Cave Guide — Exploration, Resources & Bubbulfrogs

Caves are TotK's primary new exploration zone — over 100 named caves spread across Hyrule's surface, each containing unique resources, enemies, and collectibles. Caves are where you find Bubbulfrogs, bulk ore deposits, rare materials, and some of the game's most unique hidden areas. This guide covers how to find and clear them efficiently.

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Finding Caves

Visual signs of a cave:

• A glowing blue entrance opening in a cliff face or hillside
• Vines or moss framing a dark entrance
• Sound: running water, bat noises, or deep echo sounds near cliff faces
• Torch smoke rising from a dark opening (some caves have Bokoblin inhabitants)

Sensor+ for caves: After unlocking Sensor+ from Robbie, you can set it to ping for nearby caves. This is the most reliable method for finding rural caves you'd otherwise walk past.

Map discovery: Caves appear on your map (small cave icon) once you're within ~50m of the entrance. Unexplored caves show as hollow icons; cleared caves fill in.

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Cave Resource Types

Ore Deposits

Caves are the primary source of all ore types:

• Standard ore (breakable with any weapon): Flint, Amber, Opal, Topaz nodes scattered throughout
• Rich ore clusters: Larger glowing formations with higher yield
• Luminous Stone: Blue-glowing ore, concentrated in Lanayru-area caves
• Zonaite (special): Green-glowing ore, only in Depths caves and sky island caves

Best ore caves:

• Lanayru Caves (east Hyrule) — Opal + Luminous Stone concentration
• Eldin volcanic caves — Ruby + Diamond nodes near heat zones
• Akkala Caves — variety drops, good Ruby and Topaz frequency

Food & Materials

Many caves have ground-level ingredient spawns:

• Mushrooms: Stamella, Endura, Silent, Razorshroom depending on region
• Lizards and frogs: Critical for elixir crafting — caves have dense spawn concentrations
• Fireproof Lizards: Exclusively in Eldin region caves — stock up here for fireproof elixirs
• Bladed Rhino Beetles: Forest caves (Necluda, Faron) — key for Mighty Elixir

Zonai Materials (Sky Island caves)

Sky island caves have:

• Zonaite ore (green glow)
• Zonai Device capsules in chests
• Brightbloom Seed clusters
• Bomb Flower growths near dark ceilings

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Bubbulfrogs — Cave Priority Targets

Bubbulfrogs are small green frogs that appear on cave walls (glowing green spots). Each cave has at most 1 Bubbulfrog. Defeating a Bubbulfrog drops a Bubbul Gem.

Bubbul Gems are traded to Koltin (near various stables) for exclusive rewards.

Finding Bubbulfrogs:

• They cling to cave walls and ceilings — look for green glow anywhere above ground level
• They make a soft croaking sound audible within 10m
• If you enter a cave and see the green glow, shoot immediately — they flee after a few seconds

Bubbulfrog priority caves: Caves with higher ceilings or multiple chambers are more likely to have Bubbulfrogs. Long cave systems (those that stretch 100+ meters) almost always have one.

See Bubbulfrog Guide for the full reward list from Koltin.

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Cave Types by Region

Forest Caves (Faron, Necluda, Korok Forest area)

Contents: Dense mushroom spawns, insects (Bladed Rhino Beetles, Sunset Fireflies), Stamella Shrooms, some Brightbloom Seeds.

Enemies: Horriblins (ceiling-dwelling monsters), occasional Bokoblin camps.

Unique: Faron's forest caves sometimes connect to shallow underground rivers with rare fish (Voltfin Trout, Mighty Carp).

Volcanic Caves (Eldin, Death Mountain)

Contents: Ruby, Diamond ore nodes, Smotherwing Butterflies, Fireproof Lizards.

Requirement: Flamebreaker Armor for deeper sections — fire damage zones near heat vents.

Enemies: Igneo Chuchus, Lizalfos (fire type), occasional Igneo Pebblit.

Unique: Some volcanic caves have lava tube sections accessible only with fire resistance. These contain the highest density of Ruby nodes.

Coastal / Lanayru Caves

Contents: Opal, Luminous Stone, Bright-cap mushrooms, underwater sections.

