# Tears of the Kingdom: Zonai Devices & Engineering Guide
Zonai Devices are the defining innovation of Tears of the Kingdom. Using Ultrahand to combine devices into machines — from simple vehicles to fully autonomous combat drones — is where the game's true freedom begins.
# Device Overview
There are 27 Zonai devices across four categories:
| Category | Count | Key Devices |
|---|---|---|
| Propulsion | 6 | Fan, Rocket, Wheel, Steering Stick |
| Weapons | 7 | Beam Emitter, Cannon, Flame Emitter, Frost Emitter |
| Utility | 9 | Spring, Balloon, Hover Stone, Stake |
| Special | 5 | Wing, Hot Air Balloon, Battery, Stabilizer |
# Propulsion Devices
# Fan
Most-used device. Provides continuous thrust.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Thrust | Medium |
| Energy cost | Low |
| Source | Most Device Dispensers |
Classic builds:
- Hover Bike: 2 Fans + 1 Steering Stick = best aerial vehicle
- Fan Boat: 1 Fan + 1 wood plank = simple water transport
- Helicopter: 4 Fans downward + 1 Steering Stick
# Rocket
One-time extreme thrust. Instantly launches objects skyward.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Thrust | Extreme |
| Duration | ~3 seconds (single use) |
| Source | Most dispensers |
Classic uses:
- Shield Rocket Jump: attach to shield → hold guard → launch
- Takeoff booster: attach under an aircraft for catapult launch
- Shrine shortcuts: rocket directly to high exits
# Steering Stick
The pilot seat for all vehicles.
Mechanics:
- Stand on it to enter driving mode
- All propulsion devices on the same structure respond to stick input
- Controls: left stick for direction, right stick for camera
Key tip: Place the stick at the vehicle's center of gravity. For the Hover Bike, position it slightly forward of center.
# Wheels
| Type | Speed | Traction | Best Terrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Wheel | Medium | Medium | Flat ground |
| Big Wheel | Slow | High | Rough, sand, snow |
# Propeller
Motor-driven thrust device
Requires electricity (Shock Emitter + metal conduction). Doesn't directly consume battery, good for long-duration flight.
# Weapon Devices
# Beam Emitter
Long-range laser. Highest damage weapon device.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Damage | High (~8-12 per hit) |
| Range | Long |
| Energy cost | High |
| Source | Sky Islands (common) |
Combat builds:
- Auto Turret: Construct Head + 3× Beam Emitter → auto-targets and fires
- Beam Tank: Big Wheels + 4× Beam Emitters → mobile fire platform
# Cannon
Area explosive damage. Best for breaking obstacles.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Damage | Massive (AoE) |
| Fire rate | Slow (~2s per shot) |
| Energy cost | Very high |
Best for: Rock walls, ore veins, mob clearing, large bosses (Stone Talus, Hinox)
# Flame Emitter
Continuous fire stream with burn DoT
One-shots ice-type enemies. Great for clearing thorns.
# Frost Emitter
Freezes enemies — control + damage amp
Combo: Frost → physical attack (×3 damage on frozen enemies) → done.
# Shock Emitter
Electric damage + paralysis + AoE in water
- Strongest weapon near water (chain lightning)
- Can power motors to drive propellers
# Homing Cart
Self-driving bomb that seeks enemies
Drop 3 into a monster camp and watch the fireworks.
# Construct Head
Critical! Makes attached weapon devices auto-target the nearest enemy.
- Continuously tracks the closest enemy
- All weapons attached to it share the aiming direction
- The core component of any autonomous combat machine
# Utility Devices
# Spring
Launch pad. Height depends on object weight. Spring + Shield = Shield Bounce.
# Balloon
Slow upward lift. Multiple balloons stack for heavier loads. Heat with a torch or Flame Emitter to rise faster.
# Hover Stone
Activates and stays suspended in place.
Extreme uses: Mid-air sniper platform, shrine puzzle filler.
# Stake
Drives into ground or walls as a fixed anchor.
Classic: 2 Stakes + long plank = instant bridge. Stake + Construct Head + weapons = fixed turret.
# Portable Pot
One-time mobile cooking pot. Invaluable in the wilderness far from stables or towns.
# Light
Illuminates dark caves. Attach to a shield for a mobile light source.
# Mirror
Reflects light. Can blind enemies. Used in specific shrine puzzles.
# Best Blueprints
# 🥇 Hover Bike
The most practical vehicle in the entire game
Materials: Fan ×2, Steering Stick ×1
Build:
- Place Steering Stick in the center
- Attach Fans to front-left and front-right, tilted 45° backward-downward
- Save to Autobuild favorites
Why it's the best: Extremely low energy cost, reaches anywhere on the map, costs only 9 Zonaite.
