You’re soaring through the clouds in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, the wind is whistling past Link’s ears, and suddenly you spot it. A gray, metallic block etched with ancient symbols. You charge up a Skyward Strike, let it fly, and the cube vanishes into a burst of blue light. It’s satisfying. Honestly, it’s one of the best "clink" sounds in gaming history. But most players treat Skyward Sword goddess cubes like a casual side quest they can finish whenever they feel like it. That’s a mistake. If you’re not hunting these things with a specific plan, you’re leaving some of the best gear in the game locked away in the sky while you struggle against Ghirahim with a tiny wallet and no potions.
There are exactly 27 of these cubes scattered across the surface world. Some are sitting right in your path. Others? They’re tucked away behind vine-covered ledges or require items you won't get until the literal end of the game. It’s a brilliant, if occasionally frustrating, way that Nintendo forces you to backtrack. You see a cube early on in Faron Woods, but you can’t reach it because you don't have the Clawshots yet. It taunts you. It sits there, vibrating with potential loot, while you're stuck with a wooden shield that burns the second a Bokoblin looks at it funny.
The Mechanics of the Goddess Cubes
Basically, the cubes are a two-step authentication process for loot. Striking a cube on the Surface "activates" a corresponding Goddess Chest up in the Sky (The Skyloft region). You can’t just fly to a chest and open it. If you haven't smacked the right cube, that chest stays locked, glowing with a dull light that tells you you've failed the vibe check.
It’s worth noting that the rewards aren't randomized. Every single cube is hard-coded to a specific chest. If you want the Heart Piece in the Lumpy Pumpkin, you have to find the specific cube in the Lanayru Desert. You can't just hit any random block and hope for the best. This creates a specific rhythm to the gameplay: explore a new region, find the cubes, return to the Sky, and go on a shopping spree.
Why You’re Missing Them
Most people miss cubes because they don't look up. Or down. Nintendo’s level designers were feeling particularly cruel with the verticality in this game. Take the Faron Woods region. You might think you've cleared it, but there’s a cube perched on a tiny platform behind the Great Tree that requires you to literally dive off a ledge and pray your paraglider—well, the Sailcloth—deploys at the right micro-second.
Then there’s the Lanayru Mine. You’ll see a cube sitting on a high pillar. You can’t jump to it. You can’t hookshot it. You have to use a Beetle to hit a crystal switch halfway across the map just to move a platform into place. It’s a puzzle within a puzzle.
The Rewards That Actually Matter
Let’s be real: not every Goddess Chest is a winner. Sometimes you go through twenty minutes of platforming hell just to find a Silver Rupee. 100 Rupees? In this economy? It’s kind of a slap in the face when you’re trying to save up for the Bug Medal.
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However, some Skyward Sword goddess cubes are non-negotiable for a smooth playthrough.
- Heart Pieces: There are six of them hidden in Goddess Chests. If you want that second row of hearts to deal with the late-game Boss Rush, you need these.
- The Quiver and Bomb Bag Upgrades: Essential. Unless you enjoy running out of ammo in the middle of a dungeon.
- The Potion Medal: This is the sleeper hit of the game. It makes your potions last twice as long. If you’re playing on Hero Mode, this is basically the only thing keeping you alive.
- Adventure Bags: You start with a tiny inventory. By hitting the right cubes, you can carry more medals, more shields, and more junk.
One of the most elusive ones is hidden in the Pirate Stronghold. You have to find a hidden grotto and use the Clawshots to traverse a series of pillars. The reward? A Piece of Heart. It’s one of the last ones most players find because the Pirate Stronghold is already such a chaotic mess of Timestones and Technoblins that most people just want to leave as fast as possible.
Breaking Down the Regions
The distribution isn't even. Faron Woods has nine cubes. Lanayru has nine. Eldin has nine. It’s a perfect 9-9-9 split, which appeals to my need for symmetry even if the game's actual geography is anything but symmetrical.
