20 MORE Hidden Secrets in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom
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VOICE OVER: Johnny Reynolds
WRITTEN BY: Johnny Reynolds
"Tears of the Kingdom" has so many hidden details, we'll likely still be discovering things for years to come. Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we're looking at even more secrets hidden in the latest entry of "The Legend of Zelda." Our (so far) fourth list of hidden secrets in "Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom" includes a Prelude to Mineru, the Secret Beta World, Marvelous Mini-Game Music, Resource Counterparts, and more!
Script written by Johnny Reynolds
Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we’re back with our fourth video for 20 more secrets in “Tears of the Kingdom,” including Easter Eggs, mechanics, and other hidden details.
Each of the Sages, and each of their Secret Stones, has a symbol that represents them. What some players may not have realized is that these are based on Kanji, symbols in Japanese that represent specific words. In fact, each Sage’s corresponding Kanji translates to the element or ability they each wield. Tulin is Wind, Yunobo is Fire, Sidon is Water, Riju is Lightning, Zelda is Time, Mineru is Spirit, and Rauru is Light. Interestingly, when Ganondorf steals Sonia’s stone, the symbol changes. Naturally, his corresponding Kanji translates to Gloom.
By now, most realize that the Depths are a reflection of the Surface. One way in which it mirrors what’s above is with Bargainer Statues; you can find one underneath the Hylia statues of the world above. But something I didn’t realize until recently has to do with the Bargainer found at the Great Abandoned Central Mine. This one is buried up to its neck while others tower above Link. The Hylia statue above it is found on the Great Plateau, meaning it’s at a slightly higher elevation point than most others. Having the Bargainer sink lower because of it was a subtle but clever design choice on Nintendo’s part.
The Depths are a great place to find the game’s new resources, especially Bomb Flowers, Muddle Buds, and Puffshrooms. You can find them scattered everywhere, but you can also find them in specific spots. They can each be collected next to giant plants they share a resemblance with. Puffshrooms can be found next to gigantic mushrooms, Bomb Flowers next to trees with big bulbs on the top, and Muddle Buds next to trees with the same characteristic swirl. So if you see one of these giant plants on your travels, they signal what resources you can grab there.
After saving Lurelin Village, Link can talk to Numar about the painting in his house of Lover’s Pond. Notably, it features fairies. He tells you it was done by Zelda, who used to visit the spot, but only at night. Sure enough, if you go to Lover’s Pond during the day, you’ll see no fairies. However, as soon as the clock strikes 5 PM, they’ll appear. It’s important to note that they won’t show up if you already have fairies in your inventory. No need to waste time waiting, like I did.
At certain Stables across Hyrule, Link will hear rumors of a ferocious, horned beast and Princess Zelda’s relation to it. Specifically at Dueling Peaks Stable, two children talk about it while one draws a pawprint they found in the dirt. The so-called beasts in question are Dondons, the only herd of which Link can find near the Lakeside Stable in the Faron region. Afterwards, you can return to these children, and they’ll change up their drawing based on Link’s description and give him a Swift Carrot for the news. Not much of a reward, but a cute interaction some may not have gone back for.
While Josh of the channel already made a Short about this, it’s a great detail players probably don’t think about while traveling around Hyrule. A lot of time has obviously passed in between games, but “Tears of the Kingdom” also appears to be in a different season. This explains a lot of the new resources you can collect like tomatoes and elemental fruits, as well as the absence of others like durians. The sun is also at a different point in the sky, while cold locations need less protective gear than they did in “Breath of the Wild.” That makes sense as cherry blossom trees are in full bloom, which happens during Springtime in the real world.
This one’s small, but nonetheless interesting. Another new resource in the game is the Sundelion, a flower primarily found on sky islands that can heal the Gloom effect when cooked into meals. When looked at next to a Silent Princess, the two seem to be palette-swapped versions of each other. But Nintendo seemingly didn’t do this on a whim or because it was easier to design. The Silent Princess is closely linked to Zelda, while the Sundelion is linked to Queen Sonia. Since the two are related, albeit very very distantly, it makes sense that their flowers would be so similar and yet so different.
Since one of the places they can be found is the Great Sky Island, the Forest Ostrich is one of the first animals you’ll come into contact with in “Tears of the Kingdom.” Like many others, it will flee when startled and can be hunted for some meat. However, some players found their design quite similar to the Loftwings in “Skyward Sword.” They have a similar build and beak, and so many have theorized that these are the same species, just devolved over time to no longer fly. The fact that they can only be found on the sky islands only adds fuel to the fire.