# 🥈 Combat Drone
Fully automatic monster clearing
Materials: Construct Head ×1, Beam Emitter ×2-3, Homing Cart ×1 (optional), Cannon ×1 (optional)
Build:
- Construct Head as base
- Attach 2-3 Beam Emitters on top
- (Optional) Homing Cart underneath for mobile version
- (Optional) Add a Cannon for crowd control
# 🥉 Bomber
Aerial bombardment platform
Materials: Wing ×1, Fan ×2, Steering Stick ×1, Cannon ×2 (under wing)
Fly over enemies — cannons fire downward automatically.
# Helicopter
Vertical takeoff for complex terrain exploration.
Materials: Fan ×4 (downward), Steering Stick ×1, Hover Stone ×1 (optional, to hover in place)
# Wing Fighter
Classic combination using base-game devices.
Materials: Wing ×1, Fan ×3 (2 rear + 1 lift), Steering Stick ×1, Rocket ×1 (takeoff boost, optional)
# All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV)
Best land vehicle.
Materials: Big Wheel ×4, Wood/Stone Slab ×1 (body), Steering Stick ×1, Beam Emitter ×1 (optional weapon)
Perfect for Depths exploration — light up an area, then cruise in your ATV.
# Battery Upgrade Path
Batteries are the "fuel" for Zonai devices. Bigger capacity = longer operation.
# Energy Cell Capacity
| Stage | Cells | Crystallized Charges | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start | 1 cell (3 bars) | 0 | 0 |
| 1st upgrade | 2 cells | 100 | 100 |
| 2nd upgrade | 3 cells | 100 | 200 |
| ... | ... | 100/cell | ... |
| Max | 16 cells (48 bars) | — | 4,500 |
# Crystallized Charge Sources
| Method | Efficiency | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Depths mining | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Zonaite deposits everywhere underground |
| Depths bosses | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Each drops 20 Crystallized Charges |
| Forge Constructs | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Trade Zonaite → Charges (3:1) |
| Yiga camps | ⭐⭐⭐ | 20 Charges per camp chest |
| Surface caves | ⭐⭐⭐ | Small deposits |
# Recommended Upgrade Path
Early (1-4 cells) → Depths mining + Forge Constructs
│
Mid (4-8 cells) → Depths boss hunting (20 each)
│
Late (8-16 cells) → Full Depths mining sweep
2
3
4
5
Tip: At max 16 cells, the Hover Bike can fly nonstop for over 10 minutes.
# Autobuild
# Unlock
After finishing the Great Sky Island tutorial, reach the Great Abandoned Central Mine in the Depths.
# Recommended Favorites
| Blueprint | Use |
|---|---|
| Hover Bike | Daily travel |
| Combat Drone | Mob clearing / defense |
| Bridge (2 Stakes + plank) | Canyon crossing |
| Fire Balloon | Fast ascent |
| Spring Launcher | Quick takeoff |
# Autobuild Tips
- Costs Zonaite (auto-substitutes missing parts)
- Save a perfect build to Favorites for instant recall
- Blueprint inherits original device orientation — align carefully before saving
# Advanced Techniques
# Thermal Updraft Takeoff
Place 4-5 campfires under a Wing (throw Hylian Pine Cones for updraft). Zero-energy liftoff.
# Electric Motor Drive
Shock Emitter + metal weapon/shield = current loop → drives Propeller. Almost no battery drain, great for long flights.
# Rocket Shield
Rocket + Shield = Shield Rocket Jump. Fastest vertical mobility, but consumes the rocket.
# Spring Shield
Spring + Shield = Shield Bounce. Reusable, costs nothing.
# Freeze Combo
Frost Emitter freeze → two-handed charged attack → ×3 damage on frozen enemies. One-shots almost all non-boss enemies.
# Quick Device Locations
| Device | Best Farming Spot |
|---|---|
| Fan | Great Sky Island, most dispensers |
| Steering Stick | Great Sky Island, Tabantha Canyon dispenser |
| Rocket | Sky Islands, Depths depots |
| Cannon | Fire Temple, Gerudo Highlands |
| Beam Emitter | Sky Islands, Lightning Temple |
| Construct Head | Spirit Temple, Depths Zonai ruins |
| Hover Stone | Sky Islands (common) |
| Spring | Most dispensers, gacha machines |
# Summary
Zonai devices are the soul of Tears of the Kingdom. Master these core blueprints and you'll reach every corner of Hyrule with machines of your own design. Remember:
- Hover Bike = peak cost-efficiency. Once you learn it, you never go back
- Construct Head + Beam Emitter = automated mob clearing
- Shield Rocket Jump = best vertical mobility
- Upgrade batteries first = foundation for everything else