Lightning Temple | Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Wiki

Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Lightning Temple Walkthrough Guide

If you'd like to follow a guide for a quicker run, listing only relevant and accessible chests that can be found in the temple, head here to the end of the page for a Speedrun Walkthrough of the Lightning Temple!

 

How to Get to the Lightning Temple in Zelda TotK

When you get to Gerudo Town, you will begin the Main Quest Riju of Gerudo Town. Throughout the following objectives, you and Riju will be hearing a peculiar sound and then later on a voice that only you two are able to hear. Riju eventually makes the connection between the strange events and an age-old mural located in the town’s underground shelter, which tells you to unite pillars of light to open the way forward. From inside Gerudo, use Ascend to reach higher ground to get a better view of where to go next. Look toward the southwest to find structures visible above the sands, that look like towers with platforms that are propped up by thin stone pillars, and fly to the nearest one. Land at the base of the pillars and destroy the broken rock surface in the middle of the platform to reveal a beam of light shot upwards and then reflected towards the next location you need to get to. Follow the beam of light further west through the desert. At the end of the beam, there will be a small raised platform with a wheel, as well as another pillared tower. Use whatever means you’d like to rotate this wheel counterclockwise to raise the tower high enough so that the beam of light can be reflected further toward the next direction. Follow this new beam of light to get to the next tower. This one will have another broken rock surface that will have lever parts and platforms under it. You can use Link’s various abilities to make attach some together and make them float, in order to bring them to the top of the tower where you can then connect the lever part to the rest of the rotating lever. Alternatively, if you have a Stake Zonai Device, you can skip the broken rock surface entirely, Ascend to the top, take out, and attach the Stake to the wheel. Either way, rotate the wheel counterclockwise to connect the light beam that’s shooting out toward the northeast, to the very first tower you went to, in order to complete a triangle of light. A short cutscene should ensue showing the lightning stone rising from the sands smack dab in the middle of the triangle. Head there for another short cutscene. Riju will then elect to use a lightning strike on the stone, so simply hit it with one of your arrows. The sands will rumble to the southwest, finally revealing the way to the Lightning Temple.

 

Exploring the Lightning Temple in Zelda TotK

Head towards the temple and hit the purple glowing bulge with your new lightning strike with Riju’s help. Surprise surprise, this particular adventure seems to begin with a fight against the Gibdo boss. She will charge at you, spit a beam of sand, throw tornadoes at you, and try to tackle you from above. Don’t worry though, she will go away after a couple of hits, and especially some lightning strikes, but just be aware that her attacks can break Riju’s concentration while charging. After some hits, the boss will fly away toward the top of the center for you to chase after it. Afterward, simply let loose another lightning arrow on the purple bulge to reveal the entrance to the temple. Throughout this dungeon, there are breakable jars that can yield a couple of arrows and Amber. There will be a chest to the right of the pillars, buried under some sand, containing a Flame Emitter. A bit further is a Korok-Frond Guster that can be picked up propped up on the wall, and another one on the wall on the other side of the room. You can use these to sweep away the mounds of sand in this room. The middle mound will reveal a raised tile to step on to open the way forward. Head down the stairs to get to the first basement floor. Past the stairs will be a hall area. After the entrance to the room is a bridge to a small platform, and then another bridge to the next room. You can fall off the bridge to a lower part of the same hall room, where you can defeat a Gibdo or two. On the second bridge, you can fall to the left to find a chest below, containing a Large Zonai Charge. Use Ascend to get back up and move on to the next room.

