Master Zonai Devices: 10 Pro Tips for Tears of the Kingdom

The Power of Zonai Devices

In The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Zonai devices are your ticket to creativity and survival. These ancient tools let you build anything from a simple hoverboard to a death-defying flying fortress. But mastering them takes more than just sticking parts together. Here are 10 pro tips to make you a true Zonai engineer.

1. Prioritize the Energy Cell Upgrades

Your battery is everything. Every device drains it, and running out mid-flight is deadly. Collect Crystallized Charges from Zonai mines and deposit them at Forge Constructs to expand your Energy Cell. Aim to max it out early – the extra capacity turns risky explorations into casual sightseeing trips.

2. Rotate and Fuse with Purpose

When using Ultrahand, you can rotate parts on every axis and snap them into place. Don't just attach things randomly; align wheels and fans to match the vehicle's center of mass. Use Fuse to attach devices to your weapons and shields too – a rocket shield gives a free vertical launch, and a frost emitter on a sword can freeze enemies on hit.

3. Build a Simple Hovercraft for Land Travel

Forget horses. A basic hovercraft made of two fans and a steering stick will glide over most terrain at top speed. Place the fans side-by-side facing down and backward, then attach the stick between them. Test it on flat ground first – you'll soon be zipping across Hyrule faster than a lynel can roar.

4. Create Auto-Turrets with Construct Heads

Combine a Construct Head with a beam emitter and it becomes a sentry that aims automatically at enemies. Attach it to a vehicle or place it on the ground to turn every battle into a shooting gallery. For heavier damage, swap the beam for a frost or flamethrower emitter – just watch your battery.

5. Save Your Favorite Builds with Autobuild

The Autobuild ability lets you instantly summon any previously built contraption for a Zonaite fee. After assembling a vehicle you like, open Autobuild and use the blueprint to save it. The best part? You can autobuild from sparse materials by using Zonaite to fill missing parts – perfect for emergency repairs mid-fight.

6. Mine Every Zonaite Deposit You See

Zonaite is the currency of engineering. Break every green-ore deposit you come across, especially near Skyview Towers and caves. It’s used for Autobuild, battery charges, and even buying devices at dispensers. Don't skip those bubbling wells – they often lead to rich deposits.

7. Use Balloons for Heavy Lifting

If you need to move a large object or a Korok friend to a shrine, strap a few Balloons to it. Balloons lift whatever they're attached to, so you can create a simple airship by adding a steering stick and fans for propulsion. For heavy loads, use multiple balloons to gain altitude before switching to horizontal thrust.

8. Master the Hover Bike for Cheap Flight

The famous hover bike – two fans angled at 45 degrees and a steering stick – is the most efficient flying vehicle in the game. It's compact, uses minimal battery, and can fly across the entire map. Practice assembling it quickly with Autobuild, and you'll never walk to a sky island again.

9. Hotkey Your Device Favorites

When you have many devices in your inventory, scrolling through the wheel can be slow. Use the D-pad to assign up to eight favorite devices to quick slots. This lets you drop a fan or a timer instantly, saving precious seconds in combat or during a slippery climb.

10. Experiment with Wing + Zonai Interactions

The Wing device glides forward when powered, but it disintegrates after a few seconds. Connect a fan to the Wing's back to keep it aloft indefinitely, and add a steering stick for full control. This combo makes a fast, agile flier that's perfect for getting bird's-eye views of the map. Try attaching a beam emitter to the front to turn it into a gunship.

Zonai devices reward experimentation. The more you play with them, the wilder and more useful your contraptions become. Use these tips as your foundation, then go build something the ancient Zonai would be proud of.