Finding the fifth sage in TOTK feels like a fever dream the first time you stumble onto it. Honestly, most players spend dozens of hours wondering why there’s a massive, permanent thunderstorm hovering over the Faron region. You try to fly into it. You get struck by lightning. You give up.
But then, late in the game—or much earlier if you’re the type to ignore Purah’s "suggestions"—you realize that the game hasn't just forgotten about a final companion. The fifth sage isn't some hidden Easter egg; she is the backbone of the entire Zonai lore. Her name is Mineru, and she is the Sage of Spirit.
The Secret Everyone Misses: You Can Do This Early
Here is the thing about The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. The game technically "guides" you to find Mineru after you finish the "Crisis at Hyrule Castle" quest and beat Phantom Ganon. Purah will tell you to go find "ruins from the age of legends." This leads you to Kakariko Village and the Ring Ruins.
But you don't actually have to wait.
If you have 10 hearts—yes, just 10—you can skip the entire breadcrumb trail. You can fly into that terrifying storm cloud (the Thunderhead Isles), navigate the blinding fog by sheer luck or a very good map, and open the large Zonai door on Dragonhead Island.
The game won't stop you. It’ll just be very, very confused later when you show up to the "official" quest already riding a giant mechanical robot.
Who Exactly Is Mineru?
Mineru isn't just another sage like Tulin or Riju. She’s Zonai. Specifically, she’s King Rauru’s older sister. While Rauru was busy founding Hyrule and punching demons, Mineru was the scientist. She’s the one who figured out how to transfer a soul into a machine.
In the "past" timeline, she was mortally wounded by Ganondorf’s Gloom. To survive long enough to help Link in the future, she used her Spirit powers to inhabit the Purah Pad. Yeah, she’s been sitting in Link’s pocket the entire game.
Why the Spirit Temple Is Different
When you finally track down her signal, you aren't going to a traditional dungeon. You’re going to the Construct Factory in the Depths. It’s basically a massive assembly line.
You have to visit four different depots:
- Left-Arm Depot
- Right-Arm Depot
- Left-Leg Depot
- Right-Leg Depot
Each one is a physics puzzle. You aren't just hitting switches; you’re literally shipping robot parts across lava pits and through laser grids. Once you bring all four pieces back to the center, you assemble a "body" for Mineru. This becomes your fifth sage "vow," but unlike the others who just run around and occasionally hit things, Mineru is a full-blown pilotable mech.
The Seized Construct: A Boss Fight Like No Other
Once you have the mech, you have to trek across the Depths to the Spirit Temple. This is where the real boss fight happens against the Seized Construct.
It’s basically Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots.
Most people hate this fight because they try to play it like a normal Zelda boss. Don't do that. You’re in a mech; use the mech. You need to knock the enemy construct into the electrified barbed wire surrounding the arena. Three hits into the wire usually does the trick for each phase.
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Pro Tip: If you’ve been hoarding Zonai devices, attach a Cannon to one of Mineru’s arms. It turns the fight into a joke. You can just blast the boss from a distance, stun it, and then go in for the melee hits.
What Most People Get Wrong About Using the Fifth Sage
I see a lot of people online saying Mineru is the "worst" sage because she’s slow.
Kinda true. She moves like a fridge on wheels. But you're using her wrong if you're just trying to walk everywhere.
- Gloom Protection: This is her real superpower. You can walk across Gloom puddles without taking any damage. In the late-game Depths exploration, she is literally a tank.
- The "Mining" Machine: Stop wasting your Bomb Flowers and sturdy claymores on Zonaite deposits. Mount Mineru and just punch the rocks. She breaks ore in one hit and doesn't cost durability on your good weapons.
- Customization: You can fuse almost anything to her arms. Want a flame-throwing robot? Fuse a Flame Emitter. Want a jet-powered jump? Put a Rocket on her back.
Is the Fifth Sage Actually Necessary?
Technically? No. You can go straight to Ganondorf without ever finding Mineru.
But if you do that, you have to fight the Seized Construct during the final boss rush under Hyrule Castle. And trust me, fighting that thing without your own mech to ride is a nightmare. It has massive health and hits like a truck.
Finding the fifth sage in TOTK isn't just about getting a cool robot; it’s about completing the story. Without her, you miss the emotional payoff of Zelda’s sacrifice and the full explanation of how the Master Sword was restored.
Actionable Steps for Your Playthrough
If you're looking to grab the fifth sage right now, here is the most efficient way to handle it:
- Get 10 Hearts: Don't even bother with the door on Dragonhead Island until you have the health. It's a literal "heart check" door.
- Clear the Fog: While you can do it in the dark, completing the "Secret of the Ring Ruins" quest in Kakariko makes the Thunderhead Isles clear and sunny. It’s much easier.
- Prepare for the Depths: Bring plenty of Brightbloom seeds. The area around the Construct Factory is pitch black until you hit the nearby Lightroots (Muokuij and Sijotu).
- Hoard Fans and Rockets: The depots require you to move heavy boxes. Having your own Zonai devices in your inventory makes these puzzles trivial.
The fifth sage is basically the "Easy Mode" for exploring the Depths. Once you have her, the scary parts of the underground become a lot more manageable. Plus, there is just something inherently satisfying about punching a Lynel in the face with a giant mechanical hand.