Divine Beast Vah Ruta guide for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (BotW). Learn how to get to the chest locations, the shortcut, and how to defeat the Waterblight Ganon boss.
Table of Contents
Vah Ruta Inside Guide
Divine Beast Vah Ruta Walkthrough Chart
Walkthrough Chart To Reach Vah Ruta
| 1 | Go to Zora's Domain. |
|---|---|
| 2 | Talk to King Dorephan to obtain Zora Armor. |
| 3 | After the cut scene, talk to Sidon in front of the statue of Mipha. |
| 4 | Talk to Muzu next to Sidon while wearing Zora Armor. |
| 5 | Head to Ploymus Mountain and collect 20 Shock Arrows. *It is not necessary to defeat Lynel |
| 6 | Head to East Reservoir Lake and talk to Sidon while wearing the Zora Armor. |
| 7 | Destroy the four devices of the Divine Beast Vah Ruta. |
| 8 | Complete the dungeon in Divine Beast Vah Ruta. |
| 9 | Defeat Waterblight Ganon. |
| 10 | Talk to King Dorephan to complete the quest and obtain the "Lightscale Trident" from the treasure chest. |
Walkthrough Before Entering Vah Ruta
Route To Ploymus Mountain
Please refer to the image above for the route to Ploymus Mountain to collect Shock Arrows. You will be able to climb the waterfall with Zora Armor. Climb a total of three waterfalls to reach the top of the mountain.
Shock Arrow Can Be Picked Up After The Third Waterfall
The objective, Shock Arrow, is stuck in the tree after climbing the third waterfall. There are places where you can pick up arrows until you find Lynel, so check frequently as you move up.
Lynel Will Find You Easily At the First Time, You Have To Go Down Once
Climbing to the top of Ploymus Mountain will trigger a cutscene which Lynel appears. After that, you will start at the location shown as the image above, but if you make any noise, Lynel will quickly find you. It'd be safer to go down once if you got caught.
Be Aware of The Shock Arrows From Above
Even if you have gone down the hill and distanced yourself from Lynel, you can't let your guard down for a while. Lynel will not chase you, but will attack you by shooting Shock Arrow from above. If you stand stock-still, you will die in an instant, so move around and wait for the attacks to stop.
Hide Behind A Rock When You See A Question Mark
Always keep Lynel in sight and collect Shock Arrows from the surrounding trees.When Link enters Lynel's field of view, a ? mark will appear above Lynel's head. You will be found If the gauge gets full. Hide behind rocks as soon as the ? mark appears.
How To Destroy The 4 Devices In Vah Ruta
| 1 | Use Cryonis to destroy all flying ice. |
|---|---|
| 2 | When Sidon approaches the waterfall, climb the waterfall and fly up into the air. |
| 3 | Shoot the Shock Arrow at the pink device on top of Vah Ruta. |
| 4 | When Link falls into the water, Sidon will pick you up and take you back. |
| 5 | Carry out step 1 to step 4 at 4 devices to complete the quest. |
Learn How The Two Types of Ice Work
There are two types of ice shapes summoned by Vah Ruta: the cube-shaped ice chases you from the air, while the spiky ice crawls on the surface of the water. Match the way they move to operate Cryonis and destroy these ice.
Quickly Turn Around To Face Vah Ruta After Destroying These Ice
Each time you destroy one piece of ice, immediately turn to face Vah Ruta because the next piece of ice will fly out soon. Otherwise, you may lose sight of the next piece of ice.
Vah Ruta Walkthrough Video
Map Inside Vah Ruta and Location of Terminals
| ▼Terminal 1 | Near the Entrance |
|---|---|
| ▼Terminal 2 | Middle Level of the Torso |
| ▼Terminal 3 | Upper Level of the Torso |
| ▼Terminal 4 | Tip of the Trunk |
| ▼Terminal 5 | Head |
Open The Door Near The Entrance With Cryonis To Get The Map
First, you need to get the map. The map is behind the door just to the left of the entrance. Destroy the Malice in the water and create a block with the Cryonis under the door to pry open it.
