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The Sky

The Sky is one of the three major layers of Hyrule in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, alongside the Surface and the Depths.

Importancemajor

Key takeaways

  • The Sky is a whole layer of Hyrule, not just the Great Sky Island The Great Sky Island is only the central tutorial area.
  • Skyview Towers, falling rubble and activated Shrines of Light are the main access network. Recall can carry Link upwards on falling debris, while Skyview Towers launch him into the air.
  • The Great Sky Island contains four tutorial Shrines of Light, each associated with one of Link’s early abilities: Ultrahand, Fuse, Ascend and Recall.
  • Many sky islands are regional gateways The Rising Island Chain leads towards the Wind Temple, while the waterfall islands above Lanayru lead towards the Water Temple.
  • Some areas change substantially with story progression The Thunderhead Isles are obscured by storm clouds until the relevant regional story conditions are met, while the Great Sky Island becomes more significant again during late-game and post-main-story exploration.
  • The Sky is rich in Zonai resources Expect Device Dispensers, Zonai Charges, Crystal Refinery access, Forge Constructs, zonaite-related activities, dragon-related exploration and shrine rewards.

About this guide

Scope: Base game, including the Great Sky Island, regional sky areas, named sky archipelagos, sky labyrinths, sky dungeons and named islands. Surface locations, the Depths and *Skyward Sword*’s Skyloft are treated as neighbouring or separate subjects rather than being folded into this guide.

Overview

The Sky is one of the three major layers of Hyrule in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, alongside the Surface and the Depths. It is not a single island or one compact region. It is a broad vertical world made up of the Great Sky Island, numerous regional archipelagos, isolated challenge islands, sky labyrinths and the floating dungeons connected to several regional phenomena.

The Sky serves three different purposes in the game. It is the opening tutorial area, where Link recovers from the opening catastrophe and learns his new abilities. It is also a network of traversal routes, providing launch points, Zonai devices, shrines and falling rubble that connect the Surface to high-altitude locations. Finally, it contains some of the game’s most specialised challenges, including the Wind Temple, Water Temple, low-gravity islands, skydiving courses and the three Lomei sky labyrinths.

The game’s own map treats the Sky as a distinct map layer. The principal regional divisions are Akkala Sky, Central Hyrule Sky, Eldin Sky, Faron Sky, Gerudo Sky, Hebra Sky, Lanayru Sky and Necluda Sky.

Main functions

The Great Sky Island teaches the basic systems that define the rest of the game:

Named locations on the Great Sky Island

The Great Sky Island location directory records these as constituent areas, along with the Crystal Refinery and the Temple of Time.

Named locations on the Great Sky Island

The four tutorial shrines

The shrines are not merely optional early puzzles. Their associated abilities are required to complete the opening progression and reach the Temple of Time.

The four tutorial shrines

ShrineAbility or lessonGeneral role
Ukouh ShrineUltrahandJoining objects and building bridges or vehicles
In-isa ShrineFuseCombining weapons and materials
Gutanbac ShrineAscendPassing through overhead surfaces
Nachoyah ShrineRecallReversing movement and reaching the island’s upper routes

Crystal Refinery and energy upgrades

The Crystal Refinery is one of the most useful permanent facilities in the Sky. It converts crystallised zonaite-related resources into increases to the Energy Cell. The first refinery encounter is tied to the Great Sky Island’s early progression, while later visits can support further energy upgrades.

The nearby Forge Construct and other Zonai facilities make the island a useful preparation stop even after the tutorial. Players returning with more zonaite, Zonai Charges and crystallised charges can use it as an early upgrade hub.

Temple of Time

The Temple of Time stands at the northern end of the Great Sky Island. It is both a major architectural landmark and the destination of the opening main quest. Reaching it requires obtaining the four abilities and opening the route through the island.

The Temple of Time is also important to the game’s larger lore. It connects the opening events with the ancient history of the Zonai, Rauru, Sonia and the founding era of Hyrule. The first passage through the temple leads to Link’s descent towards the Surface, while later story developments give the area renewed significance.

