Depths Lightroot Guide

The Depths is the largest explorable area in Tears of the Kingdom — a vast underground mirror of Hyrule's surface. Lightroots are the key to navigating it safely: they banish Gloom in their radius, serve as fast travel points, and mirror the positions of surface shrines.

Why Lightroots Matter

Gloom removal. Activating a Lightroot creates a large circle of safe, Gloom-free ground. This is critical because Gloom reduces your maximum hearts while you stand on it. Lightroot zones allow you to heal, cook, and rest without Gloom exposure.

Fast travel. Each activated Lightroot appears on your map as a fast travel destination. With all 120 activated, you can warp anywhere in the Depths instantly — making resource farming, Poe collection, and Boss fights vastly more efficient.

Mirror shrine mapping. Each Lightroot is positioned directly below a surface shrine. The Lightroot name is the shrine name spelled backward. If you know a shrine location but are lost in the Depths, find its mirror Lightroot by reversing the name and using the surface coordinates as a guide.

Getting Started in the Depths

First priority: Activate Iayus Lightroot (directly below the Gutanbac Shrine on Great Sky Island). This early-game Lightroot teaches you the mechanic and gives you a safe fast travel point.

Essential gear before going deep:

• Brightbloom Seeds (throw to illuminate areas temporarily)
• Gloom Resistance food (Yellow-Chuchu Jelly, Sundelion dishes)
• Bomb Flowers (for emergencies)
• Multiple weapon types (Depths enemies can spawn in large groups)

The Lightroot-Shrine Mirror System

Every surface shrine has a corresponding Lightroot directly below it. The positional mirror is perfect — if a shrine is at coordinates (X, Y) on the surface, the Lightroot is at (X, Y) in the Depths.

Name reversal examples:

• Kyokugon Shrine → Nogugokyk Lightroot
• Sinakawak Shrine → Kawakonis Lightroot
• Turakamik Shrine → Kimakarut Lightroot

This system means your shrine map doubles as a Lightroot guide — every shrine you've found tells you exactly where a Lightroot is waiting below.

Efficient Traversal Strategy

Phase 1 (Early game): Activate the ring of Lightroots around the starting chasms. Focus on Lightroots near Lookout Landing's underground entry, giving you a safe corridor to explore outward.

Phase 2 (Mid game): Work region by region following the surface shrine pattern. Each region's shrines cluster together — their corresponding Lightroots do too. Clear one region at a time.

Phase 3 (Late game): Mop up isolated Lightroots in corners. Use the hoverbike for fast travel between activated Lightroots, then paraglide/climb to reach difficult ones.

Gloom Management

Standing on Gloom-covered ground reduces your current max hearts (shown as darkened hearts). You can restore these lost hearts by:

• Standing in a Lightroot's light
• Eating Sundelion-based meals
• Sleeping in a bed (removes all Gloom damage)
• Receiving fairy healing (Great Fairy fountains)

Avoid the Gloom Hands — these enemies guard certain Lightroots (usually the larger, more central ones). They are extremely dangerous at low gear levels. Come prepared or lure them away before activating the Lightroot.

Poes and Lightroots

Poes are the Depths currency — glowing blue spirits found near Lightroots and scattered across the underground. Every Lightroot region has multiple Poes nearby. Activating Lightroots as you collect Poes maximizes efficiency.

Spend Poes at Barginer Statues (also found in the Depths) to purchase exclusive armor pieces including the Dark Tunic set.

All 120 Lightroots by Region

The Depths mirrors Hyrule's 11 regions. Each region contains 8–14 Lightroots corresponding to that region's shrine count. Use your surface map as a navigation guide — the Depths layout is a perfect geographical mirror.

Work from the center outward: Hyrule Castle's Depths area (Iayusoka Lightroot) sits at the geographic center. From there, spiral outward region by region until all 120 are lit.

