Ruffian-Infested Village is a side quest in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom that takes place in the secluded area of Lurelin Village. Once a peaceful coastal village, it is now overrun by monster pirates. All the people have left the village, and only a hero can restore it to its original glory.
While Ruffian-Infested Village sounds easy on paper, it is one of the most challenging combat quests in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. You will face many black and silver enemies that can one-shot you.
In this guide, we will tell you how to start the quest and clear Lurelin Village of monsters.
How to start Ruffian-Infested Village Quest in Zelda: TotK
Ruffian-Infested Village starts as A Village Attacked by the Pirates’ quest in the Lookout Landing. Talk to Garini at the Lookout Landing General Store (-0210, 0082, 0019), and he will tell you about Lurelin Village’s poor state.
She will ask you to meet the village elder, who is in a temporary encampment Northeast of Lurelin Village. This will start Village Attacked by the Pirates’ quest.
Fast travel to the Sifumim Shrine, which is right next to the objective marked on the map. Talk to the village elder, Rozel, at the coordinates (2784, -3272, 0083). He will be standing on a cliff right next to Bolson. They will ask your help to remove Monster Forces from Lurelin Village so they can start the restoration project.
This will officially start the Ruffian-Infested Village side quest in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
We recommend that you stock up on a lot of arrows, Bomb Flowers, Puffshrooms, and Muddle buds. Rest at an inn using a soft bed to restore full health and gain three temporary hearts. Cook some hearty meals to survive the onslaught.
How to complete Ruffian-Infested Village Quest in Zelda: TotK
The sole objective of the Ruffian-Infested Village side quest is to kill all monsters inside Lurelin Village. Their collective health is represented by a massive health bar titled Monster Forces on top of the screen.
When you enter the village, you will see a red health bar on the top middle of the screen. The health bar represents how many monsters are out there, and as you start killing a few of them, you will notice that the red line has shortened.
Keep in mind that if you leave the place or die, you will have to start the fight all over again. There are various monsters, including Bokoblins, Boss Bokoblin, and Lizalfos.
These enemies are scattered across Lurelin Village. You will find the first batch of enemies near the entrance. These include four Black Bokoblins, one Silver Lizalfos, one Silver Bokoblin, and two Blue Bokoblin Archers. These enemies are spread across two destroyed settlements.
Start the fight by gliding to their location and using bomb arrows to push enemies away. Use Muddle Bud Arrows to confuse enemies into attacking each other. If the situation worsens and you get overwhelmed by enemy forces, use Puffshroom arrows to escape the area.
Use your strongest fused weapons here. Don’t worry, as you will get enough weapons and powerful enemy parts as loot. Once this area is clear, keep moving south to locate pirate ships on the shore.
You will locate another group of Bokoblins sitting around a campfire beside the shore. There are six of them, including a silver Bokoblin. Use Bomb Arrows to scatter the enemies and take them down individually. The strategy remains the same.
Loot the monster parts and fuse them with weapons. Climb the ship as you see fit. The best way is to stand on a box beneath its hull and use the Ascend ability. Seven enemies are on the ship, including a Silver Bokoblin Boss and a black Lizalfos.
As Bokoblins don’t know how to swim, this is your clue. Use bomb arrows to push them into the water, as Silver Boss Bokoblin is a really scary enemy. It can kill you in one hit, no matter how prepared you are.
You can also use Muddle Bud Arrow on the boss Bokoblin, and it will kill the rest of the monsters for you. Once all the enemies on the ship are defeated, climb the stairs to reach the ship’s lookout.
You will notice white smoke rising from the ground inside Lurelin Village. Glide towards the smoke to locate the Lurelin Village Well at the following coordinates (2939, -3381, 0012) in the northern part of the village.
Drop down the well to locate the final Black Bokoblin hiding there. Kill the enemy to defeat the Monster Forces. This will trigger a cutscene where some of the villagers will return and thank you for saving them.
This will end the Ruffian-Infested Village side quest in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Bolson will ask you to help him restore the village, which will start the second important quest, the Lurelin Village Restoration Project.
Reward
Report to Garini back at the Lookout Landing to end the Village Attacked by Pirates’ side quest. He will reward you with Mighty Salt-Grilled Crab.
