Sky Island Guide — Navigation, Zonai Relics and Sky Chests

The sky layer is Tears of the Kingdom's highest world tier — hundreds of floating islands scattered above Hyrule containing shrines, Zonai ruins, unique materials, and treasure chests. Understanding how to reach, navigate, and systematically loot sky islands is essential for collecting Zonai devices, Sundelions, and completing the game's vertical content.

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Reaching Sky Islands

Skyview Towers

The primary method. Each of the 15 Skyview Towers launches Link high into the sky. From the apex, open the paraglider and steer toward visible islands. Different towers access different sky island chains:

| Tower | Accessible Sky Islands | |-------|----------------------| | Lookout Landing | Central sky islands, initial tutorial chains | | Lindor's Brow | Western sky archipelago | | Thyphlo Ruins | Northern sky islands, Dragon shrine chain | | Eldin Canyon | Northeastern volcanic sky islands | | Mount Lanayru | Eastern sky islands | | Gerudo Canyon | Southwestern sky platforms | | Rabella Wetlands | Southeastern sky islands |

Zonai Launch Pads

Some surface locations have Zonai launch mechanisms — stepped platforms that activate when struck, catapulting Link skyward. Look for them near Zonai ruins and ancient sites.

Recall on Falling Debris

Sky islands periodically drop debris (rocks, platforms) to the surface. Cast Recall on a piece of falling debris to ride it back up to its origin island. This is often the only way to reach isolated islands not accessible from tower launches.

Tip: When you see rocks falling from the sky, do not dodge them — track where they land. Walk to the debris, cast Recall, jump on, and ride it upward.

Building Zonai Vehicles

Combine Zonai Fans, Rockets, and Steering Sticks to build flying machines. A flat platform with two fans and a steering stick creates a basic aircraft capable of reaching nearby sky islands from elevated surface points.

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The Great Sky Island

The Great Sky Island is the game's tutorial area and the largest single sky island chain. It contains:

• 3 tutorial shrines (Ukouh, In-isa, Gutanbac)
• The Temple of Time (story-critical)
• Multiple Zonai device dispensers
• 8-10 Korok Seeds
• Cold and temperate climate zones (bring or craft cold resistance)

Key Great Sky Island Resources

• Zonai Charges: Found in chests and dispensers throughout. Stock up — you need them for device dispensers.
• Soldier Construct Horns: Common enemy drops here. Excellent early-game fuse materials (+5 to +12 attack).
• Sundelions: Yellow flowers growing on sky island surfaces. Critical for Gloom recovery later — start collecting immediately.

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Sky Island Types

Shrine Islands

Small platforms built around a single shrine. Land, complete the shrine, collect the Light of Blessing. These are the most common sky island type.

Zonai Relic Islands

Larger islands with Zonai ruins, device dispensers, and lore tablets. These contain:

• Device dispensers — insert Zonai Charges to receive random Zonai devices (fans, rockets, wheels, springs, etc.)
• Forge Constructs — enemies guarding rare materials and old maps
• Ancient Zonai tablets — lore about the Zonai civilization

Sky Crystal Islands

Islands with a glowing green crystal that must be carried to a nearby shrine entrance. Use Ultrahand to grab the crystal and transport it — sometimes requiring a Zonai vehicle to cross gaps between platforms.

Floating Garden Islands

Lush green islands with herbs, Sundelions, Endura Carrots, and other rare botanical materials. No enemies — purely resource nodes. These are the best source of Sundelions in the game.

Tip: Mark every Floating Garden island on your map with a star pin. Return regularly to farm Sundelions for Depths exploration.

Colosseum and Arena Islands

Large sky platforms hosting combat challenges. Defeat waves of Constructs to earn rare materials and open treasure chests. The Floating Colosseum is the most notable — a multi-floor arena with progressively harder enemies.

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Sky Chests

Treasure chests are scattered across sky islands, often in non-obvious locations.

Common Sky Chest Locations

• Underneath platforms — many sky islands have chests attached to their underside. Paraglide below the island and look up.
• Inside Zonai ruins — breakable walls and hidden rooms contain chests.
• On isolated tiny platforms — small single-tile platforms floating near larger islands often hold a chest.
• Guarded by Constructs — defeat the enemy camp to unlock the chest.

Notable Sky Chest Rewards

• Zonai Fabric (paraglider cosmetic) — found on specific sky islands
• Old Maps — point to treasure locations in the Depths
• Large Zonai Charges — worth 3 regular charges each
• Soldier Construct weapons — decent early-game equipment

Tip: Use the Sensor+ camera to photograph a treasure chest, then set it as your sensor target. The sensor pings when you are near an undiscovered chest — essential for thorough sky island sweeps.

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Zonai Devices and Dispensers

Sky islands are the primary source of Zonai devices. Device dispensers accept Zonai Charges and output random devices.

High-Value Devices to Collect

| Device | Use | |--------|-----| | Fan | Propulsion for vehicles and rafts | | Rocket | Extreme vertical launch (single use) | | Steering Stick | Vehicle directional control | | Wing | Glider vehicle — the best long-distance sky transport | | Battery | Powers devices longer | | Flame/Frost/Shock Emitter | Elemental weapons and traps | | Spring | Bouncing platforms and shield-surf launches |

Dispenser Farming

Insert Zonai Charges into dispensers and collect the output. Each dispenser specializes in certain device types — the dispenser near the Mining Cave on Great Sky Island outputs construction devices, while others specialize in combat or mobility devices.

Collect spare devices and store them in your inventory. Having 5+ fans and 3+ rockets available at all times ensures you can always build a quick vehicle when needed.

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Efficient Sky Exploration Strategy

1. Activate all 15 Skyview Towers first — each tower gives you sky access for its region
2. Launch from each tower and scan the sky — mark visible islands with map pins before gliding to them
3. Complete shrine islands first — they are quick and reward Light of Blessings
4. Sweep each island thoroughly — check undersides, break walls, defeat all enemies
5. Collect every Sundelion you see — they do not respawn quickly and you will need hundreds for Depths exploration
6. Farm Zonai dispensers with bulk Zonai Charges — stockpile fans, rockets, and wings
7. Use Recall on falling debris to reach isolated islands not accessible from tower launches

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Sky Layer Navigation Tips

• Stamina management is critical. Long paraglider flights drain stamina. Eat Endura meals before extended sky travel or upgrade stamina wheels at Goddess Statues.
• Zonai Wings are the best sky vehicle. Place a Wing on a rail launcher, attach a fan, and ride it across enormous distances with minimal stamina drain.
• Updrafts near volcanic areas (Eldin region) provide free altitude boosts. Use them to reach higher sky islands without Skyview Towers.
• The sky layer wraps around Hyrule — islands exist above every surface region. Do not assume a region has no sky content just because you do not see islands from one tower.

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See also: Great Sky Island Guide | Zonai Devices Guide | Shrine Guide | Floating Colosseum Guide