BOTW: What Death Mountain’s Secret Is

Death Mountain stands out in the landscape of Hyrule in The Legend Zelda: Breath of the Wild – so far out that it must hold a secret for existing in the first place. One of the side quests Link can embark on in his journeys throughout the game is named “Death Mountain’s Secret.” Such a strong name suggests that at the center of this mission is the history of the volcano, how it was created, and why it earned its ominous name. However, the secret of Death Mountain is not what one might expect it to be.

For those unfamiliar with the volcano, Death Mountain has appeared in many different forms and in many different locations throughout the Legend of Zelda series’ timeline. Whether it is in northern area of the map as in Link to the Past or in East Eldin as in Breath of the Wild, Death Mountain is the home of the Goron people. Known for eating rocks (like Link in BOTW), mining, and crafting weaponry, the Goron society stands out from the rest of Hyrule in Breath of the Wild because it seems relatively unscathed by the Great Calamity. Even in their battle against the Divine Beast Vah Rudania who resides in Death Mountain, Goron City has remained a stronger community than most others in Hyrule through the Age of Calamity.

Death Mountain thus holds many secrets: How has Goron City stayed so strong? What formed this volcano and gave it its name? Why has it changed over the course of the Legend of Zelda series? The name of the quest “Death Mountain’s Secret” presents itself as the answer to such questions. However, in the reality of Breath of the Wild, such a secret is much smaller than one might expect.

How To Start “Death Mountain’s Secret” In BOTW

Beginning this Breath of the Wild side quest starts with traveling to the Goron Hot Springs. Southeast of Goron City, the Goron Hot Springs is an area where people relax in geothermally heated waters after a long day of mining. One of the Goron people there, a child who goes by the name of Dugby, holds the secret to Death Mountain.

When Link speaks to Dugby, the hero will find that the little Goron has a lot to say despite refusing to step out of the waters of the hot springs. In fact, Dugby’s mouth is under the water, reducing his dialogue to a muffled burble that states: “Bello! I bid a tweshure binteen gear an ba Bridge of Eldin! Iz an abazing schtick! Beely bool! If boo bind it… iz boars!” While what he says seems like it would sound better than Age of Calamity‘s voice acting, it is still somewhat indescribable. It can roughly be translated to this: “Hello! I hid a treasure near the Bridge of Eldin! It’s an amazing stick! If you find it… it’s yours!” Link can confirm this interpretation by returning to the Goron Hot Springs at night to find Dugby finally out of the water. Although the Goron child is in a deep slumber when Link finds him, he sleeptalks, saying, “The treasure… at the top of a lava waterfall…” and “Treasure… the way to Bridge of Eldin… an amazing stick…“.

Thus starts the “Death Mountain’s Secret” side quest. Its title may make it sound as if it’s unveiling the hidden history of Legend of Zelda‘s Death Mountain, but in reality, it is a rather cute mission built around teasing out the hiding place of a young Goron boy. Finding out exactly what the stick he has hidden is and where its specific placement is are not the easiest tasks to do, though.

What Is Death Mountain’s Secret & Where Is It In BOTW?

As suggested by Dugby’s sleep talking, the secret treasure hidden in Death Mountain can be found near the Bridge of Eldin: The only path that allows people to cross the lava moat surrounding the volcano. Indeed, lava encases the surrounding area, and Dugby has made sure to utilize this fact to make finding his treasure more difficult. The “schtick” he has hidden lies atop a lava waterfall that Link has to be very careful climbing up.

Once Link has successfully circumvented Breath of the Wild‘s heinous lava, though, he will find that the treasure is still nowhere to be found. However, if the Hyrulian hero looks closer, he will see a wall on a rock is weak, meaning he could break it with one of his remote bombs. Doing so reveals the treasure chest Dugby was hoping Link would find after deciphering his muffled hints at the Goron Hot Springs.

Opening the chest unveils that the secret of Death Mountain is not just any “schtick”: It’s a Drillshaft. The Drillshaft is a spear-like weapon forged by the Goron people. It is famous for its mining ability, as it can break apart ore veins with just one strike. Such an item is very rare in Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which is a given considering how useful it is. However, Dugby’s hiding place will continue to serve as a spawning location for future Drillshafts. Thus, the secret of Death Mountain is not just the special mining spear of the Goron people: It is a permanent location where it can be obtained again every Blood Moon.

While receiving a spawn location for the Drillshaft is an exciting prospect for players looking to collect and sell gems, the quest itself feels a bit underwhelming. After all, Mount Death is such a mysterious place that it seems like its bigger secrets are yet to be understood. Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time theorizes that the ancient dragon Volvagia is the spirit of Death Mountain, so it only feels right that Breath of the Wild should offer a more substantial history about the volcano in the “Death Mountain’s Secret” quest than Dugby’s treasure chest.

Perhaps Death Mountain is already too crowded for a dragon with difficult BOTW Divine Beast Vah Rudania running around it. After all, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild takes place in a nearly post-apocalyptic Hyrule. The game should thus not bother itself with the stories of the past but instead, make new ones for the future – like Dugby’s hidden treasures.