In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, players are given an enormous amount of freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with the environment. Whether you’re climbing mountains, gliding across valleys, or sneaking through enemy camps, the controls offer a variety of actions to suit different situations. One specific question that comes up often among newer players or those following shrine quests is how to kneel in Breath of the Wild. While the game doesn’t have a specific kneel button like some RPGs or stealth games, there are ways to mimic the kneeling posture through in-game mechanics. Understanding how to kneel or at least simulate kneeling can be particularly useful for completing specific puzzles or triggering certain shrine quests.
The Purpose of Kneeling in Breath of the Wild
Context of Kneeling Actions
In Breath of the Wild, kneeling is not a direct mechanic that you can map to a single button press. However, certain scenarios, such as interacting with statues, solving shrine riddles, or sneaking up on wildlife or enemies, require or benefit from Link being in a crouched or respectful pose. This is why some players search for how to kneel, especially when a quest instructs them to show respect or kneel before the altar.
Although it’s not a formal action, crouching serves as the game’s version of kneeling and is often used to fulfill these requirements. In the eyes of the game’s mechanics, crouching and kneeling are treated similarly in shrine-related events.
Specific Shrine Clues Involving Kneeling
One notable example is during the quest associated with the Statue’s Bargain, where the clue says something along the lines of kneel before me. This kind of riddle often leads players to try various interactions. In most of these puzzles, crouching in front of a statue, pedestal, or specific object is the intended solution.
How to Kneel (Crouch) in Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Basic Control to Crouch
If you want to crouch (which visually resembles kneeling), simply press the left joystick (L3) on your Nintendo Switch controller or Joy-Con. This makes Link go into a low crouching position, reducing his noise and visibility. You can move while crouching, and this posture is used heavily in stealth missions or when sneaking up on wild animals.
- To crouch: Press theL3(press down on the left stick).
- To stand up: PressL3again or start running.
This crouched stance is the closest available action to kneeling. It can be used during shrine puzzles or when roleplaying moments of reverence or prayer at statues across Hyrule.
Camera Angle for a Better View
If you want to get a more immersive look at Link while he’s crouching such as for screenshots or shrine interactions adjust the camera downward using the right joystick. This gives you a clearer view of Link’s posture and makes it easier to position him in front of specific shrine markers or statues when kneeling is required.
Quests and Shrines That Require Kneeling
The Statues’ Puzzles
Several shrine quests involve cryptic messages referencing respect or worship. These usually require you to kneel or perform an action that signifies submission or reverence. For example:
- The Test of Will: Requires patience and positioning, but some players experiment with crouching to trigger specific phases.
- The Crowned Beast: While not involving kneeling directly, it’s another example of an environmental interaction that is abstract and non-obvious.
- Kneeling Before Statues: At some ruins or Goddess statues, players may need to kneel to trigger hidden shrine reveals.
These interactions aren’t always clearly explained, so crouching in front of a statue is a safe bet when dealing with shrine riddles that mention honor or respect.
Using Crouch as a Ritual Gesture
When a clue instructs Link to ‘kneel before the light’ or ‘show reverence,’ try crouching at the correct time and location. Timing might also matter performing the action during a specific time of day (like sunrise or sunset) or under a specific environmental condition (like rain or thunder) can be part of the trigger.
Examples of ritual gestures involving crouching include:
- Crouching before a statue as the sun aligns with it.
- Crouching at the end of a path of light (reflected off water or a crystal).
- Kneeling on a marked pedestal during a blood moon.
Other Situations Where Crouching (Kneeling) Is Useful
Stealth and Hunting
Crouching isn’t just for shrine puzzles it’s a core part of stealth gameplay. Kneeling helps reduce the noise you make while walking. This is crucial for:
- Hunting wildlife like deer, birds, or boars without startling them.
- Approaching enemy camps undetected, especially when planning a sneak strike.
- Taking photos of elusive animals for your compendium.
Stealth armor, like the Sheikah set, enhances your crouch movement, making it even easier to sneak while kneeling or crawling slowly across terrain.
Climbing and Stamina Management
Though not exactly kneeling, some players use crouching in combination with climbing to regain control or slow down while navigating tricky terrain. While climbing, if you find a ledge, crouching allows you to regain stamina without alerting nearby enemies or sliding off edges.
Can You Emote or Gesture in Breath of the Wild?
While crouching is the closest thing to kneeling, Breath of the Wild doesn’t have a traditional emote system like other RPGs or MMOs. Link cannot perform gestures like bowing, praying, or sitting (outside of designated sitting spots like fires). Any action that mimics a respectful pose will need to be simulated using crouching, camera positioning, and context.
Common Misunderstandings About Kneeling
Not a Dedicated Feature
It’s worth repeating that kneeling is not a distinct command in the control scheme of Breath of the Wild. If you’re searching for how to kneel like in some cutscenes, those animations are restricted to story-driven events and not something players can perform freely.
Button Confusion
Some players mistakenly press the wrong buttons, expecting Link to perform a new gesture. Remember, crouch is mapped to the left joystick by default it’s not one of the triggers, and there’s no long-press variation. If your crouch isn’t working, double-check your control settings to ensure the mapping hasn’t changed.
While Zelda: Breath of the Wild doesn’t have a literal kneel function, crouching is the game’s version of that respectful posture. Whether you’re trying to solve shrine riddles, sneak through enemy territory, or show reverence at a sacred statue, pressing the left joystick to crouch is the key. Understanding how and when to crouch opens up deeper interactions with the world and helps you uncover secrets hidden across Hyrule. The next time a puzzle hints at kneeling, don’t overthink it crouch down, adjust your camera, and see what mysteries unfold.