Lynels return to the fields of Hyrule in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, posing a significant challenge to players at any level. These lion-centaur hybrid creatures are the strongest non-boss enemies that players can seek out in the game. Taking on powerful weapons and deadly fire, daring players have discovered a total of 34 Lynels throughout the game.
Fighting Lynels in TotK
For players of Breath of the Wild, Lynels will operate very much the same way in Tears of the Kingdom. Once a Lynel has spotted Link, it will run circles around him, attempting to strike with its weapon or charging with its body.
They will also use a powerful Lynel Bow if Link manages to get out of melee weapon range. If it fires its arrows into the air, they will still track Link's position for a while before raining down on him, so it is wise for players to continuously be on guard.
Lynels are able to exhale a powerful blast of fire at will. If there isn't already a distance between it and Link, the Lynel will leap backward to prep its fire attack. It can also release a mighty roar from its mouth to destroy any Zonai Devices players may bring into the fight.
Sword and Shield
Many Lynels will carry a sword and shield into battle, allowing them to attack and defend. These types of Lynel will rely heavily on circling and slashing.
Two-Handed Weapon
Some Lynels will wield a large two-handed weapon such as a claymore. Weapons such as these allow the Lynel to perform spin attacks to strike their immediate surroundings, especially if Link gets too close.
Halberd
Other Lynels will carry a halberd or spear-type weapon, giving them a much longer reach. These Lynels also gain the ability to leap high into the air and slam down to create a fiery shockwave.
How to Beat Lynels TotK
If players can perform a strong enough critical hit to the Lynel's head, it will drop to its knee and become vulnerable. It's also at this time that players can easily mount the back of a Lynel and strike several times before getting bucked off. Attacking the Lynel in this way will do damage without depleting any weapon durability.
As a defense mechanism, players can use Puffshrooms to limit a Lynel's sight and avoid detection for a while. With Lynels being impervious to all other stun mechanics, such as freezing or shocking, this can give players enough time to plan their next attack or to simply get a break.
Puffshrooms can be found all throughout The Depths, usually around the base of trees. Throwing them or attaching them to arrows will cause them to burst on impact, creating a large smokescreen of spores.
If needed, players are also able to use an Ancient Blade to immediately win the fight against a Lynel. As with all non-boss monsters, an arrow equipped with an Ancient Blade will warp the Lynel from reality, along with any drops the player would have received for defeating it.
How to Get the Lynel Mask in TotK
Just like in Breath of the Wild, players are able to obtain a hand-made mask resembling a Lynel. In Tears of the Kingdom, players are able to get the Lynel Mask by trading Bubbul Gems with the odd character Koltin. Link will need to find a total of 38 Bubbul Gems to get his hands on this helmet.
Wearing the 
Lynel Mask will allow players to approach Lynels without fear of being attacked on sight. However, as they are highly intelligent creatures, Lynels will eventually figure out that Link is not truly one of them and will begin to fight. That said, it is possible that the Lynel may pick a fight with any companions Link may have with him before seeing through the player's disguise.
TotK Lynel Locations on Hyrule's Surface
On the surface of Hyrule, there are 15 spots that Lynels can be found. The map above and the coordinates below illustrate the base level for Lynels that can be found at each location. As players progress through the game and increase the level of their world, more powerful versions, up to a Silver Lynel, can spawn in their place.
Red-Maned Lynel // Lake Illumeni (-3379, 0020, 0092)
Red-Maned Lynel // Tabantha Hills (-2150, 1537, 0218)
Red-Maned Lynel // Lindor's Brow (-2150, 1537, 0218)
Red-Maned Lynel // West Hyrule Plains (-1544, 0127, 0107)
Red-Maned Lynel // North Akkala Valley (3681, 2941, 0028)
Blue-Maned Lynel // Hebra West Summit (-4523, 2675, 0228)
Blue-Maned Lynel // Stalry Plateau (-1541, -2698, 0156)
Blue-Maned Lynel // Nautelle Wetlands (-0568, -3854, 0050)
Blue-Maned Lynel // Harfin Valley (0105, -3379, 0005)
Blue-Maned Lynel // Millennio Sandbar (1993, -0320, 0009)
Blue-Maned Lynel // Rabia Plain (2496, -0538, 0114)
Blue-Maned Lynel // Lanayru Heights (2653, -0927, 0227)
White-Maned Lynel // Risoka Snowfield (-4445, -1001, 0507)
White-Maned Lynel // Kamah Plateau (1472, -3053, 0205)
White-Maned Lynel // Ukuku Plains (3868, 0965, 0248)
TotK Lynel Locations in The Depths
In The Depths beneath Hyrule, there are another 15 locations where Lynels can spawn. Similar to the surface, the coordinates listed represent the base level of Lynel that can be found at each location. Like all monsters found in The Depths, the Lynels will be Gloom-Wreathed, allowing them to inflict major Gloom Damage on the player.
Additionally, other than the Lynel under Hyrule Castle and most Lynels in the Floating Coliseum, all Lynels will be covered in strong stone armor. Players will not be able to damage these Lynels until they break the armor away using crusher weapons such as hammers or explosions from Bomb Flowers, time bombs, or cannons.
For every Stable on the surface (except Tabantha Bridge Stable), there exists a Lynel underneath it in The Depths. This can help players more accurately pinpoint their locations in areas not yet illuminated by Lightroots.
White-Maned Lynel // Beneath Hyrule Castle (-0244, 0795, -1090)
Armored Red-Maned Lynel // Mu-ustust Lightroot (-1417, 1271, -0485)
Armored Red-Maned Lynel // Stakijat Lightroot (0254, -1182, -0472)
Armored Blue-Maned Lynel // Kimakarut Lightroot (-2801, -2241, -0482)
Armored Blue-Maned Lynel // U-u-ujoj Lightroot (1564, -3496, -0512)
Armored Blue-Maned Lynel // Anonisik Lightroot (2592, 1152, -0597)
Armored Blue-Maned Lynel // Gedihcayam Lightroot (3150, 1677, -0650)
Armored Blue-Maned Lynel // Ui-ihcoj Lightroot (4227, 2712, -0573)
Armored White-Maned Lynel // Muihcoro Lightroot (-1582, 2514,-0685)
Armored White-Maned Lynel // Kawakanis Lightroot (-1208, 0775, -0555)
Armored White-Maned Lynel // Kohsustu Lightroot (0483, -3464, -0500)
Armored White-Maned Lynel // Uihcoke Lightroot (1020, 1127, -0474)
Armored White-Maned Lynel // Korakut Lightroot (1063, -0288, -0466)
Armored White-Maned Lynel // Sohse Lightroot (1743, -1924, -0463)
Floating Coliseum (-1152, -1263, -0499)
Within the Floating Coliseum, there are five Lynels that players can fight in the following order: Red-Maned Lynel, Blue-Maned Lynel, White-Maned Lynel, Silver Lynel, Armored Silver Lynel. If players approach the chest at the center of the coliseum, the series of 1v1 battles will begin. If players are able to defeat all five Lynels, they can receive a rare and powerful armor piece.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is available for the Nintendo Switch.