TL;DR
- Great Sky Island introduces core mechanics through four essential shrines
- Master Ultrahand for creative construction and Fuse for weapon enhancement
- Environmental hazards require strategic preparation and resource management
- Zonai Devices and Energy Cells enable complex puzzle solutions
- Proper shrine completion establishes foundation for entire game journey
Discover everything awaiting you in the Great Sky Island starting zone of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. This majestic floating realm serves as your initial playground where fundamental game systems are introduced through hands-on experience.
The Great Sky Island represents your first major exploration area in the campaign, where you’ll master mechanics that become absolutely essential throughout your entire adventure. Our comprehensive guide ensures you maximize learning while minimizing frustration in this critical tutorial region.
Comprising multiple interconnected landmasses suspended above Hyrule, this zone features four distinct Shrines that form the backbone of your main quest progression. After awakening in the Room of Awakening and taking control of Link, proceed directly to the Temple of Time where you’ll encounter Rauru, an ancient Zonai being. He provides crucial guidance about the Shrines scattered across this aerial domain, setting you on your path to conquer each challenge.
Your journey begins with mastering the Ultrahand ability, the first major power you acquire. This revolutionary tool enables you to manipulate objects with precision – lifting, rotating, repositioning, and connecting them to create custom solutions. The initial Shrine challenges focus on leveraging this ability to overcome environmental obstacles like unreachable ledges and impassable gaps.
Creative construction becomes your primary tool for progression. You’ll learn to attach wooden planks to hooks, combine multiple platforms into sturdy bridges, and engineer makeshift vehicles. Many players underestimate the Ultrahand’s versatility – experiment with different material combinations to discover unexpectedly effective solutions.
The Ultrahand’s grab and attach actions let you make your own platforms.
Venturing westward to In-Isa Shrine introduces the game-changing Fuse system. Along your route, you’ll utilize specialized transportation including rail-guided platforms and river-crossing sailboats. Inside In-Isa Shrine, you’ll master weapon enhancement through fusion.
Fuse transforms mediocre equipment into formidable tools by combining weapons or shields with complementary items or materials. This dramatically increases combat effectiveness and durability. In this specific region, fused weapons gain the additional capability to shatter environmental barriers and obstacles.
Fuse turns weak and decayed weapons into useful items, such as boulder attachments that break obstacles.
Pro tip: Always fuse boulders to weapons when exploring areas with breakable rocks – the efficiency gain is substantial compared to using weapons alone.
Your next destination, Gutanbac Shrine, lies far to the eastern reaches of the island. This expedition presents significant challenges that test your growing skills:
The weather is extremely cold as you’re heading to Gutanbac Shrine, so make sure you’ve eaten your Spicy Peppers.
Environmental conditions pose serious threats during your eastern trek. Frigid temperatures demand thermal protection – consume Spicy Peppers before departure to gain cold resistance. Many players fail to prepare adequately and find themselves forced to retreat or face rapid health depletion.
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.
Vehicle control requires precise weight distribution. Position yourself at the aircraft’s center for stable flight, then shift toward wing edges or nose sections to execute controlled dives. Mastering this technique early pays dividends throughout your adventure.
Use Rewind to make both clock hands overlap.
The Rewind ability proves invaluable for temporal puzzles. Synchronize moving components by reversing their trajectories – a skill that becomes increasingly important in later game challenges.
Success on the Great Sky Island hinges on strategic preparation and efficient resource management. Cold areas demand either consumable items like Spicy Peppers or appropriate gear – neglecting this preparation ranks among the most common beginner mistakes.
Zonai Device optimization requires understanding energy consumption patterns. High-power devices drain Energy Cells rapidly, so plan usage around available recharge opportunities. Consider building redundant systems for critical transportation needs.
Time allocation for shrine completion varies significantly based on player experience. Newcomers should budget 45-60 minutes per shrine, while veterans might complete them in 20-30 minutes. Don’t rush the learning process – these skills form your foundation for the entire game.
Advanced players can experiment with unconventional Ultrahand constructions. Try creating multi-stage vehicles or complex mechanical contraptions – the system rewards creativity beyond basic requirements.
Common pitfalls include underestimating environmental hazards, overlooking fusion combinations, and mismanaging Energy Cells. Regularly check your inventory for new fusion possibilities and always scout ahead for environmental challenges before committing to routes.
Action Checklist
- Master Ultrahand object manipulation and creative construction
- Learn Fuse combinations for weapon enhancement and obstacle destruction
- Prepare thermal protection using Spicy Peppers before eastern expeditions
- Construct and master Zonai-powered vehicles with Energy Cell management
- Complete all four shrines to establish core gameplay foundation
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