Navigating the main main quests in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom often requires solving cryptic riddles left behind by ancient civilizations. The Clues to the Sky quest is a pivotal main objective in the Zora storyline that tasks Link with interpreting a mysterious slate to locate a hidden gateway. Solving this puzzle is essential for progress, as it unveils the pathway leading directly to the Water Temple.
Understanding the Riddle and Finding King Dorephan
The quest begins after speaking with Sidon and Jiahto at Toto Lake, where you restore a damaged ancient slate containing a cryptic riddle. The text mentions a King, a Land of the Sky Fish, and a droplet that must be pierced with a King's Scale. To proceed, you must track down King Dorephan, who is hidden inside a secret cave behind a waterfall near Mount Mikau.
Upon finding King Dorephan, he will grant you several King's Scales, which are vital items required to solve the riddle. After securing these items, your next goal is to locate the floating island shape described in the slate's text. Returning to the surface around Mipha Court provides a clear view of the surrounding sky islands where your target rests.
Locating Floating Scales Island and the Droplet
Using your Zora Armor or nearby waterfalls, launch yourself into the sky toward Floating Scales Island located east of Mipha Court. When viewed from above or using your map, this floating landmass resembles the distinct shape of a fish. Navigate carefully across the island while avoiding or defeating low-level enemies that guard the area.
Stand near the center of the fish-shaped island and look outward toward the floating debris around you. By adjusting your viewpoint toward the south, a group of floating rocks aligns perfectly to form the outline of a large tear or droplet shape. Aligning your camera correctly reveals this hidden environmental puzzle element.
Solving the Riddle with the King Scale
To complete the puzzle, fuse a King's Scale to an arrow using your bow while aiming directly through the aligned stone droplet. Launching the arrow through the center of the droplet triggers a glowing light pillar down in the reservoir below. This dramatic reaction confirms the solution and opens the underwater mechanism needed to reach the next dungeon.
Once the pillar of light activates, return to Sidon at Mipha Court to report your progress and prepare for the upcoming boss encounter. Completing this riddle showcases how environmental observation and item usage combine seamlessly in Tears of the Kingdom's quest design. Following these steps ensures a quick resolution without wasting time searching the vast sky domain.