One of the newest discoveries we’ve come across is the existence of a Secret Beta World. While modding, YouTuber Waikuteru found themselves in a test area labeled ‘DistanceView,’ which they believe was used to test far away objects. It’s a mostly empty void with chunks of rock floating around. You can still use Zonai devices and Sage abilities while inside. And while there is no collision with most of the assets, there are invisible walls that will cut your travel short. It’s unclear if there’s another method for reaching this area, but we recommend checking out Waikuteru’s video for yourself.
Players have found several alternative uses for the Portable Pot, such as using it to recharge Link’s energy cell. But these things are also surprisingly powerful. When attached to an arrow, they can destroy an enemy’s armor, saving you time, weapon durability, or from using a bomb. They also work on natural rock armor, like those of Rock Likes, or just destroy a wall of boulders in your way. The unfortunate exception to this are Lynels; firing a portable pot arrow at an armored version will only chip away.
The Zonaite Bow is a pretty neat weapon. As Link readies an arrow, it draws from his energy cell, with the arrow flying farther depending on how long he holds it for. Its design also holds an Easter Egg, one you might miss if not looking closely. Across the bow are miniature versions of the ancient Sage masks; the gecko, camel, bird, and elephant. It makes total sense that Zonaite weaponry would pay homage to the Sages given their importance in defeating the Demon King. And this is a nice detail that makes an already cool weapon even cooler.
Of course, the Zonaite bow isn’t the only item to reference other characters. Three devices you can unlock are the Flame, Frost, and Shock Emitters, which can be fused to weapons and shields and added to whatever creation you like. They each look like the head of a dragon and they purposely have different horns. That’s because all three of them are specifically modeled after the three elemental dragons you can find: Dinraal, Naydra, and Farosh. The Ember, Frostbite, and Charged Armor sets are also of Zonai origin and modeled after the dragons, leading many to believe the popular theory that the dragons were once Zonai.
AutoBuild is an incredibly handy ability, keeping a log and letting you save a variety of different vehicles and creations. However, it also saves pieces that are not Zonai devices. One of the most useful things to save are the explosive rocks Marbled Gohma uses in its boss fight. If Link fuses one to a weapon, takes it to Tarrey Town to get the rock removed, and then attaches something to it with Ultra Hand, he will now have an endless supply of gigantic, highly volatile explosives…as long as you have the Zonaite to build it. They’re also extremely heavy; you can attach something flat to the bottom, like a piece of wood, turning it into a pressure plate that can kill most regular enemies instantly. Even if it doesn't, the explosion should do the trick.
There are many ways to get around the absence of Revali’s Gale in “Tears of the Kingdom.” One way is with updrafts. Setting fire to a spicy pepper, or throwing a pinecone or some oil into a campfire, will create a draft that Link can use to paraglide upwards. However, updrafts come in levels. The most powerful one players have managed to create is by using four piles of wood. Setting fire to them automatically creates the updraft. And when you enhance it with a pinecone or oil, it creates one seriously mighty breeze.
Whenever Link vanquishes a Phantom Ganon, it will drop special weapons and Dark Clumps. Also purchased at Bargainer Statues, these disturbing resources pulsate much like monster guts, but are wrapped in special paper. These are likely meant to be Ofuda, cards seen in Shinto and Buddhist religions of Japan used to ward off evil and misfortune. Since Dark Clumps come from vile spirits but bring out a gloom resistance effect in recipes, having Ofuda attached seems like a necessity. However, why they already come pre-attached is a mystery. This isn’t the first time “Zelda” has included Ofuda; they also held the mini-boss, Death Sword, in place in “Twilight Princess.”
Nintendo loves to include musical Easter Eggs in “Zelda,” almost as much as fans love discovering them. There are a ton of mini-games to find across Hyrule, some of which play different tracks. Whether you helped Juney collect her plushies, played Ultra Ball Haul for Modar, or trained with Ornest and Tabult, the specific track for these games may have sounded familiar to you. The main hook uses notes from certain mini-game themes in “Twilight Princess” as well as some found in “Ocarina of Time.” I will never tire of seeing Nintendo pay homage to past classics through music.
