The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom introduces players to the expansive subterranean world beneath Hyrule known as the Depths. Among the foundational quests in this realm is A Mystery in the Depths, which rewards adventurers with the powerful Autobuild ability. Completing this storyline is essential for streamlining vehicle creation and unlocking key research progression with Josha and Purah at Lookout Landing.
Unlocking the Quest at Lookout Landing
Before embarking into the abyss, players must complete a few prerequisites at Lookout Landing. After securing the Camera ability from Robbie during the Camera Work in the Depths quest, return to the research outpost. Speak with Josha, who notices a pattern in the statues found underground and tasks Link with investigating where they lead.
Josha suspects that following the direction of these ancient statues will reveal a major discovery in the central Depths. Preparing plenty of Brightbloom Seeds and stamina-restoring meals is highly recommended before diving down. Taking time to stock up ensures smooth navigation through the pitch-black caverns.
Navigating the Depths to the Central Mine
To reach the target destination, head to the Hyrule Field Chasm located south of Lookout Landing and dive straight into the darkness. Once at the bottom, activate the Iayasus Lightroot nearby to illuminate your immediate surroundings. Look closely at the large stone statues scattered across the floor, as each one points directly toward the next location.
Follow the linear path indicated by the gaze of the statues as you travel south toward the Great Abandoned Central Mine. Along the way, activating additional Lightroots will permanently illuminate your map and make future navigation much easier. Staying on the path prevents unnecessary encounters with dangerous gloom-infused monsters.
Acquiring Autobuild and Defeating Master Kohga
Upon reaching the Great Abandoned Central Mine, approach the central structure where two researchers are standing near a green Zonai terminal. Interacting with the pedestal grants Link the Autobuild ability, which automatically recreates previous Zonai constructs using nearby materials or Zonaite. Demonstrating this power on the researchers damaged vehicle completes their request.
However, the two researchers reveal themselves to be Yiga Clan disguised operatives, triggering a boss encounter against Master Kohga. Kohga attacks using a custom wheeled vehicle, requiring Link to dodge incoming charges and strike him down with arrows or melee attacks. Defeating Master Kohga rewards players with a Schema Stone, additional Zonaite, and opens up further Yiga storyline encounters across the Depths.
Post-Quest Rewards and Next Steps
After defeating Master Kohga, make sure to talk to the construct stewards located around the mine to receive valuable crafting schematics. Fast travel back to Lookout Landing to report your findings directly to Josha and Robbie. Delivering the news concludes the quest line and unlocks further upgrades for your Purah Pad.
Utilizing Autobuild effectively transforms how you explore Hyrule, allowing instant fabrication of favorited blueprints anywhere in the world. Mastering this skill saves valuable time during complex puzzle encounters and open-world exploration. Diving back into the Depths becomes significantly more rewarding once this core ability is secured.