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Central Hyrule Depths (~14 Lightroots)

The most accessible region — descend from Lookout Landing via the Central Hyrule chasms. The underground here mirrors Hyrule Castle Town and the surrounding fields. Iayusoka Lightroot sits beneath Hyrule Castle itself and is guarded by a large Gloom Hands group. Activate the outer ring of Central Lightroots first before approaching the castle center.

Notable Lightroots:

• Iusoaki — beneath the Great Plateau area, one of the first accessible
• Usiinoyk — beneath Lookout Landing's shrine
• Iayusoka — beneath Hyrule Castle (Gloom Hands guarded, come prepared)
• Ekochiu — beneath the Coliseum Ruins area

Entry chasms: Hyrule Castle Town Ruins Chasm, Hyrule Field chasms

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Necluda Depths (~10 Lightroots)

Mirror of the eastern Necluda region. Access via chasms east of Kakariko Village and south of Hateno. The Necluda Depths contains some of the Depths' most navigable terrain — moderate Gloom density, consistent Poe spawns.

Notable Lightroots:

• Eutoum — beneath Kakariko Village shrine
• Akinataiko — beneath a Necluda coastal shrine
• Ikaiak — beneath Hateno area shrine

Entry chasms: Sahasra Slope Chasm, Necluda Coast chasms

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Lanayru Depths (~10 Lightroots)

Mirror of the Zora's Domain and Lanayru Wetlands region. Wetter Depths terrain — the underground here has more water-filled sections than other Depths areas. Minshi Woods Chasm in the Depths connects directly to Korok Forest below the Lost Woods — essential for the Master Sword quest.

Notable Lightroots:

• Nihcayam — beneath Zora's Domain area shrine
• Utojis — beneath the Lanayru Wetlands shrine
• Imacna — beneath eastern Lanayru shrine

Entry chasms: Lanayru Road Chasms, Lanaryu Great Spring Chasm

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Eldin Depths (~9 Lightroots)

Mirror of the Eldin volcanic region. The Depths here sits below Death Mountain. Mining constructs and Gloom formations are common. Rich in Zonaite deposits — some of the best Zonaite farming in the entire game. The Abandoned Eldin Mine is a key location for Zonaite and story content.

Notable Lightroots:

• Eutoum — beneath Goron City area
• Niosiyk — beneath the Eldin Canyon shrine
• Ileoh — beneath Death Mountain shrine area

Entry chasms: Eldin Canyon Chasm, Foothill Stable Chasm

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Akkala Depths (~9 Lightroots)

Mirror of the Akkala Highlands and East Akkala. East Akkala Depths contains the Abandoned Akkala Mine — a major Zonaite source and story-relevant location. Poe density is high in the northeast corner of the Depths.

Notable Lightroots:

• Raknaeku — beneath Akkala Citadel area
• Tatayam — beneath the Skull Lake shrine
• Kotosoh — beneath northeast Akkala shrine

Entry chasms: Akkala Citadel Ruins Chasm, Deep Akkala chasms

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Hebra Depths (~12 Lightroots)

Mirror of the vast Hebra Mountains and Tabantha Frontier. One of the larger Depths regions. The underground mirrors Rito Village and Tabantha's dramatic terrain. Access from Hebra or Tabantha chasms.

Notable Lightroots:

• Nihcayam — beneath Rito Village shrine area
• Maoikes — beneath Tabantha Frontier shrine
• Sahirow — beneath Hebra mountains shrine

Entry chasms: Tabantha Frontier Chasms, Hebra Mountains Chasms, Pikida Stonegrove Chasm

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Gerudo Depths (~13 Lightroots)

Mirror of the Gerudo Desert and Gerudo Highlands. The largest regional section of the Depths by surface area. Abandoned Gerudo Mine is here — major Zonaite source. Gibdo activity is higher in the Gerudo Depths post-Upheaval. The Lightning Temple's Depths section sits below the desert.

