Tips & Strategies

Objects attached with Ultrahand follow physics rules. Attach a heavy object to a light platform for a catapult, stack logs vertically for a ladder, or create a balanced raft with a sail for water traversal. The key insight: rotation is free — tilt objects before attaching to create angled platforms and ramps.

Recall reverses the path of any recently moved object. Use it on boulders rolling downhill to ride them upward, on Sky Island debris falling from above to reach the sky, and on enemy projectiles to send them back. The recording window is about 30 seconds — objects that stopped moving longer ago cannot be Recalled.

Ascend lets you pass through any solid ceiling directly above you. Use it inside caves to reach the surface, under bridges to get on top, under enemy platforms to surprise them, and inside buildings to reach upper floors. If the indicator turns green, you can Ascend — no matter how thick the ceiling.

Silver Lynel Saber Horn (+55 damage) is the strongest fuse material in the game. For early-game, Captain Construct Horns (+15-25) are reliable and farmable. Fuse a Diamond to a weapon for high damage and durability. For shields, fuse a Rocket for an emergency launch or a Puffshroom for instant smoke cover on parry.

Autobuild saves your last 30 constructions automatically and you can favorite 8 of them. Build your most-used vehicles (hoverbike, bridge, raft) once, then favorite them for instant rebuilding anywhere. Autobuild uses nearby materials first; if none are available, it costs Zonai Charges equal to the missing parts.

Shake the right stick while holding an attached object with Ultrahand to detach it from the construction. This lets you fix misaligned builds without starting over. You can also detach fused weapon materials by visiting a Goron NPC at Tarrey Town (for a small fee) or by using a Rock Hammer at any workbench.

Recall works on enemy projectiles. When a Rock Octorok spits a rock at you, Recall it to send the rock flying back for massive damage. This also works on Hinox-thrown trees, Lynel fireballs (once they hit the ground), and Stone Talus thrown boulders. Mastering combat Recall trivializes several boss fights.

While aiming your bow (ZR), press Up on the D-pad to open the fuse menu. This lets you attach any material to your arrow without entering a separate menu. Keese Eyeballs create homing arrows, Muddle Buds cause enemies to fight each other, and Dazzlefruit blinds everything in the area.

When overwhelmed in combat near a ceiling or overhang, use Ascend to instantly escape. You are invulnerable during the Ascend animation. This works in shrine combat rooms, under bridges during Hinox fights, and inside enemy camps built on stilts. Reposition above and rain arrows down.

Collect Crystallized Charges from the Depths (inside treasure chests near Lightroots) and trade 100 of them to a Crystal Refinery for one additional Energy Cell. More Energy Cells mean longer vehicle flights and more Zonai device usage. Prioritize these over combat exploration in the Depths early on.

After completing each temple you gain a sage's power. Use them actively in combat: Tulin's wind gust for aerial positioning and arrow shots, Yunobo's rock punch to break shields and stun, Sidon's water shield to block attacks, Riju's lightning to charge up metallic weapons, Mineru's construct for heavy combat. Sage powers have no cooldown — spam them freely. Tap the sage icon to call them to your side or use their ability.

Recall works on enemy projectiles — boulders rolled by Taluses, fireballs from Wizzrobes, and thrown weapons from Bokoblins. Catch the projectile in Recall and send it back to deal the enemy's own attack back at them. Particularly effective against Stone Taluses whose rolling boulders deal massive returned damage. Wizzrobe fireballs sent back deal elemental damage the Wizzrobe is NOT immune to. This works on almost any physical projectile.

Fusing elemental materials to weapons and arrows dramatically changes their behavior: Bomb Flowers on arrows create explosion arrows; Fire Fruit + arrows = fire arrows that set grass aflame; Ice Fruit = ice arrows that freeze enemies; Shock Fruit = lightning arrows that chain to nearby enemies; Chuchu Jellies apply elemental effects matching their color. On melee weapons: fusing elemental materials gives a 5-hit elemental burst. Chuchu Jelly is the cheapest source of all three elements.

After building any device with Ultrahand, use Autobuild (ZL + X) to save the design as a favorite. Open Autobuild and press + to add current construction to favorites. Saved designs can be rebuilt instantly anywhere — even if the Zonai parts are not nearby. Autobuild uses Zonaite to manifest missing parts. Essential favorites to save: a wing + fan glider, a boat with fans, a cart with wheels for flat surfaces, and a flame balloon for Depths vertical travel.

