Lost Woods and Korok Forest

The Lost Woods block the direct path to the forest in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Koroks. Anyone who tries to follow the normal forest path or glide through the fog from above will be reset after a few seconds. Unlike Breath of the Wild, there is no safe route through the fog. The only reliable access is through the Depths from Hyrule.

In the forest of the Koroks, the great Great Deku Tree, four shrines, several shrine tasks and the main quest surrounding the Master Sword await you. Before the Koroks talk to you again and the paths in the forest become clear, you must first defeat five Gloom hands and then Phantom Ganon inside the Deku Tree.

Preparation for the path to the Korok Forest

The path through the Depths is not particularly long, but it is completely dark and partially covered with Gloom. Take enough Brightbloom Seed, arrows and healing dishes with you. For the later fight in Great Deku Tree you will also need several Thunder Flowers or other materials with area damage. Sunspot Dishes restore hearts destroyed by Gloom.

Recommended equipment	Use
Brightbloom Seed	Light the way with the Minshi Grove.
bow and at least 30 arrows	For Brightbloom Seed, Thunder Flowers and the boss fight.
Thunder Flowers	Deal area damage to multiple Gloom hands at once.
Ice Fruit or White Chuchu Jelly	Freezes individual hands and buys you time.
Sunspot Dishes	Repair hearts destroyed by Gloom.
Strong one-handed weapon and shield	Make the fight against Phantom Ganon easier.
multi-shot bow	Hits multiple hands with Thunder Flowers, dealing high area damage.

A specific main quest does not need to be completed to access the forest. But you need the Ascend, which you can already get from the Great Sky Island. A Paraglider is also strongly recommended for a safe jump into the abyss.

Find Minshi Woods Chasm

First travel to the Woodland Stable northeast of the Hyrule Field. From there follow the road north, past the former Guards’ Chamber and towards the Lost Woods. Even before you reach the actual entrance to the forest, you will see a large abyss to the east or right of the road.

Location	Specifies
Name	Minshi Woods Chasm
English name	Minshi Woods Chasm
area	Great Hyrule Forest
coordinates	About 1038, 1662, 0158
Next stable	Woodland Stable

Jump into the abyss and only open the Paraglider just before the ground. You end up in Minshi Grove, the underground equivalent of the Tylori Forest. Immediately shoot a large Brightbloom Seed at a high wall or ceiling so you can see the surrounding area.

Through the Depths to the forest of the Koroks

From the landing site you first have to move north and then northwest. The direct path is interrupted in places by large roots, rocks and Gloom. Stay on the elevated, dry areas and use Brightbloom Seed as markers regularly. The small Poes and isolated Koroks in the Depths also point roughly towards the forest center.

1. After jumping into the abyss, land safely in the Minshi Grove.
2. First go north along the raised path.
3. Then head northwest towards the center under the forest.
4. Avoid larger areas of gloom and climb over the huge tree roots.
5. Orient yourself towards the Rikonasum Lightroot and the large stone structure next to it.
6. Climb the steps of the structure and stand on the raised platform.
7. Use the Ascend to get up through the massive ceiling.

Your most important orientation point is the Rikonasum Lightroot. Her name, read backwards, roughly corresponds to Musanokir Shrine, which is directly above her in the Korok Forest. If you discover the Eknupup Lightroot or the Sijnin Lightroot first, you are already in the right region. From there you have to move further towards Rikonasum Lightroot.

Next to the root there is a striking sonau or stone structure with an elevated platform. Stand as centrally as possible under the closed ceiling and activate the Ascend. Link crosses the rock and reappears immediately in the Korok Forest.

Tip: Activates the Rikonasum Lightroot before the Ascend. This will permanently illuminate the surrounding Depths and give you a fast travel point for later visits.

Why don’t other ways work?

The normal entrance to the south is completely blocked by the magical mist. Even a jump from Thyphlo Ruins Skyview Tower or from a sky island does not lead directly to the center, as Link is reset upon contact with the nebula. This also applies to vehicles and particularly long gliding flights. Only after you have entered the forest via the Depths and healed the Great Deku Tree can you safely use certain paths within the forest.

