Zuna Kai Shrine Guide: Skull Lake Climb, Chest & Spirit Orb

Where is Zuna Kai Shrine?

The shrine stands atop a tall spire on the eastern island of Skull Lake — the skull’s left eye, and the higher of the two eyes. Jerrin at the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab can point you here once she brings up her shrine research, but you can also simply strike out into the far northeast on your own. The only real hazard is the approach itself: the spire is a long climb, and a slip drops you back down toward the lake. Gorae Torr Shrine lies off to the west, while Tutsuwa Nima Shrine and Katosa Aug Shrine are both to the southeast.

What should you bring?

Nothing is required — no runes, weapons, armour, or resistances; the interior has no puzzles and no enemies. The only demand is stamina for the climb up the spire, so an upgraded stamina wheel or stamina-recovering food genuinely helps. Without it, plan to rest on ledges partway up rather than pushing one continuous climb.

Video walkthrough

Zuna Kai Shrine Guide — YouTube

How do you solve Zuna Kai Shrine?

Reaching the shrine is the entire trial — the interior is a blessing shrine with a direct, puzzle-free path, one chest, and the monk.

1. Reach and activate the shrine

Travel to Skull Lake in the far northeast of Hyrule (Deep Akkala). Optionally, talk to Jerrin at the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab first — once she mentions her shrine research, she’ll point you to the lake’s left eye and warn that it’s a challenge to reach.

At the lake, look for the two islands that form the skull’s eyes. The shrine is on the eastern island — the skull’s left eye — which is the taller, higher spire of the two.

Check your target before committing: the left eye is higher up, the right eye is lower down. If you can already see Kilton on an island, you’re looking at the wrong (right) eye — circle around the water to the taller eastern spire.

Cross over to the eastern island and pick a line up the rock face; the spire is climbed from the outside.

Climb the spire, watching your stamina wheel — rest on ledges when it runs low so you don’t fall back down into the lake.

2. Zuna Kai’s Blessing

At the summit you’ll find the dormant shrine. Interact with the glowing apparatus to activate it. If you took Jerrin’s quest, it completes the moment you gain entry — your adventure log notes that the real trial was getting there.

Enter the shrine. The monk Zuna Kai greets you, stating that by entering this place you’ve already proven your worth.

Follow the direct path toward the monk’s pedestal — there are no puzzles, no enemies, and nothing to solve.

Along the path you’ll come to a Treasure Chest. Open it to claim a Flameblade with the Long Throw bonus.

Continue to the far end and speak with Zuna Kai at the pedestal to receive your Spirit Orb.

After wishing you well — ‘May the Goddess smile upon you’ — the monk fades away. The shrine is now a permanent travel gate on your map; step into the glowing ring to warp back out.

What is in the chest?

What do people miss here?

• Climbing the wrong eye: the right eye is lower and is where Kilton hangs around — if you run into him, you’re on the wrong island. The shrine is atop the taller eastern spire (the skull’s left eye).
• Expecting a puzzle inside: there isn’t one. Players waste time hunting for a solution that doesn’t exist — just grab the chest and talk to the monk.
• Beelining to the monk and skipping the chest: it sits on the path itself so it’s hard to miss, but if you do leave it behind, the activated shrine stays on your map and you can warp back in any time to open it.
• Running out of stamina mid-climb: the ascent of the spire is the whole trial, so bring extra stamina or food and rest on ledges instead of pushing one long climb.
• Thinking you must start ‘The Skull’s Eye’ quest first: you don’t. The shrine is enterable on your own; Jerrin’s hint at the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab is entirely optional.

What else is nearby?

Which guides help next?

• All BotW shrine locations
• How to find shrines
• Tears of the Kingdom vs Breath of the Wild