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For those who played the previous game, getting to Korok Forest in Tears of the Kingdom is likely a big goal. It's where you found the Master Sword, where you can reliably find Hestu to expand your inventory in return for Korok Seeds, and also where you can talk to the iconic Great Deku Tree.
While it was tricky to reach in the previous game, it's even trickier in this one. Trying to enter the forest from any typical angle will end with you being booted back where you came from, whether you're climbing the sides, entering normally, or gliding to the middle. Instead, there's an alternative method.
How To Enter Korok Forest
Since you can't enter from the sides or from the sky, the only option left is to enter from the underground. That's right - you'll need to traverse the depths until you're right underneath Korok Forest, and then Ascend your way up.
The best way to get to Korok Forest is to enter the Minshi Woods Chasm. You will find this directly north of Woodland Stable.
Dive down this chasm, and you'll be very near the Korok Forest already - consult the overground map to see where you have to walk if you need to.
Your task here is to make your way to the center of Korok Grove and reach a large construct there. On the way, you'll encounter plenty of Poes and various enemies, including a Gloom Hand encounter that you should avoid if you aren't confident with them yet.
For more information about survival and navigation in the depths, click here.
Eventually, you'll see the light of the large building in the distance - there will be large roots nearby to climb to reach it. Once underneath, use Ascend, and you'll pop out in Korok Forest.
How To Get Rid Of The Gloom In Korok Forest
When you arrive on the surface, you'll notice that the place is covered in gloom. The nearby Koroks refuse to speak to you, and there's not much you can do.
It's a good idea to grab the fast travel point for the shrine here before you proceed. If you want a hand with completing the shrine, click here.
The source of the gloom can be found within the Great Deku Tree itself - there's a small chasm here that leads to a small arena in the depths. Before you dive down, though, be aware that there is a tough fight waiting for you at the bottom against Gloom Hands and a Phantom Ganon.
Preparing For The Fight In The Depths
Encounters with Gloom Hands and Phantom Ganon are tricky to prepare for since they are very different battles.
To fight the Gloom Hands:
- Fire is extremely good, as the hands cannot grab or move when on fire.
- While fire arrows work well, since they can also get critical hits by aiming at the hands' eyes, our pick for the best weapon is a Magic Wand fused with a Ruby. This will spit out three fireballs at once, making it very easy to engulf multiple hands at once, letting you stay far away from the gloom.
- Bomb Flowers are perfect weapons in this fight, whether thrown or fused to arrows. These will easily attack all enemy hands at once.
To fight Phantom Ganon:
- The strongest melee weapon you can fuse, and the best shield you have. Ganon is a far more melee-oriented fight, and fishing for Flurry Rushes by blocking and attempting to dodge at the right time is a great strategy.
As you'd expect, you'll also have far more success if you cook up lots of high-healing dishes infused with Sundelions, which will counter any gloom damage you take during the fight. There's a convenient cooking pot near the chasm, if you need to cook before heading in.
In addition, having multiple summons from the Regional Phenomena quests is also a very good idea. Not only will they distract Gloom Hands by getting caught, but they can actually damage Phantom Ganon quite well.
Riju especially is very good in this fight, as her lightning arrow ability is great for damaging entire packs of Gloom Hands.
When you're ready to take on the fight, dive into the chasm.
Fighting The Gloom Hands And Phantom Ganon
You'll have a few seconds before the Gloom Hands spawn to get a good look at your surroundings. The floor is covered in gloom, so watch where you're stepping.
The key to beating Gloom Hands is to deal as much damage as you can in a short period of time. It's for this reason that we recommend methods of attack that deal area damage while also keeping them in place with fire - when they get close to you, it's easy to get caught and panic.
If you get caught by a hand, mash buttons on the controller to get released quicker. If you're fast, you can avoid gloom damage entirely!
It's important to spread your damage equally amongst the hands - they will respawn after a short period of time. You have to have every hand eliminated at once to proceed to the next phase of the fight.
When Phantom Ganon spawns, block and don't stop blocking. The best way to deal with him is to keep your distance to bait out his dashing attack, and then dodge to the side, trying to get a Flurry Rush.
If you have any food or elixirs that boost your attack power, this is the best time to use them.
With enough patience and practice with Ganon's moveset, you should have him defeated in no time.
Once you've cleared the fight, a trio of Koroks will flutter down from the chasm to tell you that you've been successful. Either use Ascend to get back up to the surface or fast travel to the shrine from earlier.
Now, you'll be able to chat with the Great Deku Tree to learn about the whereabouts of the Master Sword if you haven't already acquired it, and you'll also find Hestu nearby if you need to trade your Korok Seeds for inventory slots.