Recommended first-time route

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Recommended first-time route: steps

  1. 01
    Begin at the Room of Awakening and follow the initial path towards the first shrine.
  2. 02
    Complete Ukouh Shrine and use Ultrahand to cross the early gaps.
  3. 03
    Visit the western and southern portions of the island, collecting materials and learning basic vehicle construction.
  4. 04
    Complete In-isa Shrine and use Fuse to improve weak weapons.
  5. 05
    Travel towards the snowy section and complete Gutanbac Shrine.
  6. 06
    Use Ascend to reach otherwise inaccessible ledges and buildings.
  7. 07
    Explore the lower and upper routes around the island rather than rushing directly to the temple.
  8. 08
    Complete Nachoyah Shrine after opening the route connected to the island’s water and clockwork sections.
  9. 09
    Visit the Temple of Time once the required shrine progression is complete.
  10. 10
    Dive to the Surface and activate the first available fast-travel points as soon as possible.

Skyview Towers

Skyview Towers launch Link high above the Surface. They do not usually place him directly on an island, but they provide the altitude needed to glide towards nearby archipelagos. They also reveal map information for their surrounding region.

The tower system becomes available after the early Lookout Landing progression, particularly the events connected with Purah and the initial investigation of the castle.

Falling rubble and Recall

Pieces of sky debris periodically fall to the Surface. By using Recall on a fallen piece and riding it upwards, Link can reach altitude without spending the entire journey on a tower launch. This is particularly useful when:

The general Sky overview identifies falling rubble and Skyview Towers as the two principal methods of reaching the islands.

Zonai vehicles

Aircraft built with fans, wings, steering sticks and batteries are often the most reliable way to bridge large distances. However, wings have limited operating time, and poorly balanced vehicles can drift or overturn.

For longer journeys, extra battery capacity is more useful than simply adding more fans. The Sky contains many Device Dispensers, so it is worth checking the available capsule types before committing to a route.

Activated shrines as return points

Once a Shrine of Light in the Sky has been activated, it becomes a fast-travel destination. This is one reason to activate shrines even when the player does not intend to complete the puzzle immediately. A shrine placed on a remote island can save a great deal of vehicle construction and stamina use.

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Akkala Sky

Akkala’s sky contains the Akkala Highlands Sky and Akkala Sea Sky areas. Its islands include several shrine challenges and the approach to the northern sky labyrinth.

Akkala’s islands are often reached from the Ulri Mountain Skyview Tower or by launching from the Surface around the Akkala Highlands. The region is particularly useful for players investigating the Lomei labyrinth network and for finding high-altitude Device Dispensers.

Important named locations include

Central Hyrule Sky

Central Hyrule Sky contains the Great Sky Island and several archipelagos above Hyrule Field, Hyrule Ridge and the Great Hyrule Forest.

The Great Hyrule Forest Sky includes islands associated with the Bravery Island and Simosiwak Shrine, while the Hyrule Ridge Sky includes Courage Island and Taunhiy Shrine. The central region is also a useful starting point for long-distance glides because several Skyview Towers can launch Link towards its archipelagos.

Named areas include

Eldin Sky

Eldin Sky is divided into areas above Death Mountain, the Eldin Canyon and the Eldin Mountains.

Eldin’s sky routes are strongly associated with heat and vertical rock formations. The region’s islands are less about cold-weather preparation and more about reaching platforms separated by large drops or lava-adjacent terrain. The Kadaunar Shrine provides a route-specific puzzle using water and heat-related environmental conditions.

Named locations include

Faron Sky

Faron Sky includes the Faron Grasslands Sky and Faron Sea Sky. Its best-known locations are the Joku-u Shrine, Joku-usin Shrine, Dragonhead Island and the Thunderhead Isles.

The Thunderhead Isles are one of the most important progression-sensitive areas in the Sky. They are initially obscured by a severe storm, making navigation difficult and hiding the shape of the islands. After the relevant regional story progression, the storm is cleared, revealing a long island route with Zonai devices, puzzles and story content.

Dragonhead Island is connected to the late-game and Zonai-related storyline. It is possible to encounter its content before understanding its importance, but the associated route is much clearer when approached after the player has learned more about the ancient past.

Named locations include

Gerudo Sky

Gerudo Sky contains the Gerudo Desert Sky and Gerudo Highlands Sky. It is home to the South Lomei sky labyrinth, several isolated shrines and low-gravity challenges.