Video: Path through the Lost Woods

Arrive in the Korok Forest

After the Ascend you end up in the center of the forest of the Koroks. The place seems gloomy at first, the music has stopped and the Koroks are standing around motionless. Conversations, traders and most tasks are still blocked at this point.

First activates the nearby Musanokir Shrine at approximately 0408, 2133, 0144. You don’t have to complete his test immediately. Activating it is enough to get a fast travel point directly in the forest. If you fail in the boss fight or still want to get equipment, you can then return without having to go through the Depths again.

Save the Great Deku Tree

Approach the Great Deku Tree and talk to him. He explains that he is feeling bad and something is wrong inside him. Then enter the large opening in the trunk. Inside there are usually merchants and others Koroks, but they do not respond until the tree is healed.

Run straight ahead to the back of the tree. There is a large abyss from which Gloom rises. Jump in and open the Paraglider just before the ground. After landing, a battle begins in two consecutive phases:

1. Five Gloom hands
2. Phantom Ganon

You cannot return to the surface to save or equip between both phases. Therefore, prepare weapons, bows and healing dishes before jumping.

Defeat Phase 1: Gloom hands

The five gloom hands attack simultaneously and move surprisingly quickly. If Link is grabbed, he will take damage and temporarily lose maximum hearts due to the Gloom. Quickly shake the left stick back and forth to free yourself from the grip.

The most important point in this fight is the pace: if all five hands are not defeated within a short time, hands that have already been destroyed can respawn. Attacking individual hands one after the other with a weak melee weapon is therefore usually not a good strategy.

Simplest strategy with Thunder Flowers

1. Keep your hands as far away as possible.
2. Targets the center of the enemy group.
3. Connects an arrow to a Bomb Flower.
4. Shoot the arrow so that the explosion hits multiple hands at the same time.
5. Repeat the attack until all five health bars disappear almost simultaneously.

A multi-shot bow like a Leunenbow increases damage significantly. In the narrow arena, be careful not to shoot the ground directly in front of Link. The explosion can hit Link himself and throw him into a group of hands.

Alternative without many Bomb Flowers

Ice fruits, White Chuchu Jelly and other ice materials freeze hands for a short time. This allows you to take out individual enemies with a strong weapon or normal arrows. Electric and fire attacks also hit multiple hands that are close together. If possible, stay at the edge of the arena and run sideways instead of backwards so that Link doesn’t get caught on the roots.

Defeat Phase 2: Phantom Ganon

As soon as the last gloom hand is destroyed, Phantom Ganon immediately appears. Its attacks are slower and more predictable than the hand attacks. To do this, he spreads Gloom on the ground while running, which damages Link’s maximum hearts.

Phantom Ganon’s attacks

• Horizontal Sword Slash: Jumps backwards at the right moment to trigger an evasive action.
• Vertical attack: Dodge sideways and start a counterattack if possible.
• Charge: Have the shield ready and don’t run straight towards him.
• Gloom Spread: Keep moving and avoid the dark areas on the ground.

A one-handed weapon combined with a shield is particularly safe for this fight. Wait for Phantom Ganon’s attacks, dodge at the last moment and use the subsequent slow-motion counterattack. Alternatively, you can shoot him in the face with arrows to briefly stun him.

After the victory, the Gloom disappears from the Great Deku Tree and the forest returns to its normal state. Phantom Ganon usually drops a Gloom Sword, a Demon King’s Bow, and several Dark Clumps. The Gloom Sword has high attack power, but when used on the surface, Link itself deals gloom damage.

Further information about Gloom, underground areas and matching armor can be found in our underground map with all roots as well as in the overview of all armor in Tears of the Kingdom.

