Honestly, the Thyphlo Ruins used to be a nightmare. If you played Breath of the Wild, you probably remember stumbling into a wall of absolute ink-black darkness, fumbling around with a torch, and praying you didn't walk off a ledge into a Hinox’s lap. It was atmospheric, sure, but it was also a massive pain.
Fast forward to Tears of the Kingdom, and the vibe has completely shifted. The fog is gone. The sun is out. But somehow, the mystery feels even denser. If you've been putting off the side adventure to investigate the Thyphlo Ruins, you’re actually missing out on some of the best lore-dumping and gear-hunting in the entire game. It isn't just a detour. It’s a series of puzzles that connect Link’s new abilities directly to the ancient history of the Sages.
Most people just fly over it on their way to the Lost Woods. Don't do that.
Getting Started: The Weird Bird Man and His Tablets
You’ll find a researcher named Kazul hanging out at a small camp on the southern edge of the ruins. He’s obsessed. He found these massive stone monoliths that hint at the "Long-Distance Shot," the "Corridor between Two Dragons," and a bunch of other cryptic nonsense.
This is where the quest officially kicks off.
You can’t just brute-force these puzzles by hitting things with a sword. Well, you can, but it won't work. The game expects you to have already made some progress in the main regional phenomena quests. Specifically, you need the powers of the Sages. If you haven't helped out Tulin, Yunobo, Sidon, and Riju yet, just turn around. You literally cannot finish this quest without their specific elemental abilities. It’s a gatekeeper quest, but a rewarding one.
The Owl’s Gaze and Tulin’s Gust
The first riddle talks about the owl’s gaze. It’s vague. If you wander around the northeast section of the ruins, you’ll find a platform with a bunch of stone owls. They look ancient, weathered, and slightly judgmental.
Here’s the trick: stand on the platform and use Tulin’s Power of Wind. You need to blow the gust directly at the owl statues. It feels a bit like blowing out birthday candles, but instead of cake, you get a hidden stone chamber rising out of the dirt.
Inside? A chest. It’s not just about the loot, though. It’s about the fact that these ruins were built specifically for the Sages to interact with thousands of years ago. It makes the world feel lived-in, or at least, formerly lived-in.
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Why the Sage Powers Matter Here
Most Zelda puzzles are self-contained. You find a boomerang, you use the boomerang. But when you investigate the Thyphlo Ruins, the game tests your memory of the mechanics you've picked up across the entire map of Hyrule.
Take the "Corridor between Two Dragons" riddle.
You have to find two long dragon statues facing each other. It’s located on the western side of the ruins. It looks like nothing is there. But if you charge up Yunobo’s fire roll and launch him right down the middle of that "corridor," the ground literally shakes.
It’s satisfying.
It’s also a clever way for Nintendo to remind you that your Sage companions aren't just for combat. They are keys. Use them.
The Six Dragons and the Watery Grave
The water puzzle is the one that trips people up. You’re looking for a semi-submerged statue of a dragon head. It’s tucked away in the marshy, murky outskirts of the ruins. You need Sidon for this one.
When you use Sidon’s water shield and then perform a physical attack to "shoot" the water wave at the dragon, it triggers the next hidden altar.
I’ve seen people try to throw splash fruit or use blue chuchu jelly. Doesn't work. It has to be the Sage’s power. The ruins are "keyed" to the specific frequency of the Sages' magic. It’s a nice touch that adds a layer of "chosen hero" vibes without being too cheesy about it.
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The Final Reveal: Riju’s Lightning
The last one is the most dramatic. You have to find a spot surrounded by four dragon statues. It’s near the center-north area. You’ll see a massive stone tile on the ground.
Call on Riju.
When her yellow lightning field expands to cover all four statues, shoot an arrow into the center. The ground opens up. This isn't just a tiny closet; it’s a full-on subterranean chamber.
Down there, you’ll find the reward that makes this whole trek worth it: the Dusk Sword.
Is the Dusk Sword Actually Good?
Look, let's be real. In Tears of the Kingdom, your weapons are only as good as the stuff you fuse to them.
The Dusk Sword (which is actually the Sword of the Six Sages from Twilight Princess) has a base attack power of 32. That’s decent. It’s a two-handed claymore, it looks sleek, and it has high durability. But the real value is the nostalgia and the fact that it’s a "legendary" item you can eventually get back from a Bargainer Statue if you break it.
Is it better than a pristine Royal Guard’s Claymore fused with a Silver Lynel Saber Horn? No. Nothing is. But it’s a trophy. It’s proof you solved the hardest riddle in the northern woods.
The Lore You Might Have Missed
While you're running around, take a second to look at the architecture.
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The Thyphlo Ruins are covered in Zonai motifs, but they are clearly different from the Sky Islands. This was a place of worship on the surface. The fact that the darkness from the first game has lifted suggests that the "gloom" or the "malice" was specifically tied to the seal on Ganondorf.
Once he woke up and the Upheaval happened, the old magic holding the darkness over Thyphlo seems to have broken. It’s environmental storytelling at its best. The ruins aren't just a level; they are a historical site that reacted to the world's changing state.
Strategic Tips for Efficient Investigation
If you want to knock this out quickly, don't walk. Use a hoverbike. The ruins are sprawling and filled with annoying little marshes that slow Link down to a crawl.
- Clear the Skyview Tower first. The Thyphlo Ruins Skyview Tower is right there. It gives you the overhead map view which makes spotting the dragon statues significantly easier.
- Bring stamina food. Some of the statues require a bit of climbing or paragliding to reach the optimal "trigger" spot for the Sage powers.
- Don't ignore the Construct. There is a Soldier Construct near the entrance that drops high-tier Zonai parts. If you’re low on fans or batteries, it’s a quick farm.
- Read the tablets carefully. Kazul’s translations aren't just flavor text. They contain the directional clues (North, South, East, West) you need to find the statues.
What Most Players Get Wrong
The biggest mistake is trying to do this too early.
If you show up with just Tulin, you’re going to get frustrated. You’ll solve one puzzle and then hit a wall. Wait until you have at least three Sages. It makes the flow of the quest feel much more intentional and less like a series of "I'll come back later" chores.
Also, people often overlook the small chests scattered around the ruins outside of the main quest. There are some decent bows and opal/topaz deposits hidden in the nooks of the broken walls.
Actionable Next Steps
To wrap this up and get your rewards, follow this specific sequence:
- Teleport to the Thyphlo Ruins Skyview Tower and glide down to the campsite.
- Talk to Kazul to trigger the four individual side quests (The Owl, The Two Dragons, The Six Dragons, and The Long Dragon).
- Equip your Sages and tackle the Owl first (Tulin), then the Corridor (Yunobo), then the Six Dragons (Sidon), and finally the Long Dragon (Riju).
- Enter the hidden underground chamber that opens near the monoliths.
- Claim the Dusk Sword and talk to Kazul one last time to finish the quest line and get your Large Zonai Charge and a Big Battery.
Doing this side adventure doesn't just give you a cool sword; it clears one of the most interesting landmarks in Hyrule off your map and gives you a much better understanding of how the Zonai and the ancient Hylians collaborated to protect the Sages' legacy. It’s one of those rare moments where the gameplay mechanics and the story actually shake hands. Once you're done, you can head straight into the Lost Woods nearby—but that's a whole different headache involving a very grumpy Deku Tree.