TotK Temperature and Weather: Sky Cold, Volcano Heat, Storms, Depths

Temperature in Tears of the Kingdom follows the same rules as Breath of the Wild: the gauge at the bottom right warns you when it is too cold or too hot, and without protection your hearts drain. What is new is the map: the Great Sky Island needs cold protection from the start, and the Depths are pitch dark.

Are the temperature rules the same as in Breath of the Wild?

Yes. The game’s tips are almost word for word the same:

In volcanic areas, equipped wooden bows and shields catch fire, and unequipping them puts it out; ingredients dropped on the ground roast by themselves. In cold regions or icy water some ingredients freeze. Breath of the Wild’s temperature thresholds and stacking rules are in BotW temperature and weather.

How cold are the Great Sky Island and the sky?

The snowy mountain in the east of the Great Sky Island is cold, and you have to cross it to reach Gutanbac Shrine. Some other sky islands are cold too.

1. Cook first: spicy peppers cooked into a dish give timed Cold Resistance. More of the same ingredient means a longer effect.
2. Carry a torch: a lit torch keeps you warm.
3. Get the Archaic Warm Greaves: after getting Ascend in Gutanbac Shrine, use Ascend outside the shrine to go up through the large hollow tree trunk nearby; the chest in its corner holds the Archaic Warm Greaves, with Cold Resistance.

Armor plus food raises your protection: the colder it gets, the more you need an extra cold-resistant piece or another dish. Spicy ingredients are in spicy food, and the Snowquill set has its own page.

How do you prepare for Gerudo’s day and night?

The game’s tip is clear: Gerudo has extreme heat by day and freezing cold at night, and a traveler without the right clothing, food or elixirs can easily perish.

• By day: every Desert Voe piece gives Heat Resistance, or eat chilly food and drink Chilly Elixirs; shade and water cool you down too. See chilly food.
• At night: switch back to cold-resistant armor, or eat spicy food.

How do you handle volcanic heat?

Volcanic areas need Flame Guard; Heat Resistance does not cover them. Wear the Flamebreaker set (Flame Guard on every piece, Fireproof as the set bonus) or drink a Fireproof Elixir; see Fireproof Elixir and the Flamebreaker set.

The game’s tips add two ways to cool off for a moment:

• Pour water on yourself: in superheated volcanic regions this gives a short respite from the heat.
• Sidon’s water: staying inside Sidon’s water wall also helps against hot temperatures.

While riding the construct, you can cross lava and gloom without taking damage.

How do you get through a thunderstorm?

Same tip as in Breath of the Wild: lightning tends to strike anything metal, so unequip metal gear when you hear thunder.

• Swap gear: unequip metal weapons, bows and shields for wood or other non-metal ones.
• Go indoors: a house or stable is the safest place; you can also warp to a shrine or Skyview Tower to leave the storm.
• Wait it out: pass time at a campfire or rest at a stable; the weather may change, but it is not guaranteed.
• Wear lightning gear: the Rubber set with all three pieces at two stars is Lightning Proof, and so is the Lightning Helm; see the Rubber set.

Reportedly, throwing a metal weapon into a group of monsters draws the lightning there and hits the whole group. The Charged set speeds up charged attacks in stormy weather; in the same way, the Ember set works in hot weather and the Frostbite set in cold weather.

What does rain change?

• Climbing slips: wet walls make you slip and drain more stamina. The game suggests slip-reducing elixirs or armor: a Sticky Elixir, or the Froggy set (Slip Proof as the set bonus); see Sticky Elixir and the Froggy set.
• Fires go out: rain puts out exposed fires. A portable pot needs no fire, so you can still cook in the rain.
• Good for stealth: rain covers your footsteps.
• Rain-only insects: some insects only come out in the rain.

How do you deal with darkness and gloom in the Depths?

The real problems in the Depths are darkness and gloom:

• Brightbloom seeds blossom when struck and light up the area; fuse one to an arrow to light up spots far away.
• Lightroots light the surroundings and cure gloom damage; see Lightroots.
• The Miner set glows on every piece, with Shining Steps as the set bonus; see the Miner set.
• Gloom lowers your maximum hearts when it hurts you. Return to the surface, stand near a Lightroot or eat gloom-curing food to recover. Walking on gloom is dangerous; ride a vehicle over it to avoid losing hearts.

Where is the weather forecast?

The upcoming weather is shown at the bottom right, next to the minimap. Check it before a climb or a trip into storm country; it is easier than swapping gear on the spot.