The Gerudo sky islands are often reached from the Gerudo Canyon or Gerudo Highlands launch routes. Heat resistance is generally more relevant during the Surface approach than on the islands themselves, but players should still prepare for the surrounding desert journey.

Named locations include

Hebra Sky

Hebra Sky contains the Hebra Mountains Sky and Tabantha Frontier Sky. It has some of the most elaborate connected sky routes in the game.

The Rising Island Chain is the main approach to the Wind Temple. It is a long series of floating platforms and ships that gradually leads higher into the sky. It is designed to teach the player to combine gliding, jumping, Tulin’s gust and Zonai devices.

The Wind Temple is a major dungeon located in Hebra Sky. It is accessed through the rising chain and is associated with the regional phenomenon affecting the Rito and Hebra’s weather.

Named locations include

Lanayru Sky

Lanayru Sky includes Lanayru Great Spring Sky, Lanayru Sea Sky, Lanayru Wetlands Sky and Mount Lanayru Sky.

The Lanayru region contains the route towards the Water Temple, as well as several islands built around water bubbles, low-gravity movement and vertical traversal.

Wellspring Island is especially important during the Water Temple approach. It provides a series of water-powered traversal puzzles and upward routes. The region also contains Floating Scales Island, which is linked with Zora-related story material and is visually distinct from the other island groups.

Valor Island is a diving and skydiving challenge location. Players should approach it with enough stamina and a plan for landing safely.

Named locations include

Necluda Sky

Necluda Sky contains the East Necluda Sky, Necluda Sea Sky and West Necluda Sky areas. It includes the Zonaite Forge Island and several islands used for shrine challenges and regional exploration.

The Zonaite Forge Island is one of the most useful resource locations in the Sky. It is associated with energy-related progression and Zonai technology. It is best approached with a substantial battery reserve, plenty of building materials and enough stamina for long glides or climbs.

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The principal named sky locations listed by location guides are:

The Sky also contains the following named labyrinth structures:

These names are separate from regional labels such as Hebra Mountains Sky or Lanayru Sea Sky. A regional area can contain several islands, shrines and structures, and should not be reduced to its most famous landmark.

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The Sky contains 32 Shrine of Light locations in the base game. The following directory groups them by their commonly listed sky subregion. Shrine titles are included where the listing identifies them.

Named locations include

Necluda Sky

And the following major dungeon spaces

Necluda Sky

The shrine directory and regional assignments are recorded by Zelda Dungeon’s Sky location listing.

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The Sky has no normal Hylian towns, inns or conventional shops. Its resident population is dominated by Constructs and Zonai mechanisms.

Constructs

Named Construct types and roles associated with the Sky include:

The Great Sky Island is specifically described as being maintained by Constructs that protect and tend the island.

Constructs

NameDetails
Culinary Constructcooking guidance and food-related instruction
Forge Constructexchanges and Zonai-related resource functions
Maker Constructbuilding and device guidance
Mining Constructzonaite and mining instruction
Ranger Constructarea maintenance and information

Device Dispensers

Device Dispensers provide Zonai capsules in exchange for Zonai Charges and other suitable resources. Their available inventory varies by dispenser, so players should check the capsule icons before spending charges.

The exact availability is dispenser-specific. Do not assume that every dispenser stocks every device.

Crystal Refinery

The Crystal Refinery converts crystallised energy resources into Energy Cell upgrades. The Great Sky Island refinery is an early and important facility, while later refinements can be supported by other Forge Construct locations.

Shops and businesses

The Sky does not contain ordinary general stores, armour shops, inns or Hylian commercial districts. Zonai facilities should not be treated as conventional businesses. They provide exchanges, upgrades or devices rather than everyday retail services.

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The Great Sky Island tutorial

This is the most structured Sky activity. It introduces the four core abilities and ends with Link reaching the Temple of Time before diving to the Surface.

Regional dungeons

Two main dungeons are physically located in the Sky:

The Wind Temple is reached through the Hebra Rising Island Chain. The Water Temple is reached through the Lanayru sky routes and Wellspring Island. Their story triggers begin on the Surface, but the dungeon spaces themselves belong to the Sky.

