You’re paragliding over the Akkala Sea. The wind is howling in Link’s ears, your stamina wheel is flashing red, and then you see it. A massive, brutalist block of stone just sitting there in the water, looking like someone dropped a concrete motherboard into the ocean. That's Lomei Labyrinth Island. If you've played The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, you know exactly the feeling of dread that hits when you first land on those mossy walls. It’s cold. It’s quiet. And honestly? It’s one of the best examples of environmental storytelling Nintendo has ever pulled off.
Most players stumble upon it while hunting for the Tu Ka'loh Shrine. They think it's just a simple maze. They think they can just climb the walls and cheat their way to the center. Well, you can, but the game knows you're going to try that. The developers practically bait you into breaking the rules, only to realize that the real secrets aren't even in the maze itself—they're underneath it.
Getting to Lomei Labyrinth Island Without Drowning
It's out there. Way out there. Located in the far northeast corner of the map, North Akkala Sea, this place is a trek. Most people glide from the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab. It's the most logical jump-off point, but even with a full three wheels of stamina, you might find yourself eating a lot of Enduring Fried Wild Greens just to make the distance.
I’ve seen people try to use Cryonis to ice-hop all the way there. Don't do that to yourself. It takes forever. Just grab a hearty lizard, cook up some extra stamina, and make the flight. Once you cross the threshold, the music shifts. That sparse, creepy piano starts tinkling, and the "Trial of the Labyrinth" quest pops up. You're officially in it now.
The architecture here is distinctly "Zonai"—or at least what we understood to be Zonai before Tears of the Kingdom expanded the lore. It’s blocky, covered in bird and dragon motifs, and feels ancient in a way that the Sheikah tech doesn't. While the Sheikah stuff is all blue glow and curved lines, the Lomei Labyrinth Island is heavy, geometric, and oppressive. It feels like a tomb because, in many ways, it is.
Surviving the Maze and the Skywatchers
The biggest mistake people make? Not looking up.
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There are Guardian Skywatchers patrolling the air around the island. If you're trying to "cheese" the maze by running along the tops of the walls, these things will spot you. And fighting a Skywatcher on a narrow stone ledge is a great way to fall into the drink or get blasted into a game-over screen. Honestly, the safest way is actually inside the corridors, even if it feels claustrophobic.
- The Malice Problem: Huge chunks of the labyrinth are covered in that purple-black sludge. You can't just run through it.
- The Pathing: Look for the torches. If you see a lit torch or a place where a torch should be, you’re usually getting warmer.
- The Shortcuts: There are actually breakable walls and hidden ladders. If you have a Great Flameblade, use it to burn away thorns blocking some of the side passages.
Basically, the goal is the center. But the center isn't just a room; it's a multi-story complex. You’re looking for a specific opening on the western side of the central structure that leads into the heart of the island. Once you find the Tu Ka'loh Shrine, you might think you're done. You got your Spirit Orb. You're ready to warp out.
Wait.
The Basement: Where the Real Fear Lives
If you leave after finishing the shrine, you’ve missed the best (and scariest) part of Lomei Labyrinth Island.
Directly in front of the shrine, there’s a gust of air coming up from a grating in the floor. Drop down there. It looks like a bottomless pit, but it’s actually a massive basement. At first, it’s dark. It’s silent. Then you see them. Decayed Guardians. Dozens of them. Scattered across the floor like graveyard statuary.
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In the middle of this room sits a treasure chest containing the Travel Medallion (if you have the DLC) or the Barbarian Leg Wraps. The second you open that chest? The "dead" Guardians wake up.
Suddenly, five or six red laser sights all lock onto Link’s chest at the same time. The piano goes into a frantic, high-pitched frenzy. It’s one of the most intense moments in the entire game. If you aren't prepared with Ancient Arrows or a very high-level shield for parrying, you're going to get vaporized. It's a classic Nintendo "gotcha" moment. They give you the prize, then they try to kill you for taking it.
Why Does This Place Even Exist?
The lore nerds—myself included—have spent years dissecting the Lomei structures. There are three of them in Hyrule: one in the desert (South Lomei), one in the snowy north (North Lomei), and this one in the sea. They were built by a "warlike tribe" from the Faron region.
Everything about Lomei Labyrinth Island suggests it was a test of courage. It wasn't built for Link; it was built thousands of years ago for anyone brave enough to reach it. The sheer scale of the stone blocks used to build this thing is staggering. How did they get them out into the middle of the ocean? We don't know. The game doesn't tell us. It just lets the ruins speak for themselves.
The rewards here are part of the Barbarian Set, which increases your attack power. This fits the "warlike tribe" theme perfectly. You aren't just finding treasure; you're inheriting the gear of an ancient culture that valued strength above all else.
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Pro Tips for Your Next Visit
If you're heading there now, keep these things in mind. First, bring a Diamond Circlet or some Ancient Armor. The Guardian density in the basement is no joke. Second, don't forget that you can use Stasis+ to highlight which Guardians are actually "alive" before they wake up. If they glow yellow in Stasis, they have health bars. Hit them first.
- Fly from the Lab: Use the Akkala Tech Lab as your launchpad.
- Use the Map: The in-game map actually shows the layout perfectly. Use it to find the gaps in the walls.
- Check the Corners: There are chests hidden in the dead ends with Gold Rupees and elemental arrows.
- Basement Prep: Have your parry timing down. If you can’t parry a Guardian beam, you’re going to have a bad time in the basement.
The Takeaway
Lomei Labyrinth Island isn't just a checkbox on a completionist's map. It’s a vibe. It’s that feeling of isolation that Breath of the Wild excels at. It challenges you to navigate without a waypoint, it punishes you for being cocky, and it rewards you for being curious enough to jump down a scary hole in the ground.
To actually master the island, you need to stop thinking like a player and start thinking like an explorer. Stop looking for the exit and start looking for the history. When you finally warp away from that rocky outcrop, you feel like you’ve actually accomplished something.
Next time you're in Akkala, don't just look at the island from the cliffside. Grab your paraglider and make the jump. Just make sure you've got some Ancient Arrows in your quiver before you open that chest in the basement. You'll thank me later.
To make the most of your trip, ensure you have at least two full stamina wheels or a few Enduring Elixirs. Once you've cleared the Tu Ka'loh Shrine, don't fast travel away immediately—the Barbarian Leg Wraps in the basement are essential for any high-damage build, and the Travel Medallion is a game-changer for exploration. Clear the Guardians one by one using the pillars as cover, and you'll walk away with some of the best loot in the game.