If you’re not the type of player to chat with every single NPC, you might miss out on some special interactions. During Riju’s chapter, Link will have to defend Gerudo Town from swarms of Gibdos, part of which means choosing where to place sword and spear-wielding troops as well as Barta, who uses a cannon. When the town returns to normal, Link can find Barta in the training area where she’ll tell him they should fire off a round in celebration. Interacting with the cannon will do just that, leading to a pretty silly interaction between Barta and some understandably pissed off Gerudo.
It’s eventually revealed that Mineru, King Rauru’s sister and the fifth Sage, separated her spirit from her body. She resided in the Purah Pad for thousands of years until it was time to team up with Link, then moving into the body of a construct. Nintendo included some pretty clever foreshadowing of a secret Sage linked to the device that most of us probably didn’t pick up on. When Link is given the Purah Pad during the opening, it’s kept with a piece of fabric. Although incredibly faded, it’s the same fabric that makes up Mineru’s scarf, which can clearly be seen in flashbacks that feature her.
In one of our past videos, we talked about how certain members of the Yiga and Sheikah react to Link’s Yiga Armor Set. But there are a whole lot more we didn’t cover. Many players were delighted to find that the Yiga don’t attack Link when he’s dressed like them, even when they’re disguised as Evermeans. However, Impa can tell you this fact early on. The Gerudo will toss Link straight into jail for wearing the offensive gear while inside the town. But if you wear the set at the Kara Kara Bazaar, shopkeepers will refuse to sell to you while soldiers will threaten to murder you. If you want to hear something nice about the armor, head to Cece who's actually delighted by the authenticity. Don’t think it will get you out of the Master Kohga fights, though, unlike his underlings, he knows who hides behind the mask.
Hyrule Castle holds a lot of treasure, but there’s one chest that’s seemingly only there to mess with you. The chest in question is directly underneath the floating fortress, sitting in a very small room surrounded by rocks that annoyingly stick out of the bottom. Not only is it a pain to reach, but all you get for your frustration is a Royal Broadsword, a pretty common weapon. Ascending from this spot does put you in Zelda's room, where you can find some much better weapons and the Royal Guard’s cap. But it’s more than possible, and far easier, to reach this room through other methods. And the worst part? If you set your sensor to look for treasure chests, it will pick this one up while you’re exploring the castle and likely drive you mad.
Is there a secret you feel you’re the only one to have discovered? Share your knowledge in the comments and don’t forget to check out these other great videos!
Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we’re back with our fourth video for 20 more secrets in “Tears of the Kingdom,” including Easter Eggs, mechanics, and other hidden details.
The Sage Symbols
Each of the Sages, and each of their Secret Stones, has a symbol that represents them. What some players may not have realized is that these are based on Kanji, symbols in Japanese that represent specific words. In fact, each Sage’s corresponding Kanji translates to the element or ability they each wield. Tulin is Wind, Yunobo is Fire, Sidon is Water, Riju is Lightning, Zelda is Time, Mineru is Spirit, and Rauru is Light. Interestingly, when Ganondorf steals Sonia’s stone, the symbol changes. Naturally, his corresponding Kanji translates to Gloom.
The Buried Bargainer
By now, most realize that the Depths are a reflection of the Surface. One way in which it mirrors what’s above is with Bargainer Statues; you can find one underneath the Hylia statues of the world above. But something I didn’t realize until recently has to do with the Bargainer found at the Great Abandoned Central Mine. This one is buried up to its neck while others tower above Link. The Hylia statue above it is found on the Great Plateau, meaning it’s at a slightly higher elevation point than most others. Having the Bargainer sink lower because of it was a subtle but clever design choice on Nintendo’s part.
Resource Counterparts
The Depths are a great place to find the game’s new resources, especially Bomb Flowers, Muddle Buds, and Puffshrooms. You can find them scattered everywhere, but you can also find them in specific spots. They can each be collected next to giant plants they share a resemblance with. Puffshrooms can be found next to gigantic mushrooms, Bomb Flowers next to trees with big bulbs on the top, and Muddle Buds next to trees with the same characteristic swirl. So if you see one of these giant plants on your travels, they signal what resources you can grab there.
Fairies at Lover’s Pond
After saving Lurelin Village, Link can talk to Numar about the painting in his house of Lover’s Pond. Notably, it features fairies. He tells you it was done by Zelda, who used to visit the spot, but only at night. Sure enough, if you go to Lover’s Pond during the day, you’ll see no fairies. However, as soon as the clock strikes 5 PM, they’ll appear. It’s important to note that they won’t show up if you already have fairies in your inventory. No need to waste time waiting, like I did.