In this square room, there are a couple of arrows under the breakable jars. You can use Ultrahand on the bricks blocking the hole in the wall in front of you to move them out of the way. The room past them has another chest with a Topaz with another Gibdo guarding it. Beside this chest, there are some more arrows and an Opal under some breakable jars. Beside these is a Gerudo Claymore trapped underneath some stone sheets you can move away. Back towards the room to the northwest this time, a trap will trigger the moment you step on the middle tile of the room, which makes the tile fall to a lower area, where an Electric Keese is waiting to ambush you. Down here, there’s a small hole in the wall with stone sheets. Moving the first sheet reveals a Gerudo Scimitar underneath. Ascend back up to find yet another Korok-Frond Guster on the wall. The next room has two Gibdo waiting for you. The short hall to the next room will have rows of fire shooting out of its walls, but they can easily be avoided by timing your movement right. Otherwise, you can use the stone sheets in the previous room to cover the flames. Stepping on the small square tile in the upper right corner of the next room stops these flames to allow Riju to follow, and opens the gate forward. Be careful rushing past the next room, as large flaming boulders will begin rolling down periodically as you approach the corridor forward. You can use Recall on one of them to give you a window of time in which to run forward past this corridor into a saferoom on the path to the right, or if you have enough stamina, you can climb up the walls and slowly make your way through, avoiding the fireballs from above. Stepping on the elevated tile in this safe room stops the boulders to allow Riju to follow, and opens the gate forward.

Next is another narrow corridor with another Gibdo, leading to a large room. This large room has another lower area which has a Gerudo Bow under another stone sheet. Down here, there is a path on the right leading to a rotating wheel. Simply step into the part of the pie that’s missing, and safe from the spikes, and then use Recall on the whole thing to give you an opportunity to jump further into the small space behind it, to claim a chest that contains a Mighty Zonaite Shield. Head back to the large room and up the stairs, and then proceed further to the southeast path. Head up this inclined corridor to get to the Room of Hopeful Light. A Captain Construct III will attack you from the left side. There are bricks to the south that you can jump on to access another room through a hole in the wall. The chest here contains a Mighty Construct Bow. The large tile that the chest is on will sink, bringing you to a lower floor. Down here, there is a small crevice blocked off by fire. Use Ultrahand to grab the Gerudo Spear behind the wall of fire. Back up to the main room, using a Korok-Frond Guster on the mounds of sand in the southeast corner of the room will reveal a light reflector, and another Captain Construct III ready to attack. Use Ultrahand to move the reflector under the pillar of light in the center of the room. Make it level with the circular mechanism above the northeast path, and reflect the light towards it to reveal the way forward. Follow the inclined path up to get to the Room of Ascension.

 

Solving the Room of Ascension Puzzle in Zelda TotK

Examining the large mechanism at the center of the room will cause the platform under you to rise up slightly, only to fall back down. The strange voice will speak clearly now to both of you, revealing the platform to be some kind of elevator, and Riju needs only to use her electricity to charge the mechanism’s four batteries to make it work. The four batteries will not show up on your map as your next objectives.

 

The First Battery in the Lightning Temple

The path to the nearest battery on the north side of the room is blocked off, but there is another way to get to it. Use Ultrahand on the loose bricks on the righthand side of the wall to reveal another path. Once inside, simply hit the battery with another lightning arrow with the help of Riju to charge it right up.

 

The Second Battery in the Lightning Temple

Back to the center area of the room, in the southwest corner, there will be a large brick blocking an airway trying to shoot upwards. Move the brick in order to use the current to glide upwards. As you shoot up, face the north side of the room to see a ledge lit up by a torch in a small cavity on the wall and glide toward it. It should lead to a corridor with a single Soldier Construct III, and eventually to two rotating wheels. Walk past them through their missing pieces, to get to a small room with some loose bricks. Move the bricks away to reveal a light source behind them. In order for the light to fully shine through, you'll need to use Recall on one of the wheels in order for its rotation to match the other. Accomplishing this should allow the light to shine through the wheels’ missing pieces. Head back out of the room the same way and the light will activate a mechanism, removing the gate and the wall, and allowing the light beam to shine all the way back to the main room. Now, you want to get to where the beam hits on the other side of the room, so jump down and head up the stairs to the wall across the light source, on the fourth floor. Once there, the moment the wheels allow the light through again, another mechanism will activate, revealing another tile to step on to reveal a path further in. Down here your path will be blocked by walls that will periodically close in, but simply use Ultrahand on the nearby bricks to block them off of each other. Past the trap, step on the elevated tile again to allow Riju to follow as usual. In this room, you'll notice the first green target for a light beam to the right, and a path to the left, blocked again this time by the ceiling slamming down periodically. As with the previous obstacle, simply use Ultrahand to place a nearby brick under the path in order to stop it from slamming down. This short hall leads to the Room of Light and Shade. A Soldier Construct II is waiting at the end of the short hall, as well as a Soldier Construct III further in the room. Jump down to the lower room, where the room will be revolving non-stop. There are Stakes on the ground as well as a mirror in one of the sand mounds. You will notice one part of the wall will have another green target that the light beam at the center of the room should be made to hit. Use the Stake to stop the revolving room in such a way that one of the windows will clearly show this green circle, and then hold up the mirror to reflect the light towards it. This opens up a space right above you for the light to reach the floor above. Ascend back up and use the mirror in one of this room’s sand mounds to reflect the beam toward the first green target, through the wall that keeps slamming shut. This opens up the wall behind the first target, where the second battery resides. As with the first, charge it up with one of Riju's lightning strikes.

