The Secrets of the Depths

Key takeaways

Use the surface map as a navigation tool, but treat the Depths as a separate expedition with different risks and rewards.

• Light the route before pushing deeper Activating Lightroots reveals nearby terrain and makes hazards easier to identify. A lit route also reduces the chance of walking into a cliff, chasm or enemy camp in complete darkness. Lightroots
• Read the two maps together The mirrored layout gives surface landmarks practical underground value. Mountains, pits, towns and Shrines can all suggest where a corresponding Depths feature may be found. Mirrored geography
• Respect gloom damage Gloom-covered ground and gloom-based attacks can reduce Link's usable health. Carry recovery options and avoid treating a newly opened route as safe merely because it is close to a familiar surface landmark. Gloom
• Return for resources and secrets The Depths reward repeated visits with Zonaite, mines, treasure and map information from Old Maps. The first trip is often about establishing a route; later trips can be dedicated to mining or searching for marked locations. Repeat visits

The Secrets of the Depths

The Secrets of the Depths is an exploration-focused quest entry for the enormous underground realm beneath Hyrule in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

The Depths form a vast, lightless world beneath the surface of Hyrule. The area is not simply a set of isolated caves: it is an expansive underground map with its own routes, hazards, enemies, resources and discoveries. Progress depends on finding Lightroots, which illuminate the surrounding darkness and make the underground easier to read and traverse.

The geography of the Depths follows a useful mirror relationship with the surface. Surface mountains correspond to lower areas in the Depths, while surface pits can have raised land beneath them. Abandoned mines are frequently found below surface settlements, and Lightroots are positioned beneath surface Shrines, giving explorers reliable clues when they are trying to identify an unexplored location.

Preparation matters more here than in ordinary surface travel. Gloom can damage Link and restrict portions of his maximum health, while the darkness makes cliffs, enemy camps and gaps difficult to read before they are illuminated. Brightbloom Seeds, healing supplies and equipment suitable for underground combat make a first expedition safer, while Zonaite and Old Maps provide reasons to return after the main routes are known.

Where this sits

Requirements and preparation

There is no single equipment loadout required for exploring the Depths, but preparation greatly reduces the danger of an early descent.

• RequiredAccess to a chasmEnter the underground through one of Hyrule's chasms. The safest choice for a first expedition is a route where you can identify the return path and nearby surface landmarks.
• RecommendedA reliable light sourceBrightbloom Seeds or another means of illuminating the immediate path helps reveal cliffs, gaps and enemies before Link reaches them.
• RecommendedGloom recoveryCarry healing or other resources that can restore health affected by gloom. Ordinary healing alone may not solve every problem caused by reduced maximum health.
• RecommendedCombat suppliesThe Depths contain dangerous foes and isolated enemy groups. Use weapons, arrows and fusions that let you deal with threats without relying on close-range attacks across uncertain ground.
• RecommendedMap awarenessKeep the surface map available while navigating underground. Surface pits, mountains, towns and Shrines can provide useful orientation clues.

Objectives

1. Enter the Depths through a chasmChoose an entrance that leaves a clear route back to the surface.
2. Activate LightrootsIlluminate the underground map and use each newly revealed area to plan the next move.
3. Use surface geography to navigateCompare the underground and surface maps to predict mines, elevated ground and other landmarks.
4. Manage gloom and underground threatsAvoid unnecessary exposure, restore damaged health and deal with dangerous foes before they cut off the route.
5. Search for resources and hidden discoveriesExplore mines, treasure locations and sites indicated by Old Maps after the main route is visible.

Walkthrough

1. 01

   Prepare the descent

   Choose a chasm with a recoverable route

   Before descending, check the surface map and note nearby landmarks so you can recognize the area from below. A route that leaves a visible path back to the chasm is safer than dropping into an unknown region with no supplies or light.

   Location: Surface Hyrule

   TipMark the chasm on the map before jumping so the entrance remains easy to find later.

2. 02

   Enter the Depths

   Descend carefully and establish a safe landing area

   The first seconds underground are often the most disorienting because the surrounding terrain is almost completely dark. Do not sprint forward immediately; illuminate the landing area, check for gloom and identify nearby walls, cliffs or enemy movement.

   Location: A chasm entrance in Hyrule

   Watch outA dark landing zone can conceal a drop or a hostile group, so use light before committing to a direction.

3. 03

   Create visibility

   Illuminate the immediate path

   Throw or fire Brightbloom Seeds toward the route ahead, especially where the floor rises or disappears into shadow. Light only reveals what is nearby, so advance in short sections instead of assuming the entire cavern is safe.

