Divine Beast Vah Ruta

Vah Ruta is the elephant-shaped Divine Beast above Zora’s Domain. You need to gather 20 Shock Arrows around the Lynel’s territory on Ploymus Mountain, then you ride Sidon to shoot the four glowing orbs on its body while smashing the ice blocks it throws. Inside, you activate five terminals, tilt the trunk to open routes, and finish with Waterblight Ganon at the control room.

Before the assault

Win over Muzu

After the king explains the Zora’s plight, wear the Zora Armor and go down to the square below the throne room. Muzu and Sidon argue there. Link recalls a memory of Mipha, and because the armor fits so well, Muzu gives in and tells you the Shock Arrows he knows of belong to a Lynel on Ploymus Mountain. Sidon will wait at the Divine Beast once you hold 20.

Optional: the Zora Helm

Swim up the large waterfall to the north to reach Toto Lake. Use Magnesis on the submerged ruins to find a chest and pull it up for the Zora Helm. The armor lets you swim up waterfalls and the helm adds more swim speed.

Collect 20 Shock Arrows

Leave through the east gate, swim up the waterfalls past Mikau Lake and Lulu Lake and onto Ploymus Mountain. Several Shock Arrows sit in trees on the way up, and more lie near the summit. Sneak between rocks, because the Lynel at the top fires volleys that can kill you quickly and even lobs them in an arc over cover. If you carry fewer than 20 when you reach the peak at Shatterback Point, the missing arrows can be found near the top. Then drop into the reservoir to meet Sidon.

Attacking Vah Ruta

Shoot the four orbs

Climb onto Sidon’s back. He swims around the Divine Beast and carries you close to the waterfalls. Jump off and fire a Shock Arrow at each of the four pink orbs. Vah Ruta first sends ice blocks flying at you. Shatter them in the air with a bow or a Cryonis rune, because Cryonis destroys ice blocks as well as making them.

After two orbs fall, spiked ice balls arc in from behind. Aim backward and break them the same way, then use the paraglider to reach the remaining orbs. When all four are down, the rain stops and the entrance to the dungeon is revealed.

Inside Divine Beast Vah Ruta

Map and the first terminal

Defeat the Guardian Scout at the entrance, shoot the eye in the water to clear the Blight on the gate, and use a Cryonis block under the gate to lift it. The Guidance Stone gives the map and lets you position the trunk. In the pool outside it, pull a chest up with Magnesis for an Ancient Spring. In the corner where the Scout was, use Magnesis on the crank to lift the first terminal out of the water.

The water-wheel terminal

Climb the balconies on the far side to the upper room with another Guardian Scout. A terminal is carried inside a turning wheel. Ride the paddle up and paraglide to a platform behind the fountain for a chest holding 100 Rupees. Then plug the fountain with a Cryonis block while the terminal is near the bottom so the wheel stops and the second terminal can be used.

Third terminal and Ancient Core

Outside on the next balcony, shoot the eye above the Blight maw to clear the path. Set the trunk to the top position on the map so water falls on the next wheel and lets you stop it when the chest is level. Stasis the top block and strike it for an Ancient Core. For the terminal, launch the ball into the opposite block, then freeze the block with Stasis just before it slides back so the gate stays open long enough to enter.

Fourth terminal

Climb to the top floor past a Guardian Scout with a spear and press the button for a waterfall that carries you back up. A chest with a Knight’s Halberd lies above the waterfall. In the dead-end hall, flatten the trunk on the map to find a chest guarded by Blight at its far end holding an Ancient Shaft. Raise and lower the trunk to ride it across to the head and the other side, where the fourth terminal waits.

Final terminal and chests

Fly back to the head, drop through the hole in the roof and clear the Blight maw and eye. A crank on the wall (Magnesis) opens the roof. Set the trunk four slots back from the top to douse the flames around the last terminal, then use it. A nearby chest guarded by Blight holds 10 Ice Arrows, reached by sniping the eye to the right and gliding to the left.

Boss: Waterblight Ganon

Phase one

Go to the main console in the room below. Waterblight Ganon attacks with a long spear: throws at range, and lunges, sweeps and ground stabs up close. Place Cryonis pillars to block his attacks. A pillar that takes a spear hit shatters his spear and he must teleport and rebuild it, which opens him up. Shoot his eye with arrows to stun him.

Phase two

At half health he raises four platforms and floods the rest of the room. He floats higher and throws ice blocks like the ones outside. Break them with Cryonis or freeze one with Stasis and hit it back at him. Build ice bridges between platforms and keep shooting his eye. If you run low on arrows, throw Remote Bombs from an ice platform after he spits a block.

Rewards

• Heart Container and Mipha‘s Grace, which revives you once when you would fall and gives extra hearts.
• Lightscale Trident: the king rewards you with a chest nearby in Zora’s Domain once you return from the Divine Beast.
• Dungeon chests: Ancient Spring, 100 Rupees, Ancient Core, Knight’s Halberd, Ancient Shaft, 10 Ice Arrows.