Each major region in The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom has an overarching main quest that encompasses all the smaller tasks that Zelda must complete to clear the region’s rift. After escaping from Hyrule Castle in the game’s opening section, the first of these quest chains –titled “The Mysterious Rifts” –will begin. This mission will introduce Zelda to the mechanics behind the calamity that has befallen Hyrule, and gives her a taste of what’s to come in later regions. This guide will walk players through “The Mysterious Rifts,” offering a complete guide to Echoes of Wisdom‘s earliest main quests.
The Mysterious Rifts Overview – Echoes of Wisdom
“The Mysterious Rifts” takes place in the Suthorn Region of Hyrule, covering three main areas:
- Suthorn Beach
- Suthorn Village
- Suthorn Forest
Each of these three areas features a wide range of combat and traversal challenges, and will provide Zelda with her first chance to expand her Echo repertoire. While the quest technically starts after the King, the Minister, and the General are all replaced with Impostors, it truly begins in earnest after completing the jail-escape stealth section and arriving at Suthorn Beach. Before the rift opens up in the throne room, Zelda is told about the rift stealing away citizens of Hyrule, as well as monsters appearing in specific areas. These two tasks will be the first main goals of “The Mysterious Rifts”.
The Mysterious Rifts Suthorn Beach Walkthrough – Echoes of Wisdom
Suthorn Beach Items & Echoes
Zelda will appear in a small cave connected to Suthorn Beach. There will not be any enemies in the cave, but Zelda will find her first Echo outside the castle: the Rock. This Echo is actually very helpful for early-game combat, so don’t forget you have it.
Exiting the cave, Zelda will be on Suthorn Beach proper. This is a relatively small area with little to do. However, more Echoes and the first Treasure Chest await nearby.
As you walk past the boxes and rocks, you’ll encounter the Zol for the first time. Throw rocks to defeat the enemy, then interact with its Shimmer to learn the Zol Echo. If you head down into the water, you’ll also find several Sea Urchins guarding some rupees. Collect the money, but don’t worry about the Sea Urchins just yet.
Before you head east, make sure to look up around the northern edge of the cliffs. You’ll find the first Treasure Chest, which contains a Red Rupee, which has a value of 20.
You can now head east past the three Sea Urchins blocking the path. Use a rock to destroy the enemies, then collect the Sea Urchin Echo.
The first step to take in the next section is swimming around the water and collecting the rupees on the sea floor. While you do this, you’ll likely spot the first of Echoes of Wisdom‘s 40 Heart Pieces on a ledge in the southwestern corner.
Use Old-Beds to cross from the first rocky island and collect the Heart Piece. Then return to the same rocky island and use Old-Beds to go north, reaching the final platform with multiple Sea Urchins, and the entrance to Beach Cave.
Beach Cave Walkthrough:
When you enter the Beach Cave, the first thing you’ll encounter is the Keese enemy. Summon Rocks to throw at this flying enemy, and make sure to collect the Keese Echo.
Next, you’ll encounter the Beach Cave Heart Piece. To nab this piece, approach the rock wall on the right side of the upper platform, and press up to climb it. From the upper platform, summon Boulder Echoes to destroy the boxes blocking your path to the lower chamber where the Heart Piece sits. You may have to hold ZR to clear your first Boulders in order to break the final boxes. Once it’s clear, grab the Heart Piece.
You’ll only have to defeat two Zols before making your way out of the cave.
The Mysterious Rifts Suthorn Village Walkthrough – Echoes of Wisdom
After exiting the cave, head directly east to reach Suthorn Village. At this point, there won’t be much you can do in the village, but there will be a couple of things worth grabbing.
First, head into the Shop to find the third Heart Piece on sale for 80 rupees. If you do not have enough rupees now, remember it is here and try to collect enough to purchase it as you make your way through the next area.
Just outside the shop, you’ll see a young boy standing in front of a well. Approach the trampoline behind him and collect the Trampoline Echo. This will come in handy throughout the early-game section, as it allows you to reach slightly higher areas.
If you jump down the well, you will find the Pot Echo, and 5 jars of Floral Nectar in a Treasure Chest. This will be an important ingredient to be used in Echoes of Wisdom‘s Smoothie mechanic.
The final Echo you can collect in the village is in the house of the old man in the southwestern corner of the village. Enter his home, and you’ll find meat cooking in his fireplace. Approach it to learn the Meat Echo.
It is now safe to leave the village. Head out along the eastern route. Before moving on completely, head north before the sign, and you’ll encounter the man who lost his wife in the rift during the cutscene you watched while speaking to the King. Other than speaking to him, there is nothing you can do from here.
Continue east, and you’ll encounter a sign that can be interacted with to learn the Sign Echo. Continue down the path, and you’ll quickly find the first Fast-Travel waypoint. Tri will automatically call your attention to it, so you do not have to worry about missing it. From this point, you will make your way into the Suthorn Forest.
The Mysterious Rifts Suthorn Forest Walkthrough – Echoes of Wisdom
The final section of The Mysterious Rifts Zelda will explore before reaching the Suthorn Ruins dungeon, is the Suthorn Forest. Zelda should not rush through this area, as there are several useful items that will benefit Zelda when she takes on the dungeon. Most of these items and Echoes will be found in the three caves found in the Suthorn Forest.
