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In The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, you will find yourself traversing the massive world that is the Kingdom of Hyrule. Not only that, but you will find yourself in the sky visiting the Zonai's Sky Islands and in the underground, visiting what is known as The Depths.
Within the mysterious new zone known as The Depths, you will find that it is nearly impossible to see where you're going. The whole area is saturated in darkness that is hard to penetrate. This guide will help you figure out how to dissipate this darkness, so you can roam around the area freely.
Updated by Erin Rice on June 13, 2023: The more The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is out, the more information players uncover. This update adds information regarding the Miner's Set and how to catch Deep Fireflies. It also added relevant links, tips on farming Brightbloom Seeds and Zonai Lights, and a picture of The Depths' map.
Bright Meals
You can collect items such as Glowing Cave Fish or Brightcap Mushrooms. These items can be mixed into dishes. Both items can be found around Hyrule's many caves. When mixed into food, they can create food that has the ability to make Link glow in the dark. This is one of the easiest ways to ensure you can see while you are in The Depths. While it doesn't show a large range of space, it does let you see what is around you.
Bright Elixirs
Like with the food, you can cook certain items into elixirs to create the same glowing effect. In order to make an elixir, you need to combine a resource with a Monster Part. For instance, Deep Fireflies can be caught in The Depths and mixed with different Monster Parts to create this elixir. Like with the meals, it doesn't light up a ton, but you can see what is around you. The more Deep Fireflies you put in, the longer the effect will last.
If you want to catch some Deep Fireflies, you want to be sneaky. You can wear an armor set like the Stealth Set, which offers a Stealth Increase. You can also use Stealth Meals or Elixirs. Then, you will want to crouch down to approach them.
Miner's Armor
The Miner's Armor is a set of armor that can be found within The Depths. This armor set will glow in the darkness as though it were a flashlight. It is a way to get the same effect as the bright meals and elixirs without cooking those items. You can find the Miner's Mask at the Abandoned Kara Kara Mine, the Miner's Top at Daphnes Canyon Mine, and the Miner's Trousers at the Hylian Canyon Mine. Each piece adds more to the effect. Once you enhance the armor set to level 2, you will gain the ability to Shining Steps. This will light up where you have walked, giving you even more light in The Depths.
Brightbloom Seeds
Brightbloom Seeds are the most common way to light up The Depths and are the first way that is shown to you in the game. These seeds can be found in the many different caves throughout the game. When attached to an arrow, you can shoot them in front of you, causing a small circular area of The Depths to light up.
One of the best locations to find these items is the Mining Cave found on the Great Sky Island.
Giant Brightbloom Seeds
Another way to light up the area is with Giant Brightbloom Seeds. While these are not nearly as common as regular Brightbloom Seeds, they light up a significantly larger area. They can be extremely useful while traversing the area. Considering you won't need to use nearly as many of these as regular ones, they are worth collecting.
One of the best locations to find these items is the Mining Cave found on the Great Sky Island.
Zonai Flashlights
Zonai Flashlights are one of the interesting Zonai Devices you can find and use throughout the game. You can pull one of these out if you need something to light up the darkness quickly. They aren't the best considering they need the energy to run and will only light up a small area directly in front of where they are shining. However, if you're in a real pinch, these can help a lot. If you want to find all the Zonai Device Dispensers that have Zonai Lights, check out this guide.
Lightroots
The final and most obvious way of lighting up The Depths is with the Lightroots that scatter the area. When you interact with one, it will allow the surrounding area to light up permanently. In addition, they will fill out the area on your map. They also work as the fast-travel system within The Depths, so definitely check them out when you see them.
There are 120 Lightroots, each corresponding with a Shrine on the surface. You'll want to mark where they are, so you can find them easier.
Using all these tricks, you'll be able to traverse The Depths like a pro in no time!