Dondons: The Secret to Gem-Making in Zelda's Tears of the Kingdom

Link will encounter a variety of new creatures in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. From the friendly Forge and Steward Constructs to the ferocious Gloom Hands, the game offers an exciting range of adversaries. Additionally, players will come across a new animal species known as the Dondon while exploring the wilderness. These massive, ox-like creatures are valuable allies for Link, as they possess the unique ability to transform luminous stone into precious gems such as diamonds, zoanite, amber, opals, and more.

Link can receive a quest from Penn the Pelican Rito at the Lakeside Stable in Tears of the Kingdom. The quest involves investigating some nearby creatures that have made their home on the other side of the lake. The stable-dwellers are feeling nervous about the new creatures, which Link can learn about by chatting with Penn. The Lakeside Stable is located just north of the Joju-u-u Shrine.

Link can come across docile glowing ox-like creatures called Dondons if he crosses the lake. The NPC in the area reveals that she fed them luminous stones which resulted in the appearance of gems later. In Tears of the Kingdom, players can also convert their luminous stones into gems by simply feeding them to the Dondons and waiting for some time.

How Dondons Turn Luminous Stones into Gems in Tears of the Kingdom

To obtain the luminous stones, players must hold them in Link's hands. This can be done by following the same process as when cooking up Tears of the Kingdom recipes. After pressing the + button to open the menu, navigate to the Materials menu by pressing L or R. Scroll down until the stones are visible, then press X. Collect as many stones as desired by repeatedly pressing A until Link's arms are full. To exit the menu, press B. Finally, press A to drop the stones.

Players can store up to five luminous stones in each Dondon's belly. After feeding them, it's best to wait a couple of in-game days before returning to collect the gems. Alternatively, players can rest by the cooking fire near the Dondons to speed up the process. Once the gems are ready, they will be found on the ground where the Dondons were fed. In exchange for the five stones, players can receive one of the following:

3x amber 2x rubies 1x sapphire 4x zonaite 1x diamond

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is available for Nintendo Switch.