Stone Talus Guide — Farming Ore and Talus Hearts

Stone Taluses are large rock-elemental mini-bosses found across Hyrule's surface and in the Depths. They are among the most efficient farming targets in the game: every kill drops ore (Flint, Amber, Opal, Luminous Stone, Diamonds) and a Talus Heart — a powerful Fuse material that adds +25 attack to any weapon.

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Why Farm Taluses?

• Talus Hearts fused to any weapon add +25 attack — among the highest non-Dragon, non-Lynel Fuse bonuses available.
• Ore drops (Flint, Amber, Opal, Luminous Stone) sell for Rupees or are needed for Great Fairy armor upgrades.
• Diamond drops from Rare Taluses — the best gem for Rupee income (500R each).
• Taluses respawn after every Blood Moon — farmable on regular cycling loops.
• Fights are short (1–2 minutes per Talus) compared to Lynel fights.

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Talus Types

Stone Talus (Standard)

• Health: ~450 HP
• Weakness: Ore node on top of its body (ore-encrusted lump)
• Drops: Flint, Amber, Opal (common), Luminous Stone (occasional)
• Talus Heart drop: Always (1 per kill)
• Notes: The most common type. Found across all surface regions.

Rare Talus

• Health: ~600 HP
• Weakness: Same ore node on top
• Drops: Opal, Luminous Stone, Ruby, Sapphire, Topaz, Diamond (guaranteed Diamond on higher-difficulty variants)
• Talus Heart drop: Always (1 per kill)
• Notes: Blue-grey stone, slightly shinier than standard. Significantly higher gem value — worth prioritizing on farming loops.

Luminous Talus

• Health: ~550 HP
• Weakness: Glowing ore node on top
• Drops: Luminous Stone, Amber, Opal
• Talus Heart drop: Always (1 per kill)
• Notes: Glows in the dark — easy to spot at night. Found near Depths chasms and cave entrances where luminous stone deposits are dense.

Frost Talus

• Health: ~500 HP
• Weakness: Ice-covered ore node on top
• Special mechanic: Covered in ice — melee attacks deal 1 damage until the ice is melted
• How to expose weakness: Hit with fire arrows, Fire Fruit bomb, or Flame Emitter device to melt the ice crust. The ore node is then exposed for normal damage.
• Drops: Same as standard plus occasional Sapphire
• Talus Heart drop: Always (1 per kill)
• Notes: Found in Hebra Mountains and Eldin snowfields.

Igneo Talus

• Health: ~600 HP
• Weakness: Ore node on top, accessible only after cooling it down
• Special mechanic: Body is superheated — melee attacks while hot deal damage to Link
• How to expose weakness: Shoot with Ice Arrows (2–3) or throw a Water bomb to cool the body. The node is then safe to melee.
• Drops: Flint, Amber, Ruby, Topaz
• Talus Heart drop: Always (1 per kill)
• Notes: Found in Eldin volcanic areas and Death Mountain approaches.

Talus (Depths Variant)

• Health: ~700 HP
• Weakness: Ore node (same position)
• Special: Covered in Gloom — melee attacks deal Gloom damage (reduces max hearts)
• How to fight safely: Shoot the ore node from range with bomb arrows (3–4 hits to stagger), then land one or two melee strikes during the down phase. Do not sustain melee on Gloom-covered Taluses.
• Drops: Zonaite ore, Luminous Stone, Zonai-related minerals
• Talus Heart drop: Always (1 per kill)
• Notes: Depths Taluses are the highest-priority targets on Depths farming runs — Zonaite drops supplement your energy reserves.

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Combat Strategy

Standard Approach (Any Talus)

1. Identify the ore node. It appears as a darker, crusted lump on the Talus's upper body — usually the top or back.
2. Climb the Talus. When the Talus swings its arm to slam the ground, the impact shakes it and creates a climbable slope on one arm. Jump on the arm during the slam and run up to the back.
3. Stand on the ore node. Once on top, swing with your highest-attack weapon or a heavy two-hander. 3–5 hits stagger the Talus.
4. When knocked off, repeat. The Talus staggers when the node takes enough damage, which knocks Link off. Climb again and repeat.
5. Two to three climbing cycles kill most Talus types.

Efficient Arrow Method

For players with limited climbing or who want faster kills:

1. Target the ore node from range. Use bomb arrows — 3 to 4 bomb arrows on the node staggers any Talus.
2. When it staggers (kneels and shakes), sprint to the ore node and get 3–5 free melee hits.
3. Repeat the arrow stagger cycle 2–3 times until death.

This method never requires climbing and keeps you out of melee range during the Talus's active movement phase.