Faron Woods: The Vertical Nightmare
Faron is where you learn the ropes. The first few cubes are easy—they’re basically tripping hazards. But as the game progresses and you get the Water Dragon's scale, the lake opens up. There’s a cube underwater. There’s a cube behind a waterfall. There’s even one that requires you to use the "Skyward Strike" while balancing on a tightrope. Honestly, Link’s core strength must be insane.
Eldin Volcano: Watch Your Feet
Eldin is all about the "Look Down" rule. Many cubes are located on platforms you can only reach by sliding down the volcanic slopes. If you miss the turn, you have to trek all the way back up and try again. It's tedious. But the rewards here include some of the biggest Rupee hauls, which you'll need for the expensive gear at Beedle's Shop.
Lanayru Desert: Technical Precision
This is where the game gets "smart." The Lanayru cubes often involve the Timestones. You’ll see a cube in the middle of a sinkhole. To get it, you have to activate a stone to turn the sand into solid ground, but only for a few seconds. It’s tense. It’s also where you’ll find the cube for the Life Medal, which gives you an extra heart container just for carrying it.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the End-Game Cubes
There is a common misconception that you can "miss" these cubes forever. You can’t. Nothing in Skyward Sword is permanently missable in terms of Goddess Cubes. Even after the world changes in the final act, you can still go back.
But here is the nuance: some chests in the Sky are inside buildings or gated areas. The most famous one is the chest on top of Beedle’s Island. You can see the chest. You can hit the cube in the Lanayru Desert. But you can’t get the chest until you sleep in Beedle’s bed (creepy, I know) to stay on his island until night, then climb his propeller. It’s these weird, multi-step requirements that make people think their game is glitched. It's not glitched; you just haven't explored the Skyloft night cycle enough.
Another tricky one is the chest inside the Great Spirit Island. You need to drop into the chimney of the building in Skyloft. To do that, you need the Clawshots and a very specific vantage point.
The "Skyward Strike" Problem
Kinda frustratingly, you can't just hit a cube with your sword. It has to be a Skyward Strike. Early in the game, this is fine. Later on, when you're surrounded by enemies, charging that strike takes time. I’ve seen so many players get smacked by a Red Bokoblin because they were trying to be fancy with a cube mid-combat. Clear the area first. The cube isn't going anywhere.
Also, remember that the "Dowsing" ability is your best friend. Once you’ve progressed far enough, you can set your sword to "sniff out" these cubes. If the sword is buzzing and pointing at a wall, there’s probably a hidden crawlspace or a ledge you haven't seen. Use it. It’s not "cheating"; it’s a core mechanic designed to save you hours of aimless wandering.
Actionable Strategy for Completionists
If you’re aiming for 100% completion, don't hunt these one by one. It’s a waste of time and bird stamina. Instead, follow this workflow:
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- Clear the Dungeon: Finish the main story beat for the region first. This usually unlocks the "shortcut" or the new item (like the Clawshots or the Whip) needed for the harder cubes.
- The Dowsing Sweep: Before leaving the region, switch your Dowsing to Goddess Cubes. Run through the main hubs of Faron, Eldin, or Lanayru.
- The Bulk Pickup: Don't fly back to the Sky every time you hit one cube. Hit 3 or 4, then do a single "Sky Run." This is much more efficient because many chests are clustered together on the same floating islands.
- Check the Map: The map in Skyward Sword is actually helpful here. Once a cube is struck, a chest icon appears on the Sky map. If the icon is grayed out, you haven't opened it. If the icon is missing, you haven't found the cube. If you see a chest icon but can't find it on the island, check the "underneath" or the interior of the island.
The hunt for Skyward Sword goddess cubes is basically a tour of the game’s best secret areas. It’s not just about the loot; it’s about the fact that Nintendo hid these things in places that force you to appreciate the level design. From the top of the Sealed Grounds to the deepest pits of the Lanayru Gorge, these cubes are the breadcrumbs leading you to the game's most powerful version of Link.
Go find your Dowsing slot for cubes. Open your map and look for those grayed-out icons in the Sky. If you've been playing with the basic quiver or a small wallet, your life is about to get a whole lot easier once you start cracking these things open. There are no "easy" skips here—just exploration and the occasional leap of faith into the clouds.