Ascend works through any non-water ceiling — including dungeon walls and floors. In multi-floor shrine puzzles, Ascend through the ceiling to skip a floor entirely. In temples, use Ascend to reach higher platforms without solving intermediate puzzles. In overworld caves, Ascend through cave roofs to emerge on the surface. This is also useful for escaping trapped areas: if surrounded, find a ceiling and Ascend through it.

Hold ZL while adjusting an object with Ultrahand to lock its vertical position, allowing precise horizontal placement. Press the right stick to rotate objects in 45-degree increments for aligned builds. For vehicle construction, always build on flat ground — uneven terrain creates crooked vehicles that handle poorly.

Recall works on enemy projectiles — reverse thrown boulders back at Stone Talus, return Octorok rocks for instant kills, and send back Moblin-thrown Bokoblins. Time your Recall activation when the projectile reaches its peak arc for maximum return velocity. This also works on dropped weapons mid-flight.

Save your most-used builds in Autobuild history: (1) Hoverbike (2 fans + steering stick) — the universal vehicle. (2) Fan boat (flat board + 2 fans) — for water travel. (3) Headlight sled (flat board + fan + beam emitter) — for Depths exploration. (4) Battle platform (flat rock + 2 cannons + steering stick) — for enemy camp raids. Autobuild costs Zonaite when nearby materials are insufficient.

Fuse materials to shields for unique defensive effects: (1) Fuse a Large Zonai Charge to a shield to create the Rocket Shield — press ZL+A to launch yourself into the air, great for quick elevation. (2) Fuse a Mirror Shield to reflect lasers from enemies like Constructs. (3) Fuse a Lizalfos Tail for a slapping shield bash that damages enemies on contact. (4) Fuse a Fire Fruit or other elemental to your shield — shield bashing (ZL then A without a perfect parry) triggers the elemental effect. Don't fuse your best combat shield — keep a dedicated effect shield for special situations.

Mineru's Sage of Spirit ability is unique — Link pilots her Zonai construct body directly. Uses: (1) Walk through shallow Gloom in the Depths without taking damage (the construct is immune). (2) Fight Flux Constructs and other Depths bosses from inside, protecting Link from Gloom exposure. (3) Construct arm can grab enemies and objects like Ultrahand. (4) Very tall reach — use to grab items on high ledges. (5) Immune to most status effects (fire, cold, electric) while piloted. Unlocked last of the five Sages after the Spirit Temple quest chain.

Ultrahand works mid-combat: (1) Grab a large rock or Metal Block and swing it into groups of enemies for massive knockback. (2) Rip weapons out of Bokoblin hands by Ultrahand-grabbing the weapon itself. (3) Grab and throw explosive barrels at camps before enemies notice you. (4) Lift heavy objects and drop them on enemies below (fall damage applies). (5) Move environmental hazards like fire logs or electric devices into enemy paths. Ultrahand has a brief pause when enemies are in radius, but mastering it off-angle eliminates the hesitation.

When you unlock Autobuild at the Great Abandoned Central Mine in The Depths, immediately save the Hoverbike configuration as your first blueprint. The Hoverbike (2 fans + steering stick) is the single most useful vehicle in the game — it reaches any altitude, crosses any terrain, and requires minimal battery. With Autobuild, you can reconstruct it instantly using nearby materials. Never manually build a hoverbike again after saving the blueprint. Access Autobuild via R + A → select saved blueprints. If no Zonai materials are nearby, Autobuild will cost Zonaite charges to auto-source materials.

Recall reverses the path of any moving object — including enemy projectiles. When a Bokoblin throws a bomb, a Lizalfos spits acid, or a Yiga Clan member fires a shot, use Recall on the projectile immediately after it passes you to send it back. The reversed projectile deals full damage to the enemy that fired it. This works on: thrown bombs, Wizzrobe elemental balls, Yiga shuriken, and Gleeok breath projectiles. The timing is tight — Recall must be activated while the projectile is still moving. Practice on Lizalfos spit attacks first as they're the most telegraphed.

Ascend is a vertical shortcut that most players underuse. Many mountains and tall cliffs have caves at their base. Enter the cave → walk toward the back → use Ascend through the ceiling to emerge directly at the cliff top. This eliminates the need to climb the entire external face. Examples: Death Mountain base caves → Ascend to upper volcanic zone. Hyrule Castle catacombs → Ascend to castle interior floors. Sky Island approach caves → Ascend to island surface. Any time you face a long climb, look for a cave at the base first. Ascend works through surfaces up to 4-5 meters thick.