Suthorn Forest Cave One – Location & Contents:
- Cave One features the Ignizol Echo and the first Fairy Bottle
Immediately after entering the forest, look for a small pool of water on the northern edge of the path. Cross this water, heading north to find the first Treasure Chest in the area. Inside the chest you’ll find five Electro Apples, another important ingredient for Smoothie-making. Return to the main path and head east past the Zols to find the entrance to Cave One along the northern wall.
Near the end of the cave’s first chamber, you’ll encounter the Ignizol. This flaming Zol will set fire to just about anything it touches. Use rocks to defeat it from a distance. Learn the Ignizol Echo and continue into the second chamber.
The second chamber is filled with grass and weeds, along with multiple Zol. You can throw an Ignizol into the grass, but then you’ll have to watch out for the fire. It’s easier to simply throw rocks at the Zol. At the end of the chamber, you’ll see a gated exit with a brazier on each side. Use the Ignizol to light the unlit brazier, then enter the final chamber.
Inside the final chamber, you’ll find a Treasure Chest containing Echoes of Wisdom‘s first Fairy Bottle. Very shortly, this item will come in handy, and you’ll be glad you took the time to collect it.
Suthorn Forest Cave Two – Location & Contents:
- Cave Two contains the Caromadillo Echo and Heart Piece four.
Upon exiting the first cave and heading east, you’ll find that the main path turns north, where it opens up into a large field. Here, you’ll encounter the fast-moving Rope enemy, which are essentially snakes in the grass. Take them out to learn the Rope Echo. Head north through the field to find the entrance to Cave Two in the wall on the northern side of the path.
While entering the cave, you’ll spot the fourth Heart Piece on a high ledge to the right. You’ll have to circle around the cave to collect it before exiting. Head down to the lowest level of the cave, and you’ll encounter the Caromadillo, a fast-moving enemy that rolls into its enemies. If you stay on the slightly higher ground, you can throw rocks at it while remaining out of harms way. Collect the Echo when finished.
On the next higher platform, you find a long path blocked by boxes. Summon the Caromadillo to roll straight through them. On the other side of the boxes, you’ll find a rock wall you can climb. Watch out for a second Caromadillo that falls from the upper right corner. Head left along the rock wall, and you’ll jump to the platform where the Heart Piece sits. Collect it and leave the cave.
Once you collect the fourth Heart Piece, you will gain a new
Heart Container,
which is a new heart added to your overall health. If you did not buy the Heart Piece from the Suthorn Village store, make sure to use the waypoint to return to the village before entering the rift. Having the extra heart will come in handy for many players.
Suthorn Forest Cave Three – Location & Content:
Exit the second cave and head west. First you’ll encounter a lone Spear Moblin. You can use the Caromadillo Echo to attack it from behind. This will be the first walking enemy whose Echo you can collect.
Continue west, and you’ll find a small pool of water on the north side. Flying around the pond will be a Fairy, whom you can now collect in your Fairy Bottle. This will automatically stop you from dying once upon reaching the end of your health. At the western end of the path, you’ll encounter a small hut partially swallowed by a rift. Tri and Zelda will have a brief conversation about Tri’s ability to mend rifts, moving on to the final section of forest when done.
You’ll now be heading east again. Head up the hill and follow the path until you reach the first Monster Camp. There will be three Spear Moblin here, and you’ll notice they are easily distracted by the meat lying on the ground. This should be a hint to you to summon the Meat Echo when you feel overwhelmed. It works extremely well against these enemies. Once they are defeated, the Monster Chest will unlock, providing Zelda with 10 Refreshing Grapes.
Head east after the camp and you’ll see another Fast-Travel waypoint. Unlock the waypoint, then head south, and you’ll see a cave entrance flanked by two flaming braziers. Jump from the ledge to the top of the trees to reach the cave entrance. You’ll notice you can collect the Brazier Echo from the torches outside the cave.
- Cave Three contains the Peahat Echo.
There is only one enemy inside the cave, but it is formidable – especially at this early stages of the game. The Peahat is found in the clearing at the end of the cave, and will unfurl its spikes and spin violently. It can be extremely aggressive, so make sure to always have an Echo summoned to take the brunt of the attacks.
Rocks can be extremely effective when thrown at the Peahat, because they will hit even when it is spinning. This will also cause it to briefly retract its spikes, allowing the Echo time for an attack. It is worth defeating the enemy now, and collecting the Peahat Echo. Later, when you return to Suthorn Village after the dungeon, you’ll encounter the “Finding the Flying Plant” side quest. You will already have the required Echo.
After exiting the cave, you can use the Trampoline Echo to reach the upper level and the main path. Return to the waypoint and head north. You’ll immediately encounter the entrance to the Stilled Suthorn Forest rift.
Completing The Mysterious Rifts in Echoes of Wisdom
While this is not technically the end of “The Mysterious Rifts,” at this point, Zelda will enter an entirely new area that deserves its own in-depth guide. First, Zelda will enter the Stilled Suthorn Forest, which is a section of the forest that is frozen in the void of the rift. This will act as a prologue to the area’s dungeon. Check out our complete guide to the Stilled Suthorn Forest in Echoes of Wisdom.
After the Stilled Suthorn Forest, Zelda will enter the Suthorn Ruins. This is Echoes of Wisdom‘s first full dungeon, and a brilliant return to the classic Zelda-style dungeon we all love. Check out the complete guide to the Suthorn Ruins in Echoes of Wisdom.
Completing these final tasks will bring “The Mysterious Rifts” to its conclusion, setting the stage for the grand adventure that follows.
