So you've probably spent hours stumbling through the pitch-black basement of Hyrule, tossing brightbloom seeds like they’re candy and praying you don't walk off a cliff. It's dark. It's claustrophobic. Honestly, the Depths in Tears of the Kingdom are a literal nightmare until you realize the game is actually handing you the answers. Most people think the totk lightroot map is just a separate checklist to fill out for a completionist badge.
That’s mistake number one.
The truth is, the Depths map isn't a separate entity at all. It’s a mirror. A perfect, inverted reflection of the world above. Once you wrap your head around that, you stop being a victim of the dark and start being the architect of your own exploration. There are 120 lightroots down there. Exactly 120. And if that number sounds familiar, it should. It’s the exact number of shrines on the surface.
Why Your totk lightroot map is the Key to Everything
If you’ve found a shrine on the surface, you have already found a lightroot. You just haven’t traveled there yet. Every single lightroot sits at the exact same horizontal coordinates as a surface shrine. If you’re stuck in the dark and can’t find the next lightroot, just swap your map view to the surface. Is there a shrine right there? Pin it. Switch back. Go there.
It works the other way, too.
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Finding shrines on the surface is a pain. Some are hidden in caves, others are buried behind side quests or hidden under rock piles. But lightroots? You can see those glowing orange branches from a mile away in the darkness. If you find a lightroot in the Depths, mark its location. When you head back to the surface, look at that exact spot. There is a shrine there. Guaranteed.
Even the names are a dead giveaway, though it took some of us way too long to notice. The names are anadromes—they’re literally spelled backward. The Susuyai Shrine on the surface is the Iayusus Lightroot in the Depths. It’s a clever little trick that makes you feel like a genius once it finally clicks.
The Terrain Is Lying to You (Sort Of)
Navigating the Depths feels impossible because the topography is weird. But it’s not random. It follows a strict set of rules based on the surface map:
- Water is a Wall: If there’s a river, lake, or ocean on the surface, it’s an impassable wall of rock in the Depths.
- Mountains are Valleys: See a massive peak on the surface? That’s a deep canyon in the Depths.
- Valleys are Mountains: If you’re at the bottom of a ravine on the surface, you’ll be climbing a massive cliff in the Depths to reach that lightroot.
Basically, if you’re looking at your totk lightroot map and wondering why you can't reach a point that seems "right there," check the surface map for a body of water. You're likely trying to walk through a mountain that doesn't exist upstairs.
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Getting the Most Out of the 120 Locations
Most players just run toward the orange glow. That works for a while, but it's inefficient. You’re going to run out of seeds, or your battery will die on your makeshift hoverbike. You've got to be smarter.
One of the best strategies for filling out the totk lightroot map is to use the "Chasm Jump" method. Instead of trekking across the gloom on foot, find a chasm on the surface and dive. As you fall, pull out your paraglider and look around. The Depths are dark, but lightroots have a very distinct orange shimmer. You can usually spot two or three from the air. Pin them immediately.
Also, don't ignore the Stalhorses. They’re creepy, sure, but they can run over gloom without taking damage. If you’re trying to reach a distant lightroot and the ground is covered in that red-cracked mess, find a "bony pony" at a nearby camp. It saves your hearts and your sanity.
The Reward for Lighting It All Up
So, what do you actually get for finding all 120? Aside from a map that doesn't look like a charcoal drawing, you get the Dispelling Darkness Medal. It’s a key item. It doesn't give you a new ability or a massive stat boost, but it’s the ultimate mark of someone who has truly conquered the underworld.
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But the real reward is the undecayed weapons. Underneath many of the lightroots—specifically those near the ghost-soldier pedestals—you’ll start finding pristine versions of Hylian gear that isn't rusted out. The more you explore and the more lightroots you activate, the better the gear you'll find.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Map
- Sync Your Pins: Open your map and look for any surface shrines you’ve completed but don’t have a corresponding lightroot for. Put a pin on the Depths map at those exact spots.
- Follow the Water: Look at the surface map for major rivers. Draw a mental "no-go" zone in your head for the Depths. You cannot cross those lines underground.
- Build a Hoverbike: If you haven’t already, slap two fans on a steering stick at a 45-degree angle. Stick a Giant Brightbloom Seed on the front. This is the undisputed king of lightroot hunting.
- Check Your Spelling: If you’re missing just one or two lightroots, look at your shrine names. Reverse the letters. If you haven't seen a root with that name, that's your target.
Stop wandering aimlessly. Use the surface as your guide, and the Depths will stop being a challenge and start being a resource.