Great Sky Island Guide — TotK's Starting Area

Great Sky Island is Link's tutorial zone — a massive sky island where he wakes at the start of TotK and learns all 4 core abilities (Ultrahand, Fuse, Ascend, Recall). It's larger than it first appears, with hidden chests, Korok Seeds, and optional areas that many players miss. This guide covers every secret.

---

Overview of Great Sky Island

Great Sky Island is a multi-section sky landmass separated by cold weather zones and vertical terrain. It contains:

• 4 ability Shrines (Ukouh, In-isa, Gutanbac, Nachoyah)
• The Temple of Time (main story)
• 6-8 Korok Seeds
• Several hidden chests
• A Goddess Statue
• Cooking fire / Forge
• Pre-built materials for ability practice

---

The 4 Shrines — Ability Unlocks

Ukouh Shrine — Ultrahand

Location: Central island, near the Great Sky Island starting area

What you learn: Ultrahand — pick up, rotate, and move objects; attach them together

Key puzzle: Combine wooden planks to make a bridge across the gap.

Hidden secret: A chest on the platform south of the shrine contains a good early weapon — explore the platform fully before leaving.

In-isa Shrine — Fuse

Location: Southwestern island section (cold area — cook spicy food first)

What you learn: Fuse — attach materials to weapons and arrows

Key puzzle: Fuse a rock to a sword → break ore wall → Fuse fire fruit to arrow → light crystal formation

Hidden secret: The ore formation room has a large chest behind it — after breaking the ore wall, look left before proceeding to the puzzle solution.

Cold area preparation: Before entering the southwest section, cook Spicy Peppers + any meat → Spicy Sautéed Pepper — provides 6+ minutes of cold resistance.

Gutanbac Shrine — Ascend

Location: Northern island section (coldest area — need stronger cold resistance)

What you learn: Ascend — swim upward through solid surfaces

Key puzzle: Ascend through platforms to rise through the shrine.

Cold resistance note: The northern section requires 2 minutes+ of cold resistance (or 2 Spicy Pepper dishes). Prepare before heading north.

Hidden secret: After completing the shrine, Ascend back through the shrine entrance from outside — a chest is accessible on top of the shrine structure.

Nachoyah Shrine — Recall

Location: After the Temple of Time (acquired as the 4th shrine reward from the Temple structure)

Wait — this isn't a standard shrine — Nachoyah Shrine is inside the Temple of Time structure. You don't access it until completing the other 3 shrines and entering the Temple.

What you learn: Recall — reverse an object's movement history

Key puzzle: Recall the rotating platforms to pause them in positions that let you cross.

---

The Temple of Time

After all 3 ability shrines (Ukouh, In-isa, Gutanbac):

1. Return to the Temple of Time in the center of Great Sky Island
2. The door opens with 3 Dragon Tears symbols (representing the 3 shrines)
3. Final ability: Recall is learned inside the Temple
4. Nachoyah Shrine is inside — complete it for a Light of Blessing
5. Reach the inner sanctum → Rauru appears → main story begins
6. Link descends from Great Sky Island to Hyrule below

---

Hidden Chests on Great Sky Island

Beyond the obvious shrine chests, several hidden chests exist:

Spicy Pepper Platform Chest

Near the bridge to the western cold section, a small wooden platform is below the main path. Look for it from the bridge edge and glide/Ascend down to it. Contains a cooking material or weapon.

Sky Mine Chest

The quarrying area on the island (where stone is cut) has a chest tucked behind a large stone block. Ultrahand the block to reveal it.

Northern Peak Chest

The highest point of Great Sky Island (above Gutanbac Shrine) has a chest on the peak. Accessible by Ascending through the rock formation near the peak or paragliding from the shrine exit.

Temple Exterior Chest

The Temple of Time exterior courtyard has a chest in a small alcove on the east side. Easy to miss — walk around the full perimeter.

---

Korok Seeds on Great Sky Island

6-8 Korok Seeds are hidden across the island:

• Acorn on a tree: Shoot the acorn hanging from a branch near the starting area
• Rock circle: Lift the small rock in the center of a ring of larger rocks
• Pinwheel: Complete the four-directional pinwheel pattern in the western area
• Floating cube: Match the pattern of floating cubes near the southern platform
• Plant offering: Place the correct flower in the offering circle near the Goddess Statue
• Hidden leaf structure: Find and complete the leaf-matching pattern near the north section

---

The Goddess Statue

A Goddess Statue is located in the central plaza area of Great Sky Island:

• Where: Near the Temple of Time, central island area
• Use: Exchange Lights of Blessing for Heart Containers or Stamina Vessels
• Note: You'll have 3 Lights of Blessing from the 3 ability shrines + Nachoyah (4 total). Exchange for your first upgrade immediately.

---

Resources on Great Sky Island

| Resource | Location | |---------|---------| | Spicy Peppers | Growing near the starting area and paths | | Hylian Shroom | Forest floor near wood areas | | Raw Meat | Deer/boar (Wildlife near the north section) | | Stones / Wood | Quarry area and forests | | Iron Deposits | Near Gutanbac Shrine |

Farming tip: Grab all Spicy Peppers you see — they're critical for the cold sections and can be cooked before heading north.

---

Returning to Great Sky Island

You can return to Great Sky Island after leaving via:

1. Fast travel to any of the 4 shrine Landmarks
2. Building a Zonai platform and flying up from Hyrule below
3. Sky launch from a tower near the island's altitude

Why return: Korok Seeds you missed, any remaining chests, or practice with abilities in a safe environment.

---

Quick Tips

• Cook spicy food before cold sections — the cold areas appear early and catch unprepared players. Spicy Peppers are abundant right at the start. Cook 2-3 Spicy Sautéed Peppers before venturing toward Gutanbac Shrine.
• Explore every platform fully — Great Sky Island has more chests than immediately apparent. Before entering any shrine, circle its exterior for hidden chests.
• Light of Blessing exchange — after collecting all 4 shrine Lights, exchange immediately at the Goddess Statue. Starting Hyrule with your first upgrade is meaningful.
• Nachoyah Shrine is inside the Temple — many players are confused why they have 3 shrines but need 4. The 4th is inside the Temple of Time. Complete the 3 to open the Temple, then find it inside.
• Fuse rocks from the ground — in the early sections, you can Fuse any rock you pick up to your sword for greater damage. Don't enter the In-isa Shrine puzzle area without experimenting with Fuse on random objects first.

---

See also: Getting Started Guide | Shrine Rewards Guide | Ascend Guide