You’ve probably seen that lone Construct standing on the highest point of the Great Sky Island. It just waits there. If you’ve spent any significant time in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, you know the Great Sky Island is more than just a tutorial zone. It’s huge. It’s vertical. And honestly, it’s easy to forget once you dive down to Hyrule. But if you ignore that Steward Construct sitting on top of the Temple of Time, you're missing out on one of the coolest world-building moments in the game.
The Legend of the Great Sky Island TOTK quest is basically a massive scavenger hunt that forces you to master your paraglider and your patience. It isn't just about the rewards—though the Zonai Fabric is a nice touch for your paraglider—it’s about seeing the starting zone from a perspective you totally lacked when you were just trying to find your first three shrines.
What Is the Legend of the Great Sky Island?
Most players stumble upon this by accident. You need to get back up to the roof of the Temple of Time. This isn't the ground floor where you got your first heart container. I'm talking about the very top. Once you're there, a Steward Construct tells you about a trial left behind by officially-recognized-best-dad King Rauru.
The goal? Light three bonfires around the island. The catch? You can’t touch the ground.
Seriously.
If your feet hit the grass, the rock, or the water for more than a split second, you fail. You have to stay airborne or on the specialized structures for the entire duration. It’s a literal "floor is lava" challenge, except the floor is actually a beautiful sky garden and the stakes are your sanity. You have twelve minutes. That sounds like a lot of time until you realize how much distance there is between the peaks of the Great Sky Island.
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Starting the Trial Without Falling Off
To even trigger the Legend of the Great Sky Island TOTK quest, you need a decent amount of stamina. Don't even try this with one wheel. You’ll just end up watching Link face-plant into a pond. I’d recommend at least two full wheels, or a healthy supply of stamina elixirs.
Go to the roof. Talk to the Construct. The timer starts.
Immediately, you're looking for smoke. The three bonfires are spread out across the cardinal directions of the island. The first one is usually the easiest because it’s relatively close to the Temple of Time’s central structure, but the transition from one point to the next is where people mess up. You’ll be using a lot of "tuck and roll" maneuvers with your paraglider.
The Logistics of Staying Airborne
Zora Armor is your best friend here. No, really.
There are several waterfalls cascading off the sides of the island. If you have the Zora Armor equipped, you can "swim" up these waterfalls to regain altitude without consuming stamina. It’s a total game-changer. Without it, you’re basically just slowly descending toward a "Quest Failed" screen.
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A lot of people ask if you can use Zonai devices. Yes, technically, you can. But honestly? They often get in the way. A Wing is useful, but it disappears so quickly in Tears of the Kingdom that it might expire right when you’re over a massive gap. The most reliable method is a combination of paragliding, diving to gain speed, and hitting those waterfalls.
The Three Fire Locations
- The South Point: This one is tucked away near the Room of Awakening area. You’ll likely see the smoke rising from a distance. The trick here is navigating the narrow pillars.
- The East Point: This sits near the Gutanbac Shrine area (the icy one). Because it’s high up, you need to make sure you don't lose too much height on your way there.
- The West Point: Located near the Ukouh Shrine. This is usually the last stop for most players because it’s a straight shot back toward the Temple of Time to finish.
Don't overthink the order. Just go for the closest smoke plume first.
Why This Quest Actually Matters
Beyond the loot, the Legend of the Great Sky Island TOTK serves a narrative purpose. It’s a reflection on the Zonai civilization. While you're flying, take a second to look at the architecture. These islands weren't just floating rocks; they were a highly curated ecosystem. The Construct tells you that this trial was meant to test the resolve of those who would protect Hyrule.
It also highlights the sheer scale of the game’s verticality. When you first start the game, the Great Sky Island feels like a cage. You’re stuck there until you get your powers. But when you come back for this quest, the island feels like a playground. You have the tools now. You have the experience. It’s a "full circle" moment that Nintendo is famous for.
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Run
I've seen so many people fail this because they tried to "cheat" with a Hover Bike. While the Hover Bike is the meta for everything else in TOTK, it’s actually kind of clunky for this. You have to dismount to light the fires. If you dismount and your foot touches the ground for even a second, you’re done.
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It’s actually easier to just paraglide into the platform, press 'A' to interact with the fire, and immediately jump off again.
Another big mistake: weather. If a thunderstorm rolls in while you’re doing this, you’re going to have a bad time. Lightning doesn't care about your quest progress. Check the forecast in the bottom right corner of your HUD before you talk to the Construct. If you see sparks, sit by a fire and wait for morning.
Tips for Mastering the Gliding
- Dive to Glide: If you need to cover horizontal distance fast, tap the R button to dive, then pull the paraglider. You’ll keep some of that forward momentum.
- Stamina Food: Keep a few Endura Carrots cooked up. They give you that extra yellow stamina bar which acts as a safety net.
- The Map: Keep an eye on your mini-map. The smoke plumes are visible from the air, but if you lose your bearings, it’s easy to accidentally fly toward the edge of the world map.
The Reward: Is It Worth It?
Once you light all three and return to the Steward Construct (without touching the ground, remember!), you get the Zonai Fabric. You can take this to the dye shop in Hateno Village to restyle your paraglider.
Is a piece of fabric worth 12 minutes of high-stress gliding? To completionists, absolutely. To casual players, maybe not. But the real reward is the Sage’s Will or the sense of mastery over the game’s mechanics. It proves you aren't just a guy with a sword; you're a master of the sky.
Actionable Next Steps for Success
To get this done on your first try, follow this specific prep list:
- Travel to the Temple of Time: Use the teleport point and climb to the very top roof.
- Equip the Zora Armor: At the very least, have the chest piece ready to swap to whenever you see a waterfall.
- Cook Stamina Meals: Three "Staminoka Bass" or "Endura Carrot" dishes are plenty.
- Wait for Clear Weather: Use a campfire to skip to a sunny morning.
- Target Waterfalls: Identify the waterfalls near the icy region first; these are your "refueling stations" for height.
- Land on the Wood: You can land on the wooden structures surrounding the bonfires—just don't touch the actual soil or stone of the island itself.
Once you finish, you can finally say you've truly conquered the Great Sky Island. Most people just leave and never look back, but the best secrets are always hidden in plain sight, right where you started.