How to Restore Gloom-Damaged Hearts — TotK

Gloom is one of the most punishing mechanics in Tears of the Kingdom. Unlike regular damage that heals with food or potions, gloom corrupts your heart containers — turning them dark red. Corrupted hearts cannot be restored by normal meals or elixirs. If all uncorrupted hearts deplete while gloom damage continues, Link dies. This guide covers exactly how to cure gloom, where to farm Sundelions, and how to minimize gloom exposure.

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Understanding Gloom Damage

Gloom corrupts hearts from right to left. Each gloom source has a different damage rate and mechanic:

| Gloom Source | Damage Rate | Behavior | |-------------|:-----------:|---------| | Depths floor contact | Slow (1 heart every ~3 sec) | Continuous while standing on dark ground | | Gloom Hands attack | Fast (2–3 hearts per hit) | Each grab/slam corrupts multiple hearts | | Phantom Ganon attack | Fast | Each sword swing corrupts on contact | | Demon King weapons | Medium | Ganondorf's attacks in final boss |

Two States of Gloom Hearts

| State | Appearance | How to Cure | |-------|:----------:|------------| | Corrupted (passive) | Dark red heart outline | Sundelion meals only | | Actively draining | Heart outline filling red | Stop gloom contact first, then eat |

Important: Corrupted hearts are NOT permanently lost — they are restored by Sundelion meals and will fully recover. The danger is that while corrupted, those hearts cannot be filled by regular food, so your effective maximum HP is reduced.

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Method 1 — Sundelion Meals (Primary Method)

Sundelions are the dedicated anti-gloom ingredient. Cooking meals containing Sundelions produces food with the Gloom Recovery property, which restores a set number of corrupted heart containers.

Sundelion Recipes — Gloom Recovery Chart

| Recipe | Gloom Hearts Recovered | Regular Heal | |--------|:---------------------:|:------------:| | 1× Sundelion (plain, cooked) | 1 gloom heart | 0 hearts | | 2× Sundelion | 2 gloom hearts | 0 hearts | | 3× Sundelion | 3 gloom hearts | 1 heart | | 5× Sundelion (maximum) | 5 gloom hearts | 2 hearts | | Sundelion + Hearty Radish | 2 gloom hearts + yellow bonus hearts | Yes | | Sundelion + Endura Carrot | 2 gloom hearts + stamina bonus | Yes | | Sundelion + any fruit | 2 gloom hearts + small heal | Yes | | Sunny Fried Wild Greens (2× Sundelion + 1× herb) | 2 gloom hearts | Yes | | Sunny Mushroom Skewer (Sundelion + mushrooms) | 2–3 gloom hearts | Yes |

Best recipe: 5× Sundelion cooked together = 5 gloom hearts restored per meal. This is the maximum recovery per inventory slot.

Combo strategy: 1 Sundelion + 4 Hearty Durian = restores gloom hearts AND adds up to 20 yellow bonus hearts. This is the premier Depths survival meal.

Important: Normal Food Does NOT Work

Regular meals (even maximum heart meals) do not restore gloom-corrupted hearts. Only Sundelion-based food removes the gloom corruption. This is a hard rule with no exceptions.

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Method 2 — Lightroots (Depths Survival)

In the Depths, Lightroots provide two critical functions:

1. Illuminate the surrounding area (removes total darkness)
2. Provide a safe standing surface — the light circle around a Lightroot significantly slows gloom drain

Lightroot locations are the inverse of shrines on the surface map. Every shrine above ground has a corresponding Lightroot directly below it in the Depths.

Lightroot fast travel: Once activated, Lightroots are fast travel points. If you're low on Sundelion meals and deep in the Depths:

1. Locate the nearest activated Lightroot on your map
2. Fast travel there
3. Then fast travel to the surface to cook Sundelions
4. Return to the Depths fully stocked

Passive recovery near Lightroots: Standing in a Lightroot's glow slows gloom drain but does NOT restore corrupted hearts. You still need Sundelion meals for recovery — the Lightroot only pauses active damage.

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Method 3 — Surface Return

Returning to the surface stops all gloom floor-contact damage immediately. Some passive recovery of corrupted hearts occurs naturally above ground over time, but this is slow and partial — Sundelion meals remain necessary for full restoration.

Fastest surface exits:

• Fast travel to any surface shrine or Skyview Tower
• Ascend through a cave ceiling to reach the surface
• Use a rocket or hoverbike to fly up through a chasm opening

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Where to Find Sundelions

Sundelions grow only on sky islands — they are not found on the surface or in the Depths.

Primary Sky Island Sources

Great Sky Island (Tutorial Area) The first sky island cluster contains multiple Sundelion patches. Farm these early and consistently — the Great Sky Island can be revisited any time via Skyview Tower launch.

