In The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, players encounter numerous caves, puzzles, and mysterious shrines hidden across Hyrule. One such location that has stirred curiosity among adventurers is A Prone Pathway. Found tucked away in the depths of the Lanayru region, this cleverly designed cave system not only challenges your exploration skills but also tempts you with treasure and secrets waiting to be uncovered. Whether you’re a completionist or simply chasing armor upgrades, understanding how to navigate A Prone Pathway is essential for maximizing your adventure.
Where to Find A Prone Pathway
Location and Map Coordinates
A Prone Pathway is located within the Lanayru region, specifically to the west of the Upland Zorana Skyview Tower. The rough coordinates are around 2855, 0598, 0379. This spot is hidden among steep cliffs and rocky formations, making it easy to miss unless you’re exploring thoroughly. Players often stumble upon it while searching for the Climbing Gear or while trying to complete various side objectives.
How to Access the Cave
Getting to A Prone Pathway requires climbing or gliding to reach the entrance. It’s embedded in the side of a cliff, and while it doesn’t require advanced gear to enter, bringing stamina-enhancing food or elixirs is highly recommended. You’ll likely need to climb a fair distance unless you’re approaching with a Zonai flying contraption or coming from above.
What Makes A Prone Pathway Unique
Low Clearance Tunnels
The name A Prone Pathway isn’t just thematic it refers directly to the cave’s unique design. The entire tunnel system is extremely narrow, and most of it can only be navigated by crouching or crawling. This prone crawling mechanic forces players to slow down, adding tension and curiosity to every turn. It’s not often that Zelda dungeons restrict movement like this, making the experience more intimate and claustrophobic.
A Focus on Puzzle-Solving
Rather than throwing combat-heavy challenges, this cave emphasizes environmental puzzles. You’ll find breakable rocks, hidden chambers, and tight corners that make bomb flowers, hammers, or fused weapons essential tools. Players must make creative use of Ultrahand and Ascend to reach small hidden areas or uncover buried treasure.
Treasure and Rewards Inside A Prone Pathway
Climbing Gear Chest
One of the primary reasons players seek out A Prone Pathway is for the Climbing Gear a vital piece of the Climbing Set that significantly enhances Link’s climbing speed. This makes a huge difference when scaling long cliffs or navigating harsh vertical areas like the Gerudo Highlands or Hebra Mountains.
To access the Climbing Gear chest inside the cave, players must first traverse the narrow pathway, break through a few cracked walls, and discover a small chamber sealed behind boulders. Using either bomb flowers or a rock-fused weapon is the key to gaining access to this reward.
Ore Deposits and Materials
Scattered throughout the cave are luminous ore deposits, rare minerals like Topaz or Sapphire, and Zonai materials in crates. Breaking through blocked passages often leads to small caverns filled with these valuable resources. Make sure to use a weapon fused with a stone or hammer to easily mine these spots.
Bubbulfrog and Bubbul Gem
In a hidden part of the cave, if you’re attentive, you’ll hear the croaking of a Bubbulfrog. These strange creatures can be found in many caves across Hyrule, and defeating one yields a Bubbul Gem a currency used to trade with Koltin for rare monster-themed armor. You’ll need to locate and break into the small alcove where the Bubbulfrog is hiding, usually indicated by a slightly off-color rock wall.
Tips for Navigating A Prone Pathway
- Bring a Hammer-Type Weapon: Many obstacles are boulder walls that require smashing. A rock-fused stick or hammer works well.
- Stock Up on Bomb Flowers: These are excellent for clearing tight spaces quickly, especially when you don’t want to risk breaking weapons.
- Use Brightbloom Seeds: Parts of the cave are dimly lit, so dropping Brightblooms helps you stay aware of your surroundings and spot treasure more easily.
- Don’t Rush Through: Due to its narrowness, it’s easy to overlook side tunnels or hidden loot. Take your time and explore every corner.
How A Prone Pathway Fits Into Exploration
A Design Reflecting Zelda’s Evolving World
A Prone Pathway exemplifies the evolving design philosophy in Tears of the Kingdom. Rather than relying solely on large-scale shrines or combat arenas, this type of cave introduces a grounded, small-scale environmental experience. It pushes players to think in 3D about crawling, climbing, blowing open spaces, and fully engaging with their surroundings.
Part of the Climbing Gear Questline
For players aiming to collect the full Climbing Set (which includes the Climbing Gear, Climbing Boots, and Climber’s Bandanna), A Prone Pathway is an essential stop. The improved climbing efficiency from the set is a major advantage when exploring Sky Islands or scaling towers, making this cave important for long-term mobility and exploration.
What Players Say About A Prone Pathway
On community forums and platforms like Reddit, many players have described A Prone Pathway as one of the more memorable minor cave experiences. The combination of tight navigation, satisfying reward, and clever environmental design makes it stand out. Some have even compared it to the classic feel of earlier Zelda dungeon elements, where problem-solving and curiosity drove exploration.
There’s also appreciation for how the cave ties directly into gear progression. Rather than placing valuable armor randomly, the game encourages natural discovery through clues, geography, and subtle design something long-time fans often praise.
A Prone Pathway may not be a massive dungeon or a grand shrine, but it encapsulates the quiet brilliance of Tears of the Kingdom’s exploration. Hidden, thoughtful, and packed with practical rewards, this narrow cave invites players to slow down and rediscover the joy of curiosity. Whether you’re chasing the Climbing Gear or hunting down a Bubbulfrog, taking the time to crawl through A Prone Pathway is more than worth it. In a world as vast and wild as Hyrule, it’s the small, subtle places like this that often leave the biggest impression.