Precise Ultrahand rotation is the difference between functional builds and frustrating ones. The left stick rotates the object on two axes (forward/back and left/right), while the right stick rotates it on the third axis (roll). For vehicle construction, always press the right stick to snap to 45-degree increments — this prevents skewed fan angles that cause vehicles to veer. When aligning flat surfaces end-to-end, tilt the object until it shows the green alignment snap indicator before attaching. For complex builds like cannons that need precise angle, hold ZL to temporarily freeze object height while rotating, then release to final-attach. Practice these controls in the Great Sky Island tutorial area before attempting multi-device vehicles.

Recall can be used offensively to launch objects (and yourself) upward with significant force. The technique: place a boulder or large object on a ramp or slope, push it down with Ultrahand so it slides down and away, then activate Recall on it. The object reverses direction and launches upward along its previous trajectory. Stand on top of it during the Recall to be launched skyward — a slingshot effect. This technique reaches altitudes equivalent to 2-3 Skyview Tower launches and is the fastest way to reach extremely high Sky Islands without battery-draining powered vehicles. Works on any large object: boulders, Zonai platforms, fallen logs.

The five best melee fuse materials ranked by use case: (1) Silver Lynel Saber Horn (+55 attack) — highest raw damage available, use on your best sword for boss fights. (2) Black Hinox Toenail (+23 attack, farmable) — best mid-game melee boost, Hinox respawn every Blood Moon. (3) Diamond (+25 attack, durable) — high damage and extends weapon life significantly; save for your current main weapon. (4) Rock-Like Stone (+30 attack) — from Like Like enemies in the Depths, gives a massive boost on any weapon type. (5) Gibdo Bone (+10 attack but doubles weapon speed) — best for fast weapons like Swords and Spears where the speed multiplier creates more total DPS than the horn.

Out of 8 available Autobuild Favorites slots, these three vehicles cover 95% of traversal situations. First: the Hoverbike (2 fans + 1 steering stick) — build it with fans angled 45 degrees from the stick for best lift; saves and redeploys in under 2 seconds. Second: the Hydro Raft (flat board + 2 fans mounted horizontally at the stern) — deploy on any water surface for fast river and ocean crossing without swimming stamina. Third: the Depths Crawler (flat stone plate + 1 fan + 1 beam emitter facing forward) — the emitter lights your path while the fan propels you forward, hands-free navigation through dark Depths corridors. Build, save, and these three handle all environments: air, water, and underground.

Ascend can be used offensively by emerging directly beneath an enemy standing on an elevated surface. The emerge animation knocks back any enemy directly above the exit point, dealing minor collision damage and staggering them. More importantly: you emerge above the enemy's attack range, allowing an immediate overhead plunge attack or aerial bullet time shot. In combat on multi-floor camp structures (common in Coliseum Ruins and Skull enemy camps), Ascend through the floor beneath an archer or spear enemy — the stagger gives you a free Sneakstrike window. Also effective against Talus: Ascend through the Talus body itself positions you directly on its ore deposit for maximum damage without needing to climb.

Using all five Sages simultaneously in boss fights requires positioning and activation order. Keep all five Sage phantoms visible in your camera view — they only respond when you can see their phantom and tap their icon. Optimal boss rotation: open with Riju's lightning (charges your weapon), immediately dodge to trigger Flurry Rush (each hit carries lightning), follow with Sidon's water blessing as a counter to the boss's next big attack, then use Yunobo's fire roll during the boss's stunned phase for burst damage, Tulin's gust to reposition if needed, and Mineru for direct tanking if you're caught. Against Phantom Ganon (Hyrule Castle), this 5-sage cycle reduces a 10-minute fight to under 3 minutes.

Attaching a Rocket Zonai device to any flat surface and activating it launches the platform (and anything on it) vertically at extreme speed. The standard technique: place a flat board on the ground, attach one Rocket pointing downward to its underside with Ultrahand, stand on top, and activate it. You reach Sky Island altitudes in 3-4 seconds — far faster than a Skyview Tower launch. Two rockets in parallel double the altitude and speed. After the rocket burns out, deploy your paraglider immediately at peak height to extend the glide. Rocket Capsules drop from Captain Constructs in the Depths and sky island Construct arenas. Stock 5+ before any altitude-intensive exploration session.

