BotW Robbie's Research: Show Your Scars, Carry the Blue Flame
Robbie's Research in Breath of the Wild: how it starts, how to show Robbie your scars, and how to carry the blue flame from Tumlea Heights to the Akkala lab.
Robbie’s Research is a side quest in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Purah of the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab has an old colleague, Robbie, who studies Guardians at the far end of Akkala. He built a machine that turns ancient materials into ancient soldier gear, the ancient oven, but it has stopped working, and he needs you to bring a blue flame over from the Ancient Furnace. Until you do, the lab will not make ancient arrows, the Ancient Short Sword or any of the other anti-Guardian gear. For the full list of side quests see the side quest list.
| Quest giver | Purah (Hateno Ancient Tech Lab) |
| Destination | Akkala Ancient Tech Lab (Show on map) |
| Prerequisite | Main quest Locked Mementos |
| What you need | A torch |
| Reward | Ancient Arrow x3; the ancient oven opens for business |
How do you start Robbie’s Research?
In the main quest Locked Mementos you carry the blue flame to the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab and Purah fixes the Sheikah Slate. Afterward she adds one more request:
“Oh, yeah! There’s just one more thing I need from you! You don’t have to worry about this until after you see Impa, but I want you to bring me back some ancient materials! Bring them either to me or to Robbie at the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab.”
That starts the quest. The Akkala Ancient Tech Lab is in the far northeast of the map, on high ground at the northern tip of Akkala.
How do you show Robbie your scars?
Go into the lab and examine the ancient oven inside; Robbie and his assistant Jerrin pop up. Robbie peers at you:
“Are you…the one called…Link?”
Answer “Yes.” and he wants proof:
“If you can show me the wounds your body suffered 100 years ago, that should prove you are truly Link.”
It is simple: take off your body armor and talk to him again (take off all three pieces if you want to be safe). He accepts it:
“Hm? Hm! Hmm… Yes, the number of scars on your body…just as I remember. Most seem to have healed, but they do line up with the scars I know you got during the Great Calamity 100 years ago.”
He then talks at length about defeating the Calamity, and finally explains the problem: his “Cherry”, the ancient oven, is out of sorts and cannot make ancient soldier gear. To fix it:
“An ancient furnace can be simply described as a singular place that gathers massive amounts of energy. Get the blue flame from Tumlea Heights, put it in the furnace, and then Cherry… I mean…the ancient oven will be fixed.”
Where do you get the blue flame?
- Get a torch. There is one in the lab; take it if you have none.
- Head west to Tumlea Heights. The Ancient Furnace is on Tumlea Heights west of the lab (Show on map): a huge split rock with a blue glow inside.
- Light the torch. Hold the torch up to the Ancient Furnace and it catches the blue flame.
How do you carry the blue flame back?
The walk is not long. The hard part is keeping the flame alive:
- Light the stone lanterns. A line of roofed stone lanterns runs between the Ancient Furnace and the lab. Light each one as you pass. If the torch goes out later, relight it at the nearest lit lantern instead of going back to the furnace.
- Watch for rain. It rains often in Akkala and rain puts out the torch. The lanterns have roofs and stay lit in the rain, so light one as soon as rain looks likely.
- Watch for monsters. Moblins and other monsters stand along the route; you can clear them first and carry the flame afterward.
- Putting the torch away reportedly puts the flame out, so avoid climbing, gliding and anything else that stows your weapon.
At the lab, light the furnace outside the door with the blue flame. It lights up blue, and the lab becomes a travel gate: “Akkala Ancient Tech Lab has been added to your map as a travel gate.”
What is the reward?
Go in and talk to Robbie. At first he thinks his love got Cherry working; once he learns you lit the furnace, he hands over a gift:
“Now then, please take this as a gift of my gratitude now that Cherry is fixed!”
The reward is Ancient Arrow x3, and the quest is complete.
What does the ancient oven make?
From now on, give the ancient oven ancient materials and rupees in exchange for ancient soldier gear:
“In addition to ancient arrows, Cherry can make all kinds of ancient soldier gear. If you’re looking to acquire some, give your ancient materials…and rupees…to Cherry.”
An Ancient Arrow is 90 rupees, Ancient Arrow x3 is 250 and x5 is 400; weapons such as the Ancient Short Sword, Ancient Shield and Ancient Bow are 1,000 rupees each, and everything also takes ancient materials. For the full price list and materials see ancient materials, and for the armor see the Ancient set.
Related guides
- Ancient materials: where the Guardians are and what each piece of ancient gear costs.
- Guardians: where ancient materials come from.
- Sheikah Slate runes: Purah’s other request, Slated for Upgrades.
- Side quest list: all 76 side quests, by region.
Video walkthrough
FAQ
How do you start Robbie's Research?
How do you show Robbie your scars?
Where is the blue flame?
What if the rain puts out the flame?
What is the reward for Robbie's Research?
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