Venture into the mysterious Eternal Forest, the enigmatic heart of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, where dense fog and hidden puzzles guard ancient secrets. As you navigate this late-game labyrinth north of Hyrule Castle, prepare to summon powerful orb echoes on six elusive pedestals to unlock the path forward-if you dare face the forest’s formidable foes and unravel its cryptic riddles before the final confrontation with Null.
There are a few things to know if you’re in the Eternal Forest and wondering, “What’s going on in here?” For one, is the area for the almost-last part of the game. You’ll need to clear out the Hebra Mountains, the Eldin Volcano, and the Faron Wetlands before coming here in order to see any story-based content. If you’re looking at this guide and you’re thinking, “Well, I’m not even at those places yet,” then you’re definitely here too early. (Our Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom walkthrough can advise.)
Here’s what you need to know about the Eternal Forest area in Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, followed by an Eternal Forest walkthrough with the solution to the orb puzzle.
The Eternal Forest in Echoes of Wisdom, explained
The Eternal Forest in Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is a pivotal late-game area located just north of Hyrule Castle. Players typically reach it after completing the Eldin, Lanayru, and Faron temples, as it is central to the final main quest, The Prime Energy and Null. Upon entering the foggy forest, players must solve a triangular orb puzzle by placing the Ancient Orb Echo on six pedestals scattered throughout the dense foliage, which initially obscures the map. This puzzle unlocks a hidden path leading to the Ancient Ruins, where the story progresses toward the final confrontation. The forest also houses challenging enemies like the Sword Moblin and Lynel, whose Echoes require significant energy, making early visits difficult. Navigating the Eternal Forest and completing its puzzle is essential for advancing the storyline and unlocking the final areas and boss fights in the game.
There are a few nice echoes you can grab early, but navigating the forest will be a bit harder as the map will be obscured with green trees. For one, there’s a strong enemy in the western part of the forest, allowing you to get a Sword Moblin Lv. 3 Echo, which is pretty powerful. It does come at a whopping five-energy cost though, so you may not even be able to use it if you’re here early enough.
If you follow the horseshoe prints on the ground, you’ll also find a lynel, a tough fight early on. The Lynel Echo costs six energy to use, so if you’re not able to use it, you may want to shelf this fight for later on anyway.
The forest does become easier to navigate as the map for it will actually become useable, rather than being a blob of unidentifiable green, but you’ll need to progress in the story to make that happen.
Now if you’re on this guide page for a walkthrough of the story puzzle portion of Echoes of Wisdom, don’t fret. We walk through the Eternal Forest and the orb puzzle below.
Eternal Forest walkthrough and orb puzzle solution
In the Eternal Forest of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, players must solve the orb puzzle as part of the final main quest, “The Prime Energy and Null.” After reaching the forest northwest of Hyrule Castle Town and encountering the Hyrule soldiers, you obtain the Ancient Orb Echo from a pedestal. The puzzle requires placing this orb on six pedestals scattered throughout the foggy forest, following a triangular path that the large slate in front of you hints at. Some pedestals are near notable landmarks, such as a Blue Sword Moblin or hidden behind a Deku Baba that must be removed using the Bind ability. Once all six orbs are placed, a hidden pathway opens, allowing you to proceed to the Ancient Ruins and continue the quest toward the final confrontation.
After making quick work of the three goddess temples, you’ll want to head to the Eternal Forest, just north of Hyrule Castle. From the warp waypoint on the path, you’ll want to head towards the yellow quest marker and then northwest of that. Your map will be a smog of green trees, so this is really the only advice we can give you.
Once you reach General Wright and the guards, they’ll talk a bit. Once the cutscene ends, interact with the glowing tablet in front of you and a huge tablet will shoot out of the ground, along with a stone orb on the rift. Learn the Ancient-Orb Echo and summon one on top of the pillar directly in front of you. The tablet will glow in response.
There are five more pillars inside the forest that you’ll need to summon orbs on to. Lucky for you, the tablet gives you all the information you’ll need: the circles do correlate to the location of the pillars in the forest.
From the first pillar you put the orb on top of, head southwest until you see this deku baba. Take it out to reveal the middle-left pillar. Summon an Ancient-Orb Echo on to it.
Now head right, going around the trees when need be until you see this lowered area with a caromadillo rolling around. The middle-right pillar will be on the right here.
From this pillar, head southeast, following the edge of the trees until you see the bottom-right pillar surrounded by the trees.
Head directly left from this pillar and you’ll see the bottom-middle pillar just in plain sight.
Then head left again, doing down another lowered area with a sword moblin and rope enemy in it. Jump up on the ledge north of the lowered area to get that last pillar.
Once all six pillars have orbs on them, interact with the huge slab to clear the trees. Follow the path forward for several cutscenes to play.
What secrets does the Eternal Forest hold for brave explorers in Zelda Echoes of Wisdom
The Eternal Forest in Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom holds deep secrets for brave explorers willing to face its dense fog and hidden dangers. This late-game area, cloaked in mist and mystery, challenges players to place Ancient Orb Echoes on six scattered pedestals arranged in a triangular pattern, unlocking a secret path deeper into the forest. Along the way, players encounter formidable enemies like Lynels and Sword Moblins, and uncover echoes that enhance their abilities-though these come with high energy costs, making early exploration risky. The forest culminates in a dramatic encounter with the ancient Deku Tree, who reveals Null’s sinister plot involving a dark Zelda Echo and the sacred Prime Energy, setting the stage for the final dungeon and showdown. The Eternal Forest thus serves as a pivotal gateway to the game’s climax, blending intricate puzzles, powerful foes, and crucial story revelations.
What hidden story secrets are revealed in the Eternal Forest for explorers
The Eternal Forest in Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom reveals profound hidden story secrets to explorers who delve into its mist-shrouded depths. At the heart of the forest lies an ancient, gnarled tree etched with cryptic symbols pulsating with eerie energy, embodying the curse and mystery that grip the woods. As players progress, they uncover the tragic tale of lost souls bound to the forest, where nightmares manifest and reality warps, hinting at ancient rituals and dark curses that have entwined the forest’s fate. The whispers and spectral voices emanating from the tree convey a haunting melody that speaks of redemption and despair, suggesting that the forest is a liminal space between life and afterlife, where spirits seek release or eternal entrapment. These revelations deepen the lore of the game, portraying the Eternal Forest not just as a physical challenge but as a haunted realm steeped in sorrowful history and supernatural forces, setting the stage for the final confrontations to come.
