeast shores
- Interact with the local stablemaster named Lester
- Complete Lester‘s "Incomplete Stable" quest to repair his dilapidated stables
- Progress Chapter 2 of the "Regional Phenomena" main campaign
With these boxes checked, an intriguing conversation unlocks with Lester regarding his missing horse named Spot.
"My prized horse Spot went missing after a nasty storm rolled through. I believe he‘s wandering the meadows nearby. His coat has one-of-a-kind spots that‘ll make him easy to identify. Please return him safely if you spot Spot out there!"
And with Lester‘s plea, the Spotting Spot side quest officially commences!
Helpful Preparations
Before seeking out Spot itself, equip any armor or food buffs that boost stealth and stamina. These will prove extremely beneficial when stalking and taming this easily-spooked animal.
I highly recommend the Stealth Armor set obtained by completing the "Armor Rumors" quest in Kakariko Village. Cook hearty salmon or endura carrots to create stamina-enhancing meals as well.
Stock up on sneaky elixirs too for additional stealth gains. These are brewed by combining courser bee honey, blue nightshade, and silent princess at a cooking pot.
With buffs equipped, you‘re ready to start tracking down Lester‘s unique missing horse!
Pinpointing Spot‘s Location
Lester reveals that Spot was last seen roaming the open plains southwest of Lookout Landing‘s stable.
Upon exploring this area, keep an eye out for a distinctly speckled white horse with grey and black spots adorning his rear. Spot‘s one-of-a-kind coat makes him easily recognizable.
I discovered him idling under a large oak tree near the Zonai Ruins. But his spawn location may shift slightly across different playthroughs.
Slowly approach Spot while crouched to avoid detection. Find an angle where foliage or boulders obstruct his line of sight and creep towards him.
If he becomes alerted by your presence, quickly hide before he flees the area. You may need to track him down again if this happens. Exercise patience and care here.
Once within 20 feet or so, pause and allow Spot to settle back into passive idle behavior. The epic showdown to tame this stallion comes next…
Strategy for Taming Spot
With Spot in your crosshairs, sneak up and mount him in one swift movement! Immediately press the Soothe button to calm the wild horse before he bucks you. Rapidly press Soothe to fill the taming meter and bring Spot under your control.
However, taming a wild horse like Spot rapidly drains Link‘s stamina. So make sure to cook up or equip any items replenishing stamina beforehand. Hearty foods that fully restore stamina work wonders if your wheels start running low mid-tame.
I also recommend attempting this during the day instead of night. Darkness obscures the swaying grass and other cues signaling if Spot notices you, making things unnecessarily tricky.
If your stamina completely empties, you‘ll get launched from Spot‘s back and have to restart the lengthy sneaking process. So again, have fortifying ingredients in your pouch as backup!
But if done carefully while managing stamina, Spot eventually calms down – signifying a successful taming! Now comes the satisfying payoff.
Completing the Quest
With Spot tamed, ride him back to Lester‘s Lookout Landing stable. Engage in a short conversation where Lester expresses his gratitude.
For returning beloved Spot, your rewards are:
- 50 Rupee purple gem
- Swift Carrot (boosts horse speed & stamina)
- Register Spot as your personal steed!
During registration, you receive the prompt to rename Spot as well. Feel free to change or keep his name.
And with all formalities concluded, Spot officially joins your collection of horses! Let‘s examine what makes him stand out.
What Makes Spot Special
Aside from Spot‘s visually striking speckled coat, his attributes prove uniquely reliable compared to other early-game horses.
Spot‘s Stats
Let‘s analyze how Spot‘s capabilities stack up:
| Statistic | Rating |
|---|---|
| Strength | 4/5 |
| Speed | 3/5 |
| Stamina | 3/5 |
| Pull | 2/5 |
| Temperament | Wild |
As you can see, Spot has above-average Strength allowing him to absorb more punishment from enemies or hazards. His balanced Speed and Stamina enable covering decent ground at sustainable paces too.
He cannot haul impressively heavy cargo loads. But for a well-rounded introductory horse, Spot hits a great jack-of-all-trades sweet spot.
And after repeated rides and affections, his Wild Temperament progressively shifts towards "Gentle". Allowing you to push his Stamina limits more freely.
Let‘s closely examine how each stat benefits your adventures with Spot:
Durability From Strength
Spot withstands attack damage and falls extremely well thanks to his hearty Strength score. Take him into dangerous enemy-infested regions without fear of him collapsing prematurely.
This additional durability cushion is extremely valuable early on when health restores slowly. Rely on his sturdiness while you amass more hearts!
Responsiveness From Speed/Stamina
While a hair slower than pure racehorses, Spot‘s Speed and Stamina facilitate reacting quickly in combat or traversal challenges. Nimble enough to evade threats unexpectedly, but controlled regarding tight turns or platforming.
His pace stays manageable instead of unwieldy. Master this responsive rhythm to criss-cross Hyrule rapidly without crashing constantly!
Temperament Quirks
As mentioned earlier, Spot‘s Wild Temperament makes him easily startled if Link depletes his entire Stamina gauge. Avoid overly-reckless galloping or popping restoratives until more properly bonded.
That said, consistent riding quickly improves his disposition and trust. Before you know it, Spot responds more like a loyal companion than unpredictable stallion.
Added Quest Perks
Befriending Spot also nets you that precious Swift Carrot from Lester. Feed this veggie to any steed for a lasting boost in Speed and Stamina gauges. An incredibly useful reward early in the game!
The 50 rupee purple gem also lets you acquire better equipment or permanent upgrades quicker too. So wrapping up his quest bolsters progress in multiple ways.
Final Verdict
I hope this comprehensive guide empowers you to discover and tame the elusive Spot horse. Tracking this special stallion down and breaking his wild spirit represents a thrilling challenge unlike any other side excursion.
Not only that, but integrating Spot as your go-to travel companion yields significant early game benefits. Take advantage of his durability and responsiveness exploring younger worlds where Link himself remains fragile.
And the extra carrots/gems from finishing Spot‘s quest unlock additional upgrades as well. Without question, overriding this magnificent spotted steed greatly accelerates strengthening that hero chosen by the sword.
So what are you waiting for? Venture forth to those green meadows southwest of Lookout Landing and spot that Spot! adds immeasurable early game value worth every ounce of effort.
Let me know in the comments if this guide helps you successfully tame Spot yourself too! And stay tuned for even more detailed Tears of the Kingdom walkthroughs.
Happy questing, brave adventurers!
