Key takeaways
- The Plateau is a broad Central Hyrule region, not merely the area around the Temple of Time Ruins.
- It has four Chasms Great Plateau North, South, East and West Chasms. These correspond broadly to sites associated with the old Breath of the Wild shrine layout.
- The main Tears of the Kingdom story activity is optional The most important local quest is the side adventure A Call from the Depths, which begins after investigating the ruined Temple of Time.
- The Yiga Clan occupies the old Woodcutter’s House or King Rhoam’s cabin, with Pitar held there and forced to produce Yiga Masks.
- Mount Hylia remains cold, while the eastern and central parts of the Plateau are more temperate.
- The Plateau has three Shrines of Light in the surface region Riogok Shrine, Tadarok Shrine and Kyokugon Shrine. The former Great Plateau shrine sites are not functioning shrines in Tears of the Kingdom.
Note
This guide covers the Great Plateau in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, including its named surface subareas, caves, Chasms and directly associated Depths content. It does not treat the wider Hyrule Field, the Great Plateau Tower Region, Outskirt Stable, or every location visible from the Plateau as part of the Plateau itself. Earlier-series material is separated from Tears of the Kingdom content.
Overview
The Great Plateau is one of the most recognisable locations in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. In Breath of the Wild, it was the enclosed tutorial region where Link awoke, learned the foundations of exploration and received the Paraglider. In Tears of the Kingdom, the Plateau is no longer a sealed starting area. It can be reached from several directions, its old shrines have become Chasms, the landscape has been altered by the Upheaval, and the Yiga Clan has established a base in the ruins of King Rhoam’s former cabin.
The Plateau is also one of Hyrule’s most historically important sites. It is associated with the founding of Hyrule, the ancient Temple of Time and the royal family’s early history. Its present landscape combines woods, ponds, old ruins, a snowbound mountain, waterfalls, caves and four entrances to the Depths. It is therefore much broader than the Temple of Time Ruins or the former Great Plateau Tower area alone.
Boundaries and hierarchy
The Great Plateau is a raised landform south of Hyrule Field. Its steep outer walls make it visually distinct from the lower plains around it. In the present game world, the Plateau is best understood as a named region containing several smaller named areas, rather than as one single landmark.
The following locations are treated here as part of the Great Plateau’s named area list:
The Great Plateau Tower belongs primarily to Breath of the Wild. In Tears of the Kingdom, the tower itself is no longer present, although its former location and the surrounding terrain remain relevant. Likewise, the original Breath of the Wild shrines are historical predecessors or altered sites rather than current Shrines of Light.
The Plateau should not be expanded to include every nearby place visible from its cliffs. Outskirt Stable, Gatepost Town Ruins and Hyrule Field are neighbouring locations. They are useful access points but are not subareas of the Great Plateau.
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Boundaries and hierarchy
Geography
The eastern and north-eastern parts of the Plateau contain the remains of old roads, woodland and ponds. The Temple of Time Ruins dominate the north-eastern section. The Eastern Abbey lies further east, while the old cabin and surrounding wetlands sit towards the south-east.
The west and south-west are more rugged. The River of the Dead runs through the Plateau, ending in a waterfall and associated cave system. Mount Hylia rises above this side of the region. Its snow and cold-weather conditions make it the most immediately dangerous part of the surface Plateau for an early-game player.
The landscape also contains several lower areas that are easy to overlook:
The ancient history of the Plateau does not perfectly match its present geography. During the Era of Myth, the Plateau was warmer and served as the seat of the Hyrule Kingdom. A former lake and royal complex occupied land that is now represented by wetlands, ruins and the River of the Dead. The Temple of Time that once stood on the surface was raised into the sky, becoming part of the Great Sky Island. The current surface structure is the Temple of Time Ruins, a later replacement.
Named geographical features
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Named geographical features
How to reach the Great Plateau
Unlike in Breath of the Wild, Link is not trapped on the Plateau at the start of Tears of the Kingdom. It can be reached by ordinary travel once the player has access to the surrounding surface.
Northern approach
A practical route begins near the northern edge of the Plateau, close to the Gatepost Town Ruins. A blockage of boulders prevents water from flowing normally. Breaking through the obstruction allows water to run out and opens a walkable approach up to the Plateau. A weapon fused with a rock, a boulder weapon or Yunobo’s rolling ability can remove the obstruction.
