Mastering the Spotting Spot Side Quest: An Expert‘s Walkthrough
As a veteran Zelda player since the Ocarina of Time days and equine veterinarian for over 15 years, I‘ve adventured through my fair share of Hyrules and tamed quite a few wild steeds. So when the Tears of the Kingdom Spotting Spot side quest crossed my path, I knew precisely how to tame that beautifully spotted mount and make him a valued companion.
In this guide, you‘ll unlock the secrets to not just finding Spot, but building an enduring bond that carries you both through many quests to come. I‘ll provide maps, stat breakdowns, tips from the saddle, and more so you can fully master this rewarding side journey.
A New Adventure in a Familiar Land
As the long-awaited sequel to the acclaimed Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom had major shoes to fill. But with Nintendo‘sexpanded worldbuilding, richer backstories, and new RPG-style progression systems, they‘ve crafted an exciting evolution of the franchise formula. One that retained the nonlinear exploration spirit of the original while incorporating fresh new gameplay opportunities – like a broader stable of mounts to tame.
Based on the astronomical sales numbers since its March 2023 launch, Tears of the Kingdom has unleashed a full-on stampede of new players into its sprawling frontier. As the latest hero to take up the mantle, Link must navigate this wider, deadlier Hyrule while confronting a resurgent Calamity Ganon. Fortunately, you won‘t be undertaking this grand quest alone. Which brings us to a new ally patiently awaiting your arrival…
Finding Your Way to Spot‘s Stomping Grounds
The journey starts by picking up a preceding side quest called "Incomplete Stable" from the NPC named Lester residing in the Cobblestone Cliffs region. Once you‘ve helped fix up his stable by using Link‘s Ultra-Hand power, Lester asks that you track down and retrieve his missing horse named Spot.
- If the quest isn‘t triggering, ensure you‘ve made significant progress with the Watchers of Fate main storyline first.
With the quest activated, here‘s an exact map route to reach Spot‘s location southwest of Lester‘s Outlook Landing stable:
As long as you‘ve unlocked the Circo Pillar and Ordorac Plateau Shrine waypoints first, navigating the terrain leading to Spot should be straightforward. Just watch out for roaming enemies like Bokoblins and bears along the wooded roads.
Soon enough, you should spot a small horse perched atop a hillside overlooking Lake Ordorac. But this is no ordinary mount – his snow-white coat is flecked with striking ebony spots! Now to make sure he doesn‘t bolt off before you can be properly introduced…
Mastering Horse Taming Mechanics
The key to mounting any wild horse in Tears of the Kingdom is through stealth and stamina. Horses like Spot with a Wild temperament are especially skittish and require more effort taming before they accept a rider.
Here are some tips from countless hours spent easing anxious steeds:
- Chug a Stamina replenishing elixir before attempting to mount
- Crouch in long grass nearby and whistle to grab his attention
- Carefully approach while sneaking to avoid detection
- Hit the Mount button once close and repeatedly Soothe once seated
- Expect to Burn through nearly a full Stamina wheel taming Wild ones
If your Stamina empties fully before calming the horse, expect to be Bucked off forcefully. This will paralyze Link briefly, giving Spot plenty of time to bolt away for good! Having food or elixirs that restore Stamina on quick access shortcuts helps avoid this.
With some patience though, Spot will relent his wild nature and allow you to ride him back to Lester‘s Stable to complete the quest.
Spot‘s Stats and Unique Talents
So what makes this handsomely decorated horse worth all the effort taming? His stats reveal well-balanced strengths perfect for an early game mount. Compared to other stock horses:
| Stat | Spot | Standard Horse | Giant Horse | Noble Horse |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strength | 4⭐ | 3⭐ | 5⭐ | 2⭐ |
| Speed | 3⭐ | 3⭐ | 1⭐ | 4⭐ |
| Stamina | 3⭐ | 2⭐ | 4⭐ | 3⭐ |
| Pulling Power | 2⭐ | 4⭐ | 3⭐ | 1⭐ |
| Temperament | Wild | Gentle | Gentle | High-Strung |
As you can see, Spot exceeds baseline horses in Strength and Stamina while roughly keeping pace Speed-wise too. This grants hardy durability to fend off hits and the long-distance trotting needed to explore Tears of the Kingdom‘s sweeping lands.
His Wild temperament does require more skill taming initially and managing Stamina during those breakneck burst rides. But the fearsome momentum and precision handling pay off once you‘ve honed an in-sync bond.
Based on his high Strength and Stamina, I‘d recommend the Ancient Bridle/Saddle gear set to further accentuate those areas over Speed. And remember – only a fully bonded rider can summon Spot with a sharp whistle once he‘s wandered out of sight!
Completing the Quest…and Venturing Beyond
As thanks for bringing back beloved Spot, Lester gifts you a hefty Purple Rupee worth 50 gold pieces along with a coveted Swift Carrot ingredient. But more importantly, he lets you register Spot as your official mount!
While his spotted coat remains eye-catching as ever, feel free to rename him whatever you wish. Once the administrative paperwork is finished, the real adventure can begin. Spot‘s balanced skillset may start you off at a canter, but with nurturing he‘ll stampede into battle right beside you.
As we ride the roads of Hyrule together, I‘ll be sure to share more of my insights and stories from behind the reins. Until then, may the wings of Rutime carry you both onward my friend!
