Quick Links
The Ultrahand ability is an incredible tool for both manipulating objects and building your very own contraptions. The possibilities are endless, but if you want to explore them you'll first have to start with the basics.
Ultrahand is arguably the most complex ability in The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom, and while it's fairly intuitive, the finer points can take some getting used to. Once you have a good understanding of how attaching, detaching, and rotating items work, you'll be able to build bigger and better than ever before. Here's everything you need to know about the Ultrahand ability.
How To Get The Ultrahand Ability
Ultrahand is the first special ability you'll receive in the game. You can find it at Ukouh Shrine on the Great Sky Island, but you'll first have to visit the locked Temple of Time and be pointed in the right direction.
Once you enter the shrine, there will be a short cutscene, and you'll receive the Ultrahand ability.
How To Use The Ultrahand Ability
To access Ultrahand, just hit the left bumper, select the red hand symbol, and you'll be able to manipulate and attach objects at will. Anything that can be moved will be highlighted in yellow, and if you're within range and aiming at it, it'll turn green. Once the item you want to move has turned green, hit the A button, and it'll start moving however you direct it.
While you're holding an object, you can hit the A button again to attach it to a nearby object. If you look closely, you might notice a bright dot surrounded by transparent slime when you're about to attach two objects. That shows you where and how the two objects will attach. Keep a close eye on this whenever you need to make fine adjustments to your creations.
If you accidentally attach two items together or miss the spot you were aiming for, just grab the item you want to detach and wiggle the right stick. After doing this for a bit, the item will come unstuck, and you'll be free to try again.
If you need to rotate an object, hold down the right bumper and use the D-pad to change its rotation. In this mode, the object will move at 45-degree angles, so if you need it to turn more or less than that, you'll have to change the direction Link is facing.
Making Contraptions That Work
Using Ultrahand to stick a few boards together is satisfying enough, but the real fun starts when you add Zonai Devices into the mix. There are tons of these little components with each one filling a unique role, like a fan that can propel your boat or a portable flamethrower that can turn your cart into a terrifying weapon. However, these devices can also throw a wrench into your plans if you're not careful.
The biggest thing you need to keep in mind, especially when working with Zonai Devices, is physics. Think about which devices will be moving the vehicle along and carefully consider how you orient them. Placing devices symmetrically will help you create more controlled vehicles, and keep the total weight of the craft in mind, especially if you're creating a glider or boat.
On top of that, it's best to think simple in most cases. You don't need to create a climbing robot if you can just launch yourself to the top with one board and a rocket. If you want to build that over-engineered robot, that's totally fine, but if you just need something that works, stick with simple ideas.
Finally, it's always a good idea to keep as many Zonai Capsules on hand as possible. If one device doesn't work or more likely flies off a cliff, having a stockpile in your inventory lets you try again, experiment with different options, and get a better feel for how you should construct the vehicle you're working on.