Hyrule Castle Sky Islands The most Sundelion-dense area in the game. The islands directly above Hyrule Castle have large grassy meadows covered in Sundelions. These respawn after each Blood Moon.

Sky Archipelago Islands The various sky island clusters across Hyrule each have Sundelion patches. Prioritize:

• The large flat islands (more grass = more Sundelion density)
• Islands near sky shrines (they often have resource patches)
• Thunderhead Isles area (high island count, many grass zones)

Sundelion Farming Tips

• Blood Moon respawn: All plants including Sundelions respawn at Blood Moon. Farm the Hyrule Castle sky islands after every Blood Moon for reliable Sundelion supply.
• Collect everything: Sundelions look like small yellow flowers on sky grass — collect every patch you walk through.
• Storage: Sundelions do not expire. Stock 30–50 before extended Depths exploration.
• Sell value: Sundelions sell for only 2 rupees — never sell them. They have no monetary value but immense practical value.

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Preventing Gloom Damage

Depths Floor Awareness

Gloom comes from the dark ground of the Depths. Stay on elevated surfaces — rocks, ruins, roads, and Lightroot illuminated areas have reduced or no gloom contact. The Zonai ruins and walkways in the Depths are safe surfaces.

Path of Light: There are ancient roads (pale stone paths) crisscrossing the Depths. These roads are Gloom-free — traveling on them eliminates floor gloom entirely.

Gloom Hands Strategy

Gloom Hands are the most dangerous gloom source for rapid heart corruption:

• Each grab attempt corrupts 2–3 hearts immediately
• Six hands attack simultaneously
• Best approach: Bomb arrows to the center cluster, or Tulin's Gust to create distance
• If running away: leave the encounter area entirely — Gloom Hands despawn if you exit their activation zone
• Don't melee — the corruption rate during a grab fight is unsustainable without Sundelion meal backup

Equipment

• Depths Armor Set (Depths Hood + Armor + Trousers): Provides Gloom resistance at upgrade levels — reduces corruption speed from floor contact. Does not block Gloom Hands or Phantom Ganon gloom attacks, but makes passive floor exposure manageable for longer.
• Depths Hood alone: Even a single Depths Hood piece provides some gloom resistance — useful early before the full set is available.

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The Depths Armor Set — Gloom Resistance Explained

| Depths Armor Piece | Gloom Resistance Level | |-------------------|:---------------------:| | 0 pieces | None | | 1 piece | Minor (20% slower drain) | | 2 pieces | Moderate (40% slower) | | Full set (3 pieces) | Significant (60% slower floor drain) | | Full set + Level 2 upgrade | Near immunity to floor gloom |

The Depths Armor is purchased from Bargainer Statues scattered throughout the Depths using Poes (blue flame orbs found near Lightroots and from enemy drops).

| Piece | Cost | |-------|:----:| | Depths Hood | 150 Poes | | Depths Armor | 150 Poes | | Depths Trousers | 150 Poes |

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Emergency Protocol — Corrupted Hearts in the Depths

If you're deep in the Depths, out of Sundelion meals, and accumulating corruption:

1. Stop moving through gloom immediately — find elevated ground or a ruins walkway
2. Check your map for the nearest activated Lightroot
3. Fast travel to Lightroot — cancels active drain
4. Eat whatever regular food you have — this won't fix corruption but keeps your current uncorrupted hearts full
5. Fast travel to surface shrine — exit the Depths
6. Cook Sundelion meals — minimum 3 meals before going back down
7. Return to Depths with a Sundelion stockpile

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Cooking Session Prep — Before Depths Expeditions

Standard loadout for a Depths run:

| Item | Quantity | Purpose | |------|:--------:|---------| | 5× Sundelion meals (5 each) | 3 meals | 15 gloom hearts of recovery | | Hearty + Sundelion combo meals | 2 meals | Emergency full heal + gloom cure | | Brightbloom Seeds | 20+ | Illumination (NOT gloom cure) | | Bomb Flowers | 10+ | Gloom Hands defense |

Never enter the Depths without at least 3 Sundelion meals. Extended sessions require 5+.

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Blood Moon and Gloom Recovery

During a Blood Moon, all food cooked achieves automatic Critical Success — maximum effect and duration. Cooking Sundelion meals on a Blood Moon produces the maximum possible gloom restoration per meal. Time major cooking sessions to align with Blood Moons when possible.

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Tips Summary

• Sundelions only — no other ingredient cures gloom corruption
• 5× Sundelion = maximum 5 gloom hearts per meal (most efficient)
• Farm sky islands regularly — especially Hyrule Castle sky region after Blood Moons
• Depths Armor reduces floor drain rate significantly
• Lightroots pause active drain; they're your safety net underground
• Don't panic — corrupted hearts are always recoverable with Sundelion meals

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Related: Depths Survival Guide | Brightbloom Seeds Guide | Poe Farming Guide