How to Reach the Surface in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom

Return to surface of Hyrule in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom after exploring the skies above!

by Marc Magrini
Image: Nintendo

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom allows players to explore the skies of Hyrule, starting them out high above the clouds. Of course, as this game is a sequel to Breath of the Wild, they’ll also be able to explore the familiar land of Hyrule once again. They won’t be able to tread well-known ground immediately, however. There are some tasks players must perform first if they want to reach the surface in Tears of the Kingdom.

When Do I Reach the Surface in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom?

It’s not exactly easy to miss the path to the surface in Breath of the Wild’s sequel, as players will find their way there simply by progressing the story. The direct path isn’t as easy as one might assume, however, as the time spent above the clouds acts as a tutorial of important game mechanics. From major tasks such as finding shrines and adding heart containers to simple mechanics like crossing water and placing pins on the map, the ‘tutorial’ of Tears of the Kingdom will cover enough ground to keep players busy for hours.

From starting the game, here are the major points of progression players will need to pass before they’re able to reach the surface:

  • Reach the Temple of Time.
  • Complete four shrines.
  • Find the Goddess Statue in the Temple of Time and use the Lights of Blessing to increase your heart containers.
  • Open the door behind the statue and progress forward.

Related: How to Turn Off Motion Controls in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom | Attack of the Fanboy

There are some story events in between these tasks, with the first three shrines being made available as soon as players reach the temple. Players are directed to the fourth shrine after completing those shrines and opening the door to the temple. The shrine can be found in the Room of Awakening, and players can reach it by using the new abilities they’ve gained along the way. After the final point of progression, the clouds will part and players can finally skydive down to the surface of Hyrule!

- This article was updated on May 11th, 2023

About The Author

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Marc has been a freelance writer for Attack of the Fanboy since 2022. He's most familiar with Nintendo franchises such as Mario, Pokémon, and Kirby, but he's well-versed in action-packed titles like Monster Hunter and the Souls games. With each article he publishes, Marc looks to improve his skills and make himself known as a top-quality writer, providing valuable tips and information that others might unknowingly ignore.