Link’s path takes a mysterious turn as the search for the Fifth Sage unveils secrets buried deep beneath Hyrule. This guide breaks down every clue, challenge, and hidden step needed to reveal the ancient power waiting to be awakened.
There are a few different things you’ll need to do and obtain before you can properly tackle the “Find the Fifth Sage” quest. This guide will walk you through how to start “Find the Fifth Sage” and how to complete “Secret of the Ring Ruins,” clear the storm near the Thunderhead Isles, and complete “Guidance from Ages Past.”
How to start the ‘Find the Fifth Sage’ quest
After completing the “Secret of the Ring Ruins” quest in Kakariko Village, speak with Tauro near the Ring Ruins to begin “Find the Fifth Sage.” He will direct you to investigate Zonai ruins in the Gerudo Highlands. Equip cold-resistant gear or food before heading there, as the temperatures are harsh. Use the quest marker on your map to trace Tauro’s clues and uncover the location that advances the main story.
You can only start the “Find the Fifth Sage” quest after you have completed all four “Regional Phenomena” locations and found Zelda in “Crisis in Hyrule Castle.” Once you’ve completed those tasks, Tulin, Yunobo, Sidon, and Riju will talk about how they’re missing a Sage from the gang. Talk to Purah, and she’ll give you the quest to find the fifth sage, Mineru.
Note that this quest line involves a lot of exploration, so you will need a good chunk of materials. We recommend having the following:
- Lots of brightbloom seeds to light up the Depths
- Non-metal weapons that you can use in a thunderstorm
- Shock-resistance, whether it’s the Rubber Armor or food/elixirs
You will also mandatorily need at least 10 hearts and the camera function on yourPurah Padto do the quest. If you don’t already have the camera, go and complete “Camera Work in the Depths” before trying to progress with “Find the Fifth Sage” any further.
Completing the ‘Secret of the Ring Ruins’ quest
After gathering all the clues from the Ring Ruins in Kakariko Village, speak with Tauro to proceed. He will lead you to the next excavation site, where you’ll need to examine the stone slab and use the Zonai devices nearby to reach the hidden chamber. Inside, activate the green swirl to reveal more about the ancient ruins, completing the ‘Secret of the Ring Ruins’ quest and setting the stage for the next part of the ‘Find the Fifth Sage’ storyline.
The first stage of “Find the Fifth Sage” is the “Secret of the Ring Ruins” quest. When you talk to Purah, she will mention “the ruins from the age of legends” as a hint for where to go next, referring to the Ring Ruins outside Kakariko Village. (You may have run into them already while doing the “A Trip Through History” quest.)
Our “Secret of the Ring Ruins” walkthrough will guide you through how to complete the quest and move on to the next phase of “Find the Fifth Sage.”
Note: This subquest is optional, but we strongly recommend completing it, as it will clear away the dark clouds and storm over the sky islands in the south. The storm over Thunderhead Isles will remain, but completing this quest will clear up Dragonhead Island and reveal the islands on your map, making it easier to complete “Find the Fifth Sage.”
How to get to Thunderhead Isles and Dragonhead Island
To reach Thunderhead Isles, complete Secret of the Ring Ruins first to clear the storm over Faron Grasslands Sky, then launch from Popla Foothills Skyview Tower and glide southeast with Tulin’s Vow for wind assistance. Land on the water pool island, then head southeast to use Ascend on a higher island, where a plinth shifts after lightning strikes a dragon statue, launching Link toward the next area. Dragonhead Island lies at the southeast end; drop through the gap at Thunderhead Isles’ conclusion or glide from nearby platforms while avoiding metal gear amid constant thunderstorms.
If you skipped over “Secret of the Ring Ruins” for some reason…
You can get to the stormy Thunderhead Isles by using Recall on debris that falls from the sky. We ran around the region below for a bit until we found a suitable rock and glided over.