Steps To Activate Vah Ruta Terminal 1
| 1 | Use the Magnesis to turn the gear handle on the other side of the room where the map was. |
|---|---|
| 2 | Activate the terminal that comes out from the water. |
Turn The Gears With Magnesis
Exit the room with the map and move the gear on the left. Grab the handle of the gear with the Magnesis"}] and turning it clockwise, the terminal nearby will come out from the water.
Steps To Activate Vah Ruta Terminal 2
| 1 | Stop the water flow that is turning the gears with Cryonis. |
|---|---|
| 2 | When the terminal gets down after Step 1, activate the terminal. |
Stop The Water Flow With Cryonis
Go upstairs from the other side of the Vah Ruta entrance. There are two gears in the center of the room, the smaller one is turned by the water flow. You can stop the gears by stopping that water flow with Cryonis.
▲Stop the gear when the terminal is close to the ground.
Steps To Activate Vah Ruta Terminal 3
| 1 | Go out of the terminal 2 room and head to the upper level. |
|---|---|
| 2 | When you reach the large gear right in front of it, to the fourth from the top. |
| 3 | Use Stasis to stop the sphere when it is in the center of the gear. |
| 4 | The door to the terminal will remain open, so immediately enter the room and activate it. |
Go Up To The Big Gear Right In Front of You
From the terminal 2 room, go in the opposite direction from the entrance to reach the upper level. Once you get to the upper level, you will see a large gear in front of you.
Tilt The Vah Ruta's Trunk To The Fourth From The Top
Open the map and tilt Vah Ruta's trunk to the fourth from the top. With the water released from the tip of Vah Ruta's trunk, this big gear starts to rotate.
At this moment, make sure that the gear is rotating counterclockwise from Link's angle. Clockwise rotation cannot solve the gimmick of the terminal.
Use Stasis To Stop The Sphere When It Is In The Center
The sphere in the gear opens the door to the terminal when it falls into the center of the gear. Watch the timing, use Stasis to stop the sphere from moving and get into the door.
▼Here is the way to get the treasure chest in this gear.
Steps To Activate Vah Ruta Terminal 4
| 1 | Move from the location of the switch where you can do the shortcut to the base of Vah Ruta's trunk. |
|---|---|
| 2 | Tilt Vah Ruta's trunk to the bottom. |
| 3 | Fly from the base of Vah Ruta's trunk to the tip of the trunk using the Paraglider. |
| 4 | Tilt Vah Ruta's trunk to the fourth from the top. |
| 5 | Link goes toward the terminal while Vah Ruta's trunk moves. |
Move To The Base of Vah Ruta's Trunk
First, move to the base of Vah Ruta's trunk. Through the top of the two large and small gears from the place where the shortcut switch is, proceed toward Vah Ruta's head.
Tilt Vah Ruta's Trunk To The Bottom and Move To The Tip With The Paraglider
Tilt Vah Ruta's trunk to the bottom. Then, fly with the Paraglider from the base of the trunk to the tip where the water sprays out.
After Tilting Vah Ruta's Trunk To The Fourth From The Top, Move To The Terminal Without Falling
When you reach the tip of Vah Ruta's trunk, tilt the trunk to the fourth from the top in that position. There is a terminal in the opposite direction where the trunk rises, move to there.
Steps To Activate Vah Ruta Terminal 5
| 1 | Move from the tip of the trunk to the back. |
|---|---|
| 2 | Go inside through the hole in Vah Ruta's back. |
| 3 | After destroying the Malice, open the ceiling by turning the handle with Magnesis. |
| 4 | Tilt Vah Ruta's trunk to the fifth from the top. |
| 5 | As the pillar of flame is extinguished, activate the terminal inside. |
Move From Vah Ruta's Trunk To Its Back
After activating the Terminal 4, head directly to Vah Ruta's back with the Paraglider. And, get the Ice Arrow x10 from the treasure chest.