Notable Lightroots:

• Ikasurak — beneath Gerudo Town shrine
• Usiinoyk — beneath the Gerudo Highlands shrine
• Eutoum — beneath the desert shrine cluster

Entry chasms: Gerudo Desert chasms (multiple), Gerudo Highlands chasms

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Faron Depths (~9 Lightroots)

Mirror of the Faron Grasslands and Lurelin coastline. Access from Faron chasms in the southeast. Warm Depths terrain. Relatively low Gloom Hands density compared to other regions.

Notable Lightroots:

• Nihcayam — beneath Faron Grasslands shrine
• Ekochiu — beneath Lurelin coastal shrine
• Tatayam — beneath Lake Floria area shrine

Entry chasms: Faron Grasslands Chasms, Lurelin Village Chasm

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Woodland Depths (~8 Lightroots)

Mirror of the Korok Forest and Woodland region. The Minshi Woods Chasm connects the Depths to Korok Forest — the only above-ground access to the forest in TotK (the Lost Woods surface entrance is blocked by Gloom). Essential for the Master Sword questline.

Notable Lightroots:

• Iayusoka — beneath Great Deku Tree/Korok Forest area (important for Master Sword)
• Usiinoyk — beneath Woodland Stable area shrine

Entry chasms: Woodland chasms, Minshi Woods Chasm (key for Korok Forest)

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Hyrule Field / Hyrule Ridge Depths (~8 Lightroots)

The outer ring of the central Depths zone. Mirror of Hyrule Ridge and the West Hyrule plains. Access from Hyrule Ridge and field chasms. Good starting region for players new to the Depths — relatively safe terrain with manageable enemy density.

Entry chasms: Hyrule Ridge Chasms, West Hyrule Field Chasms

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Depths Chasms — Entry Points by Region

| Region | Primary Chasm | Secondary Chasms | |--------|--------------|-----------------| | Central Hyrule | Hyrule Castle Town Ruins Chasm | Multiple field chasms | | Necluda | Sahasra Slope Chasm | Necluda coast chasms | | Lanayru | Lanaryu Great Spring Chasm | Lanayru Road chasms | | Eldin | Eldin Canyon Chasm | Foothill Stable Chasm | | Akkala | Akkala Citadel Ruins Chasm | Deep Akkala chasms | | Hebra | Tabantha Frontier Chasms | Hebra Mountains Chasms | | Gerudo | Multiple desert chasms | Gerudo Highlands Chasms | | Faron | Faron Grasslands Chasms | Lake Floria Chasm | | Woodland | Minshi Woods Chasm | Woodland Chasms |

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Depths Resource Farming — Lightroot Network Benefits

Once you have a regional Lightroot cluster activated, the Depths becomes a premium farming zone:

Zonaite mining:

• Abandoned Mines (Eldin, Akkala, Gerudo, Central) all have large Zonaite nodes
• The Depths has 3x more Zonaite per hour than surface farming
• Large Zonaite drops from Zonaite Deposits near mine entrances

Poe collection:

• 1,000 Poes total across the Depths (resets with Blood Moon)
• Poes cluster densely within 200m of activated Lightroots
• Bargainer Statue prices: Dark Tunic pieces (150 Poes each), Depths armor (150–300 Poes)

Frox farming:

• Frox enemies (Depths exclusive) drop valuable Large Zonaite, Frox Guts, Amber
• Each Depths region has 2–4 Frox spawn locations
• Activate nearby Lightroot first to ensure a safe combat zone

Boss farming:

• Major Constructs and Flux Constructs respawn after Blood Moons
• Lightroot fast travel lets you chain boss farm runs efficiently
• Captain Constructs near Lightroots are excellent for Construct materials

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Completing All 120 Lightroots is one of TotK's most satisfying completionist milestones — and the practical travel network it creates makes the Depths accessible and rewarding to explore repeatedly.

The Depths resets enemy spawns and resource nodes with each Blood Moon. Plan farming runs around Blood Moon timing for maximum yield.