Unfortunately, visibility on this island is terrible, so we can’t really tell you where to turn right or left, but we can tell you to head to the approximate coordinates (1386, -3370, 0467). There’s a hole right around here that will allow you to enter this sky island, dropping you on Joku-u Shrine.
If you completed “Secret of the Ring Ruins”…
You should be up on Thunderhead Isles via the Popla Foothills Skyview Tower. From there, you only need to climb up the isles enough so you can glide to Dragonhead Island, which is under the Thunderhead Isles. In the center of Dragonhead, you’ll see a building to enter, allowing you to drop down on Joku-u Shrine.
In front of the shrine, there are some vines, so burn them away with fire and head deeper into the island.
There’ll be a goddess statue on your left to turn in extra Blessings of Light if you have any. The door in front requires 10 hearts to open, so if you don’t have that, consider making a trade to the demon statue or farming out more shrines and coming back.
After you open the door, an ominous mask will be in front of you. Interact with it to begin the next part of the quest.
Completing ‘Guidance from Ages Past’
After completing the earlier sage quests, speak with Purah at Lookout Landing to receive the next lead. She will direct you to investigate ancient ruins tied to Zonai civilization. Follow the guidance she provides to track down the mysterious voice calling out to Link, leading you through multiple temple sites. Completing this stage reveals more about the sages’ power and moves you closer to uncovering the identity of the Fifth Sage.
The second you interact with the mask, you’ll begin the “Guidance from Ages Past” quest. This is the longest part of “Find the Fifth Sage,” and will take you to the Depths where you will fight a Seized Construct and receive Mineru’s construct.
Our “Guidance from Ages Past” walkthrough will guide you through how to complete the intricate quest.
Completing the ‘Find the Fifth Sage’ quest
After uncovering the truth behind the mysterious ruins in Kakariko Village, players follow the lead to the underground chamber beneath the Spirit Temple in the Gerudo Desert. There, Link must defeat powerful constructs and solve puzzles that test the skills gained from previous sages. Once the final challenge is cleared, the Fifth Sage reveals their true identity and pledges their power to aid in the fight against Ganondorf, marking a major step toward restoring balance across Hyrule.
How do I start the Secret of the Ring Ruins quest
To start the “Secret of the Ring Ruins” quest in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, complete prerequisite main quests like the four Regional Phenomena (Wind, Fire, Water, and Lightning Temples) and “Crisis at Hyrule Castle,” then report to Purah at Lookout Landing to unlock “Find the Fifth Sage.” Head to Kakariko Village (fast travel to Makasura Shrine or glide from Sahasra Slope Skyview Tower at 1344, -1170, 0166), then go north past the village center to the Ring Ruins area near coordinates 1816, -0951, 0113.
Speak to Key NPCs
Approach Chief Paya and Tauro standing by the scaffolding under the floating Ring Ruins. Talk to them to trigger a conversation about the ruins, officially starting the quest. They direct you to investigate the hovering structure above.
Initial Investigation
Climb the nearby ladders or scaffolding to a spot directly under the ruins (around 1813, -0909, 0159), stand on the red cloth-covered platform, and use the Ascend ability to enter the ruins from below. Inside, photograph the stone slab engraving with your camera rune, then exit and show the photo to Tauro to advance the quest toward Dracozu Lake.
Where is the Ring Ruins location coordinates
Ring Ruins are located north of Kakariko Village in West Necluda, near the main quest hub for “Secret of the Ring Ruins.” The key floating ring structure where you start the quest sits at coordinates 1814, -0951, 0113.
Access Point
Stand directly under the hovering ruins on the red cloth platform at 1817, -0908, 0159 and use the Ascend ability to enter from below. This spot overlooks scaffolding where Paya and Tauro stand.
Nearby Landmarks
Fast travel to Makasura Shrine (1170, -1051, 0166) or glide from Sahasra Slope Skyview Tower (1344, -1170, 0166) for easy access. Other ring fragments scatter around the village at sites like 1634, -1194, 0216 (southwest) and 1939, -1080, 0166 (southeast).
