TotK #10 – Lightning Temple

After a 3-month hiatus from The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, I continued my game earlier this month at the Lightning Temple. I had to move some mirrors around to reflect beams of light to different parts of the dungeon. It reminded me of the Spirit Temple in Ocarina of Time, although I think some other Zelda games have used a similar mechanic as well.

Using mirrors on statues to reflect a beam of light in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
This is where I really shined.

With Riju’s help, I had to charge four batteries to proceed through the dungeon. There were a variety of puzzles and traps throughout the temple, but the last battery I found was actually the easiest of them all. I don’t know how I missed it. 😛

I fought another battle with the Queen Gibdo (the flying mummy bug), and I ran out of arrows halfway through. Because of how Riju’s power works, I thought I needed arrows to continue. But I decided to press on, and with the help of my other companions, I beat the boss on the first try…even if it took longer than I’d hoped. With the boss defeated, Riju officially gave me her power, and I was advised to head back to Lookout Landing.

But, of course, I was in no rush. I decided to make my way to the Gerudo Canyon Skyview Tower. I had been there before, but wasn’t sure how to activate the tower. But this time, I approached it from a different angle (literally) and I finally figured it out.

Tower repairman: I've gone up...

It was well worth the weight (pun intended), and I have now activated all of the towers on the surface.

After some exploring, I tried to see if I was able to beat a Lynel or a Gleeok yet. I failed on both counts. 😛 As I continued my way (on foot) in the general direction of Lookout Landing, I spotted a chasm that I hadn’t investigated yet. So I dropped down into it…and boy, am I glad I did. After activating a lightroot, I found an abandoned mine…where I learned the Autobuild ability!!

The Autobuild ability in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

It allows me to automatically build things that I’ve built before with Ultrahand (as long as the materials are nearby). It remembers my previous creations, so this is going to be incredibly helpful!

Unfortunately, some members of the Yiga Clan were spying on me, so they learned it too? Even though they don’t have my magic monster hand or legendary hero/Triforce powers or whatever? I mean, seriously, how can they use it too? They can’t even open shrines or, you know, simple treasure chests without my magic fingerprints! So how they can use the most powerful ability in the game? 😛

But after they performed a little dance number, I had to fight Mr. Moneybags here.

Master Kohga, leader of the Yiga Clan.
“Cash me outside, how ’bout that?”

After defeating him, he headed off to another mine, while I acquired some schematics for an existing vehicle (a fanplane).

The Autobuild schematics for a fanplane.

I returned to Lookout Landing, and Josha gave me a schema stone that lets me autobuild a hot-air balloon. She told me to try it out on Robbie’s broken balloon, and I fixed it instantly.

Anyway, I told Purah the other news: That I’ve fully investigated all four of the regional phenomena. With the help of her telescope, we saw Princess Zelda at Hyrule Castle! It’s my job to check that out, of course, but I wasn’t ready for that just yet. 😛

There was a lot I want to do first! So I stocked up on arrows, I did some cooking, I completed a few side quests, and then I sought out the 4th great fairy. If I’m going into battle at the castle soon, I want to enhance my armor as much as I possibly can.

Once I figured out where the remaining fairy was, I had to help out the Stable Trotters again by fixing their wagon. Apparently, they refused to travel uncovered in the snow, so I simply put a roof on it. They’re still completely exposed to the snow and bitter cold, but they’re okay with it just because a plank of wood is over their head now. 😛

Mastro: Then please, let's go to the Great Fairy as soon as we can!

I towed them to the Great Fairy Mija, and they performed a song to wake her up. They announced they’re changing their group name from the Stable Trotters to the Stable Heroes, in honor of me. (Because I “saved” them by helping out, not because I saved the world or anything.) 😛

Mastro: In honor of this genuine hero, let us be known as...the Stable Heroes!

Anyway, I can now enhance my clothes to the maximum. And I did enhance a lot of it, but I still need many more materials to enhance everything.

While exploring the Hebra Mountains, I encountered a giant skeleton of some huge creature! I used Ultrahand to put two bones back in place, and I heard the classic “puzzle solved” jingle…but then nothing happened. This must be for a side quest that I haven’t been asked to complete yet. No bones about it.

A giant fossilized skeleton in the Hebra Mountains of TotK.

At this point, I think I’ll wrap up this entry with a status update. Unfortunately, I haven’t unlocked my map completion percentage or side quest counter yet, but here’s my other info. I’ve played about 115 hours to this point.

My TotK stats as of January 19, 2024.

My shrine count is up to 66 (from 61 last time), lightroots up to 39 (from 37), and Korok seeds up to 95 (from 67). I’m low on bells rupees though, since I spent a lot upgrading my gear with the Great Fairy. Here’s my Hyrule Compendium progress:

  • Creatures: 64/92 (up from 61)
  • Monsters: 87/110 (up from 83)
  • Materials: 97/126 (up from 96)
  • Equipment: 106/175 (up from 102)
  • Treasure: 6/6

I’ll definitely head to Hyrule Castle next time! And plenty of other places, too. See you again soon, most likely! 🙂