“The Jabul Waters Rift” quest begins immediately upon Zelda’s arrival in the Jabul Waters region. The primary objective is to mend the significant rift that has manifested in this aquatic area. The initial tasks involve locating Lord Jabu-Jabu’s Den and working towards uniting the leaders of the two Zora factions, the River Zora and the Sea Zora. The Jabul Waters questline appears to be deeply intertwined with the Zora people and their internal conflicts, suggesting a narrative that is more focused on character interactions compared to the initial rift investigations in other regions. The prominent presence of Lord Jabu-Jabu early in the quest hints at a significant encounter with this guardian spirit.
How to Complete The Jabul Waters Main Quest
Zelda’s first step is to make her way to Lord Jabu-Jabu’s Den, located north along the cliffs, west of a waypoint accessible by following the waterfalls east from Seesyde Village. Inside, she learns that the cooperation of both Zora chiefs is needed to proceed. To find the River Zora Chief, Dradd, Zelda must head west from Lord Jabu-Jabu’s den and follow the river trail up to River Zora Village, where Dradd’s home is located behind the item shop. The Sea Zora Chief, Kushara, resides in the underwater Sea Zora Village, found southeast of Jabul Waters, accessible through a cave beneath a giant fish tail statue.
Progress is halted until Zelda completes two sub-quests: “Chaos at River Zora Village” and “Rampage in Zora Cove”. After completing both Zora-related quests, Zelda must return to Lord Jabu-Jabu’s Den, where she needs to clear debris and repair a broken altar within the cavern. Once the altar is restored, the two Zora chiefs will play music together, opening the entrance to the next area where Zelda must confront and defeat Lord Jabu-Jabu.
Defeating Jabu-Jabu grants access to the Stilled Jabul Waters Rift, which leads to the Jabul Ruins. The final objective of this questline is to navigate and complete the Jabul Ruins dungeon, ultimately mending the primary rift in the Jabul Waters region. The Jabul Waters questline is characterized by its layered structure, requiring the completion of significant side narratives before the main rift can be addressed, and featuring a boss encounter prior to entering the final dungeon.
Enemy Information
The aquatic environment of Jabul Waters is home to a unique set of enemies:
- Sand Crabs & Sea Urchins: Found along the path leading to Seesyde Village.
- Tanglers & Albatrawls: Inhabit Zora Cove.
- Zols, Ignizols, & Hydrozols: Found within the Western Zora Cove Cave.
- Chompfin: Located in the waters around a pirate ship.
- Biri: Electric jellyfish found in the eastern part of Zora Cove.
- Tektites & Bombfish: Reside in the Zora River and the Lower Zora River Cave.
- Needleflies: Near the entrance of the Upper Zora River Cave.
- Octorok: Encountered within the Stilled Upper Zora River rift.
- Shadow Tektite: Also found in the Stilled Upper Zora River rift.
Puzzle Solutions
Several puzzles need to be solved in the Jabul Waters region:
- Western Zora Cove Cave: The solution involves unlighting four braziers to open pathways and obtain a Heart Piece.
- Lower Zora River Cave: Bombfish must be used to clear obstacles and reach a Treasure Chest containing a Golden Egg.
- Upper Zora River Cave: This area contains three puzzle rooms requiring precise timing and the strategic movement of Wooden Boxes to hit buttons, ultimately rewarding the player with a Treasure Chest holding 100 Rupees.
- Lord Jabu-Jabu’s Den: The broken altar needs to be repaired by collecting and placing its fragments found within the cavern.
Boss Strategy
The encounter with Lord Jabu-Jabu involves a two-phase battle within a swirling arena of water. In the first phase, Jabu-Jabu spits out Tanglers and debris. Zelda should focus on evading his attacks and dispatching the summoned enemies. When Jabu-Jabu inhales, preparing to suck in everything around him, Zelda must summon a Bombfish and allow him to swallow it. The explosion inside his stomach will stun him, creating a window of vulnerability for Zelda to transform into her Swordfighter form and attack with her sword.
In the second phase, Jabu-Jabu summons more dangerous enemies like Octoroks and Biris and attacks more aggressively. The strategy remains the same: use Bombfish when he inhales and then attack in Swordfighter Form. Ignoring the reinforcements and focusing attacks on Jabu-Jabu is crucial for victory.