So, you’ve made it to Kakariko Village in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. You look up, and there they are. Giant, donut-shaped chunks of stone just hanging in the air like they’ve forgotten how gravity works. Everyone calls them the secret of the ring ruins, but honestly, the "secret" part is what trips people up the most. If you’re trying to brute-force your way into that one specific floating ring—the one the Zonai Survey Team is guarding like it’s made of pure diamond—you’re probably wasting your time.
You can’t just hover-bike your way in. Trust me, I tried.
The reality of these ruins is tied to the game’s main narrative progression. If you haven’t finished the "Regional Phenomena" questline, those researchers are going to keep shooing you away. It’s annoying. It’s frustrating. But there’s a massive lore payoff that most people miss because they’re too busy trying to use Ascend on the wrong platform.
Why You Can’t Enter the Fifth Ring Yet
Let’s get the big one out of the way. Paya and Tauro are standing there, looking stressed, and telling you that Zelda herself—well, "Zelda"—ordered them to keep everyone out. This is the first layer of the secret of the ring ruins.
The game is gated.
Specifically, you have to clear the four main temples (Wind, Fire, Water, and Lightning) and then head back to Lookout Landing for the "Crisis at Hyrule Castle" event. Only after the dust settles there does the "Secret of the Ring Ruins" main quest actually trigger. If you're wandering around Kakariko before that, you're basically just looking at very pretty, very mysterious scenery. It’s a classic Nintendo move: hiding the biggest clues in plain sight but locking the door until you've proven you can handle the truth.
The Role of Tauro and the Zonai Survey Team
Tauro is a fascinating character because he’s one of the few people in Hyrule who actually understands the Zonai language. He’s obsessed. When the quest finally kicks off, you find him in the main Ring Ruin—the one that actually crashed into the village.
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The discovery he makes isn't just flavor text. It’s a set of instructions.
The ruins aren't just housing for the Zonai; they are a record. By using your camera to take a picture of the stone slab inside the floating ruin, you translate a message that points you toward the Faron region. This is where the game stops being a scavenger hunt and starts being a scavenger hunt with high stakes.
Tracking the Zonai Legacy to Faron
Once you’ve got that photo, you’re heading south to the Popla Foothills Skyview Tower. This is where the trail gets hot. You find Tauro again at the Dracozu Lake, which is shaped like—you guessed it—a dragon.
The "secret" here is a literal treasure hunt.
You have to find the Charged Armor set. It’s tucked away in small chests along the riverbank. It’s not just for show, either. The armor looks like something out of a techno-tribal fashion show, but it’s functional. You need to wear the full set and offer a Zonai Charge at the altar at the end of the "tail" of the lake.
- The Headpiece: Hidden in a small ruin near the lake's "head."
- The Shirt: Usually the first piece you find with Tauro.
- The Trousers: Tucked away in a crawlspace further down the river.
When you drop that charge on the altar, the storm clouds over the Faron region—which have likely been annoying you for fifty hours of gameplay—finally dissipate. This reveals the Thunderhead Isles. That’s the real secret of the ring ruins. They weren't just ruins; they were a roadmap to a hidden sky factory.
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The Connection to the Fifth Sage
Most players suspect there’s a fifth Sage. The Ring Ruins are the breadcrumbs leading to Mineru, the Sage of Spirit.
It’s heavy stuff.
The ruins in Kakariko contain the accounts of the ancient Sages and their pact with King Rauru. When you finally piece it together, you realize the Ring Ruins were designed to wait for Link. They are time capsules. Mineru, who transferred her spirit into the Purah Pad (and eventually a giant mech), used these structures to ensure that the hero would eventually find the Construct Factory in the Depths.
Common Misconceptions About the Ruins
People think the ruins are randomized. They aren't. Each one has a specific placement that aligns with the Ley Lines of Hyrule’s ancient geography.
Another mistake? Thinking you need high stamina to explore them. You don't. You need patience. The secret of the ring ruins is more about your progress in the story than your stats. If you try to explore the Thunderhead Isles before clearing the Kakariko quest, you’ll be flying blind in a permanent thunderstorm. It’s miserable. Just do the quest.
How to Prepare for the Final Reveal
Before you dive deep into the Faron portion of the quest, make sure you have a few things ready. It'll save you a headache.
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First, get your camera rune fixed. If you haven't talked to Robbie at the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab, do it now. You cannot complete the Ring Ruins quest without being able to take a high-quality photo of the slab for Tauro.
Second, stock up on wood and flint (or a fire weapon). The Faron region is rainy. Like, "never-ending monsoon" rainy. You'll be lighting torches and navigating dark corridors within the ruins along the Dracozu River.
Finally, keep some Zonai Charges in your pocket. You only need one for the altar, but the constructs you’ll face in the resulting sky islands are tough. You’ll want your energy cells topped off for the flying you’re about to do.
What the Ruins Tell Us About Zelda’s Fate
If you pay close attention to the translations Tauro provides, the secret of the ring ruins hints at the "Dragonization" process long before the Geoglyphs confirm it. The Zonai knew the risks of swallowing a Secret Stone. The architecture itself reflects a culture that was obsessed with permanence and legacy. They knew their time was limited, so they built rings that would literally hang in the sky until the right person came along to read them.
Actionable Steps for Your Playthrough
If you’re standing in Kakariko right now wondering why everyone is being so secretive, follow this checklist. It’s the only way to move forward without wasting hours.
- Finish the Four Temples. Don't skip the Gerudo Desert or the Rito mountains. You need all four "Vows" to trigger the next phase.
- Go to Hyrule Castle. Complete the mid-game boss fight. You'll know it when you see it. It involves a lot of phantom-like enemies.
- Talk to Paya. Return to Kakariko. The guards will finally move. Use Ascend to get into the floating ring and snap that photo.
- Meet Tauro at Popla Foothills. He’s the key to the Faron portion. Follow the river, find the "Sparkly" armor, and solve the altar puzzle.
- Head to the Sky. Once the storm clears, use the Popla Foothills tower to launch into the Thunderhead Isles.
The secret of the ring ruins isn't just a side quest. It’s the bridge between the world of the living and the spirit of the Zonai. Once you unlock the path, you’re on the fast track to the game’s true ending and the full power of the Master Sword. Get moving. Hyrule isn't getting any younger, and those ruins have been waiting thousands of years for you to show up.