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If you’ve played the classic Zelda game - Ocarina of Time, then you probably remember how dreadful it was to do the Water Temple. Well it couldn’t be more the opposite in Tears of the Kingdom.
The Water Temple in TOTK is actually, incredibly fun. From the low gravity platforming and bubble riding to the inventive puzzles and wacky boss, the whole temple is a blast. We’ll walk you through what you need to know to complete the temple and defeat the source of the sludge plaguing the Zora.
How To Reach The Water Temple
Before you can take on the Water Temple, you’ll need to do some investigative work with the Zora. Ever since the islands appeared in the sky, sludge has been raining down on the Zora Kingdom. Prince Sidon and his father have been investigating the sludge and trying to protect their people, but little progress has been made.
After getting a lead on the source of the sludge, you’ll make your way up to Floating Scales Island and solve the Droplet Puzzle to create a path into the Ancient Zora Waterworks. You explore the area and activate a device that creates a waterfall that leads to the Wellspring Island chain. Here you’ll solve a variety of water bubble puzzles as you ascend the island in low gravity, ultimately arriving at the Water Temple.
Water Temple Overview
Once you arrive at the Water Temple, you’ll quickly discover the source of the sludge. A geyser of sludge is bubbling at the center of the temple, five large faucets resting just above it.
After activating the terminal, the center faucet will pour over the sludge, clearly having an effect. In order to fully remove it, you’ll need to turn on the remaining four faucets. Each of their controls is spread out at different points in the temple. Next, we’ll show you where to find and activate them, and how to collect all the treasure along the way.
Faucet One
Head to the western side of the ship and look down into the pool below. You’ll see a chest at the bottom of the pool. Hop down and make your way onto the lily pad. From there, grab the chest with your Ultra Hand and set it on the edge. You’ll find a sapphire inside. Now Ascend back up and head to the small island on the west side of the temple.
Up top, you’ll have to fight three combat constructs. After taking them out, you’ll notice a large orb that you’ll need for the puzzle. There is also a chest on top of a platform floating on the south side of this area. Start by washing off the sludge on the bubble emitter. Then ride the bubble up to the next area and use the waterfall to launch yourself into the air. Glide over to the platform the chest is on to get the Zora Shield inside.
Now place the orb in the bubble to bring it to the next level. Follow the orb in the next bubble, and you’ll see it drop into the pool below. There is a basin it will need to fall into. To drain the water, pull up the gate. After it drops, use Recall to rewind it and keep it up and run over to the room at the bottom of the pool. This will unfortunately trigger a cutscene, making you have to repeat this process.
The second time around, follow the same steps, and after you use Recall, immediately activate Sidon’s water shield ability. Then run over to the room and cast the water at the wheel to activate the first faucet.
Faucet Two
Now head to the other side of the temple where you’ll find two of the faucet controls. To reach this area, you’ll need to unblock the waterfall by washing off the sludge. You can do this in a number of ways like combining Splash Fruit with an arrow or using a Zonai device to head up there and then using Sidon’s ability to wash away the sludge.
Once up top, kill the flame worm to get a chest with a sword in it. Then Ascend through the platform it was resting on. After killing the enemies, you’ll need to hit the glowing switch inside the spinning tower to open the door to the faucet switch.
First, stand on the block emitting the bubbles and throw a Splash Fruit at the top of the tower. This will cause the sludge blocking the switch to wash away. Now get some distance from the tower, jump into the air, and quickly aim your bow to slow down time. Quickly fire an arrow into the switch to open the door.
After activating the faucet, make sure you double back to grab the chest on the south side of this area. You can reach it by jumping off the arch near it, or by using the floating platforms to build a path to it. You’ll find a Large Zonai Charge inside.
Faucet Three
From the second faucet control location, head north and climb up the floating rocks. Then cast Recall on the falling bubble to ride it up to the platform above. Head over to the wheel. In the pool below it, you’ll find two planks.
Attach them to the wheel on opposite sides and move it into the waterfall to create a water wheel. This will create electricity that follows a path to the faucet control room. Now grab the bubble near the room and move it between the two circuits to power the door blocking the third faucet control.
Faucet Four
After activating the third faucet, head to the west side of the temple and look down over the ledge to find a staircase. Drop down, and you’ll immediately find a door blocked by powerful flames. Use Sidon’s ability to walk through them into the final puzzle room.
Inside, you’ll find some floating platforms and a basin on the wall that fits a small-sized orb. Grab one of the floating platforms and place it on the switch by the flame door to deactivate the flames and let Sidon into the room. Now move to the other side of the room and arrange the platforms to create a path to the floating chest. From the second platform, grab the chest’s platform and drag it down to the other side of the spiky floor. Then float down and open the chest.
Now attach the orb to the floating platform. Activate the platform and move it as far over the gap as possible. Run and jump to it, and then make your way back to the beginning of the room. With the orb still attached to the platform, place the orb in the basin. The platform will make sure it doesn’t fall out, allowing you to enter the room and activate the last faucet before the door closes. After doing so, return to the top floor of the temple and prepare to face the boss.
Mucktorok Boss Battle
After clearing the sludge, the boss will emerge and start the battle. They’ll use a variety of sludge attacks to try to take you down. You’re going to be using Sidon’s ability to counter the sludge and create an opening for you to attack them with your weapons.
The boss will mostly move around in their sludge shark mode. Occasionally, they’ll move to attack you with a slamming move or a sludge beam. Use the low gravity to dodge them. When you are in a good position, activate Sidon’s ability and attack toward the shark to remove the sludge and expose the boss. While it is stunned, unleash your regular attacks on it.
After you deplete half of its health, it will enter the second phase. In addition to their original moves, they’ll also fire pools of sludge everywhere, making it difficult for you to move and providing them with enhanced mobility. Use Sidon’s ability to clean up a path in the direction you fire it. Then time your attacks well to remove the sludge from the boss and unleash more attacks on it while it’s stunned.
Once you’ve finished them off, grab the full heart before approaching Sidon. After, you’ll enter a cutscene that ultimately leads to Sidon activating as a Sage. Following this, you’ll be able to use Sidon’s water ability anywhere you go. With the source of the sludge defeated, the waters around the Zora Kingdom are cleansed. Mission accomplished!