This is the most direct surface approach for players travelling south from Hyrule Field.
Great Plateau Foothill Cave
At the northern end of the Plateau, Great Plateau Foothill Cave provides an alternative route. The cave connects to a point beneath the Plateau where Link can use Ascend to emerge on the surface. This route is useful when the surface approach is inconvenient or when the player wants to combine the trip with cave exploration.
Climbing and gliding
The outer walls can also be approached by climbing or gliding from nearby high ground. This is less reliable early in the game because of stamina requirements, weather and the Plateau’s steep sides. The cold region around Mount Hylia may also require cold resistance.
Recommended access order
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Recommended access order
- 01Approach from Hyrule Field through the northern boulder blockage.
- 02Activate or visit Riogok Shrine if it is on your route.
- 03Explore the Temple of Time Ruins and investigate the statue or voice connected with A Call from the Depths.
- 04Visit the four Chasms only when you have enough Brightbloom Seeds, arrows and healing supplies.
- 05Leave Mount Hylia until you have cold resistance or enough temporary protection.
Surface subareas and landmarks
Temple of Time Ruins
The Temple of Time Ruins are the Plateau’s central historical landmark. They are not the same building as the Temple of Time on the Great Sky Island. The ruins occupy the site of a later surface temple constructed after the original temple was raised into the sky.
This is where Link can encounter the Mysterious Voice and begin the chain leading to A Call from the Depths. The surrounding ruins contain broken walls, old roads, fallen masonry and several exploration opportunities. The temple is also a useful navigation point because many of the Plateau’s paths and enemy camps are positioned relative to it.
Eastern Abbey
The Eastern Abbey is a ruined religious or administrative complex on the eastern side of the Plateau. It is particularly significant in Breath of the Wild, where it contains dangerous Guardian remains. In Tears of the Kingdom, it is primarily a ruin and exploration landmark rather than a major story location.
Forest of Spirits
The Forest of Spirits occupies the woodland area towards the west and south-west. It contains trees, wildlife, hidden Korok puzzles and enemy encounters. The forest is also a natural route between the central Plateau, Mount Hylia and the River of the Dead.
Hopper Pond
Hopper Pond is a small body of water associated with wildlife, resource gathering and Korok exploration. It lies near cliffs and raised ground, so searching its banks and nearby ledges is worthwhile.
Mount Hylia
Mount Hylia is the Plateau’s principal mountain. The summit is snowy and requires cold protection unless the player is relying on temporary food effects. The mountain includes the area associated with King’s Tomb, a rocky memorial-like feature connected with King Rhoam’s history.
River of the Dead
The River of the Dead is a major watercourse crossing the western and southern parts of the Plateau. Its final waterfall conceals or leads towards the River of the Dead Waterfall Cave. The river is useful as a route marker and as a source of fish, but its waterfalls and cliffs make direct travel awkward without climbing, gliding or suitable vehicles.
Shrine of Resurrection
The Shrine of Resurrection is the location where Link awakened in Breath of the Wild. In Tears of the Kingdom, it is a revisited landmark rather than the starting point of the game. The cave and its nearby chambers remain important for continuity and exploration.
Restoration Room and Second Room
These are named interior areas associated with the Shrine of Resurrection complex. They are part of the Plateau’s location hierarchy and should not be confused with separate surface buildings or shrines.
King’s Tomb
King’s Tomb is associated with the rocky high ground on or around Mount Hylia. It is a lore-focused landmark rather than a conventional dungeon, and it is most valuable to players interested in the history of the royal family and the Plateau.
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Chasms and the Depths
Their positions are associated with the locations of old Breath of the Wild shrines. They are not merely decorative cracks. Each provides access to the Depths and contributes to the Plateau’s changed geography after the Upheaval.
The Plateau’s principal underground counterpart is the Great Abandoned Central Mine, although the Depths beneath and around the Plateau are part of a larger underground network rather than an isolated miniature version of the surface. The surface Chasm directory and the Great Abandoned Central Mine should therefore be treated as related but distinct entries.
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The safest general procedure is
- 01Mark the Chasm entrance on the map before dropping.
- 02Throw or fire Brightbloom Seeds immediately after entering.
