You’ve probably spent dozens of hours soaring through the Sky Islands or getting distracted by every Korok seed in Hyrule. But eventually, the question hits: where is Ganondorf in TOTK? Honestly, if you were expecting him to be chilling in the throne room like the last game, you’re in for a massive shock. Nintendo pulled a fast one on us this time.
In Breath of the Wild, the big bad was basically a giant neon sign at the center of the map. You knew where he was from the moment you stepped off the Great Plateau. In Tears of the Kingdom, the Demon King is buried much, much deeper. He isn’t just "at the castle." He is underneath the foundation of the world itself.
Finding him is less of a casual stroll and more of a terrifying descent into the literal bowels of Hyrule.
The Short Answer: He’s Right Under Your Feet
Basically, Ganondorf is located in the Hyrule Castle Chasm. This isn't just any hole in the ground; it's the massive, glowing red pit that opened up directly beneath the floating Hyrule Castle. To find him, you have to dive into that chasm and keep going until you hit the very bottom.
Don't let the map fool you. Even when you think you’ve reached the bottom of the Depths, there is a "basement" below the basement. You are looking for a place called Gloom’s Origin.
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The Long Trek Down the Hyrule Castle Chasm
If you're ready to finish this, grab your best gear. You’ll want to launch yourself from the Lookout Landing Skyview Tower and glide toward the floating castle. Instead of landing on the castle itself, you need to dive into the swirling red gloom beneath it.
The Path Through Gloom’s Approach
Once you hit the bottom of the initial chasm, the real gauntlet starts. You aren’t just walking into a boss room; you’re traversing a mini-dungeon that the game calls Gloom's Approach.
You’ll encounter:
- Electric Like Likes hanging from the ceiling.
- A White-Maned Lynel just waiting to ruin your day (you can actually sneak past this guy if you’re careful).
- Horriblins and Ice Keese that love to knock you into the gloom.
The further you go, the weirder things get. The environment starts to look like the opening cutscene where Link and Zelda first found the "mummy." That’s because it is that same place. You’ll eventually reach the Forgotten Foundation, where you can see the same murals and ruins from the start of the game.
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The Point of No Return
Eventually, you’ll reach the Imprisoning Chamber. This is where Rauru originally sealed Ganondorf. It’s quiet here. Too quiet. Your Sage companions—Tulin, Yunobo, and the rest—will actually stop following you at a certain point. Their "connection" to you gets cut off because you are so deep underground that their spiritual avatars can't reach you.
You’re on your own from here until the "Army" phase of the fight.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Search
A lot of players think they need to find a specific quest trigger to make Ganondorf appear. Kinda true, kinda not. You can technically go down there at any point in the game. You could do it with three hearts and a stick if you really wanted to.
However, if you haven’t finished the main story quests (the four Regional Phenomena and the Fifth Sage), you’re going to have a bad time. If you skip the temples, you have to fight all the bosses you missed in a row before you even get to see Ganondorf’s face. It turns a hard fight into an absolute nightmare.
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How to Prepare for the Descent
Look, Ganondorf isn't playing around. His attacks don't just take away hearts; they break them. If you get hit by his gloom-infused weapons, those heart containers turn gray and unusable unless you eat specific food.
- Cook Sundelion Meals: You absolutely need "Sunny" dishes. Mix Sundelions with meat or mushrooms to create meals that repair your broken heart containers.
- The Master Sword: While not strictly required, it makes the fight much easier. It glows with extra power when you’re near Ganondorf and won't run out of energy during the final phases.
- Travel Medallions: Since there are no shrines at the very bottom, drop a Travel Medallion right before you jump into the final pit (Gloom's Origin). If you realize you forgot to cook enough food, you can warp out and come back without running the whole gauntlet again.
Reaching Gloom's Origin
The final destination is Gloom's Origin. You’ll know you’re there when the music shifts and the atmosphere turns a sickly, vibrating red. You’ll jump down one last massive pit and land on a platform of hardened gloom.
This is where the Demon King waits. He isn't a mindless beast like Calamity Ganon was; he's a warrior who can dodge your attacks and even Flurry Rush you.
Your Next Steps
Before you dive into that hole, check your inventory. Make sure you have at least three or four weapons fused with high-damage materials like Silver Lynel Saber Horns. If you’re low on Sundelions, head to the Sky Islands—specifically the circular ones—to stock up. Once you have about 10 "Sunny" meals and a full stack of arrows, you're ready to head to the Hyrule Castle Chasm and end the cycle.