A Fearsome Drawing
At certain Stables across Hyrule, Link will hear rumors of a ferocious, horned beast and Princess Zelda’s relation to it. Specifically at Dueling Peaks Stable, two children talk about it while one draws a pawprint they found in the dirt. The so-called beasts in question are Dondons, the only herd of which Link can find near the Lakeside Stable in the Faron region. Afterwards, you can return to these children, and they’ll change up their drawing based on Link’s description and give him a Swift Carrot for the news. Not much of a reward, but a cute interaction some may not have gone back for.
The Changing of the Seasons
While Josh of the channel already made a Short about this, it’s a great detail players probably don’t think about while traveling around Hyrule. A lot of time has obviously passed in between games, but “Tears of the Kingdom” also appears to be in a different season. This explains a lot of the new resources you can collect like tomatoes and elemental fruits, as well as the absence of others like durians. The sun is also at a different point in the sky, while cold locations need less protective gear than they did in “Breath of the Wild.” That makes sense as cherry blossom trees are in full bloom, which happens during Springtime in the real world.
Floral Relation
This one’s small, but nonetheless interesting. Another new resource in the game is the Sundelion, a flower primarily found on sky islands that can heal the Gloom effect when cooked into meals. When looked at next to a Silent Princess, the two seem to be palette-swapped versions of each other. But Nintendo seemingly didn’t do this on a whim or because it was easier to design. The Silent Princess is closely linked to Zelda, while the Sundelion is linked to Queen Sonia. Since the two are related, albeit very very distantly, it makes sense that their flowers would be so similar and yet so different.
Flightless Birds
Since one of the places they can be found is the Great Sky Island, the Forest Ostrich is one of the first animals you’ll come into contact with in “Tears of the Kingdom.” Like many others, it will flee when startled and can be hunted for some meat. However, some players found their design quite similar to the Loftwings in “Skyward Sword.” They have a similar build and beak, and so many have theorized that these are the same species, just devolved over time to no longer fly. The fact that they can only be found on the sky islands only adds fuel to the fire.
Secret Beta World
One of the newest discoveries we’ve come across is the existence of a Secret Beta World. While modding, YouTuber Waikuteru found themselves in a test area labeled ‘DistanceView,’ which they believe was used to test far away objects. It’s a mostly empty void with chunks of rock floating around. You can still use Zonai devices and Sage abilities while inside. And while there is no collision with most of the assets, there are invisible walls that will cut your travel short. It’s unclear if there’s another method for reaching this area, but we recommend checking out Waikuteru’s video for yourself.
Powerful Portable Pot
Players have found several alternative uses for the Portable Pot, such as using it to recharge Link’s energy cell. But these things are also surprisingly powerful. When attached to an arrow, they can destroy an enemy’s armor, saving you time, weapon durability, or from using a bomb. They also work on natural rock armor, like those of Rock Likes, or just destroy a wall of boulders in your way. The unfortunate exception to this are Lynels; firing a portable pot arrow at an armored version will only chip away.
The Zonaite Family Bow
The Zonaite Bow is a pretty neat weapon. As Link readies an arrow, it draws from his energy cell, with the arrow flying farther depending on how long he holds it for. Its design also holds an Easter Egg, one you might miss if not looking closely. Across the bow are miniature versions of the ancient Sage masks; the gecko, camel, bird, and elephant. It makes total sense that Zonaite weaponry would pay homage to the Sages given their importance in defeating the Demon King. And this is a nice detail that makes an already cool weapon even cooler.
Draconic Homage
Of course, the Zonaite bow isn’t the only item to reference other characters. Three devices you can unlock are the Flame, Frost, and Shock Emitters, which can be fused to weapons and shields and added to whatever creation you like. They each look like the head of a dragon and they purposely have different horns. That’s because all three of them are specifically modeled after the three elemental dragons you can find: Dinraal, Naydra, and Farosh. The Ember, Frostbite, and Charged Armor sets are also of Zonai origin and modeled after the dragons, leading many to believe the popular theory that the dragons were once Zonai.
Under Pressure
AutoBuild is an incredibly handy ability, keeping a log and letting you save a variety of different vehicles and creations. However, it also saves pieces that are not Zonai devices. One of the most useful things to save are the explosive rocks Marbled Gohma uses in its boss fight. If Link fuses one to a weapon, takes it to Tarrey Town to get the rock removed, and then attaches something to it with Ultra Hand, he will now have an endless supply of gigantic, highly volatile explosives…as long as you have the Zonaite to build it. They’re also extremely heavy; you can attach something flat to the bottom, like a piece of wood, turning it into a pressure plate that can kill most regular enemies instantly. Even if it doesn't, the explosion should do the trick.
