Unveiling the Depths: What Happens When You Activate All Lightroots in Tears of the Kingdom?
Activating all 120 Lightroots in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a significant achievement, unlocking a series of rewards and changes within the game’s vast world. Primarily, upon illuminating the last Lightroot, you’ll receive the Dispelling Darkness Medal. This medal, while not having an immediate gameplay function, is a tangible symbol of your dedication to exploring the treacherous Depths. In addition to the medal, the entire Depths map is revealed on your Purah Pad, and more significantly, the oppressive darkness in the Depths is significantly reduced, providing much clearer visibility. This doesn’t mean the Depths become brightly lit; rather, the thick, inky blackness that initially obscures the environment dissipates, making exploration significantly easier and less disorienting. Essentially, you get light in the same manner as any single area you’ve lit, but over the entire Depths map, and the particle effect of the heavy darkness is gone.
The Significance of Lightroots
Light and Navigation
Lightroots are much more than just waypoints; they are the lifeline of the Depths. Each Lightroot, when activated, not only provides a fast travel point but also illuminates a small radius around it, revealing resources, enemies, and paths. The act of activating them is essential to navigating the vast and perilous underground world. Each Lightroot also directly corresponds to a surface-level shrine, allowing players to use the location of shrines to find lightroots, and vice versa. This unique connection allows for strategic planning and exploration, enabling players to move between the surface and the depths with ease.
Understanding the Depths
The Depths is a massive, subterranean region that mirrors the surface world of Hyrule. Its exploration is crucial to understanding the lore of Tears of the Kingdom and unveils secrets and challenges that are not found on the surface. The Depths introduces players to the mystery of statues, Zonai technology and new enemy types, expanding the game’s narrative beyond the initial surface setting. With the reduced darkness and fully revealed map after activating all Lightroots, players can explore this expansive area much more efficiently, discovering its hidden secrets and gathering resources.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Lightroots and the Depths
Here are some frequently asked questions about Lightroots and the Depths to further illuminate this crucial aspect of the game:
1. How many Lightroots are there in Tears of the Kingdom?
There are a total of 120 Lightroots scattered throughout the Depths.
2. Do Lightroots have any gameplay function beyond illumination and fast travel?
While their primary function is illumination and fast travel points, they do not unlock any specific abilities or equipment outside of the Dispelling Darkness Medal and map revelation after all 120 are activated.
3. Is there a reward for activating all Lightroots?
Yes, activating all 120 Lightroots rewards you with the Dispelling Darkness Medal, which slightly illuminates the Depths, and a complete map of the Depths on your Purah Pad.
4. Does lighting all Lightroots fully illuminate the Depths like the surface?
No, the Depths do not become as brightly lit as the surface. However, the dark, heavy particle effect that obscures your vision is removed, allowing for much easier exploration. The light appears the same as any lit area from a Lightroot, but over the entire map.
5. Is there a shrine directly above every Lightroot?
Yes, every Lightroot is located directly below a surface shrine, making finding them much easier when using the map.
6. What is the point of exploring the Depths in Tears of the Kingdom?
The Depths is not just a dark place for challenge; it contains a lot of lore regarding the game, expands on the series’ existing knowledge, and reveals ancient mysteries. It is also filled with rare materials and resources not found on the surface, as well as challenging bosses.
7. How do I locate Lightroots if I am lost in the Depths?
If you are lost in the Depths, simply check your map for any surface-level shrine locations. These indicate the location of a Lightroot directly underneath.
8. Does finding all Lightroots affect anything outside the Depths?
The rewards for finding all lightroots primarily impact exploration within the Depths. However, it can be argued that knowing how the depths connect to the overworld due to your work on the Depths Map is a benefit that helps you on the surface as well.
9. Is there a hidden Lightroot location in the Depths?
There are no hidden Lightroots. All 120 Lightroots correspond directly to the locations of the 120 shrines on the surface, simplifying their discovery.
10. How does the map get revealed once you light all Lightroots?
After activating all 120 Lightroots, the entire Depths map is automatically revealed on your Purah Pad. It doesn’t require any additional action or interaction.
11. Does the Dispelling Darkness Medal do anything?
Currently, the Dispelling Darkness Medal does not have a practical in-game function. It is primarily a symbolic reward of accomplishment for fully exploring the Depths. The article in your notes indicates that there is the possibility that a future game update could give the medal a gameplay effect.
12. Does activating all Lightroots make combat in the Depths easier?
While the visibility improvements certainly help with combat, the enemy strength does not change. You will still face the same challenges, but with a better view of your surroundings.
13. How does the Depths size compare to the main Hyrule map?
The Depths mirror the size of the Hyrule surface map, making it a vast and extensive area to explore.
14. Is it possible to reach all Lightroots without using guides?
Yes, it is possible, though it will be a significant challenge. By observing the locations of shrines on the surface map, you will be able to find all the Lightroots on your own without using a guide, though it will take some exploration time.
15. What is the relationship between the Depths and the main storyline?
The Depths is a significant part of the narrative in Tears of the Kingdom. Exploring it leads to a greater understanding of the game’s lore and provides access to the mysterious Zonai technology. The lore you uncover within the Depths reveals its link to the main storyline and the greater mysteries within the game.
By fully exploring and illuminating the Depths, players not only receive valuable rewards but also deepen their understanding of the game’s narrative and world. Activating all 120 Lightroots is more than just a side quest; it’s an integral part of the Tears of the Kingdom experience.