Massive, unyielding, and hidden across Hyrule – Stone Taluses are more than just walking boulders. Learn how to bring these giants down piece by piece and turn their shattered hearts into powerful tools in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
If you’ve taken any of these titans down, you may think that you can run in and do the same thing for all, but there are subtle differences that you will want to know about. The Stone Talus, for example, can kill you as you bring it to the ground.
Additionally, the Stone Talus has an annoying habit of trying to be a Basarios and burying itself in the ground, ready to pancake unexpected heroes of Hyrule.
Where to find the Stone Talus in Tears of the Kingdom
Stone Talus appear across Hyrule’s surface, depths, and sky islands in Tears of the Kingdom, with 87 total documented by coordinates like the first in Crenel Hills Cave or others at (-3491, 0171, -0091) and (-2306, -2453, 0363). Check spots such as North Akkala Foothills, Tal Tal Peak, Tangar Canyon near Hyrule Ridge, and Romani Plains for early encounters. Rare and luminous variants hide in places like Hebra peaks or Lanayru wetlands, often marked by large rocky formations that stir when approached.
The first Stone Talus you will stumble across is likely the one in the Crenel Hill Cave. This is directly north of the Battle Talus you’ll find on Orstedd Bridge, but it’s a fair bit more difficult.
Head into the cave and do a ring around the outside, breaking all of the mining points you can, but be careful you don’t go into the water. That way Talus lies.
How to defeat the Stone Talus in Tears of the Kingdom
To defeat a Stone Talus in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, shoot arrows at the ore deposit on its body to knock it down, then climb on top and strike that glowing weak point with a strong melee weapon until it recovers. Jump off when it shakes to avoid damage, dodge its arm swings and rock throws, and repeat the process-using Recall on thrown rocks sends them back to stun it longer. Fuse Bomb Flowers to arrows for faster stuns if needed, and grab the dropped Talus Heart afterward.
As with the other Talus, a bow and good few arrows is vital to your success. We tried this with bombs and all manner of thrown items, but that route is a quick way to Game Over. Check to ensure you have a solid supply of arrows before going in.
At the start, make a mad rush to jump on top of the Talus’s head as it wakes up.
This is a great way to “cheat” the first chunk of damage out of this boss. With a one-handed weapon equipped, you have time for exactly 12 hits before you need to run and glide off its back. If you hang about it will throw you from its back, taking a quarter of a heart. This may not seem like much, but it’s important if you have five or fewer hearts.
Sprint away, making sure you dodge whichever projectile it lobs at you, and then turn and shoot the blue glowing rock on its back. Get ready for another mad dash, but be careful because, when it hits the dirt (that’s when it’s ready for you to climb on top), the impact of its head hitting you if you jump the gun can eliminate more than four of your hearts if you’re wearing low-level armor.
Again, sprint, jump, and climb on its head. This Talus stands up faster than its Battle Talus cousin – if you’re familiar with that fight – so make sure you’re quick. Again, you have time for 12 hits.
Depending on your weapon, repeat this another once or twice before another one bites the dust.
How to use the Luminous Stone Talus heart
After defeating the Luminous Stone Talus, pick up a non-fused weapon and approach the large glowing heart it drops. Activate the Fuse ability to attach the heart to your weapon, which shrinks to fit and turns it into a Luminous Stone Talus Hammer with a +21 attack boost. This fused weapon delivers massive damage through heavy hammer strikes but cannot go into your inventory otherwise. Avoid fusing it to shields since that offers no stat gains.
Along with a whole bunch of precious stones (luminous stone, amber, ruby, and opal), the Stone Talus drops a Luminous Stone Talus heart. Like the Flux Construct I Core and the Stone Talus heart, you can’t pick this up – what you can do is attach it to a weapon to give it a massive damage spike.
Simply put, equip a weapon that hasn’t been fused yet (we used a Zonaite sword), use the Fuse ability and create a Luminous Stone Talus hammer. The attack power jumped from 6 to 21, granting a whopping 21 attack.
Best weapons and stats for Stone Talus fights
Blunt two-handed weapons like the Cobble Crusher, Stone Smasher, or Boulder Breaker excel against Stone Talus due to their double or quadruple damage multiplier on the ore deposit weak point. A weapon with 14+ base attack power ensures quick progress during climb-and-smash phases, while fusing a boulder or moblin horn boosts blunt force further.
Top Recommended Weapons
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Cobble Crusher or Stone Smasher: High base damage (up to 40+ fused), ideal for charged spin attacks on the Talus’ back; these mining tools shred rock deposits fastest.
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Boulder Breaker: Delivers up to 60 attack with massive AoE swings, though rarer-perfect for early clears if obtained from Goron City.
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Fused Options: Pair a strong sword (e.g., Zonaite Sword at 6 base) with a boulder, Hinox horn, or prior Talus Heart for 20+ effective power as a hammer equivalent.
Key Stats to Prioritize
High durability (to survive 12+ hits per stun) and blunt modifiers prevent breakage mid-fight; aim for 20-30+ attack post-fuse for 2-3 cycles to win. Stock 50+ arrows for bows (any type, though Bomb Arrows stun faster) and Hasty Elixirs for speed during climbs. Equip Miner’s Armor if available for minor rock resistance, but focus stamina food for repeated ascents.
Which melee weapons have highest base attack for Talus fights
The melee weapons with the highest base attack power for Stone Talus fights in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom are typically two-handed blunt options like the Boulder Breaker (up to 60 base attack), which excels due to its massive swings and rock-breaking multiplier. Other top contenders include the Stone Smasher or fully upgraded Cobble Crusher (around 40-50 base), leveraging double damage against ore deposits.
Highest Base Attack Rankings
| Weapon | Base Attack | Key Advantage for Talus |
|---|---|---|
| Boulder Breaker | 36-60 | Highest raw power; 2x multiplier |
| Stone Smasher | 30-42 | Blunt mining bonus; durable climbs |
| Iron Sledgehammer | 25-34 | 4x Talus multiplier (BotW mechanic carries over) |
| Savage Lynel Crusher | 40-50 | Spin attacks shred deposits fast |
| Cobble Crusher | 20-36 | Early-game accessibility; fuse-friendly |
Optimization Tips
Prioritize weapons above 30 base attack for 2-3 stun cycles to end fights quickly, as lower ones (under 14) prolong battles. Fuse with boulders or prior Talus Hearts for extra blunt force, pushing effective damage to 100+ per charged hit. These stats assume max modifiers; durability matters most during 12-hit climbs.
