How to Solve "I am Trapped Under the Water Behind the Stone Gate of the Great Plateau" in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom

The latest installment in Nintendo‘s storied Legend of Zelda franchise, Tears of the Kingdom, promises to deliver another epic open-world adventure full of puzzles, exploration, and combat. One early puzzle that may leave players stumped involves getting trapped under water behind a stone gate on the Great Plateau area.

If you find yourself in this predicament, don‘t worry – with the right strategy, you can escape and continue your journey across the skies and lands of Hyrule. Here‘s a step-by-step guide to solving "I am trapped under the water behind the stone gate of the Great Plateau" in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom.

Accessing the Stone Gate Area

This puzzle takes place in the west region of the Forest of Time, which is accessible after you leave the Great Plateau and gain the ability to explore Hyrule more freely. Look for a large stone gate with water flowing behind it, blocking your path forward. There are also several breakable rocks nearby.

When you approach the gate, a short cutscene will play where Link gets trapped under the flowing water, unable to escape. This is the puzzle scenario you need to solve.

Navigating the Forest of Time

Reaching the Forest of Time and the stone gate puzzle requires some tricky navigation through Hyrule‘s varied terrain. Here are some tips:

Use your paraglider to safely descend from the Great Plateau‘s cliffs.
Follow the Sokkala River west past the Irch Plain and Guchini Plain areas.
Climb hills and glide over gaps to traverse the roots of Levias Mountain.
Keep an eye out for Bokoblins that may attack you along the way.
Activate the Dilan Forest Tower to unlock the region‘s map.

With the map uncovered, you‘ll be able to precisely locate the Forest of Time and track your progress through its maze-like paths. Expect to encounter some decaying Guardians left over from the Calamity long ago.

When You Arrive at the Stone Gate

After navigating through the ancient Korok Forest, you‘ll come across a wide stone gate flanked by vine-covered walls. A river flows from beyond the gate, blocking you from going further.

The gate towers above you, etched with weathered inscriptions in the ancient Hylian language. Stepping into the water triggers a cutscene where Link gets trapped under the strong current, unable to fight the flow. You‘ll need to find a way to stop this water to progress.

How to Drain the Water and Escape

To drain the water and clear this puzzle, you need to use a hammer or sledgehammer weapon to break the destructible rocks located to the left of the stone gate. Smash them completely to reveal a path forward.

With the rocks gone, the water will drain away, exposing a carved stone you can examine. Interact with the stone to get a clue about heading to the Temple of Time ruins next.

Choosing the Right Tool for the Job

It‘s important to equip a strong blunt weapon like a Stone Smasher or Cobble Crusher before attempting to break the rocks. Standard swords or spears simply won‘t cut it.

I recommend:

Stone Smasher – Found in Goron City. Deals high damage but breaks easily.
Cobble Crusher – Dropped by stone Talus bosses. Extremely durable.
Iron Sledgehammer – Forged by combining ore and wood. Decent balance of power and durability.

Smash all destructible rocks thoroughly – any debris left behind may still block water drainage. Don‘t be afraid to go through a couple sledgehammers if needed!

Draining the River Uncovers New Paths

When you successfully demolish the rocks and allow the water to flow out, the previous riverbed is exposed so you can now walk forward past where the stone gate was.

Following the drained river upstream leads to new areas to explore, withpuzzles to solve and enemies guarding treasure. Areas that were previously inaccessible by swimming are now wide open for you to discover.

But your quest isn‘t over yet after making it past the gate. There‘s still an important trip you need to make…

Completing the Quest at the Temple of Time

After draining the water and moving forward, your next objective is to visit the Temple of Time ruins back on the Great Plateau:

Travel back to the Great Plateau
Locate the Goddess Statue inside the temple
Interact with the statue to trigger a cutscene

Praying to Hylia

Within the crumbling temple, you‘ll find an ancient statue of the Goddess Hylia, her carved visage now worn with age. Kneel before the statue and press the interact button to begin a prayer.

Link closes his eyes, clasps his hands reverently, and bows his head. A glowing aura surrounds him as you feel a surge of ancient power flow into his spirit. Any healing or buff effects of prayers will take place at this time.

A Message from the Statue

After finishing your prayer, a disembodied female voice speaks:

"As a result of you draining the water from the gate, a part of me has been freed. You have earned my gratitude."

"I speak to you now from the Depths below in guise of this statue."

This completes the quest and signifies you‘ve unlocked the next part of the overall journey. Your heroic deeds have recalled a lost soul!

Additional Tips for Completing the Puzzle

Here are some other suggestions to help you successfully escape this watery trap:

Cook stamina restoring food if you need more swings to break rocks.
Mark the Great Plateau tower on your map so you can easily return.
Rest by a cooking pot before praying to refill health and stamina.
Change your armor to the Zora set for swimming speed if backtracking is required.
Use Cryonis or ice arrows to create platforms if you fall in the water again.

With persistence and the right preparation, you‘ll be victorious over this flooded fortress. The secrets hidden beyond its stony facade are now open for you to uncover. Your memories of this landmark will run as deep as the waters that once blocked your way.

For more Zelda tips and walkthroughs, check out my deep dive into Breath of the Wild‘s Hyrule Castle:

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Let me know in the comments if you need any other tips for exploring Hyrule in Tears of the Kingdom!