Trail of the Master Sword

After the Spirit Temple, Mineru tells Link to seek out the Great Deku Tree for news of the Master Sword. The Lost Woods will not let you reach Korok Forest from the surface, so the way in runs through the Depths. The Deku Tree is sick with gloom, and you will need to clear it before he can help.

Walkthrough

Reach Korok Forest through the Depths

Start at Minshi Woods Chasm, north of Woodland Stable on the road past the Military Training Camp and Great Fairy Tera toward Minshi Woods (about 1038, 1662, 0158). Do not follow the path to its end; the chasm is to the right of it. Drop into the Depths, land in Minshi Grove and head northwest toward Korok Grove, following the lights and the Koroks heading home. Blue Poe lights and the map can help you keep your bearings. The Lost Woods fog is visible above you, so aim for the area beneath Korok Forest. Continue to Rikonasum Lightroot, around 0407, 2132, -0592. An Ascend point nearby leads to the surface, emerging in Korok Forest in front of the Great Deku Tree. Activate Musanokir Shrine while you are there so you can return quickly. The gloom has left the Koroks and the Deku Tree unresponsive. Go inside the tree’s trunk at its base and find the chasm at the back. Cook a few meals at the pot in the room if you need to prepare, then jump into the Deku Tree Chasm.

Defeat the Gloom Hands

The chasm is a tight arena with gloom across much of the floor. A group of Gloom Hands (guides count four or five) attacks when you land, and they regrow if you take too long, so clear them quickly. Wide-area attacks work best: Bomb Flower or Fire Fruit arrows, bombs, or elemental arrows. Keep your distance and use Bomb Flowers fused to arrows to damage several hands at once. Dazzlefruit can briefly interrupt them, and the Sages can draw their attention while you attack. If you have Mineru’s Vow, riding the Construct keeps you above the gloom on the floor. Once all the hands are defeated, Phantom Ganon appears. The hands drop Dark Clumps.

Defeat Phantom Ganon

The center of the arena has a patch of safe ground. Use it to avoid standing in gloom while you fight. Phantom Ganon’s weapon has long reach, so block with a shield or keep your distance and attack with a bow. A well-timed dodge can open a Flurry Rush. Sundelion meals restore hearts lost to gloom, so have a few ready if the fight runs long. Phantom Ganon drops the Gloom Sword. After the battle, fast travel back to Musanokir Shrine. The gloom is gone, the Koroks can move again, and the forest’s shops and Hestu become available.

Speak with the Great Deku Tree

Talk to Chio near the tree’s base. He points you toward the Great Deku Tree’s face. Climb the roots and stand on the small stump in front of it to speak with the tree. The Deku Tree senses the Master Sword and reveals where it is moving. This completes Trail of the Master Sword and starts Recovering the Hero’s Sword, which follows the Light Dragon to the blade.

If you already have the Master Sword

The Master Sword can be found before this quest through the Dragon’s Tears storyline. If you already pulled it before Trail of the Master Sword begins, Mineru acknowledges it and the quest can complete immediately. You can still reach Korok Forest through the Depths and cleanse the Deku Tree if you want to restore the forest and see the remaining story scenes.

If you get stuck

• The Lost Woods keeps sending you back: Enter Korok Forest from below through Minshi Woods Chasm. Walking or gliding into the fog from the surface will not work.
• You cannot speak with the Deku Tree: The tree is affected by gloom. Drop into the chasm inside its trunk and defeat the enemies below first.
• The Gloom Hands overwhelm you: Use Bomb Flowers from a distance, keep moving, and avoid the gloom-covered floor. Sundelion meals can restore gloom-damaged hearts.
• You cannot find the Ascend point: Look around Rikonasum Lightroot in Korok Grove, beneath the Great Hyrule Forest. The column leads up to the forest beside the Deku Tree.