Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom - Great Sky Island Guide

Check out what you can expect in the Great Sky Island starting area in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

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The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Great Sky Island is a majestic region that you'll explore early in the campaign. You'll learn important mechanics and systems that will become integral throughout your journey. Here's our guide to help you with the Great Sky Island starting area in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Great Sky Island overview

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Great Sky Island consists of several landmasses, with four Shrines that you'll visit as part of the main quest. Once you regain control of Link in the Room of Awakening, continue to the Temple of Time beyond. There, a Zonai by the name of Rauru will talk to you. He'll tell you about the Shrines in this region, and you'll be on your way to visit each one.

Ukouh Shrine

You'll make use of the Ultrahand, the first ability that you'll acquire in the game. It lets you grab objects, so you can lift, rotate, move, realign, and attach them. The Shrine itself tasks you with finding ways to reach ledges and cross gaps. You'll do this by attaching boards to hooks, or combining platforms to make bridges.

The Ultrahand's grab and attach actions let you make your own platforms.
The Ultrahand's grab and attach actions let you make your own platforms.

In-Isa Shrine

You'll then head to In-Isa Shrine to the west. Along the way, you'll use a board that can travel along a rail, and a sailboat to cross the river. In In-Isa Shrine, however, you'll learn how to Fuse.

This ability lets you combine a weapon or shield with another type, or a material, thereby increasing its effectiveness in combat. In this particular area, though, your Fused weapons will break apart and destroy obstacles.

Fuse turns weak and decayed weapons into useful items, such as boulder attachments that break obstacles.
Fuse turns weak and decayed weapons into useful items, such as boulder attachments that break obstacles.

Gutanbac Shrine

The next area in the Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Great Sky Island is Gutanbac Shrine, which is all the way to the east. It's going to be quite a trek, where you can expect the following:

  • Build a boat with a Zonai Fan attached so you can cross the lake. This is also where you're told about the Energy Cell, a battery that's slowly depleted when Zonai Devices are actively being powered.
  • You'll venture into a couple of mines, where you'll learn about the Zonaite material and its uses.
  • Upon returning to the overworld area, you'll realize that it's extremely cold. This is where you'll pick up and cook Spicy Peppers, which will keep you warm. Remember this particular area, as this is where you'll eventually farm Spicy Peppers to prepare for later adventures.

As for Gutanbac Shrine itself, it's where you'll receive Ascend. This power lets Link phase through solid matter, eventually ending up on a higher platform or ledge.

The weather is extremely cold as you're heading to Gutanbac Shrine, so make sure you've eaten your Spicy Peppers.
The weather is extremely cold as you're heading to Gutanbac Shrine, so make sure you've eaten your Spicy Peppers.

The Closed Door

After clearing Gutanbac Shrine, you'll notice a Zonai Device Dispenser. These objects have a limited selection pool of Zonai Devices that you can obtain in exchange for Zonai Charges. For now, though, the Wings will let you glide all the way back to the Temple of Time where Rauru awaits. Unfortunately, Link doesn't have the strength to open the door yet. As such, Rauru suggests going to a fourth Shrine.

Stand in the center of the plane to steady it, then move to its wings or tip to make it do a steep dive in that direction.
Stand in the center of the plane to steady it, then move to its wings or tip to make it do a steep dive in that direction.

Nachoyah Shrine

The Nachoyah Shrine is just above the Room of Awakening where you started the campaign. You'll use the Recall/Rewind ability, which temporarily slows down time and resets the position of objects. For instance, the water wheel can move clockwise instead of counter-clockwise, allowing you to reach a higher ledge.

As for Nachoyah Shrine itself, the main puzzle involves a door that will only open if the two hands of the clock are in the same position. With this in mind, use Rewind to adjust the position of either hand, before letting the objects move normally. Once you see them overlap, target them with Rewind once more, keeping the door open for a prolonged period.

Use Rewind to make both clock hands overlap.
Use Rewind to make both clock hands overlap.

With the fourth Shrine completed, Link should be able to open the door in the Temple of Time. Beyond, you'll simply need to use your newfound abilities to reach the end of the raised platform. Rauru will bid you goodbye as well, though you could always return to this area whenever you please.

This marks the conclusion of the Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Great Sky Island tutorial phase. From this point, you'll skydive down to Hyrule's Lookout Landing, which will act as your hub. The game will also open up, allowing you to visit regions to do the main quests in any order that you please. However, you might want to know where you should go to first, as the game nudges you a bit.

There are numerous mechanics and facets to learn in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. For more information, you can visit our guides hub.

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