In the sprawling kingdom of Hyrule, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom offers a treasure trove of side quests that can make or break your adventure. While some quests are a dime a dozen, others are absolute game-changers, dishing out invaluable rewards and deep lore. As we journey through 2026, these side quests remain the cream of the crop. So, grab your Purah Pad and let's dive into the best side quests that every hero should tackle. These aren't just filler; they're the bee's knees when it comes to enhancing your playthrough.

10. The Tarrey Town Race Is On! 🏎️

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Fernison at the Hudson Construction Site near Tarrey Town needs help building a racecar. Once you've crafted the vehicle, you'll be challenged to beat the best racer's time. Completing this quest unlocks the Tarrey Town Race and lets you recruit the driver to Lurelin Village for a boat race. It's a two-for-one deal that adds a splash of adrenaline to your journey.

9. Messages From An Ancient Era πŸ“œ

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Wortsworth in Lookout Landing tasks you with finding ancient stone tablets that fell from the sky. These tablets document Zonai legends, offering a fascinating peek into Hyrule's founders. The reward? The Zonai Survey Team Paraglider Fabric, plus a deeper understanding of the game's lore. It's a quest that's worth its weight in gold for story buffs.

8. A Trip Through History πŸ›οΈ

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Bugut in Kakariko Village asks you to find four stone tablets around the Ring Ruins. While the material rewards are slim, the lore you uncover about the Zonai is priceless. These tablets offer a unique window into their beliefs, making this quest a must for anyone who eats, sleeps, and breathes Zelda history.

7. Uma's Garden 🌱

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Uma in Hateno Village wants you to bring her plants for her garden. In return, she'll tend them and share the harvest. This quest unlocks the ability to grow crops in Hateno, a feature that keeps on giving. It's a slow burn, but the payoff is a steady supply of ingredients for cooking and elixirs.

6. The Incomplete Stable 🐴

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Karson in Lookout Landing is struggling to finish a stable's roof. Help him out, and you'll unlock a mini-stable where you can board, register, and take out horses. It's a small quest with a big convenience factor, especially for those who love to travel on hoof.

5. Photographing A Chuchu πŸ“Έ

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Sayge, Hateno's dye shop owner, wants a picture of a blue Chuchu. It sounds silly, but this quest opens the floodgates for paraglider fabrics. After this, you can unlock fabrics inspired by horses, Gleeoks, Lynels, and more. The Gleeok fabric alone is a real head-turner.

4. Legend Of The Great Sky Island ☁️

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Return to the Temple of Time and light all the campfires around the Great Sky Island without landing. A Zonai Steward will reward you with the Zonai Fabric, but the real prize is learning the truth behind the floating islands. It's a quest that answers some of the game's biggest questions.

3. Master Kohga Of The Yiga Clan πŸ₯·

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While exploring The Depths, you'll run into Master Kohga, who's still sore about being shoved down there in Breath of the Wild. This questline takes you through multiple Abandoned Mines, rewarding you with Crystallized Charges and Yiga Schematics. It's a wild ride that's as rewarding as it is entertaining.

2. The Legacy Of The Rito 🏹

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Teba needs 3 diamonds, 5 pieces of wood, and a Swallow Bow to craft the Great Eagle Bow. Once you bring him the materials, he'll make one for you too. This bow, used by Revali, deals 28 damage and fires three arrows at once. It's one of the best bows in the game, and it's absolutely worth the fetch.

1. Walton's Treasure Hunt 🌳

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After curing the Great Deku Tree, you'll find Walton atop it. He's hidden a Forest Dweller's Spear, Sword, Shield, and Bow around the area. The rewards are stellar: the spear and sword allow reuse of single-use fusion items, the bow deals 15 damage but fires three arrows (45 total), and the shield has 30 defense. This quest is the whole kit and caboodle, making it the best of the best.

Summary of Rewards

Quest Key Reward
The Tarrey Town Race Is On! Unlocks races, recruit driver
Messages From An Ancient Era Zonai Survey Team Paraglider Fabric
A Trip Through History Zonai lore
Uma's Garden Ability to grow crops
The Incomplete Stable Mini-stable at Lookout Landing
Photographing A Chuchu Unlocks more paraglider fabrics
Legend Of The Great Sky Island Zonai Fabric, lore
Master Kohga Of The Yiga Clan Crystallized Charges, Yiga Schematics
The Legacy Of The Rito Great Eagle Bow
Walton's Treasure Hunt Forest Dweller's gear

So there you have it, the cream of the crop when it comes to side quests in Tears of the Kingdom. Whether you're a lore hound, a loot lover, or just someone who enjoys a good challenge, these quests deliver. In 2026, they're still the ones to beat. So don't dilly-dallyβ€”get out there and make Hyrule a better place, one quest at a time.