Go Inside Through The Hole In Vah Ruta's Back
Go inside through the hole in Vah Ruta's back. Once inside, you will reach the place where you couldn't reach due to the pillars of flame.
Turn The Handle With The Magnesis To Open The Ceiling
Once in the hole, defeat the Malice on the ceiling. Grab the handle that appears with Magnesis and turn it clockwise to open the ceiling.
Tilt Vah Ruta's Trunk To The Fifth From The Top To Extinguish The Pillar Of Flame
When the ceiling is open, tilt Vah Ruta's trunk to the fifth from the top. The water from Vah Ruta's trunk will extinguish the flames and allows the terminal to be activated.
How To Create A Shortcut
Step The Switch Via The Two Large and Small Gears
You can climb the gears at Terminals 2 and 3, and move to the head side of Vah Ruta. Tilt Vah Ruta's trunk to the fourth from the top and climb the small gear so that the large gear and the small one will rotate in the opposite direction.
You Can Climb The Waterfall From Below By Stepping The Switch
Defeat the Guardian at the end of the climb. Step on the switch nearby and a waterfall to the lower levl will appear. If you are wearing Zora Armor, you will be able to take a shortcut from the lower level by climbing the waterfall.
Vah Ruta Treasure Chest Locations and Contents
| 1 | Ancient Spring |
|---|---|
| 2 | 100 Rupees (Silver Rupees) |
| 3 | Ancient Core |
| 4 | Fire Arrow x10 |
| 5 | Knight's Halberd |
| 6 | Ancient Shaft |
| 7 | Ice Arrow x10 |
1：Next To Where You Got The Map
There is a treasure chest in the water near where you got the map. Use Magnesis to pull it out of the water.
2：High Stage In The Middle of The Torso
Go up via the outside of the entrance and place an icicle with Cryonis by the water where the Terminal 2 is. Climbing up the icicles, you can reach the treasure chest on the high stage.
3: Inside The Big Gear
There is also a treasure chest in the gear where the Terminal 3 is. This treasure chest is between the blocks, stop the rocks outside from moving with Stasis before the chest comes on the top, so that you can get it.
4：Outside The Big Gear
There is also a treasure chest in the teeth of the gear where the Terminal 3 is. After confirming the location, defeat the Malice around to get it.
5：One Step Below Where The Pillar of Flame Is
There is a treasure chest one step down from the place where the pillar of flame appears. Because it is at a position that can be reached by jumping from the waterfall when the shortcut to the waterfall is created. It is best to take the chest at the same time the shortcut to the waterfall is opened.
6：Vah Ruta's Trunk
On Vah Ruta's trunk, there is a treasure chest surrounded by Malice. Tilt the trunk down to the bottom to get the treasure chest, then tilt it up back to its original position.
7：Vah Ruta's Back
It is good to stop by Vah Ruta's back while activating the Terminal 5. If you tilt Vah Ruta's trunk up while Link is at the tip of the trunk, you can reach the back area with Paraglider. Malice is on the other side of the treasure chest, so knock him down with an arrow to open it.
BOSS: Waterblight Ganon Guide
The boss is Waterblight Ganon. Take advantage of the fact that the entire area is water and make good use of Cryonis to attack and defend.
See How To Defeat Waterblight GanonMain Quests Related Articles
Main Quest Guides ListMain Quests
| Follow the Sheikah Slate | The Isolated Plateau |
| Seek Out Impa | Locked Mementos |
| Free the Divine Beasts | Destroy Ganon |
Divine Beast Related Main Quests
| Other Divine Beast Related Main Quests | |
|---|---|
| Reach Zora's Domain | Forbidden City Entry |
| Yiga Clan Hideout | - |