The standard hoverbike (2 fans + steering stick) can be optimized for speed and efficiency. Angle both fans at exactly 45 degrees upward from horizontal — this provides maximum forward thrust while maintaining lift, roughly 30% faster than fans angled straight down. For battery conservation, ride the hoverbike just high enough to clear terrain (3-5 meters) rather than cruising at maximum altitude. If crossing water or flat plains, reduce altitude to 1-2 meters to benefit from ground effect (reduced drag). A three-fan variant (add a third fan at the rear center) provides 50% more speed at the cost of extra battery drain — ideal for long cross-map transits when battery is fully upgraded. Always save the refined angle in Autobuild Favorites after optimizing.

Hot Air Balloons (Balloon Zonai device + Flame Emitter beneath it) can be used to construct floating bridges over chasms and water gaps too wide to cross by jumping. Technique: attach a long flat board to the underside of a balloon, light the flame emitter to elevate the assembly to the height you need, then use Ultrahand to Fuse the far end of the board to a cliff or anchor point — the balloon holds the near end aloft while the board spans the gap. Multiple boards joined end-to-end extend the bridge range. This method creates permanent traversal infrastructure that lasts until the session ends. For Depths chasms where vehicle building is impractical, a balloon-bridge is often faster than searching for a path around.

Autobuild provides 8 Favorites slots — use them strategically rather than saving the first 8 vehicles you build. Recommended slot allocation: Slot 1 = Hoverbike (universal traversal). Slot 2 = Hydro Raft (water crossing). Slot 3 = Depths Crawler (underground travel + lighting). Slot 4 = Combat Cannon (Zonai sphere launcher for siege). Slot 5 = Rocket Sled (emergency altitude launch). Slot 6 = Mine Cart + Fan (Depths high-speed rail travel on existing tracks). Slot 7 = Shield Raft (wide flat platform for balloon lifting). Slot 8 = situational — swap in your current project. To delete a saved Favorite and replace it: open Autobuild menu → select the Favorite → press Y to delete → build the new vehicle → save in that slot. Never fill all 8 slots with variations of the same vehicle type.

Ultrahand has a maximum weight limit — very heavy objects (large boulders, metal slabs) cannot be moved in isolation. Workarounds: (1) Attach a lighter anchor object first and use the combined Ultrahand grip to lift the heavier piece. (2) Wheels reduce the effective weight of ground-contact objects significantly — attach two wheels to a heavy slab and Ultrahand can now push it. (3) Balloons increase lift capacity by counteracting gravity — attach one balloon per heavy module in a vehicle to stay within Ultrahand lift range. (4) The weight limit only applies to the object being held, not the total assembly — build your vehicle components separately, attach them while they are resting on the ground, and Ultrahand the lighter center piece to drag the whole assembly. Understanding weight limits prevents frustrating build failures.

Tulin's Wind Gust ability fires a burst of air that propels Link forward while paragliding, dramatically extending glide distance and speed. Activate it at peak altitude for cross-map paraglide hops. Combine with a Skyview Tower launch for near-map-crossing single glides. Essential for Sky Island exploration between clusters.

Sidon's ability surrounds Link in a water bubble that absorbs the next hit with zero damage. It also charges your weapon with water — next melee attack deals bonus water damage and can extinguish fire enemies. Activate just before a Lynel charges or a Gleeok slams to negate guaranteed one-shots. Recharges every 15 seconds.

Riju's Thunder Strike sends a lightning bolt that detonates on impact and chains to nearby metal objects and enemies. It can destroy enemy metal shields without Link needing to disarm them manually — one Riju strike often blasts the shield off a Black Bokoblin Boss. Also stuns armored Constructs and disrupts Zonai-enhanced enemy machines.

Yunobo's rock-charge attack destroys cracked walls (the dark rock formations found in caves and shrines) instantly — no bomb arrows required. Many caves have cracked walls leading to secret rooms, treasure chests, and bonus paths. Having Yunobo saves dozens of bomb arrows throughout the game. Always check cave walls for cracks before moving on.

Mineru's Construct is completely immune to Gloom damage. Pilot it through Gloom-heavy Depths sections instead of consuming Sundelion meals. The Construct absorbs all incoming damage (its HP regenerates after a Blood Moon) while Link inside takes none. Attach a Shock Emitter to the Construct's shoulder for mass crowd control in enemy camps.