Video: Save Great Deku Tree and defeat Phantom Ganon

Obtain Location of the Master Sword

After the fight, return to the surface and speak to the Great Deku Tree again. He senses that the Master Sword still exists, but its location is constantly changing. The main quest “Recovering the Hero’s Sword” then starts or updates.

The Master Sword is in the forehead of the Light Dragon, which flies on a large route over Hyrule. The Great Deku Tree marks the dragon’s current position on your map. Since the symbol moves along with the Light Dragon, you can track its flight direction and current location at any time.

Master Sword pull out

1. Observe the Light Dragon marker on the map.
2. Travel to a Skyview Tower or sky island near it.
3. Let yourself be thrown into the air and slide onto the dragon’s back.
4. Run forward between the thorns to his head.
5. Examine the Master Sword’s hilt between his eyes.
6. Hold down the button shown until Link pulls out the sword.

To pull out, Link requires two fully unlocked green stamina circles. Additional yellow stamina from dishes does not replace missing permanent Stamina Vessel. If you don’t have enough stamina yet, you can complete more shrines and exchange four blessing lights for a goddess statue.

You don’t necessarily have to save the Great Deku Tree before you get the Master Sword. If you have already found the Light Dragon and have two stamina circles, you can pull out the blade beforehand. Saving the tree is still helpful because its quest marker makes the moving dragon permanently visible.

A second possibility arises from the main quest “The Tears of the Dragon”. After the last reminder, the Light Dragon temporarily flies significantly lower and can be reached particularly easily.

All four shrines in the Korok Forest

There are four shrines in the Korok forest proper. The Musanokir Shrine is located directly at the Great Deku Tree. The three remaining shrines are associated with shrine tasks that can only be meaningfully started after the forest has been healed.

Musanokir Shrine – Counterweight

The Musanokir Shrine is just a few steps away from the Great Deku Tree and should be activated immediately after the first Ascend. In the test you use cubes, balls and chains as counterweights and pendulums. The chest contains a Large Zonai Charge.

Ninjis Shrine – Maca’ very special place

After healing the forest, talk to Maca. The Korok marks a remote clearing south of the center. The fog prevents a direct walk. Instead, travel to the Isle of Valor or Simosiwak Shrine in the sky and jump down from there to the marked clearing. In the Ninjis Shrine, Rauru’s blessing awaits with a powerful construct sheet.

Pupunke Shrine – Sparkling Stone and Gold Apples

Follow the eastern forest path and talk to Damia. He gives you the green shrine crystal in exchange for five gold apples. Then carry the crystal with the Ultrahand along the green beam of light to the incomplete shrine platform. Inside the Pupunke Shrine you will find a Mighty Zonaite Sword.

Sakunbomar Shrine – Access prohibited?

The task “Access prohibited?” starts on the northwestern forest path. Follow the marked path through the fog until you reach a Stone Talus. The green shrine crystal is stuck in the ore chunk on his back. Defeat the enemy with a hammer weapon and bring the crystal to the shrine platform. There is a diamond in the Sakunbomar Shrine.

You can find the complete puzzles, Treasure Chests and Locations in our overview of the shrines in the Great Hyrule Forest.

Video: All shrine tasks in the Korok Forest

What will be unlocked after saving the Deku Tree?

After defeating Phantom Ganon, the forest comes back to life. The Koroks can be addressed, the traders inside the Deku Tree open their shops and the three shrine tasks become available. You can also fast travel to the forest at any time thanks to the Musanokir Shrine.

• The Great Deku Tree marks the Location of the Master Sword.
• The Koroks in the forest talk to Link again.
• The traders and the sleeping area in Great Deku Tree become usable.
• Maca’ task for Ninjis Shrine becomes available.
• Damia will give you the Pupunke Shrine crystal in exchange for five golden apples.
• The task “Access prohibited?” leads you to Sakunbomar Shrine.
• Hestu can later respawn in the Korok Forest and exchange Korok Seeds for inventory slots.

You can find more shrines, roots, krog seeds and important locations in Great Hyrule Forest on our interactive Tears of the Kingdom map.