Hyrule Castle Guide — Secrets, Loot & Final Dungeon

Hyrule Castle in TotK is both a mid-game exploration area and the gateway to the final dungeon. It's filled with Gloom-corrupted enemies, rare chests, and architectural puzzles — and the Final Dungeon opens directly beneath it. This guide covers full castle exploration and final dungeon access.

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When to Go to Hyrule Castle

Two visits, two purposes:

Visit 1 (mid-game exploration):

• The castle is accessible at any point after the game opens
• Contains rare armor (Soldier's Armor pieces in the Depths beneath), weapons, and chests
• Strong Gloom enemies make it dangerous early

Visit 2 (final dungeon):

• After completing all 5 temples (Wind, Fire, Water, Lightning, Spirit)
• The final questline triggers → you're directed to the castle
• The Gloom layer beneath opens → Ganondorf's Lair

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Castle Approach

From Lookout Landing:

1. North from Lookout Landing → Hyrule Castle Town Ruins → bridge leading to castle
2. Multiple enemy encampments on the bridges — Gloom enemies patrol
3. Bokoblins and Moblins enhanced by Gloom — they have Gloom auras that reduce your max hearts on contact

Alternate entry points:

• Moat approach: Swim around the castle moat to find entry points on the west and east sides
• From above: Paraglide onto the castle roof from a nearby sky island or tall structure
• From below (Depths): Access the castle's Depths basement directly from the Depths below Castle Town

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Key Areas Inside the Castle

Great Hall

The main entry corridor of the castle. Two large Gloom Bokoblin captains patrol here.

Tip: The captain weapons have Gloom-infused properties — if you can Fuse their weapons to your own, you get Gloom-effect melee attacks (not useful for most builds, but notable).

Chest: In the elevated gallery above the Great Hall — accessible via the side stairs. Contains strong weapon or rare material.

Library

North wing of the castle.

• Multiple bookshelves can be pushed with Ultrahand to reveal hidden passages
• One passage leads to a hidden room with a chest containing the Royal Bow of Light (a rare bow with good base stats)
• Library also has an ancient text segment that ties into the Dragon's Tears storyline

Kitchen

West side of the castle.

• A Hinox-type enemy sits in the kitchen courtyard
• Defeat it for a large material drop
• Chest behind the kitchen storage area: high-tier cooking ingredient

Sanctum (Upper Level)

The throne room area. Empty of enemies during mid-game exploration.

• Throne room has an impressive view of the entire castle courtyard
• No combat — primarily atmospheric
• After the final questline triggers, the Sanctum becomes the gateway to the final dungeon

Underground (Gloom Basement)

Accessible via stairs on the east side of the castle interior:

• Gloom floor throughout — Ancient Armor recommended
• Multiple Gloom Hands can spawn (see Gloom Hands Guide)
• A large chest in the deepest room contains Royal Guard equipment

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Hidden Chests & Collectibles

| Location | Reward | |----------|--------| | Library hidden passage | Royal Bow of Light | | East tower rooftop | Diamond + Royal weapon | | Moat waterway (underwater) | Zora material or sapphire | | Kitchen storage alcove | Rare food ingredient | | Underground east room | Royal Guard's Claymore | | Castle rooftop battlement | Strong weapon + Korok seed |

Korok seeds: Several Koroks are hidden in the castle grounds:

• One under a moveable rock on the main bridge approach
• One atop the east tower (requires climbing)
• One in the moat garden (underwater leaf pattern)

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Final Dungeon Access — Ganondorf's Lair

After completing all 5 sage temples and collecting all 5 Sage's Vows:

1. Return to Hyrule Castle — the questline directs you here
2. Enter the Sanctum (throne room) → a cutscene plays
3. The floor opens beneath the throne → descend into the Gloom layer
4. The final dungeon is beneath the castle, not inside the castle proper

What to bring:

• 40+ Sundelion meals — the final dungeon has heavy Gloom exposure
• All 5 sages active (they assist in combat)
• Your best weapons (you'll fight multiple boss forms)
• Fairies (20+) — the Ganondorf fight has multiple phases

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Ganondorf's Lair — Dungeon Overview

The final dungeon is a large circular cavern structure below the castle:

Phase 1 — Descent:

• Navigate downward through Gloom-heavy cavern
• Phantom Ganon encounters (3-4 fights with Gloom clone versions)
• Each Phantom Ganon drops Gloom-infused weapons

Phase 2 — Sage Trials:

• At the bottom: a large gate with 5 seals
• Each sage must break their seal (cutscene + brief fight segment per sage)
• After all 5 seals break: Ganondorf's true chamber opens

Boss fights inside:

1. Ganondorf (humanoid form) — uses Gloom-infused attacks, sword combat
2. Demon Dragon (final form) — Sky battle on dragonback (see final boss guides)

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Quick Tips

• Ancient Armor for the Depths sections — castle Underground and the final dungeon have heavy Gloom floors. Ancient Armor at ★★ makes survival dramatically easier.
• Explore before the final questline — once you trigger the final dungeon, the castle enters final-battle state. Complete all castle exploration (chests, Koroks) before triggering the endgame.
• Phantom Ganon weapons — the Phantom Ganon encounters in the final dungeon drop Gloom-infused weapons. These are unique — they deal Gloom damage to enemies on hit. They have limited durability but are powerful for the Ganondorf fight.
• Bring all sage foods — each sage has a food that boosts their power. The Ganondorf fight is a war of attrition. Max your sage buffs.
• The Royal Guard equipment — the castle's Royal Guard Claymore and Sword are high base-damage weapons but low durability. Fuse them with Lynel horns for sustained high damage in the final fight.

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See also: Depths Guide | Gloom Hands Guide | Endgame Guide