- 03Look for nearby Lightroots before travelling far.
- 04Keep a route back to the Chasm marked, especially in the darkness.
- 05Avoid exploring deep into the Depths with a nearly empty battery or without gloom recovery.
- 06Use the surface map to compare major landmarks with their underground counterparts.
The Yiga Clan occupation
The most important change to the Plateau in Tears of the Kingdom is the Yiga Clan occupation.
The Yiga have taken over the old cabin associated with King Rhoam and are using it as a base. Pitar is being held there and forced to make Yiga Masks. The encounter is part of the Yiga presence on the Plateau and is separate from the larger Yiga Clan quest and infiltration content found elsewhere in Hyrule.
The base is not a normal shop. Do not assume that the presence of masks or crafting activity creates a general-purpose service. The important function is narrative and mission-related: Link can investigate the occupied building, confront the Yiga presence and rescue or assist Pitar.
Named characters and faction members
The Old Man is not a normal present-day Tears of the Kingdom resident. His inclusion belongs to the Plateau’s continuity and previous-game history rather than to an ordinary NPC directory for the current game.
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Shrines and shrine-related sites
Shrines of Light
The current surface Shrine of Light directory is:
Riogok Shrine is associated with a route through the Plateau and is generally the most convenient shrine to activate early during a surface visit.
Tadarok Shrine is associated with the River of the Dead Waterfall Cave. Its approach involves environmental hazards and elemental puzzle-solving, so it is worth carrying fire, ice and water solutions or relying on Ultrahand-built equipment.
Kyokugon Shrine is associated with the Plateau’s cave and underground-facing exploration. Its challenge rewards careful observation and attention to the arrangement of objects or lights rather than straightforward combat.
The exact order in which these shrines are completed is flexible. They are valuable fast-travel points and make later trips to the Yiga base, Mount Hylia and the Chasms much easier.
Historical shrine sites
The old Breath of the Wild shrines associated with the Plateau include:
These names belong to Breath of the Wild continuity. They should not be listed as currently active Shrines of Light in Tears of the Kingdom. The Great Plateau Chasms occupy or are associated with the former shrine positions. The wider series directory also includes DLC-related shrine content such as Etsu Korima Shrine, Rohta Chigah Shrine, Ruvo Korbah Shrine and Yowaka Ita Shrine. Those are not ordinary base-game Tears of the Kingdom surface shrines.
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Shrines of Light
Quests and activities
A Call from the Depths
This is the Plateau’s principal Tears of the Kingdom side adventure.
It begins after Link investigates the relevant statue or voice at the Temple of Time Ruins. The quest leads into a search involving four locations associated with the Plateau and its surrounding waterways. The player must follow the clues, recover the required eyes and return them to their destinations in the Depths.
Because this quest involves dark underground travel, it is best attempted after acquiring a supply of Brightbloom Seeds and several arrows.
Mysterious Voice
The Mysterious Voice is the starting narrative presence for the Plateau’s Depths-related quest chain. It is associated with the Temple of Time Ruins and should be treated as a quest trigger rather than an ordinary named resident.
Korok hunting
The Plateau contains Korok puzzles in woodland, pond, cliff and ruin settings. Confirmed puzzle types include:
The Plateau’s directory includes Korok placements around the Great Plateau North Chasm, the Temple of Time Ruins, Hopper Pond, the Forest of Spirits and the western Plateau walls. Some Korok pairs require carrying one Korok to its partner, so a player rushing through on horseback or by fast travel can easily miss them.
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Enemies and combat
The Plateau’s ordinary Tears of the Kingdom enemy encounters include:
Monster camps occur near the Temple of Time Ruins, the Eastern Abbey, the Forest of Spirits, Hopper Pond and the River of the Dead. Some camps contain chests or equipment, while others are primarily useful for monster parts and combat practice.
Combat advice
The Plateau’s enemies are considerably stronger than the early Breath of the Wild groups that occupied it. Black Bokoblins and Boss Bokoblins can absorb weak weapons quickly, so use fused weapons rather than relying on unfused rusty equipment.
Enemy directory
Enemy populations and rewards are not all permanently unique. Many ordinary encounters can respawn, and drops may vary by enemy type, scaling and game progression.
