In The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, players will encounter a diverse array of dungeons to conquer. In contrast to Breath of the Wild‘s four Divine Beasts, Tears of the Kingdom presents several distinct dungeons, each boasting its own unique theme and puzzles. While all these dungeons are remarkable in their design, some pose more formidable gameplay challenges than others. From intricate puzzles to unravel, cunning foes to combat, and intense boss battles to overcome, each temple presents its own set of distinctive obstacles. Without further ado, here is the ranking of Tears of the Kingdom’s dungeons based on their difficulty.
Water Temple
Water-based dungeons in video games often cause frustration for many players. However, Tears of the Kingdom breaks this trend. The Water Temple stands out as one of the easiest dungeons in the game, featuring relatively simple puzzles to solve. Surprisingly, players won’t require any specific items to enter the Water Temple, though it’s wise to stock up on some Splash Fruit beforehand to ease navigation within the dungeon.
Once inside, players will encounter four water pipe puzzles, with the assistance of Sidon. Successfully solving these puzzles allows them to progress and face the boss. While the boss presents a slightly tougher challenge compared to the one in the Wind Temple, the effort is rewarded as Link gains the ability to wield Sidon’s Sage power after defeating it. This newfound power will undoubtedly aid players in their subsequent adventures.
Wind Temple
At the beginning of the game, Purah strongly advises players to embark on their journey by assisting Rito. This leads players to what is arguably the easiest dungeon in Tears of the Kingdom. Upon reaching Lookout Landing and accessing their map, they have the option to head directly to the Wind Temple, which interestingly takes the form of a flying ship. The best part is that entering the temple doesn’t require any specific items.
To navigate the Wind Temple successfully, players are advised to equip themselves with some Cold Resistance Armor and food items. Thankfully, these items are readily available early in Tears of the Kingdom. Inside the temple, players will encounter five turbine puzzles to solve and then face the boss, Colgera. Both the boss fight and the puzzles are relatively simple, serving as a gentle warm-up for the more challenging dungeons that lie ahead later in the game.
Lightning Temple
Tears of the Kingdom presents the Lightning Temple in the Gerudo Desert, which offers an authentic and immersive dungeon experience. Upon entering, players are immediately met with a dark and eerie environment, prompting them to fight their way through and confront various puzzles and enemies to advance further into the heart of the dungeon.
What sets the Lightning Temple apart from others is the inclusion of Gibdos as formidable foes, offering a unique challenge compared to the more common Zonai constructs found in other dungeons. Defeating these Gibdos requires elemental attacks to weaken them, adding an extra layer of complexity to the encounters.
Navigating the main section of the Lightning Temple proves to be quite intricate, spanning across multiple floors. To power the temple’s elevator and progress, Link must solve puzzles related to four batteries. These challenging puzzles lead players to face the boss of the Tears of the Kingdom Lightning Temple, creating a climactic encounter that stands as one of the most difficult boss battles in the entire game. This carefully crafted dungeon, from its atmosphere to its intricate challenges, truly exemplifies the essence of a captivating dungeon experience.
Hyrule Castle
In Tears of the Kingdom, Hyrule Castle stands out as a dungeon that deviates from the typical puzzle-oriented challenges. Instead of intricate puzzles, this castle offers a formidable test through its array of challenging enemies. Players should exercise caution and ensure they are well-prepared before attempting to tackle this dungeon.
The enemies within Hyrule Castle are exceptionally tough and possess the ability to one-shot low-health players, making it a perilous endeavor for those ill-equipped for the battle ahead. Moreover, the boss encounter proves to be an exceptionally challenging affair, adding to the dungeon’s difficulty.
While well-prepared and skilled players might find it relatively manageable to fight through hordes of enemies, reaching this level of readiness takes considerable time and effort. For the average player, the sheer volume of formidable adversaries can be overwhelming, adding an extra layer of challenge to the experience. To overcome Hyrule Castle’s demanding trials, careful preparation and perseverance are essential for Tears of the Kingdom players.
Fire Temple
Located beneath Death Mountain in the Eldin region, the Fire Temple awaits players in Tears of the Kingdom. However, venturing into this fiery domain requires adequate Heat Protection, as the scorching temperatures would otherwise render navigation nearly impossible.
Inside the Fire Temple, players are faced with the task of unlocking five seals, each guarded by a series of challenging puzzles. To reach these puzzles, players must navigate through various mine cart tracks. These tracks, though, prove to be quite tricky to navigate, leading some players to find an alternative solution by simply climbing the walls around the dungeon. Despite the frustration posed by the puzzles, the boss encounter within the Fire Temple offers some relief, as it proves to be much easier than the rest of the dungeon. Conquering the boss becomes a rewarding moment for players after overcoming the perplexing obstacles throughout the temple.
Spirit Temple
In Tears of the Kingdom, the ultimate challenge awaits players in the form of the Spirit Temple, the most difficult of all the main Temples. To gain entry into this formidable dungeon, players must first undertake the crucial task of reconstructing a powerful mech, entrusted to Mineru. This mech will play a pivotal role in aiding Link during the epic battle against the Temple’s boss. To enhance the mech’s capabilities, players can equip it with various equipment discovered within the Temple.
Despite the Spirit Temple being relatively short compared to other dungeons, it demands meticulous preparation. Players must ensure that Mineru’s Construct is equipped with at least one cannon to stand a chance against the boss. Without proper preparation, the risk of sustaining substantial damage during the encounter is high. Therefore, players are strongly advised to stock up on health-restoring food, which will greatly ease the challenges they face in this climactic battle. Success in the Spirit Temple will undoubtedly be the ultimate testament to their skills and readiness in Tears of the Kingdom.