Regional dungeons

Dragon’s Tears and sky travel

Some Dragon’s Tears are located on the Surface, while the Light Dragon moves through the Sky. Searching from high-altitude launch points can make it easier to see distant geoglyphs and understand the wider landscape, but the tears themselves should not be categorised as sky locations merely because they are connected with the sky.

Lomei labyrinths

The three Lomei structures create a linked puzzle across the Surface, Sky and Depths. The sky floors are:

Low-gravity challenges

Several islands alter gravity. This changes how far Link can jump, how quickly he falls and how combat encounters behave. Low-gravity shrine challenges include:

Players should adjust their timing rather than relying on ordinary Surface movement habits.

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Falling

The most common Sky hazard is simply missing an island. Always identify a landing surface before gliding. Water is safer than stone, but not every island has a pool beneath it.

Cold

Hebra and some high-altitude areas can require cold resistance. Carry at least one warm meal or elixir before exploring snow-covered sky islands.

Lightning and storms

The Thunderhead Isles are particularly dangerous before their storm is cleared. Metal weapons and equipment can become liabilities during thunderstorms, and visibility is heavily reduced.

Lack of conventional supplies

Because the Sky has few ordinary shops, bring:

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First-time route

  1. 01
    Complete the Great Sky Island tutorial.
  2. 02
    Dive to the Surface and unlock Lookout Landing.
  3. 03
    Activate nearby Skyview Towers.
  4. 04
    Return to the Sky through the Great Sky Island shrine.
  5. 05
    Explore Central Hyrule Sky and nearby islands.
  6. 06
    Follow the main quest towards either Hebra or Lanayru.
  7. 07
    Complete the Rising Island Chain before the Wind Temple, or the Lanayru route before the Water Temple.
  8. 08
    Return to the Sky after gaining more battery capacity.
  9. 09
    Investigate the Thunderhead Isles once the relevant storm conditions are resolved.
  10. 10
    Finish the Lomei sky labyrinths and remote shrine islands.

Completionist route

This order is not mandatory. It simply reduces repeated travel by pairing regions with their nearby Surface towers and story quests.

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Before leaving for a remote sky island, check:

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The Sky’s most important lore concerns the Zonai and the ancient founding of Hyrule. The Great Sky Island was deliberately preserved as a protected place for Link’s awakening, while the Temple of Time and Dragonhead Island connect the modern adventure to the distant past.

The Sky also demonstrates that the Upheaval did not simply add random floating platforms. Many islands are connected to older Zonai infrastructure, ancient research and long-term preparations. The game presents the Sky as a surviving layer of Hyrule’s deep history rather than merely a set of disconnected challenge rooms.

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A practical completion route is

Is the Great Sky Island the whole Sky?

No. It is the opening area and one of the largest individual sky locations, but the Sky includes eight regional divisions, many archipelagos, named islands, sky labyrinths and two major dungeons.

Can every sky island be reached from a Skyview Tower?

Not directly. Towers provide launch altitude, but some islands require staged routes, Zonai vehicles, Recall, dungeon progression or a nearby shrine fast-travel point.

Are Skyview Towers part of the Sky?

They are Surface facilities that provide access to the Sky. They should be listed separately from sky islands.

Are the Wind Temple and Water Temple in the Sky?

Yes. Their approaches begin with Surface story quests, but the dungeon structures occupy floating sky locations.

Are the Lomei labyrinths one location?

No. The Lomei puzzle network is divided across Surface labyrinths, sky labyrinth floors and Depths labyrinth sections. The sky floors should be treated as separate named locations.

Is Skyloft the same as the Sky in Tears of the Kingdom?

No. Skyloft belongs to Skyward Sword. The Sky in Tears of the Kingdom is a separate setting and game-specific map layer.

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Research and completeness note

This guide is based on the game’s regional Sky divisions, the Great Sky Island location page and independent Sky location and shrine directories. The location sources themselves state that their broader location project is incomplete, so this guide should be treated as a researched base-game guide rather than a guaranteed exhaustive catalogue of every unnamed island, enemy placement, Korok position, chest, material node or Device Dispenser inventory.

The named regional areas, major islands, dungeons and 32 Shrine of Light entries have been consolidated above. Minor unnamed floating platforms, random enemy encounters, procedural vehicle arrangements and ordinary resource drops have not been presented as fixed named locations.

Sources