Recall Guide — Mastering Time Reversal

Recall is TotK's time-reversal ability — activate it on any object and it rewinds that object's recent movement path. What sounds simple has deep puzzle applications, traversal shortcuts, and combat tricks that make it one of the most versatile abilities in the game.

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How Recall Works

Activation:

1. Press L + A (or the mapped input) with the ability selected
2. Hover your cursor over a moving or recently-moved object
3. A ghost path appears showing the object's recent movement
4. Press A to trigger Recall → the object moves backward along its exact path

Duration: Recall reverses up to approximately 8-10 seconds of an object's movement history.

What can be Recalled:

• Any Zonai device or build
• Falling or thrown items (rocks, barrels, enemy projectiles)
• Platform objects, crates, boulders
• Some environmental objects (stone blocks, sliding ice platforms)

What cannot be Recalled:

• Link himself
• Enemies
• Water (it's not an object)
• NPCs

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Core Puzzle Patterns

Pattern 1 — Rising Platform

Scenario: A platform falls from a height. You need to reach the top. Solution: Let the platform fall → Recall it → it rises back up → hop on while it rises → ride it to the top

This is the most common Recall puzzle. Anytime you see a platform that has fallen or is falling, look for the Recall solution.

Pattern 2 — Boulder Ramp

Scenario: A boulder rolls down a hill. You need to go up. Solution: Let the boulder roll down past you → Recall it → it rolls back up → hop on → ride it uphill

Works on any spherical object rolling on an incline.

Pattern 3 — Slingshot

Scenario: A large object (log, stone) is launched or thrown in one direction. Solution: Recall the object → it flies backward → stand in its path → get carried in the opposite direction

Useful for crossing large gaps when the trajectory of a past-thrown object creates a path you need.

Pattern 4 — Projectile Return

Scenario: An enemy fires a projectile (Bokoblin boulder, Lizalfos fireball) that hits a surface. Solution: Recall the projectile after it stops → it flies backward → the enemy is still in its original path → projectile hits them

This is the key combat Recall trick — more below.

Pattern 5 — Shrine Rotating Mechanism

Scenario: A spinning or oscillating platform has a specific position you need. Solution: Wait for the platform to be in the wrong position → Recall it when it was in the correct position → it snaps back to where you needed it

Used in several shrine puzzles where exact platform positioning is required.

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Traversal Uses

Sky Rock Surfing

Sky islands periodically drop chunks of rock or debris from their undersides (visible as falling rocks from sky islands).

Technique:

1. Position yourself below a sky island
2. Wait for a rock to fall past you
3. Recall the rock → it rises back toward the sky island
4. Land on the rock while it rises → ride it up to the sky island

This works on ANY falling debris from sky islands. It's an alternative to Ascend for reaching sky structures without a solid ceiling directly above you.

Recall for Altitude

Throw a rock upward (Ultrahand throw) → let it arc and begin falling → Recall it → it flies upward again → stand on it while it rises.

This gives brief additional height above your normal jump/glide. Useful for reaching specific outcroppings.

Undoing Mistakes

Recall an object you accidentally threw or dropped. If you Ultrahand-threw something you needed (like a key item or material) and it landed somewhere hard to reach, Recall it to bring it back.

Limit: Only works within the 8-10 second memory window. If too much time passed, the object is where it landed permanently.

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Combat Applications

Projectile Return (Primary Trick)

The most powerful Recall combat application:

1. Let a Bokoblin or Lizalfos throw a rock/fire/bomb at you
2. Dodge it → let it hit a surface nearby
3. Recall the projectile → it flies backward at high speed
4. The enemy is still at their original position → projectile hits them
5. Most light projectiles returned this way stagger or kill the enemy

Notes:

• Works best on ranged camps where multiple enemies throw simultaneously
• Larger boulders returned deal heavy damage (can one-shot Bokoblins)
• The projectile has the same damage as when it was thrown — strong enemies throw stronger projectiles that deal more damage when returned

Guardian Laser Return

If you encounter an ancient Guardian (rare, but some Depths constructs fire laser beams):

• The laser beam briefly shows its travel path
• Recall the beam → it reverses at the Guardian → full laser damage back

High skill cap but very satisfying.

Rock Cluster Clear

Find a boulder in a Bokoblin camp → throw it into the camp (Ultrahand) → wait for it to stop → Recall it → it passes through the camp again backward → double hit on any Bokoblin in the path.

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Shrine Recall Puzzles — Common Patterns

Several shrines are built entirely around Recall. Pattern recognition:

Tilted platforms: If a platform is tilting and you need it flat, Recall to a moment when it was level.

Moving water channels: Some shrines have Recall-interactive water channels. Recall the flow mechanism to redirect water.

Ball-in-groove puzzles: A ball rolls through a groove. You need it at a specific position. Let it roll past where you need it → Recall precisely.

Timing chains: Ball hits a switch, which releases another ball, which hits another switch. Recall the second ball back if you missed the timing → sequence resets.

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Quick Tips

• Sky island debris is free altitude — any rock falling from a sky island is a Recall elevator. You don't need to climb or Ascend. Just wait under the island for debris and Recall it.
• Recall has a visual tell — the blue ghost-path shows exactly where the object was. If the path doesn't reach where you need, it's too old. Don't waste a Recall attempt if the path is too short.
• Projectile return timing — there's a brief delay between when an enemy throws and when the projectile stops moving. Recall too early and it hasn't stopped. Recall too late and the enemy has moved. Ideal timing is about 1 second after the projectile hits a surface.
• Combine with Ultrahand — throw something with Ultrahand → Recall it → you get a fast-moving object you directed. Useful for precision impacts (knocking an enemy off a ledge with a rock you threw and recalled at them).
• Shrines telegraph Recall — if you see falling platforms or rolling objects in a shrine and no other tools solve the puzzle, Recall is the answer. TotK never misleads you with environmental objects in shrines — if it fell, you Recall it.

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See also: Shrine Guide | Traversal Techniques Guide | Zonai Builds Advanced