You’re wandering the northern wastes of the Eldin Mountains, dodging Fire Keese and trying not to slip off a cliff, when you see it. A massive, bleached ribcage sticking out of the dirt like a monument to a forgotten god. That's the Eldin Great Skeleton. If you played Breath of the Wild, you probably remember taking a photo of it for a bunch of researchers. But in Tears of the Kingdom, the vibe has totally changed. It's not just a landmark anymore. It’s a puzzle. And honestly? It’s kind of a weird one if you don't know who to talk to first.
The Eldin Great Skeleton and the Paleontologist
Most people stumble onto these bones by accident while exploring the Deplian Badlands. You’ll see a massive skull and a ribcage, maybe some Lynels nearby if you’re unlucky, and a very confused-looking NPC named Loone. She’s obsessed with these "Leviathans."
Here is the thing: You can’t just "fix" the skeleton whenever you want. You actually need to trigger the side quest Eldin's Colossal Fossil first. I’ve seen players spend an hour trying to Ultrahand random rocks into the eye sockets only to realize nothing is happening because they haven't talked to Loone at the East Akkala Stable. She’s usually hanging out near the road leading toward the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab.
Once you talk to her, she’ll head over to the Eldin Great Skeleton (coordinates 1653, 3691, 0098). She’s convinced these things are more than just dead whales, and she wants to see this one "whole" again. Specifically, it's missing an eye.
How to actually fix the Eldin Great Skeleton
The puzzle itself is simple once you see the "eyeball." It’s basically a giant stone sphere tucked under the skull's jaw or nearby in the dirt. It doesn't look like an eye. It looks like a boulder.
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- Use Ultrahand to grab the stone sphere.
- Drag it over to the empty eye socket in the skull.
- Wiggle it in. It doesn't have to be a pixel-perfect fit, but it needs to stay in the hole.
Loone will freak out with excitement. She gives you 50 Rupees—which, let’s be real, is a bit of a low-ball reward for heavy lifting—but it kicks off a chain of quests. You'll eventually have to follow her to Hebra and then the Gerudo Desert to fix the other two.
Why the location is a pain
The Deplian Badlands are annoying. It’s flat, empty, and crawling with enemies. If you’re trying to get there fast, the Mayak Shrine is your best bet for a teleport. From there, just head east along the northern edge of the map. Just watch out for the boundary; if you go too far north, the game will literally push you back.
Is it worth it?
You’re not getting the Master Sword or a secret armor set here. It’s mostly for the lore and the completionist itch. Loone’s dialogue is pretty funny, and seeing the skeletons "restored" is satisfying in a weird way. Plus, if you finish the whole trilogy (Eldin, Hebra, and Gerudo), the final reward is a bit better than just a few crumbs of currency.
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Hidden stuff near the bones
Don't just teleport away after talking to Loone. There’s almost always a Korok hiding in these massive skeletons. Check the eye socket you just filled or look for a jar hanging from one of the ribs. Also, underneath the Eldin Great Skeleton, there’s usually a small camp of monsters. It’s a decent spot to farm some basic materials or weapons if you’re early in the game.
Actionable Next Steps
If you want to knock this out right now, here is exactly what to do:
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- Go to East Akkala Stable and find Loone on the road to the Tech Lab.
- Mark the northern edge of Eldin on your map (look for the giant bone icon).
- Teleport to Mayak Shrine and paraglide east.
- Locate the stone sphere under the skull and pop it into the socket.
- Talk to Loone again to get your 50 Rupees and unlock the Hebra leg of the quest.
The whole process takes maybe ten minutes if you have the shrines unlocked. It’s a nice break from the world-ending stakes of the main story.