Requirement: Zora Armor for underwater chamber access.

Enemies: Electric Lizalfos, Horriblins, Blue Bokoblins.

Unique: Many Lanayru caves have flooded chambers that contain Korok Seeds at the bottom. Dive and check.

Snow Caves (Hebra, Snowfield)

Contents: Sunshroom, Star Fragment (rare chest drops), Frost Pebblit spawns.

Requirement: Cold resistance at Tier 2 for deep sections.

Enemies: Frost Lizalfos, Ice-type Chuchus, Bokoblins with ice weapons.

Unique: Hebra snow caves have ice-sealed chambers — fire weapons to melt ice doors for hidden rooms.

Depths Caves (underground)

Contents: Zonaite ore (exclusive), Construct material drops, ancient Zonai ruins.

Requirement: Brightbloom Seeds required (dark caves below Gloom zones are nearly pitch black).

Enemies: Construct enemies (Soldier/Captain tier), Frox.

Unique: Some Depths caves contain Autobuild schematic chests (unique blueprints not available elsewhere).

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High-Value Caves

Dragonhead Island Cave (Akkala, northeast coast)

Contents: Dragon Part in chest, Ruby nodes, Bubbulfrog. Access: Small island in the northeast sea — hoverbike or raft required. Value: One of the most resource-rich accessible caves — worth a dedicated trip.

Eldin Great Skeleton Cave (Death Mountain area)

Contents: Multiple Ruby and Diamond nodes, unique weapon chest. Access: Above normal Flamebreaker altitude — requires full Flamebreaker set + Fireproof Elixir. Value: Best Diamond farming cave in early-to-mid game.

Lindor's Brow Skyview Cave (Hyrule Ridge, sky)

Contents: Connected to sky island cave network with Zonaite and Bomb Flower clusters. Access: Via Hyrule Ridge Skyview Tower launch. Value: Efficient early Zonaite farm location on the surface sky islands.

Lanayru Wetlands Cave (Lanayru, multiple)

Contents: Opal clusters, Luminous Stone, Zora quest item materials. Access: Near Wetland Stable. Value: Best Opal farming circuit — 3 caves in close proximity with high Opal yield.

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Cave Clearing Strategy

Standard cave protocol:

1. Enter → throw Brightbloom Seed immediately for visibility
2. Scan ceiling for Bubbulfrog green glow → shoot if present
3. Mine all ore nodes (hit with any weapon — metal weapons are faster)
4. Check all alcoves and elevated sections for Korok Seeds and chests
5. Defeat any cave enemies (mostly Horriblins and Chuchus)
6. Ascend or climb back to surface

Time per cave: Small caves = 2–3 minutes. Medium cave systems = 5–10 minutes. Large interconnected cave networks = 15–20 minutes.

Horriblins (ceiling enemies): These bat-like creatures drop from the ceiling when Link passes below. Counter: shoot them while they cling before they drop. They drop Horriblin parts (useful for elixirs). High ceiling caves often have 3–6 of them.

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Cave Equipment Checklist

| Item | Why | |------|-----| | Brightbloom Seeds (10+) | Visibility in dark caves | | Mining weapon (metal) | Faster ore breaking | | Bomb Flower arrows | Cracking sealed cave doors | | Zonaite or stamina food | Extended cave runs | | Cold resistance (for Hebra caves) | Prevent cold damage | | Fire resistance (for Eldin caves) | Prevent fire damage |

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Quick Tips

• Caves reset after Blood Moon — ore nodes and enemy spawns refresh. Revisit favorite ore caves after each Blood Moon.
• Many caves have waterfall entrances — look behind any waterfall you see on cliff faces. A surprising number of caves are hidden behind falling water.
• Korok Seeds in caves — look for flower trails, rocks, and balloons inside cave chambers. Korok Seeds spawn inside caves regularly.
• "Cave" vs "Well" — wells are small vertical shafts in towns and roadsides. Caves are horizontal/diagonal entries into cliff faces. They use different Sensor+ filters.
• Caves near shrines — many shrines are accessed through adjacent caves. If you find a cave that seems to go nowhere, check for a shrine entrance at the back.

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See also: Well Guide | Bubbulfrog Guide | Depths Guide