Gutanbac Shrine — The Ability to Ascend

Location: Great Sky Island (Sky Layer), snowy upper section Coordinates: 0868, -1524, 1583 Abilities Required: None (Ascend granted here) Type: Tutorial Shrine — third of four Great Sky Island tutorials Difficulty: Easy

Overview

Gutanbac Shrine introduces Ascend — the ability to phase directly upward through any solid ceiling above you. Link dissolves through the surface and emerges standing on top. Ascend is one of TotK's most powerful traversal tools, enabling shortcuts through cliff faces, dungeon ceilings, ship hulls, and moving platforms that would otherwise require climbing, construction, or significant detours. The shrine is located in the cold upper section of Great Sky Island — a light cold effect is present in this zone, but the tutorial Spicy Pepper meal available near the shrine entrance provides sufficient protection. Three Ascend applications of increasing complexity lead to the altar.

Location Details

Gutanbac is in the upper snowy zone of Great Sky Island, the elevated section above the main island plateau where temperatures drop and snowfall is visible. From the Ukouh Shrine area (first tutorial), follow the path up the stone stairs northeast — the colder zone begins at the top of the staircase. Gutanbac Shrine's entrance is at the northernmost peak of the accessible tutorial section, before the path descends toward the Temple of Time.

Cold note: The tutorial area provides Spicy Pepper meals near the entrance — these give Cold Resistance 1, sufficient for the shrine interior and the surrounding snowy zone. Eat one before entering.

Preparation

• No abilities required — Ascend is granted at the shrine entrance
• Cold Resistance 1 sufficient for the approach — eat a cooked Spicy Pepper if available
• No combat inside — no weapon preparation needed
• No stamina concerns — Ascend costs no stamina

Detailed Walkthrough

Ability Grant — Ascend

1. Approach the sigil at the shrine entrance.
2. A short cutscene plays — Rauru grants you the Ascend ability.
3. Tutorial prompt: hold X to activate Ascend. A green circle appears on compatible ceilings above Link.

How Ascend works:

• Hold X — activates the ability and shows green indicator on ceilings
• Green circle on ceiling = compatible Ascend surface
• No green circle = surface is incompatible (too thick, wrong material) or not directly overhead
• Confirm (A) to phase through
• Link emerges standing on top of the surface, stamina unaffected

Step 1 — Low Platform Ascend

1. Ahead is a solid stone platform — too high to jump directly.
2. Walk underneath the platform's overhanging edge.
3. Hold X — the green Ascend circle appears on the ceiling above.
4. Confirm (A) — Link phases up and stands on the platform's top surface.

Step 2 — Higher Platform Ascend

1. Continue to the second raised platform — higher than the first.
2. Walk underneath its nearest overhanging section.
3. Hold X, confirm the green circle, Ascend — emerge on the mid-level ledge.

Chest access: From the mid-level ledge, look left — a low stone overhang protrudes from the wall adjacent to a chest. Walk under the overhang and Ascend through it — pop up next to the chest. Contains a Zonaite Sword (your first Zonai-material weapon).

Return to the ledge path after collecting.

Step 3 — Moving Platform Ascend

1. A stone platform moves slowly back and forth on a horizontal track above you.
2. Do not Ascend immediately — the platform must be directly overhead for Ascend to register.
3. Watch the platform's cycle. When it passes directly over your position, hold X — the green circle appears on its underside.
4. Confirm — Link rises through the moving platform and lands on top.
5. The platform continues moving — ride it toward the altar side of the room.
6. Step off onto the stone walkway when it aligns with the exit ledge.

Altar Chamber

Walk the short corridor to Rauru's statue. Interact for your Light of Blessing.

Chest Summary

| Chest | Location | Contents | |-------|----------|----------| | Mid-level overhang | Left side of Step 2 ledge — Ascend through low overhang | Zonaite Sword |

Ascend Physics Reference

| Surface Type | Compatible? | Notes | |-------------|-------------|-------| | Thin stone platforms | Yes | Standard use throughout shrines | | Thick stone walls | No | Too thick — no green indicator | | Wood planks | Yes | Always compatible | | Moving platforms | Yes | Must be directly overhead at moment of Ascend | | Ship/boat hulls | Yes | Critical for Water Temple navigation | | Ground (terrain surface) | No | Cannot Ascend through exterior terrain |

Tips

• Green circle is the guide: Never Ascend without seeing the green circle. If no circle appears, you're not under a compatible surface — reposition.
• Moving platform timing: The platform's direction change at the far end of its track is the easiest Ascend window — the platform briefly pauses at each end. Stand at the far-end position and Ascend during the brief pause.
• Stamina-free traversal: Ascend uses no stamina — it's completely free to activate. Use it aggressively throughout the open world whenever you see a platform or ceiling you want to reach from below.
• Dungeon applications: Ascend is essential in the Water Temple (phase through coral platforms), Fire Temple (ascend through mine cart tracks from below), and multiple Depths puzzles. Master it here before reaching those areas.
• Overworld shortcuts: Any cave has a ceiling that Ascend may penetrate — from inside a cave, Ascend lets you skip the exit path and emerge on the cliff above. Experiment freely.

Nearby Points of Interest (Great Sky Island)

• Ukouh Shrine — south on the main island; Ultrahand tutorial, first shrine of the game
• In-isa Shrine — southwest; Fuse ability tutorial
• Nachoyah Shrine — west; Recall ability tutorial (final tutorial shrine before Temple of Time)
• Temple of Time — center of the island; main tutorial dungeon, accessed after all four abilities
• Zonai Dispensers — scattered on the island; provide Zonai capsules for early building practice

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Great Sky Island — Ascend Tutorial Shrine — Third Tutorial, Easy Difficulty