Drop a raft or wooden plank into a fast-moving river, let it float downstream, then use Recall to reverse the current. The raft returns upstream automatically — stand on it for free, fast upriver transport without stamina cost. Works in Zora's Domain waterways and the rivers flowing from Lanayru. The raft must still be in range when you activate Recall (within ~30 meters).

Open the weapon menu, select a fused weapon, and choose "Destroy Fused Material" to remove the attached material without breaking the base weapon. The material is destroyed (not returned), but the base weapon survives with its remaining durability. Use this to swap fuse materials on high-durability base weapons — remove a weak fuse, reattach a better one.

When holding an object with Ultrahand, pressing and holding ZR while rotating snaps the object to 90-degree angle increments. This makes precise alignment for construction (connecting boards perpendicular, stacking flat surfaces) dramatically easier than free rotation. Use ZR snap-locking when building anything structural — vehicles, bridges, platforms.

Ascend can activate through the surface of shallow water if there is solid ground above it. Stand on the bottom of a shallow pool and use Ascend — if the water ceiling is thin enough, Link phases through it and emerges on the dry ground above. Used in Zora's Domain puzzle areas and several Shrine puzzle rooms involving flooded chambers.

Tulin's Gust, Sidon's Water Shield, Yunobo's Charge, Riju's Lightning, and Mineru's Construct ability all activate simultaneously and stack their effects. In boss encounters, activate all five before engaging: Riju's lightning paralyzes, Yunobo's charge deals bonus damage, Sidon's shield blocks counter-attacks, Tulin's gust provides mobility, Mineru allows weapon switching. The combined sage activation is the highest DPS window in the game.

Objects highlighted yellow by Ultrahand can be grabbed from farther than the glow suggests. Stand slightly farther from an object and activate Ultrahand — if the object glows, you can grab it even if it appears just out of easy reach. This extended pickup range is especially useful in shrine puzzles where objects are placed on ledges or in alcoves without obvious access.

Fusing materials to shields adds defensive properties AND special effects. Fuse a Zonai Flame Emitter to a shield for a fire-reflect effect when hit. Fuse a mine cart to a shield for slope-surfing (jump and shield surf steep terrain at high speed). Fuse a Rocket to a shield for a one-time launch boost when shield surfing. Fuse a Large Zonite to a shield for significant defense boost. Shield Fusing is an underused mechanic with massive utility upside.

After a boss or enemy fires a large projectile (Gleeok fireball, Construct energy ball, Boulder), use Recall on the projectile to reverse its trajectory back toward the enemy. The reversed projectile deals full damage. This works on nearly every large projectile in the game. Recalling a Gleeok's fireball back deals significant fire damage — combined with elemental weaknesses, this is one of the most efficient damage-return strategies in TotK.

Open the Autobuild menu and select a saved Favorite while in midair. The vehicle or device assembles around Link instantly, often placing Link inside or on top of it. Use this to deploy a Hoverbike mid-fall to prevent death, or to summon a Wing glider during a paraglide session for a speed boost. The Zonaite cost is the same as ground deployment. Master mid-air Autobuild for the smoothest sky island traversal.

When paragliding upward into thermals (hot air, fire sources), activating Tulin's Gust provides a brief vertical altitude boost in addition to horizontal speed. Position Link slightly nose-up during a thermal updraft and trigger Tulin — the combined thermal lift + Gust gives 20–30% more altitude than either alone. Essential for reaching sky island clusters that are slightly above tower-launch altitude.

Every elemental material fused to an arrow adds a distinct combat effect beyond raw damage. Fire Fruit: sets enemies on fire, melts ice armor, ignites grass for updrafts. Splash Fruit: creates water puddle enabling electric chain on next hit. Puffshroom: spore cloud blinds enemies for 5+ seconds. Dazzlefruit: bright flash stuns without dealing damage — ideal for Sneakstrike setups. Muddle Bud: mind-controls the hit enemy. Bomb Flower: AoE explosion. Most overlooked: Puffshroom arrows on Lynel eyes trigger the same stagger as a headshot without precise aim — the cloud blinds and staggers through imprecise shots.

Ascend can skip intended puzzle sequences by phasing through floors to reach upper areas directly. Wind Temple: Ascend from below the anemometer controls to land above the puzzle. Hyrule Castle underground: Ascend through guard room floors to skip cleared hallways. Multiple shrines: standing in corners and Ascending reaches the reward room directly, bypassing the puzzle. The rule: if the Ascend cursor turns green and a floor exists above, Ascend — regardless of what the intended solution appears to be.