The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild features numerous side quests that encourage players to explore the vast corners of Hyrule. Among these, the Leviathan Bones side quest tasks adventurers with discovering and photographing three ancient leviathan skeletons scattered across distinct biomes. Completing this quest provides a rewarding look into the game's lore along with a lucrative prize.
Starting the Leviathan Bones Side Quest
To begin this prehistoric investigation, players must travel to Serenne Stable in the Great Hyrule Forest region. Outside the stable, Link will find three brothers named Akrah, Garshon, and Onya engaged in a heated debate over how the ancient leviathans became extinct. Akrah asks Link to capture clear pictures of each leviathan's head using the Sheikah Slate's Camera Rune.
Accepting the quest triggers the search across three extreme environments in Hyrule: the northern volcanic mountains, the southwestern desert, and the icy northwestern summits. Each researcher holds a different theory regarding their extinction, ranging from volcanic eruptions to severe droughts and ice ages. Photographing all three skulls will satisfy the brothers and earn Link a valuable Gold Rupee worth 300 rupees.
Finding the Eldin Great Skeleton
The first skeleton is located in the northern region of Eldin, situated along the far edge of the map in the East Deplian Badlands. Players can glide toward this region by launching from nearby high points north of Death Mountain. The massive ribcage and head of the fossil rest out in the open, making it relatively easy to spot from above.
Upon reaching the fossil, Link must equip the Camera Rune and frame a clear shot that includes the skull of the creature. The area is occasionally patrolled by dangerous enemies, so staying vigilant while setting up the photograph is recommended. Once a valid picture is saved to the Sheikah Slate, the Eldin portion of the quest is complete.
Locating the Gerudo Great Skeleton
To find the second skeleton, players need to venture to the extreme southwestern corner of the Gerudo Desert, beyond Dragon's Exile. Navigating this area requires heat-resistant gear or cooling meals to survive the harsh desert climate. A heavy sandstorm obscures the map in this region, making careful orientation essential for reaching the destination.
Once players arrive at the site, they will discover the massive bones surrounding Tera's Great Fairy Fountain and the Hawa Koth Shrine. Just like with the previous skeleton, stand at a reasonable distance to capture the entire skull within the camera frame. Successfully photographing this desert fossil fulfills Garshon's portion of the paleontology research.
Uncovering the Hidden Hebra Great Skeleton
The final leviathan skeleton is hidden within a glacial cavern inside the Hebra North Summit region. Finding this underground location requires solving an environmental puzzle near a small square pond located east of the summit. Players must freeze the pond using Cryonis and roll a giant snowball down the hill to shatter the heavy stone doors blocking the cave.
Inside the cave, Link will find the preserved Hebra Great Skeleton alongside the To Quomo Shrine nestled underneath the bones. Take a final photograph of the skull to complete the collection. Return to Serenne Stable and present the three pictures to the brothers to claim the reward and complete the quest.