Frost and Igneo Variants

• Frost Talus: Start with 2 fire arrows at the ore node to melt the ice. Then proceed with standard climbing or arrow stagger method.
• Igneo Talus: Start with 3 ice arrows to cool the body before climbing. Once cooled, the body is safe for 30–45 seconds of melee. Re-ice when the body heats back up (steam effect begins).

Depths Talus (Gloom)

• Primary strategy: Bomb arrows only on the ore node from a safe distance. Stagger the node with 4 bomb arrows, sprint in for one melee cycle, retreat before Gloom contact.
• Equip the Depths Armor Set or bring 20+ Sundelion meals before farming Depths Taluses.
• The Depths Talus yields more ore per kill than surface variants but the Gloom risk makes it slower unless you have Gloom resistance gear.

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Notable Talus Locations

Surface — High-Priority Farming Spots

West Necluda (Dueling Peaks area)

• 3 standard Stone Taluses within fast-travel range of Dueling Peaks Shrine
• Coordinates: Approximately (1200, -1400, 0100), (1000, -1200, 0150), (1400, -1600, 0100)
• Best early-game Talus farm — accessible before any dungeon completion

South Akkala Highlands

• 2 standard Taluses + 1 Rare Talus within 300 meters
• Coordinates: Approximately (3000, 1400, 0200)
• Rare Talus here drops 2–3 Diamonds per kill — excellent Rupee source

Faron Grasslands

• 4 Stone Taluses spread across the Faron plains
• Dense cluster near Mount Dunsel coordinates (0500, -2600, 0100)
• Easy to chain all four on a single horse ride

Eldin Canyon Mid-Slope

• 2 Igneo Talus spawns on Death Mountain's southern approach
• Requires Flamebreaker Armor or fireproof elixirs
• Ruby and Topaz drop rates are highest from Eldin Igneo variants

Hebra Mountains

• 3 Frost Talus spawns across the snowfields
• Sapphire drop source — valuable for Great Fairy armor upgrades at ★★★★
• Bring cold-resist armor for sustained Hebra farm loops

Depths — Key Talus Locations

Central Depths (Under Hyrule Field)

• Highest density of Depths Taluses in any single region
• 5–6 Depths Taluses within a single Lightroot navigation circuit
• Best Zonaite + Luminous Stone farm in the game

Akkala Depths

• 3 Depths Taluses near the Akinatanis and Marakuguc Lightroots
• Often combined with Frox farming routes in the same region

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Blood Moon Farming Loop

For maximum Talus Heart collection efficiency:

1. Trigger a Blood Moon (campfire rest until blood-red sky).
2. Start at Dueling Peaks area — 3 Taluses in quick succession.
3. Travel south to Faron — 4 Taluses on the plains.
4. North to Akkala — 3 Taluses including the Rare Talus Diamond farm.
5. Eldin detour — 2 Igneo Taluses for Ruby/Topaz.
6. Fast-travel back to start and trigger a second Blood Moon if needed.

Loop yield: 12–15 Talus Hearts, 20–30 ore gems, 4–8 Diamonds per loop.

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Using Talus Hearts for Fuse

Talus Hearts add exactly +25 attack when fused to any weapon. This makes them:

| Comparison | Attack Bonus | |-----------|-------------| | Talus Heart | +25 | | Lynel Horn | +33 | | Captain Construct Horn | +45–55 | | Dragon Scale | +10–15 (plus elemental effect) | | Silver Lynel Saber Horn | +58 |

Talus Hearts are the best mid-game Fuse material before you're farming Lynels consistently. A basic Soldier's Broadsword (base 16) + Talus Heart = 41 attack — stronger than most unfused Royal weapons.

Recommended Fuse targets:

• Spears (naturally weaker base) benefit most from +25 flat bonus
• Shields (Talus Heart on shield = useful) — adds rock-shatter effect to perfect parries
• Bows — Talus Heart on a bow adds bonus stone-impact damage to arrows

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Ore Selling Values

| Ore | Base Sell Price | Common From | |-----|----------------|-------------| | Flint | 2R | All Taluses | | Amber | 10R | All Taluses | | Opal | 60R | All Taluses | | Luminous Stone | 70R | Luminous, Depths Taluses | | Topaz | 180R | Igneo Taluses | | Ruby | 210R | Igneo Taluses | | Sapphire | 260R | Frost Taluses | | Diamond | 500R | Rare Taluses |

Selling a full Rare Talus drop (2–3 Diamonds + gems) yields 1,500–2,000R per kill — the best raw Rupee rate of any farmable mini-boss.

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See also: Talus Guide | Rupee Farming Guide | Fuse Tips Guide | Depths Guide