Why the Ree Dahee Shrine is the First Real Skill Check in Breath of the Wild

Why the Ree Dahee Shrine is the First Real Skill Check in Breath of the Wild

So, you're fresh off the Great Plateau. You’ve got your paraglider, you’ve met the Old Man—well, the King—and you’re finally heading toward Kakariko Village. Most players take the path through the Dueling Peaks because, honestly, the game basically begs you to. Right there, tucked into the northern base of the canyon, is the Ree Dahee Shrine. It isn’t just another blue glow on the horizon; it’s actually the moment The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild stops holding your hand and starts testing your reflexes with physics.

The "Timing is Critical" trial lives up to its name. While the Plateau shrines were all about "here is a tool, go use it," Ree Dahee is about "here is a tool, now don't mess up the timing."

It’s easy to get frustrated here. I’ve seen people spend twenty minutes on the final chest alone. But once you understand how the pressure plates interact with the momentum of those stone orbs, the whole thing clicks. It's a masterclass in Nintendo's "show, don't tell" philosophy.

Getting Inside the Ree Dahee Shrine

Finding the place is half the battle if you’re distracted by the sheer scale of the Dueling Peaks. If you follow the river that cuts through the mountains, stay on the northern bank. You'll find it sitting slightly elevated from the water.

Step inside. You’re greeted by a series of tilted platforms and those glowing orange orbs. The core mechanic is simple: stand on a floor switch to tilt a platform, which lets a ball roll into a socket. If the ball hits the socket, the gate opens. Simple, right? Not quite.

The first puzzle is basically a tutorial. You step on the switch, the platform tilts, the ball rolls. You let go, the gate opens. It's the "Hello World" of the Ree Dahee Shrine. But the game is just setting you up for a challenge.

The Momentum Problem

In the second section, you have to deal with a longer ramp. If you hold the switch down too long, the ball just flies off the edge into the abyss. If you let go too early, it doesn't have the speed to clear the gap.

You have to tap it. Step on, wait for the ball to reach about the halfway mark, then step off. This levels the platform, giving the ball just enough horizontal velocity to land in the receptacle.

It's physics. Pure and simple.

That Infamous Climbing Gear Chest

Let's be real: most people aren't searching for help with the orbs. They're here because they can't figure out how to reach that high ledge at the end.

The chest in the Ree Dahee Shrine contains the Climber’s Bandanna. This is arguably one of the most important pieces of gear in the early game because it boosts your climbing speed. In a game where you spend 70% of your time glued to a rock face, this is a literal life-saver.

To get it, you need to use the Magnesis Rune. After you’ve finished the final orb puzzle and the moving platform is active, look back toward the start of the final ramp. You’ll see two metallic barrels sitting there.

The "Pro" Way to Get the Bandanna

Grab one of those barrels with Magnesis. Carry it over to the final pressure plate—the one that controls the last ramp.

Don't just drop it. Place it carefully. If you leave the barrel on the switch, the ramp stays tilted. This creates a bridge to the chest.

Some players try to use Stasis on the switch, but that’s a headache. The barrel is the intended solution. Once that ramp is tilted up, you just walk right up to the ledge and claim your prize. The Climber’s Bandanna gives you a 20% boost to climbing speed. It doesn't sound like much until you're halfway up a mountain in the rain and your stamina bar is flashing red.

Why This Shrine Matters for the Rest of Your Playthrough

The Ree Dahee Shrine serves a specific narrative and mechanical purpose. It teaches you that the environment is interactive beyond just "hitting things with a sword."

Think about the Sheikah Slate. Up until this point, you've used it to manipulate blocks or freeze water. Here, you’re manipulating gravity and momentum. It’s a precursor to the much harder puzzles you’ll find in the Divine Beasts, like Vah Naboris or Vah Ruta.

If you can't master the timing here, the rest of the game is going to feel like a slog.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Rushing the switches: You don't need to stay on them. Often, the "off" position is just as important as the "on" position.
  • Ignoring the barrels: Those metallic barrels aren't just decor. In Zelda, if something is made of metal, you’re supposed to move it.
  • Forgetting your runes: If a puzzle feels impossible, you’re probably forgetting you have a literal Swiss Army knife on your hip.

The Dueling Peaks area is dense. If you finish this shrine and feel like you’ve conquered the area, think again. There are two more shrines—Ha Dahamar and Shee Vaneer—just a stone's throw away.

Actionable Next Steps for Success

Once you have grabbed the Climber’s Bandanna from the Ree Dahee Shrine, your priority should be completing the "set."

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  1. Head to the Cliffs of Quince (near Hateno) to find the Climbing Gear (the shirt). It’s hidden in the Chaas Qeta Shrine, which is a Major Test of Strength. You might want to gear up before trying that one.
  2. The final piece, the Climbing Boots, is in the Tahno O'ah Shrine on the eastern side of Mount Lanayru.
  3. Once you have all three, visit a Great Fairy Fountain. Upgrading the set to level two unlocks the "Climbing Jump Stamina" set bonus. This reduces the stamina cost of jumping while climbing by 50%.

The bandanna you just found is the "gateway drug" to high-level exploration. Don't sell it. Don't ignore it. Wear it. The faster you can move vertically, the more of Hyrule you'll actually see.