Honestly, getting stuck in the Zora questline is a rite of passage in Tears of the Kingdom. It starts with a muddy statue and ends with a tiny octopus pilot, but the middle part? That's where the headache usually lives. You’ve probably found yourself wandering around Toto Lake or staring at a "Land of the Sky Fish" riddle that makes zero sense.
I’ve run through the Sidon of the Zora walkthrough a dozen times now. What I’ve realized is that most players struggle because the game stops holding your hand the second you leave Zora's Domain. It’s a lot of "go find the King" without a waypoint.
Finding the King (The Part Everyone Misses)
You're at Zora's Domain. The sludge is everywhere. You talk to the kids in the throne room, and they basically tell you to scram. Most people just walk away. Don't.
Instead, go around the back of the throne. Crouch. Listen to their conversation through the wall. They’ll mention the Pristine Sanctum. It’s tucked behind a waterfall between Ploymus Mountain and Zora’s Domain. Specifically, head to Lulu Lake. There’s a waterfall there you can literally just drop through or swim behind. Inside, you’ll find King Dorephan looking a bit worse for wear, but he gives you the King's Scales. You need these. Don't leave without them.
The Sky Fish and the Droplet Riddle
Now for the part that feels like a fever dream: the "Land of the Sky Fish." If you look at your map and switch to the Sky layer, there’s an island that looks exactly like a fish. It’s right above Mipha Court.
How to get there
You can build a crazy Zonai hoverbike, sure. But the easiest way? Look for a piece of ruins falling from the sky nearby. Stand on it, hit Recall, and ride that rock back to the heavens. Once you’re high enough, glide over to the "fish."
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Solving the "Droplet"
Stand at the highest point of the fish island. Look toward the floating debris to the southwest. If you stand in just the right spot, the perspective shifts. The rocks align to form a tear-shaped droplet.
- Open your bow.
- Attach a King’s Scale to your arrow.
- Shoot it right through the center of that rock droplet.
Boom. A light pillar appears. The path is set.
The Ancient Zora Waterworks
This place is a mess. It’s dark, it’s wet, and you’re trying to raise the water level. Basically, you’re looking for pipes blocked by rocks.
Use your Ultrahand to move planks if you can't reach a ledge. But the real secret? Just fuse a rock to a stick to make a hammer. Smash those brown boulders blocking the pipes. Once you clear all three main blockages, the water rises enough to reach the central pedestal. This triggers a massive whirlpool that sucks you into the sky—literally.
Navigating Wellspring Island
Low gravity is your best friend and worst enemy here. You’ll be jumping further than you think.
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The main trick involves the Zonai Water Bubbles. You’ll see machines spitting them out. You can hop inside one and let it carry you across gaps. At one point, you’ll need to use Recall on a bubble to ride it backward (upward) to reach a higher platform. Eventually, you’ll meet Sidon at the top. He’s ready. You’re ready. It’s Temple time.
The Water Temple: Four Faucets
The Water Temple isn't as scary as the ones in the N64 days, but it requires some logic. You need to turn on four faucets to wash away the sludge.
- The Sub-Floor (B1): Head west and go down the ramp. Use Sidon’s water shield to walk through the fire. There’s a ball you need to get across a spike pit. Use the Hover Stones. Stick the ball to a stone, move it over, and then shove it into the wall socket.
- The Bubble Puzzle: On the west side of 1F. There's a ball underwater. Lift it out. Use a bubble to float the ball up to the higher level. To keep the gate open, use a Hover Stone to hold the lever up while the water drains.
- The Spinning Tower: On the east side. You’ll see a fast-spinning pillar. Slow down time by jumping and aiming your bow in mid-air. Shoot an arrow fused with Splash Fruit at the sludge inside the pillar. Then, hit the switch inside.
- The Fire/Water Wheel: Also on the east. Use the bubbles to bridge a gap, then use Ultrahand to make a "water wheel" by attaching planks to the axle. Position it under the falling water to generate power.
Beating Mucktorok Without Losing Your Mind
This boss is a nuisance. It’s a tiny octopus in a giant mud shark suit.
Phase One: Use Sidon’s ability to send a wave of water at the shark. It’ll dissolve. Now, the Mucktorok is just a pathetic little guy running around. Chase him down and whack him.
Phase Two: He gets frantic. The arena fills with mud.
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Pro Tip: Don't just rely on Sidon. His cooldown is too slow. Bring Splash Fruit or Blue Chuchu Jelly.
Throw or shoot the jelly to clear paths in the mud. When he jumps around, use your bow in mid-air to trigger slow motion (bullet time). This makes hitting him 100% easier. If you have an Opal-infused staff, it’s basically a cheat code for this fight because it sprays water everywhere.
Actionable Next Steps
Once the Mucktorok is toast, you get Sidon’s Vow. This lets you summon his avatar anywhere.
- Upgrade the Zora Armor: Go find the Greaves and Helm. The Greaves are in the Ancient Zora Waterworks (go back now that the water is gone).
- Farm Splash Fruit: You’re going to need a lot of this for future exploration in the Depths. Check the trees around Upland Zorana.
- Talk to Yona: She has several follow-up quests in Zora's Domain that give you better rewards now that the "Regional Phenomena" is cleared.
The Zora quest is really about mastering the environment. Use the low gravity to your advantage, and don't be afraid to waste a few King's Scales if your aim is off—Dorephan will give you more if you ask nicely.