 

The Third Battery in the Lightning Temple

Head back out from where you came from, and use the updraft to glide up once again, this time facing the south wall as you do. Hop off on the fifth floor and defeat the Soldier Construct III waiting for you. In between two torches on this wall, there is a narrow aisle you can go through to get to the Room of Natural Light, where there is yet another pillar of light shooting down from above. Position the nearby brick under the light, and put one of the mirrors in the northeast cavity on top of it to reflect the light out toward the aisle you came from. Back outside, there is a structure you can slide that has a mirror to reflect the beam of light further. Head in this new direction to find another such structure to slide toward the path of the beam as well. Look down at where the beam of light is pointing now to find a green target, now activated to reveal another elevated tile to step on. Before moving forward, you can prepare for the last battery by sliding the first structure out of the light’s path and then following the light across the room to move another structure after sweeping away some sand. Move the last structure at the end of this light’s current path to reflect the light upwards to another green target, activating to reveal yet another elevated step on a higher floor. Glide back down now to the previous elevated tile and step on it to reveal the next path. Head up the stairs to the Room of Offered Light where a number of enemies await you. Two Soldier Construct IIIs will start to approach you, along with a couple of Gibdo, complete with air support from two Soldier Construct IIs on elevated platforms. It is recommended to prioritize taking out the Gibdo nest first so that enemies won’t just keep spawning. Your lightning strike with Riju will be a great asset here. After the room is clear, you'll have to use all the different parts lying around to create something that will either hold up a platform with the mirror or hold you up as you hold the mirror, as the next green target will be high above on the northwest side of the room. There are Hover Stones you can use as steps, a grate that can be used as a platform, and a balloon to use to float with a torch. However you do so, reflect the light coming from the ground into the green target. This opens up the gate right under the target, revealing the third battery. Charge it up with lightning.

 

The Fourth Battery in the Lightning Temple

Head back out the way you came, but right before you exit the short landing after the stage, (right before what looks like a little triangle in your minimap) use Ascend to get to a small room on a higher floor for a chest containing a Diamond. Ascend again to get out of here and then start heading to the higher floor where you already prepared the beam of light to point towards. Either use the updraft again to get close and climb the rest of the way, or keep using Ascend under that statue with the green target. Either way, when you get to it, step on the tile to reveal the way forward. You'll be led to a fall with multiple rows of flame blowing in different directions. Glide accordingly to avoid them, and you should land right in the room with the last battery. As with the others, charge it right up. Your exit door can be opened by stepping on an elevated tile to the left of it. There will be two Soldier Construct IIIs waiting for you on the other side. Exit out through the corridor at the north side of the room and head over to the platform in the middle again to give the elevator another try.

