Mozo Shenno Shrine – A Major Test of Strength Walkthrough

Where is Mozo Shenno Shrine?

The shrine hides in a small cave beneath the Biron Snowshelf in the Hebra Mountains, and it is easiest to find via the Shrine Quest “The Bird in the Mountains”. Talk to Molli in Rito Village to hear her grandpa’s story: he stopped at a big tree while climbing, looked northwest, and saw a huge snow-white bird with its wings spread. Molli always gets sleepy right before the best part, but she does point you to that tree — the big cedar atop Talonto Peak. Climb up to it, glide northwest with your paraglider, and you will spot the shrine’s cave in the snowshelf, which resembles the spread-winged bird; aim for its ‘belly’. Touching the shrine gate completes the Shrine Quest. You can also skip the story entirely and discover the cave on your own.

What should you bring?

Magnesis is the key rune here, but gear matters just as much: this trial is designated A Major Test of Strength, so make sure you are properly equipped before entering. The opponent is a Guardian Scout IV wielding an Ancient Battle Axe++, a Guardian Sword++ and a Guardian Spear++, and you must defeat it to progress. Pack healing food, and buffing dishes as well if you tend to take a lot of damage.

Video walkthrough

Mozo Shenno Shrine — YouTube

How do you solve Mozo Shenno Shrine?

This arena has no columns to hide behind — so you raise your own: the metal blocks embedded in the floor lift partway with Magnesis, and a scout that crashes into one mid-spin is stunned and open for attack.

1. Enter the Arena and Face Guardian Scout IV

Step inside and the monk Mozo Shenno greets you, offering a combat trial in the name of the Goddess Hylia. The shrine is one large central chamber that acts as the arena.

Walk toward the center of the arena and a Guardian Scout IV rises from a pit to challenge you, wielding an Ancient Battle Axe++, a Guardian Sword++ and a Guardian Spear++.

Take stock of the room: this arena has no columns to hide behind when the scout uses its spin-and-charge attack — instead, metal blocks are embedded in the floor of the chamber.

2. Defeat Guardian Scout IV

Aim Magnesis at one of the metal blocks and pull it up partway — it cannot be pulled all the way out of its spot into the air, but raised partway it serves the same function as a column.

Keep the raised block between you and the scout and pick your moments to strike — you must defeat the Guardian Scout IV to move on.

When the scout winds up its spin-and-charge attack, reposition so your raised block stands directly in its path.

If the scout slams into the raised block mid-spin, it is stunned and open for attack — that crash is the entire point of the block.

Punish the stun window with your strongest weapon, then fall back behind the block and repeat.

If you take a lot of damage during the fight, heal up — this is exactly what the healing and buffing foods you brought are for.

Once the scout is destroyed, pick up any of its dropped gear you want before moving on.

3. Open the Chest and Receive the Spirit Orb

With the scout defeated, the portcullis at the back of the chamber opens; head through toward the Monk’s Pedestal and open the stone chest there for a Diamond.

Approach Mozo Shenno at the pedestal to receive your Spirit Orb — the monk wishes you well (‘May the Goddess smile upon you’) and fades away, completing the trial.

What is in the chest?

What do people miss here?

• Finding the entrance is the real puzzle: the shrine hides in a small cave under the Biron Snowshelf, a formation shaped like a snow-white bird with its wings spread. Glide northwest from the cedar atop Talonto Peak and aim for the bird’s ‘belly’ — the very thing Molli’s grandpa spotted in his story. Touching the shrine gate completes The Bird in the Mountains Shrine Quest.
• Don’t waste time trying to yank the metal blocks fully out of the floor — they only lift partway, so you can’t drop one on the scout’s head. Raised partway, they still stop the spin-and-charge attack cold.
• The Diamond is in a stone chest behind the portcullis, past the arena and just before the monk — it’s easy to beeline straight to Mozo Shenno after the fight and walk past it.
• Don’t leave the arena without picking up the scout’s dropped ++ weapons — you are free to take any of its gear.
• Molli never finishes her story (she gets sleepy right at the important part and doesn’t remember what the bird swallowed), but she does know where the big cedar tree is and points you to the one atop Talonto Peak.

What else is nearby?

Which guides help next?

• All BotW shrine locations
• How to find shrines
• Tears of the Kingdom vs Breath of the Wild