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Items, materials and collectibles
The Plateau is a useful gathering area even after its quests are complete. Surface materials recorded for the region include:
Named equipment and chest rewards
Verified named equipment and chest contents associated with the Plateau include:
Chest contents may be fixed, while enemy equipment and monster drops can depend on the encounter and progression state. A chest embedded beside fallen debris near the Plateau entrance contains an Ancient Blade, while other chests occur around camps, the Bottomless Bog area and ruined structures.
Korok checklist
This is a location-based checklist, not a claim that these are the only Koroks visible from the region’s wider borders. The Plateau category and neighbouring landmark pages divide some nearby placements differently.
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Named equipment and chest rewards
Caves and underground interiors
Great Plateau Foothill Cave
A northern access cave that can be used with Ascend to reach the surface. It is both a route and an exploration location.
River of the Dead Waterfall Cave
A cave associated with the river’s final waterfall. It contains the approach to Tadarok Shrine and environmental puzzles involving water, fire and ice. The waterfall makes it easy to miss if the player follows the river from above without checking behind or below the falls.
Shrine of Resurrection
The former awakening chamber remains a named cave or interior area. It is important for series continuity and contains the associated Restoration Room and Second Room.
Cave directory
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Suggested exploration routes
Completionist route
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Short surface route
- 01Enter from the northern boulder route.
- 02Activate Riogok Shrine.
- 03Visit the Temple of Time Ruins.
- 04Investigate the Mysterious Voice and begin A Call from the Depths if desired.
- 05Search the nearby pond, ruins and walls for Koroks.
- 06Travel west through the Forest of Spirits.
- 07Follow the River of the Dead to its waterfall.
- 08Enter the waterfall cave and complete or mark Tadarok Shrine.
- 09Climb Mount Hylia only after preparing cold resistance.
Quest-focused route
- 01Reach the Temple of Time Ruins.
- 02Start A Call from the Depths.
- 03Mark all four Chasms before descending.
- 04Carry at least 20 Brightbloom Seeds and a good supply of arrows.
- 05Activate nearby Lightroots whenever possible.
- 06Recover the quest objectives in the required underground locations.
- 07Return to the quest giver or statue and claim the reward.
- 08Finish by visiting the Yiga base and the surface shrine locations.
Hazards and missable considerations
The Plateau has no conventional point-of-no-return that permanently removes its main Tears of the Kingdom content. However, several practical issues can cause players to miss or postpone things:
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Lore and continuity
The Great Plateau is traditionally described as the birthplace of Hyrule Kingdom. In Breath of the Wild, the Old Man explains its importance while Link explores the ruins and learns that the Plateau once served as a sacred royal site. The idea is expanded in Tears of the Kingdom, where the Plateau’s ancient state is linked more directly with the Era of Myth and the early Hyrule Kingdom.
The surface Temple of Time is not simply an older version of the sky temple. The original Temple of Time was raised into the sky by the Six Sages. A replacement was later built on the surface, eventually becoming the Temple of Time Ruins seen in the present. This explains why the Plateau contains both a ruined temple and a functioning temple in the sky without requiring them to be the same surviving structure.
The Plateau’s cold south-western climate is also a later change. During the Era of Myth, the region was warmer. The snowy Mount Hylia and frozen surroundings therefore represent a change in the Plateau’s environment across Hyrule’s history.
Series appearances
The Age of Calamity scenario and other game appearances should be kept separate from the open-world geography of Tears of the Kingdom. The location may share its name and visual identity while serving a different gameplay role.
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Series appearances: The Great Plateau appears in
| Name | Details |
|---|---|
| The Legend of Zelda | Breath of the Wild |
| Hyrule Warriors | Age of Calamity |
| The Legend of Zelda | Tears of the Kingdom |
| Hyrule Warriors | Age of Imprisonment |
Comprehensive named directory
Historical or continuity-associated figures
The latter group contains characters, monks or shrine names associated with Breath of the Wild and its DLC rather than ordinary present-day Tears of the Kingdom residents.
Materials and wildlife
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Region and subareas
Surface Shrines of Light
Sources
- Great Plateau - Zelda Wiki — zeldawiki.wiki
- Great Plateau - Zelda Dungeon Wiki, a The Legend of Zelda wiki — zeldadungeon.net