   Location: The Depths

   Checkpoint
4. 04

   Activate a Lightroot

   Find and activate the nearest Lightroot

   Use visible roots, open cavern space and the surface map to search for a nearby Lightroot. Activating it illuminates a broad surrounding area and turns a confusing dark section into a usable navigation reference.

   Location: The Depths

   TipIf the surface contains a Shrine, check the corresponding underground position for a Lightroot.

5. 05

   Orient yourself underground

   Compare the revealed terrain with the surface

   Open the surface map and compare its mountains, pits and settlement positions with the newly illuminated underground area. Raised underground ground can correspond to surface pits, while major underground walls often reflect surface mountain ranges.

   Location: The Depths map

   Watch outThe mirror is a navigation aid, not a promise of a straight route; cliffs, water and blocked passages can still force a detour.

6. 06

   Reach the next landmark

   Plan a route around gloom and impassable ground

   After illumination, identify the safest traversable floor rather than following the shortest line on the map. Gloom-covered ground can reduce Link's usable health, and a dark gap may require climbing, gliding or a constructed vehicle.

   Location: Illuminated sections of the Depths

7. 07

   Investigate underground landmarks

   Search beneath known surface landmarks

   When a surface town or major settlement is easy to identify, inspect the corresponding underground region for an abandoned mine or other substantial structure. These locations are useful rest points because they often provide open spaces, resources and recognizable architecture.

   Location: The Depths beneath surface settlements

   TipUse the surface town as your reference point, then approach the underground structure from the nearest lit route rather than crossing unlit terrain.

8. 08

   Gather underground resources

   Mine Zonaite without losing the return route

   Zonaite deposits are especially common in underground mining areas and canyon mines beneath major mountains. Gather what you can, but keep track of the Lightroots and chasm direction so resource collecting does not leave you stranded in the dark.

   Location: Abandoned mines and canyon mines

9. 09

   Survive underground opposition

   Treat enemy camps as separate encounters

   The Depths contain dangerous foes, including Yiga Clan activity associated with Master Kohga. Illuminate the perimeter before attacking, look for gloom-covered ground around the camp and avoid beginning a fight on a narrow ledge where retreat is difficult.

   Location: Enemy-held areas in the Depths

   Watch outA camp that appears empty in darkness may still contain enemies outside the first pool of light.

10. 10

    Investigate map discoveries

    Follow Old Map clues after the route is secure

    Old Maps can point toward specific hidden locations and treasures in the underground. Use them after activating nearby Lightroots, since a treasure marker is much easier to investigate when the surrounding cliffs and paths are visible.

    Location: Marked treasure areas in the Depths

11. 11

    End or extend the expedition

    Return to the surface or continue the survey

    Once the immediate objective is complete, use the map to choose between returning through the known chasm and continuing toward another Lightroot. A completed light network can make a later resource or treasure run substantially safer.

    Location: The Depths

    Checkpoint

Mission mechanics

Lightroots are the central navigation mechanic of the Depths. Their activation does more than provide a visual landmark: it reveals surrounding underground terrain and creates a chain of known positions from which the player can plan further travel. When the next Lightroot is not visible, use the surface map and the edge of the illuminated area to decide which direction is most likely to remain traversable.

The Depths' mirrored geography rewards players who pay attention to Hyrule above them. A surface mountain generally indicates a lower or more difficult underground route, while a surface pit can correspond to elevated underground ground. Shrines and Lightroots also form a useful positional pair, allowing a known surface Shrine to act as a clue when a nearby underground section has not yet been mapped.

Gloom changes how ordinary exploration works. It can damage Link and interfere with his available health, making careless contact more costly than a normal environmental hazard. The best response is not simply to move faster: illuminate the route, avoid unnecessary gloom, keep healing resources available and choose fights where there is room to retreat.

Zonaite gives the region an additional exploration loop. Mines and canyon areas offer valuable deposits, while Old Maps encourage the player to revisit sections that may already be illuminated. This makes the Depths work as both a discovery space and a resource-gathering route rather than a single visit that ends when the first landmark is found.

What works and what does not

Phases

1. 1

   Dark approach

   Starts: Entering an unlit section of the Depths

   The main danger is limited information rather than a single scripted attack. Illuminate the floor and nearby walls before moving toward suspicious shapes or structures.

   • Hidden enemy pressureTell Movement, silhouettes or hostile sounds can appear before the whole group is visible.Answer Light the perimeter, create space and avoid charging across unknown ground.
   • Gloom exposureTell Dark or contaminated ground is visible only after light reaches it.Answer Route around it where possible and keep recovery resources ready.
   • Advance in short illuminated hops.
   • Keep a return landmark behind you.
2. 2

   Lightroot activation

   Starts: Reaching a Lightroot

   Activating the Lightroot changes the local visibility of the region and exposes routes, cliffs and nearby structures. Use the new view to stop and re-plan instead of immediately running onward.

