How to Banish the Gloom in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Gloom is a pervasive and dangerous hazard in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. It not only reduces your current health but also inflicts a debilitating “cracked heart” effect, making affected heart containers temporarily unhealable through normal means. This insidious corruption, found both on the ground and on enemies, demands specific countermeasures. So, how do you get rid of gloom in Tears of the Kingdom? The answer isn’t singular; rather, it involves a multi-pronged approach. Here’s a comprehensive guide:
Understanding Gloom’s Effects
Gloom damage is distinct from regular damage. When exposed to gloom, either from the environment or enemy attacks, your heart containers don’t just deplete; they become cracked. This “cracked” state means you cannot restore those lost hearts using regular healing items or cooking. Simply put, normal methods won’t work on gloom-damaged hearts. You’ll need specialized methods to remedy this affliction.
Methods for Removing Gloom
Lightroots: Your First Line of Defense
The most straightforward method to remove gloom is by activating Lightroots. These glowing, root-like structures are scattered throughout the Depths beneath Hyrule. When you activate a Lightroot for the first time, Link is enveloped in light, completely cleansing him of any accumulated gloom damage. Returning to an already activated Lightroot will also grant you a quick cleanse. Making a beeline to the nearest Lightroot after descending into the Depths is an effective strategy for combating Gloom early on.
Fast Travel: A Quick Escape from Gloom
Another handy and readily available method to rid yourself of gloom is to fast travel. Simply open your world map and teleport to any location on the surface or in the sky. This action automatically removes the gloom effect, allowing you to return to the fray with your full health bar. Fast traveling serves as a convenient way to reset and recover, especially when exploration leads to a particularly nasty area of gloom.
Sunny Meals: A Culinary Approach to Gloom Removal
Cooking is another essential method for dealing with gloom. Sunny Meals, recipes that utilize Sundelions and Sun Pumpkins, are key for recovering cracked hearts. These ingredients have unique properties that counteract the effects of gloom damage. Here are some notable Sunny Recipes:
- Sunny Steamed Fish: This straightforward recipe combines any fish with one to four Sun Pumpkins, providing excellent gloom recovery.
- Sunny Fried Wild Greens & Sunny Salt-Grilled Greens: Using a single Sundelion and some rock salt, you can quickly whip up these meals to recover three Gloom Hearts.
- Other Sunny Recipes: Many other recipes, including Sunny Vegetable Curry, Sunny Veggie Rice Balls, Sunny Cheesy Omelet, Sunny Wheat Bread, Sunny Veggie Porridge, and Sunny Fried Egg and Rice will also contribute to Gloom recovery. The more Sundelions and Sun Pumpkins you use, the more Gloom you will heal.
Gloom Resistant Armor: A Shield Against the Darkness
For a more robust defense against gloom, you should seek out the Depths Set of armor. This armor set provides Gloom Resistance, reducing the damage you take from gloom both in the environment and from enemy attacks. While it is a time-consuming process, requiring Poes (lost souls) and visits to Bargainer Statues, obtaining the Depths Set is a worthwhile investment for frequent excursions into the Depths. A full set also grants you Gloom Attack Resist.
Gloom and Ganondorf: Special Considerations
While gloom resistance and Sunny meals are effective against most gloom effects, it’s essential to note that they do not work against Ganondorf’s attacks during the final battle. Gloom resistance and meals will protect you from standing in the gloom on the arena floor, but not from direct damage from Ganondorf’s attacks, which inflict the Gloom status.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does Gloom permanently remove hearts?
No, gloom does not permanently remove hearts. However, it “cracks” your heart containers, making them impossible to heal with regular means until you use one of the methods mentioned above, such as activating a Lightroot, fast traveling, or eating a Sunny Meal.
2. Where can I find Sundelions?
Sundelions are often found in the Sky Islands. A good location to start is the South Eldin Sky Archipelago, easily accessible from the Eldin Canyon Skyview Tower. You can find several Sundelions on the main platform and have convenient fast-travel access through the Kadaunar Shrine.
3. Where can I find Sun Pumpkins?
Sun Pumpkins are found on the surface in areas with warm weather. You can sometimes find these growing near the Hateno Tech Lab or in the Akkala region.
4. What does Gloom Resistance do?
Gloom resistance, gained through the Depths Set of armor, reduces the damage taken from standing in Gloom and from enemy attacks that inflict Gloom status. It does not fully negate Gloom damage, so you’ll still need other methods to manage Gloom.
5. Where do I find Bargainer Statues?
Bargainer Statues are located in the Depths, and are usually marked by torches on the surface. They are large, stone statues and you can exchange Poes to obtain valuable armor and resources.
6. What are Poes?
Poes are lost souls that act as a currency in the Depths. You collect Poes by exploring and defeating Gloom enemies, then trade them with Bargainer Statues for goods.
7. How many shrines are in Tears of the Kingdom?
There are a total of 152 Shrines in Tears of the Kingdom. 120 of these are on the surface of Hyrule, and 32 are in the Sky Islands.
8. How powerful is the Master Sword?
The Master Sword deals 30 base damage, which does not increase when glowing near Gloom. However, this damage can be significantly boosted by fusing monster parts with high fuse power to the Master Sword.
9. Does the Master Sword break in Tears of the Kingdom?
No, the Master Sword does not break due to its unique nature. However, there are restrictions on its usage, and it will need to recharge if it gets depleted.
10. Will Tears of the Kingdom be the last Zelda game?
No, despite the ending of Tears of the Kingdom, the Zelda franchise is expected to continue with new titles on future consoles.
11. Is Tears of the Kingdom longer than Breath of the Wild?
Yes, Tears of the Kingdom is much larger than Breath of the Wild, with two additional layers to the world: the Sky Islands and The Depths. The Depths are roughly the same size as the surface map, making it far bigger than its predecessor.
12. How do you make Sunny Vegetable Curry?
To make Sunny Vegetable Curry, combine Hylian Rice, Goron Spice, and a Sun Pumpkin. The Sun Pumpkin is essential for gaining the Sunny status effect that recovers gloom.
13. What are Gloom Hands?
Gloom Hands are formidable new enemies in Tears of the Kingdom. They appear in packs of five, each with their own health bar, and deal both regular and gloom damage. You need to destroy all five hands to defeat them.
14. What is a Dark Clump?
Dark Clumps are essential resources for upgrading the Depths Set armor to level 2. You will need five Dark Clumps for each armor piece.
15. Where can I buy Fresh Milk?
You can purchase Fresh Milk at Hateno Village for 12 Rupees, or trade 3 Acorns for 1 Fresh Milk with the NPC Dantz at Hateno Pasture. Another vendor is the Traveling Merchant along the road to Kakariko Village.
By understanding the various methods available to combat Gloom, you can navigate the treacherous landscapes of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom effectively. Combining the use of Lightroots, fast travel, Sunny Meals, and Gloom-resistant armor will ensure your success in conquering the darkness and restoring Hyrule to its former glory.