 

How to Beat the Boss in the Lightning Temple in Zelda TotK

This time the elevator is able to take you all the way up to the seventh floor, to the Room of Glorious Light, where Riju will notice something shining to the northeast. Use a lightning strike on the glowing purple bulb above it to break it. As it was at the beginning of this temple, Queen Gibdo makes her appearance for round two. Probably as designed, Riju's lightning is still your best friend here, so don't forget to use it whenever you can. Hitting the boss with a lightning strike will make it turn white which is when you should hack at it with your weapons. Just like before, she will either charge at you, shoot a beam at you for a few seconds, tackle you from above, or throw three tornadoes at you, so watch out for her attacks! Hitting her enough while in her white state will cause her to collapse for a bit, allowing you to dish out a lot of damage without resistance.

When the queen is down to half of her health bar, She will activate some Gibdo nests and have her minions come after you. Make sure to prioritize dispatching these nests so as to not get overwhelmed by swarms. Destroying them also allows pillars of light to replace them which the Gibdo hate. Any of them found under it will be unable to move and will take a lot of damage over time. If you've Fused one you can also use a Mirror Shield to fight creatively with the light here. Note that instead of three the queen will now throw out five tornadoes to come after you. After dealing with the swarms, it’s time to give her your full attention again. The formula remains the same - hit her with a lightning strike and then let it rip when she turns white. Finally defeating her will reward you with a Heart Container, and cause the wall restricting you from the light Riju saw to crumble. Approach Riju to initiate the cutscene, revealing more information about the Imprisoning War, from the voice that’s been calling out to Riju all this time. Afterward, Riju will bless you with her ring, the Vow of Riju, Sage of Lightning, so you'll be able to call upon her lightning power whenever you need it. Congratulations!

 

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Speed Run Walkthrough

After speaking with Riju in front of the underground mural in Gerudo Town, move back to the entrance of the Gerudo Shelter and then keep using Ascend to go up until there’s no ceiling to do so anymore. Look to the southwest to easily see a tower above the sand shroud, and go to it. Once there, break the rock surface. Follow the beam of light to the next tower. There will be a smaller structure nearby with a wheel. Rotate the wheel counterclockwise until the beam of light connects. Follow the new direction of the light to the next tower. If you have a Stake Zonai Device, simply Ascend to the top and attach it to the wheel with missing levers. Otherwise, break the rock surface here and use the uncovered Hover Stones as steps to bring one of the lever parts to the top to attach to the wheel. Turn the wheel counterclockwise to close the triangle with the beams of light. Head to the middle of the triangle.

Hit the glowing purple bulb with an arrow charged with Riju’s electricity. Queen Gibdo will appear but she’ll go away after you hit her with enough electrically-charged arrows. Be mindful of her attacks that can break Riju’s concentration: a charging attack, a tackle attack after hovering, a sand beam, and an attack that sends three tornadoes your way. After she flies away, use another electric arrow on the new purple bulb to enter the temple. In this first room, grab the Korok-Frond Guster from the wall and use it to blow away the sands to get a chest with a Flame Emitter, and reveal an elevated tile. Step on the tile and move forward. Cross the first bridge but on the second bridge drop down to the left for a chest with a Large Zonai Charge. Ascend back up and press on. The next room will have a chest with a Topaz past the loose bricks in front of you. Head back and to the left this time. Hug the wall to the left to avoid the trap in the middle of the room, and then run past the walls of fire after the next room, making sure to time your movement properly. Step on the tile to allow Riju to follow, and to open the next gate. Head to the path on your left but be careful of the coming enflamed boulder. Run into the path after it passes, and then use Recall before you meet the next boulder. While it’s busy moving back, run straight through to the path on the right and step on the elevated tile again. In the next room immediately jump down to the lower area and then head for the narrow path to your right. Step into the missing piece of the rotating pie wheel and then hit Recall on it to allow you to cross for a chest containing a Mighty Zonaite Shield. Head back out to the large room and up the stairs to your right to reach the inclined path to the Room of Hopeful Light. Here, head straight to the upper right-hand corner of the room to climb onto some bricks to get to a smaller room. The platform that the chest is on will drop down to a lower area where there’s a Gerudo Spear you can use Ultrahand to grab behind a wall of fire if you want it. Otherwise, grab the Mighty Construct Bow in the chest and then quickly jump and climb the sides and then head back out. As you enter the room there should be a mirror in the sands near the wall in front of you. Use Ultrahand to grab it and bring it under the light in the middle of the room, and hold it up to point the light to the green target on the arch. Take the new path up to the Room of Ascension and head toward the device in the middle of the room.

