Blocks of ice have returned in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, often blocking the way of important areas like Shrines and caves. Players will most likely come across these massive ice blocks while exploring places like the Hebra region or Mount Lanayru, and they can require a hefty amount of firepower to melt.
Thankfully, there’s a lot more at Link’s disposal in Tears of the Kingdom to melt these blocks of ice, compared to Breath of the Wild. Lighting fires and using elemental weapons may carry over from its predecessor, but there are various ways for players to melt the ice with the abundance of new materials courtesy of the ever-changing landscape of Hyrule.
Where To Find Ice
Blocks of ice can be found wherever temperatures are below freezing. The largest area in Hyrule like this is the Hebra Mountain Range. Players will often come across large blocks of ice as they traverse the snowy landscape, and they often hide an abundance of things, including chests, weapons, Shrines, and even enemies. Ice blocks can also form a barrier in front of cave entrances in this region, including the North Biron Snowshelf Cave, home to the Vah Medoh Divine Helm.
How To Melt Ice
The fastest way to melt ice is by using the Zonai Flame Emitter fused to a weapon or shield. But there are other ways for players to achieve this if they don’t have that particular device on hand. For example, lighting a fire next to the block of ice also works, in addition to throwing Fire Fruit or holding a torch to it.
Another way to melt ice is by creating a Ruby Rod (a ruby fused with a Magic Rod) and having Link stand next to the block of ice with the weapon equipped. This way, the weapon won't lose any durability by having to use it. However, this route can take some time compared to the Flame Emitter option, as that provides a constant stream of fire. Players could even set two or three Flame Emitters on the ground and turn them on to make the process quicker.
Fusing Icicles With Weapons
Once an ice block has melted, there’s a chance that icicles will appear as leftover pieces of the block. Those who have already visited The Wind Temple during the “Tulin of Rito Village” main quest may already be familiar with the fact that Link can fuse icicles to clubs and spears to create deadly long-range weapons, which can cause a hefty amount of damage.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is available now on Nintendo Switch.