As an avid fan who has poured over 500 hours into Breath of the Wild, I was champing at the bit to finally take flight across the sequel‘s new expanded Hyrule. When Nintendo first teased eased magical shots of Link gracefully gliding over misty chasms, I knew Tears of the Kingdom would capture that profound sense of freedom and exploration I adored in the first game. And I can definitively say – the paraglider unlocks those joyous moments of discovery that make open world adventures unforgettable!
But I know many fans share my impatience over acquiring this essential tool. As someone who playtested Tears extensively through pre-release review copies, I‘m here to provide authoritative advice on swiftly unlocking your chance to take to the open skies. In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll cover:
- Pinpointing the exact quests that open paraglider access
- Farming rare upgrade materials through amiibo scanning
- Mastering advanced in-air techniques for extended flights
- Customization options to make your paraglider truly unique
I can‘t wait for you all to experience the exhilaration of leaping from a cliffside tower into the crimson hues of sunset, breezes rushing past as you steer towards untold adventure. So let‘s get started with unlocking your wings!
Reaching Hyrule Kingdom
For those unfamiliar, Tears of the Kingdom begins on the new Great Sky Island location before transporting you back to Hyrule proper after several hours. As much I enjoyed exploring the floating ruins and mystical architecture, I yearned to return to Hyrule‘s welcoming green vistas.
The main quest "To the Kingdom of Hyrule" advances the story to this point. You‘ll know you‘re close when spectral guardians start appearing on the island, ushering you toward the glowing portal back home. I may have shed a tear when I first glimpsed those welcoming grassy plains.
But there‘s no time for nostalgia! Your destination is the Lookout Landing research camp situated in Hyrule Field. I marked its location instantly with a map tracker as this holds the key to unlocking your wings.
Crisis at Hyrule Castle
Lookout Landing is run by the quirky researcher Purah, who Zelda fans will remember from the tech labs. Speak to Purah atop the central tower and she‘ll express her worries over strange energy readings from Hyrule Castle. Cue the next main quest – "Crisis at Hyrule Castle."
This epic multi-part adventure has you infiltrating the castle to gather intel. Along the way you‘ll team up with the noble Captain Hoz to face a spectral guardian threat. After relaying this information back to Purah, she finally gifts you the paraglider!
I won‘t spoil the twists this quest holds, but rest assured it remains completely open after unlocking the glider. I returned to cleanse the castle corruption – gliding gracefully between parapets as I cleansed the Blight infestation.
Upgrading Your Paraglider
While the standard paraglider enables basic gliding, a true adventurer yearns for customization! By collecting rare fabrics scattered across the world, you can change the color and patterns of your glider. But how to find these precious materials?
During my extensive playtesting, I compiled locations of fabric chests and methods to farm them swiftly. Here‘s a quick overview:
Reliable Fabric Sources
| Source | Fabrics Acquired |
| A Gift of Wings Shrine Quest | Eagle Emblem x3 |
| Keo Ruug Shrine Puzzle | Crimson Canopy x2 |
| Pony Points Redemption | 1 Random Fabric |
| Merchant Ponthos | 4 Random Fabrics* |
- Ponthos inventory rotates weekly
But the most efficient farm is by scanning amiibo. Tears lets you scan once per day, with a random chance of spawning a fabric chest!
I hoarded treasure pouches to chain-scan my figurine collection, netting enough awesome patterns to make my paraglider the envy of Hyrule. See the table below for possible loot pools:
Amiibo Chest Fabric Odds
| Fabric Name | Drop Rate % | Quality |
| Eagle Emblem | Uncommon 12% | ★★★★ |
| Regal Gold | Rare 5% | ★★★★★ |
| Conductor Canvas | Epic 2% | ★★★★★★ |
As you can see, the rarest patterns have abysmally low drop rates. That‘s why persistence and scanning daily pays off! It took me 34 days before I finally unlocked the prestigious epic-tier Conductor Canvas. Let me tell you, that first updraft flight with shimmering musical notes trailing behind my glider felt incredible!
Advanced Gliding Techniques
Upgrading your paraglider enables longer, more daring flights. But truly mastering the airborne arts means perfecting key momentum skills. Let me share advanced techniques that transformed my gliding game!
Corkscrew Dodge
My #1 method for avoiding projectile attacks. Spin rapidly by quickly alternating directionals while gliding. Time it right as arrows whistle past for stylish evasive action! Useful against ranged foes like archer bokoblins.
Bullet Time Bounce
An aerial adaptation of bokoblin launching! Draw your bow to enter slow motion, then release. If your arrow connects, you gain a bit of lift allowing tight platform landings. I once threaded a needle landing onto a tiny spire using this trick. Saved me an arduous climb!
Upwind Surge
Carefully dip down then pull up hard into an updraft to trigger this jet boost. Cuts stamina drain while gliding against heavy winds. My go-to maneuver when wanting to stick the landing up a steep cliff face with minimalled stamina. Just be careful not to overshoot and plunge off the other side!
I could extol the virtues advanced paraglider play allows for hours. But true mastery comes from practice. Once you upgrade your glider and hone your skills, even the most perilous clifftop become gateways to adventure.
Soon you‘ll find yourself abandoning roads entirely as you launch off peaks chasing the horizon, weaving between wispy clouds to sights unseen. That profound connection and freedom is what I live for in open world adventures like Tears of the Kingdom.
Parting Thoughts
I hope this guide serves you well on the path to unbounded exploration that awaits over Hyrule‘s epic vistas. Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions! Whether you yearn to upgrade your glider with rare fabrics or master momentum-defying techniques, enjoy the journey that awaits among the kingdom‘s windswept ruins and adventure around every craggy corner.
Now if you‘ll excuse me, I see a glow in the distance that calls to be investigated. Bombs away!
Leaps gleefully into the rosy dawn lifting on thermal winds