After the cutscene, examine the device. You now need to charge four batteries to make the elevator work, which can be done by hitting them with an electrically-charged arrow. First, head behind the device to your right and move the bricks to get the first battery. Head back out of the hole in the wall towards a gust of wind you can immediately see, and let it escape by moving the brick. As you ride the wind upwards, face towards the north and then glide towards a platform that has a lit torch inside a cavity to its left. Rush past the Soldier Construct III and into the missing pieces of two consecutive pie wheels. After getting past them, use Recall on one of them to match its timing with the other. Then, move the two bricks out of the wall behind you. Head back out through the new hole that should’ve just opened, and onto the stairs to your right. The path should put you on the fourth floor, and across the hole you just jumped out of where a light beam should pierce through once the pie wheels’ missing pieces allow it to. Step on the tile and head deeper in. Use one of the bricks on your right to stop the walls from closing and allow you to walk through, and then step on the tile to your left. Head straight ahead and use one of the loose bricks in the wall to stop the walls on your left from closing in from above. Rush past the enemies to the Room of Light and Shade and then jump through one of the holes in the middle of the room. Use the Stakes here to stop this revolving room in a way that the green target is visible through one of the doorways. Use Ultrahand on the mirror in the sand to point the light to this target. Ascend back up and use another mirror in a sand mound to point the light back out toward the way you came into the room. Head out and straight ahead to the second battery, behind the green target to charge it up. Backtrack all the way back to the large room and ride up the updraft to your right once again, this time just facing the wall nearest to you, and then hop off the highest ledge on the fifth floor. The wall in front of you should have two torches in cavities, with a little space between them. Climb up this space into a narrow aisle to get to the Room of Natural Light. Grab the brick here and place it upright vertically under the light. Then grab a mirror in a hole in the wall and place it on top of the brick, pointing towards the narrow aisle you came in through. Head back out the aisle and immediately in front of you should be a slidable structure, which you should move all the way left. Follow the path to the right to get to the next slidable structure and move it all the way left as well. The light will hit a green target below and reveal another elevated tile. Now go back to the first slidable structure and move it out of the light’s way this time. Follow the path to the right again, ignoring the second structure this time, and then sweep away the sand hindering the third one. Move this one all the way to the right. Continue along the path to get to the last slidable structure and move it all the way left to point the light toward a green target above and reveal another elevated tile. Head towards the lower elevated tile for now, which just so happens to be right under you but on the second floor, so jump off and turn back to glide toward it. Step on the tile and head up the stairs into the Room of Offered Light. Make quick work of the enemies here by using Riju’s lightning on the nest first and then clearing out the rest. The green target for this light is high above on the northwest side of the room, so use the various materials here to hold the mirror up and reflect the light toward it. Doing so will reveal the third battery, so charge it right up. Head back out the way you came, but stop after the small steps, on the space right before a little triangle on your minimap. Ascend right up here to reach a chest containing a Diamond. Ascend right in front of this chest to get to the fifth floor with the slidable structures. Follow the path to the right past the structure right near you, and the next one as well near the light source. Stop right behind the third slidable structure and use Ascend to get right to the elevated tile above you. Step on the tile and move to the end of this short corridor where you will have to slowly glide down avoiding rows of fire, to get to the fourth and final battery at the bottom. Charge it up, and then head back to the elevator to go all the way to the top for a rematch with Queen Gibdo. The boss will not have new attacks, and Riju’s lightning will still be your bread and butter. After hitting her with it she’ll turn white which means she’s vulnerable to all your attacks. Once her health falls to half, she’ll summon four Gibdo nests which you should destroy immediately with more lightning. During this phase, she’ll be blowing out five tornadoes instead of three. Keep going with the same strategy and eventually, the queen will fall, rewarding you with some more cutscenes, and great boons for your adventure.

 

Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Lightning Temple Trivia & Notes:

Trivia and notes go here