Quick Way Up
There are many ways to get around the absence of Revali’s Gale in “Tears of the Kingdom.” One way is with updrafts. Setting fire to a spicy pepper, or throwing a pinecone or some oil into a campfire, will create a draft that Link can use to paraglide upwards. However, updrafts come in levels. The most powerful one players have managed to create is by using four piles of wood. Setting fire to them automatically creates the updraft. And when you enhance it with a pinecone or oil, it creates one seriously mighty breeze.
Dangerous Delicacy
Whenever Link vanquishes a Phantom Ganon, it will drop special weapons and Dark Clumps. Also purchased at Bargainer Statues, these disturbing resources pulsate much like monster guts, but are wrapped in special paper. These are likely meant to be Ofuda, cards seen in Shinto and Buddhist religions of Japan used to ward off evil and misfortune. Since Dark Clumps come from vile spirits but bring out a gloom resistance effect in recipes, having Ofuda attached seems like a necessity. However, why they already come pre-attached is a mystery. This isn’t the first time “Zelda” has included Ofuda; they also held the mini-boss, Death Sword, in place in “Twilight Princess.”
Marvelous Mini-Game Music
Nintendo loves to include musical Easter Eggs in “Zelda,” almost as much as fans love discovering them. There are a ton of mini-games to find across Hyrule, some of which play different tracks. Whether you helped Juney collect her plushies, played Ultra Ball Haul for Modar, or trained with Ornest and Tabult, the specific track for these games may have sounded familiar to you. The main hook uses notes from certain mini-game themes in “Twilight Princess” as well as some found in “Ocarina of Time.” I will never tire of seeing Nintendo pay homage to past classics through music.
Taking Your Shot
If you’re not the type of player to chat with every single NPC, you might miss out on some special interactions. During Riju’s chapter, Link will have to defend Gerudo Town from swarms of Gibdos, part of which means choosing where to place sword and spear-wielding troops as well as Barta, who uses a cannon. When the town returns to normal, Link can find Barta in the training area where she’ll tell him they should fire off a round in celebration. Interacting with the cannon will do just that, leading to a pretty silly interaction between Barta and some understandably pissed off Gerudo.
Prelude to Mineru
It’s eventually revealed that Mineru, King Rauru’s sister and the fifth Sage, separated her spirit from her body. She resided in the Purah Pad for thousands of years until it was time to team up with Link, then moving into the body of a construct. Nintendo included some pretty clever foreshadowing of a secret Sage linked to the device that most of us probably didn’t pick up on. When Link is given the Purah Pad during the opening, it’s kept with a piece of fabric. Although incredibly faded, it’s the same fabric that makes up Mineru’s scarf, which can clearly be seen in flashbacks that feature her.
Yiga Armor Reactions
In one of our past videos, we talked about how certain members of the Yiga and Sheikah react to Link’s Yiga Armor Set. But there are a whole lot more we didn’t cover. Many players were delighted to find that the Yiga don’t attack Link when he’s dressed like them, even when they’re disguised as Evermeans. However, Impa can tell you this fact early on. The Gerudo will toss Link straight into jail for wearing the offensive gear while inside the town. But if you wear the set at the Kara Kara Bazaar, shopkeepers will refuse to sell to you while soldiers will threaten to murder you. If you want to hear something nice about the armor, head to Cece who's actually delighted by the authenticity. Don’t think it will get you out of the Master Kohga fights, though, unlike his underlings, he knows who hides behind the mask.
The Trolliest Chest
Hyrule Castle holds a lot of treasure, but there’s one chest that’s seemingly only there to mess with you. The chest in question is directly underneath the floating fortress, sitting in a very small room surrounded by rocks that annoyingly stick out of the bottom. Not only is it a pain to reach, but all you get for your frustration is a Royal Broadsword, a pretty common weapon. Ascending from this spot does put you in Zelda's room, where you can find some much better weapons and the Royal Guard’s cap. But it’s more than possible, and far easier, to reach this room through other methods. And the worst part? If you set your sensor to look for treasure chests, it will pick this one up while you’re exploring the castle and likely drive you mad.
Is there a secret you feel you’re the only one to have discovered? Share your knowledge in the comments and don’t forget to check out these other great videos!
