The Ultimate Guide to Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom's 7 Thrilling Dungeons

Players will once again experience the dungeons-mechanic from Breath of the Wild in Tears of the Kingdom, but this time they will explore Temples alongside one of Link's allies. Completing these Temples is crucial for main quests, and they are easy to find as long as players follow the story. With a total of seven dungeons, Tears of the Kingdom offers more exploration than its predecessor's four dungeons/Divine Beasts. Each dungeon requires the activation of multiple switches or locks before facing the Temple Boss, and completing them rewards Link with a Heart Container. The open-world gameplay allows players to tackle the first four Temples in any order they prefer. Spoilers await those who venture too far ahead in the game.

7 Wind Temple

Once players complete the tutorial mode in Tears of the Kingdom, they are encouraged to explore Lookout Landing. Here, Link will receive the paraglider from Purah and a hint to investigate the mysterious events in Rito Village. This leads to the "Regional Phenomena" questline, a crucial part of the game. If players choose to visit Rito Village first, they will meet Tulin, who offers the "Tulin of Rito Village" quest. Completing this quest leads to the Wind Temple and further adventures in the game.

Although players can save the Wind Temple for later in their quest, it's recommended to complete this one as soon as possible if only for the Vow of Tulin. Getting to the Wind Temple requires the use of Ascend, the paraglider, and Tulin's Gust Ability.

6 Fire Temple

The Fire Temple is located in The Depths of Hyrule and can be accessed after meeting Yunobo in Goron City. Following the main quest will lead players to climb Death Mountain and face a miniboss named Moragia. Yunobo's Ability and a Zonai-powered Fanplane are needed for this battle. From there, players must jump into the Death Mountain Chasm to reach the Fire Temple. The temple has scorching temperatures, so it's important to wear flame-resistant armor like the Flamebreaker Armor sold in Goron City. The Vow of Yunobo is useful for breaking rock walls and blazing through enemies, making it a great follow-up to the Wind Temple.

5 Water Temple

The Water Temple is one of the four temples that are situated in the sky alongside the other Sky Islands. To reach it, Link needs to wear his Zora Armor. The "Sidon of the Zora" quest unlocks the Water Temple, but to get there, Link must swim up a waterfall from the East Reservoir Lake.

Players of BotW may be tempted to tackle the Water Temple once they have the "Regional Phenomena" quest, but it's best to leave it for last or second-to-last. The Sludge Like, a mini-boss that Link and Sidon must defeat before the Water Temple, can be a tough challenge for players who are new to the game or who have weak weapons and armor. If players are struggling with the Sludge Like, they are probably not prepared for the Water Temple.

4 Lightning Temple

The Lightning Temple presents the ultimate challenge to players in "Riju of Gerudo Town." But before gaining entry, Link must first locate Riju and the Gerudo and defend Gerudo Town against the Gibdos. Then, players must solve a desert puzzle and acquire level 1 cold and heat-resistant armor. Once inside the temple, players must charge four batteries to activate the temple's elevator and confront the formidable Queen Gibdo.

3 Hyrule Castle

When it comes to tackling the Lightning Temple in Breath of the Wild, players may want to consider waiting until later in their playthrough. The harsh conditions of the Gerudo desert can be a challenge for those without proper weather-protective gear, and the Gibdos within the temple can only be defeated with elemental weapons like Ice Fruit or Shock Fruit. However, some players may choose to take on the temple early in order to obtain the Vow of Riju, which is highly effective thanks to its area of effect and makes defeating Gibdos a breeze.

BotW veterans will be familiar with Hyrule Castle's interior, but for those new to TotK, navigating the floating and gloomy castle can be a challenge. Unlike the traditional dungeons, completing the "Crisis at Hyrule Castle" quest requires players to move between floors in pursuit of Zelda, who appears and disappears throughout the castle. However, players should be warned that the monsters summoned by Zelda are formidable opponents, and it's recommended to wait until acquiring all four Sages before attempting this main quest. Once Link reaches the Sanctum, he'll discover the true culprit behind the chaos in TotK and must defeat Phantom Ganondorf before moving on to the next phase of the campaign at Lookout Landing.

2 Construct Factory

Reaching the Construct Factory is a challenging and time-consuming task as it necessitates unlocking and finishing the Thunderhead Islands first. However, it is the only way to seek assistance from Mineru, the fifth sage. Instead of manipulating locks and switches, players must gather four fragments of a Zonai machine to present to Mineru's Spirit. The puzzles in the Construct Factory demand creativity and imagination to solve.

As part of the main plotline, players will always encounter the Construct Factory after completing the "Crisis at Hyrule Castle" main quest. By the time they arrive at The Depths dungeon, they will have obtained all four Sage Vows. To complete Mineru's physical form at the Construct Factory, players must journey to the Spirit Temple, where the Seized Construct and Mineru's secret stone are located.

1 Hyrule Castle Chasm (Gloom's Lair, Forgotten Foundation)

Gloom's Lair is the ultimate challenge in Tears of the Kingdom, leading players to the Forgotten Foundation, Imprisoning Chambers, and eventually to the final showdown with Ganondorf. Located in the treacherous Chasm beneath Hyrule Castle, this dungeon is not for the faint of heart. While completing the "Master Kohga of the Yiga Clan" side quest can provide valuable information on Ganondorf's whereabouts, brave adventurers can also stumble upon the Chasm by chance. With the paraglider in hand, players can access this perilous area at any time.

Venturing into Hyrule Castle Chasm without proper equipment is a perilous undertaking. The area is rife with gloom monsters and patches, making it much more challenging to traverse than Hyrule Castle or The Depths. Unlike other dungeons, there are no puzzles to solve here. Instead, it serves as a test of Link's strength and endurance before facing Ganondorf as the ultimate challenge in TotK. As such, it is highly recommended that players come prepared with armor, weapons, gloom-replenishing meals, and the Sage Vows before attempting this daunting feat. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is now available on the Nintendo Switch.