Ever walked past a waterfall in Breath of the Wild and wondered if something was hiding behind it? In Lanayru Promenade, something is. Dow Na’eh Shrine is tucked away back there, and it’s one of the friendliest puzzle shrines for practicing Magnesis.
This guide covers where to find it, how to solve the “Three Boxes” trial, and what you’ll walk away with. (If you’re new to the game, don’t worry. I’ll explain every term as we go.)
Dow Na’eh Shrine Location and Overview
Before the puzzle, you have to find the entrance. It’s hidden, which is why a lot of players run right past it. Here’s what you need to know:
- Shrine Name: Dow Na’eh Shrine, with the trial title “Three Boxes.”
- Region: Guides file it under the Hateno region, but the physical spot is in Lanayru Promenade.
- Landmark: Look east (and a little north) of the Dueling Peaks Tower, on the south side of the Promenade.
- Entrance: It’s behind a waterfall. Look to the right of the falls to find a tunnel that leads back to the shrine.
- Required Ability: Magnesis, the Sheikah Slate rune that lets you pick up and move metal objects.
Quick beginner note: you get Magnesis early on, during the Great Plateau tutorial shrines. If you’ve left the Plateau, you already have it.
Lore-wise, shrines like this one are ancient Sheikah trials. Each houses a monk who waits to bless a hero worthy of the challenge. Dow Na’eh is one of those waiting monks.
(Pro tip: before you step into the shrine proper, mine the luminous stone in the cave. It’s an easy bit of free loot and you’re already standing right next to it.)
Dow Na’eh Shrine Puzzle Solution: Step by Step
The goal is simple. You need to get three metal treasure chests onto the large pressure plate (the giant floor button) in the center of the room. Here’s the step-by-step:
- Step 1: Enter the shrine and walk to the central pressure plate. Stand on it and look down and to the right to spot the first chest in the water.
- Step 2: Equip Magnesis, lock onto the chest, and lift it out of the water. Set it down on the pressure plate and open it.
- Step 3: Look above and to the left of the button to find the second chest. It’s hanging from ropes.
- Step 4: Cut the ropes with an arrow (or a boomerang, if you have one). The chest drops into the water below.
- Step 5: Use Magnesis to fish the second chest out and place it on the pressure plate.
- Step 6: Hop across to the nearby pathway. The third chest is riding on a platform that rises and falls.
- Step 7: Pull the third chest off the platform with Magnesis and drop it on the pressure plate with the others.
Here’s what the stats actually mean: the pressure plate only reacts to weight, and three chests is the magic number. Once all three are on it, a gate slides open across the room.
Some walkthroughs describe the second chest’s position a little differently. If you don’t see it right away, scan the room’s upper areas and the moving platform. The solution is the same either way: get all three chests onto the plate.
Part Two: Getting to the Monk
The chests are only half the shrine. Now you need to reach Dow Na’eh himself, and that takes a bit of clever block work.
- Step 8: Head through the newly opened gate. You’ll find a large metal block waiting for you.
- Step 9: Use Magnesis to lift the block and set it on the rising and falling platform.
- Step 10: Step onto the stationary platform or ledge nearby and ride the platform up. Hop off at the top while the block rides along.
- Step 11: Wait for the platform to lower again. When it does, jump down onto the top of the block.
- Step 12: Ride the block up a second time, then climb off onto the uppermost walkway.
- Step 13: Run over and speak to the monk, Dow Na’eh, to claim your Spirit Orb.
(Pro tip: if you miss the timing, don’t panic. The platform loops constantly, so you can simply wait for the next cycle.)
Quick beginner note: a Spirit Orb is the currency you collect from shrine monks. You’ll trade them at Goddess Statues for permanent upgrades.
Rewards and Benefits
This shrine pays out well for a short puzzle. Each chest holds something different, and the monk adds the main prize.
| Reward | Where You Get It | Why It’s Useful |
|---|---|---|
| Chunk of Opal | First chest (in the water) | A gem for cooking and selling. |
| Zora Sword | Second chest (the roped chest) | A solid weapon for fighting. |
| Chunk of Amber | Third chest (the moving platform) | A gem to sell or hold for later. |
| Spirit Orb | Monk Dow Na’eh | Trade at a Goddess Statue for a Heart Container or Stamina Vessel. |
The Spirit Orb is the real prize. Four of them buy you a permanent upgrade, so every shrine you clear moves you closer to more hearts or stamina.
Pro Tips for Dow Na’eh Shrine
- Bring Arrows: You need an arrow or a similar ranged option to cut the second chest’s ropes. Check your inventory before you go in.
- Mine First: Grab the luminous stone in the cave on your way in so you don’t forget it.
- Watch the Water: Two of the chests end up in or near the water. Lock on carefully with Magnesis so you don’t lose track of them.
- Time the Platform: Watch one full cycle of the rising platform before you commit. It makes the block jumps much smoother.
- Keep Your Stamina Up: Climbing off the block onto the top walkway can drain stamina, so don’t start those moves on empty.
- Use the Tower: Warp to the Dueling Peaks Tower if you’ve activated it. It puts you close to the waterfall.
(Pro tip: once you finish here, open your map and check your shrine locations. The next nearest shrine is often only a short trip away.)
Why Dow Na’eh Shrine Matters
On paper, “Three Boxes” is a small puzzle. In practice, it’s a great lesson in using Magnesis creatively. You pull, drop, and ride metal objects to solve problems the game never explains outright.
Lore-wise, it also reflects how the Sheikah designed their trials. Each one tests a skill you’ll need out in Hyrule, and this one tests physics and patience.
You’ll walk away with some gems, a Zora Sword, and a Spirit Orb. That’s a pretty good return for a few minutes of work.
Did you spot the waterfall entrance on your own, or did you need a hint? Drop your Dow Na’eh story in the comments, and tell me which shrine you want covered next.