   • Inspect the map after activation.
   • Look for the next useful landmark rather than the farthest visible point.
3. 3

   Resource or enemy site

   Starts: Approaching an abandoned mine, camp or marked location

   Once a destination is found, exploration becomes more deliberate. Enemy sites require a combat plan, while mines and treasure areas reward careful searching around walls, ledges and structures.

   • Close-range enemy attacksTell Hostile groups can pressure Link when approached without enough light or space.Answer Separate targets, use the terrain and preserve a retreat route.
   • Terrain trapsTell Gloom, sudden drops and narrow ledges are harder to see during combat.Answer Illuminate the arena before committing to the encounter.
   • Do not let resource collecting erase your route to the nearest Lightroot.
   • Use map markers for structures that deserve a return visit.

Boss encounterSpoilers

• Location
  Yiga Clan locations within the Depths
• Health
  Not specified

Master Kohga is associated with the underground Yiga Clan activity, but this exploration entry does not represent one single boss arena. When an encounter with him or Yiga forces occurs, illuminate the surroundings first, keep clear space for movement and treat the fight as a distinct objective rather than engaging while crossing an unlit route.

Checklist

• Mark the entrance chasm before descendingThis preserves a clear return reference.
• Carry a dependable source of lightBrightbloom Seeds are useful for scouting the immediate path.
• Activate each reachable LightrootIllumination is the most reliable way to make progress manageable.
• Compare the surface and Depths mapsUse mountains, pits, towns and Shrines as orientation clues.
• Keep gloom recovery availableDo not spend every healing resource before entering a dangerous section.
• Inspect abandoned mines and canyon minesThese are major destinations for underground resource gathering.
• Leave room to retreat from enemy campsAvoid starting fights beside gloom or on narrow ledges.
• Check Old Maps against illuminated terrainMarked treasures are easier to reach after the route is visible.
• Record useful structures and unexplored branchesMap markers reduce repeated searching on later expeditions.
• Confirm the route back before extending the expeditionA long underground detour is safer when a Lightroot or chasm remains nearby.

Collectibles and secrets

• 01
  Lightroots

  Where: Scattered throughout the Depths

  Activate these underground landmarks to illuminate nearby terrain and reveal more of the map.

• 02
  Zonaite deposits

  Where: Abandoned mines, canyon mines and other mineral-rich areas

  Mine the deposits during exploration, particularly in underground areas beneath major mountains.

• 03
  Old Maps

  Where: Treasure discoveries across Hyrule and the Depths

  Use these map items to identify specific underground locations and hidden treasures.

Failure conditions

• Link is defeated by enemiesDangerous foes and isolated camps can overwhelm an expedition, especially when the player begins combat without first illuminating the area.
• Gloom leaves Link unable to survive further damageGloom can reduce available health and make otherwise manageable encounters lethal. Avoid prolonged contact and retain suitable recovery options.
• Link falls from an unseen ledge or into an unplanned gapDarkness can conceal cliffs and missing floor sections. Scout with light before sprinting or gliding toward a suspected route.
• The expedition loses its navigation referenceGetting separated from the nearest Lightroot or chasm is not a formal mission failure, but it can turn a short objective into a difficult recovery journey. Use map markers and return landmarks.

Rewards

• Illuminated underground map areas
  Activating Lightroots reveals surrounding portions of the Depths and improves navigation.
• Zonaite
  Mining underground deposits provides a major resource associated with Depths exploration.
• Underground treasure discoveries
  Old Maps and careful exploration can lead to hidden treasures in marked locations.
• Knowledge of mirrored landmarks
  Mapping the relationship between surface Hyrule and the Depths makes later expeditions more efficient.

Characters in this mission

• Master KohgaA Yiga Clan leader associated with underground encounters.
• LinkThe playable adventurer exploring the underground.

Aftermath

Trivia

• The Depths mirror the surface world closely enough that surface geography can guide underground exploration.
• Abandoned mines can be found beneath surface towns, creating recognizable destination pairs between the two maps.
• Lightroots are positioned beneath surface Shrines, making discovered Shrines useful navigation references even when the underground map is incomplete.
• Major mountains on the surface can correspond to canyon mines and other resource-rich underground regions.
• Master Kohga and the Yiga Clan give parts of the otherwise open-ended exploration region a faction-based threat.

Sources

• The Secrets of the Depths reference material — alphr.com

Relationships