- The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword goddess cubes connect surface discoveries to rewards in the sky.
- Activate each cube with a charged Skyward Strike from the Goddess Sword.
- Use the sky map to locate the matching Goddess Chest after activation.
- Revisit regions after obtaining Clawshots, Bombs, the Bow, and advanced digging tools.
The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword Goddess Cubes Explained
Goddess Cubes are surface collectibles that unlock Goddess Chests in the sky. When Link strikes a cube with a charged Skyward Strike, its matching chest becomes available elsewhere above the clouds. The reward can include a Piece of Heart, useful equipment, Rupees, or another valuable item.
The cube and chest are not usually located in the same area. Treat each activation as a two-part objective: first reach the surface cube, then use the sky map and Loftwing to collect the unlocked reward.
| Mechanic | What to do | Best reminder |
|---|---|---|
| Find a cube | Search paths, ledges, caves, and side routes | Check away from the main objective |
| Charge the sword | Raise the Goddess Sword until it glows | Avoid striking before it is charged |
| Activate the cube | Hit it with a Skyward Strike | Watch the launch direction |
| Find the chest | Return to the sky and inspect the map | The chest may be on a distant island |
| Collect the reward | Land near the Goddess Chest | Mark completed locations |
Activate every cube you find, even when the matching chest is not immediately reachable. The sky map makes later cleanup much easier.
Goddess Cube Locations by Region
The 27 Goddess Cubes are distributed across Faron, Eldin, Lanayru, and connected late-game routes. Some are available during the first visit, while others require equipment gained later. Use the regional table below to organize your search without forcing unnecessary backtracking.
| Surface region | Common location pattern | Useful progression |
|---|---|---|
| Faron Woods | Forest paths, ledges, and temple approaches | Early exploration; later traversal tools |
| Deep Woods | Side paths near Skyview Temple | Early game |
| Eldin Volcano | Cliffs, caves, volcanic trails, and branching paths | Bombs, digging tools, later revisits |
| Lanayru Desert | Ruins and areas affected by Timeshift Stones | Mid-game exploration |
| Lanayru Sand Sea | Islands, ruins, and routes near sea objectives | Mid-to-late game |
| Late-game routes | Previously blocked ledges and equipment-gated paths | Full exploration toolkit |
Faron Search
Check elevated forest paths and routes surrounding Deep Woods. Look for ledges that are easy to miss when moving directly toward Skyview Temple.
Eldin Search
Inspect bombable walls, caves, cliffs, and soft-soil areas. Later digging abilities open additional routes that are not available on the first visit.
Lanayru Search
Use Timeshift Stones to restore ancient terrain and machinery. Recheck the desert and Sand Sea after gaining new ranged and traversal equipment.
Do not assume a region is finished after its dungeon. Several cube routes become practical only after Link gains Clawshots, the Bow, Mogma Mitts, or other later abilities.
Step-by-Step Goddess Cube Collection Route
Follow this route to reduce repeated flights between Skyloft and the surface. The order is flexible, but collecting cubes during normal story visits is usually more efficient than leaving every collectible for the end.
Activate early Faron cubes
Search Faron Woods and Deep Woods during the first surface visits. Charge the Goddess Sword before approaching each cube, then record the direction of the launch effect.
Sweep Eldin side paths
Explore branching volcanic trails, caves, and elevated platforms while progressing toward Earth Temple. Carry Bombs and inspect soft-soil patches when available.
Use the sky map after each region
Return to Skyloft or another bird statue, open the sky map, and check for newly revealed Goddess Chest icons before continuing the story.
Revisit with advanced equipment
Return to earlier regions after gaining Clawshots, the Bow, Gust Bellows, Mogma Mitts, and other tools. Prioritize ledges, vines, targets, and blocked tunnels.
Finish the Lanayru sweep
Search Lanayru Desert and Lanayru Sand Sea after major story objectives. Use Timeshift Stones to reveal routes and compare activated cubes with unopened chest icons.
| Collection phase | Recommended action | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | Activate visible cubes | Saves future travel |
| After dungeon | Check nearby sky islands | New chests may already be open |
| Mid-game | Revisit Faron and Eldin | New tools reveal hidden routes |
| Late game | Sweep Lanayru and remote islands | Advanced access removes barriers |
| Final cleanup | Compare map icons | Helps identify missed rewards |
Pair cube hunting with Goddess Chest collection whenever possible. One surface trip followed by one sky trip is more efficient than completing both activities in separate passes.
Required Items and Collection Checklist
Goddess Cubes are primarily an exploration challenge, but the right equipment determines when a route is practical. Keep space in the Adventure Pouch for shields, potions, and tools before starting a long cleanup session.
| Item or ability | Collection use | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Goddess Sword | Activates cubes with Skyward Strikes | Essential |
| Loftwing | Reaches sky islands and Goddess Chests | Essential |
| Bird Statues | Creates convenient return points | High |
| Bomb Bag | Opens cracked walls and blocked routes | High |
| Clawshots | Reaches distant targets and ledges | Very high |
| Bow | Activates distant targets | High |
| Digging Mitts | Opens marked soft-soil locations | Medium |
| Mogma Mitts | Accesses underground Eldin routes | Very high |
| Gust Bellows | Clears sand and reveals mechanisms | Medium |
| Sky map | Tracks unlocked chest locations | Essential |
Collection Checklist
- Activate visible cubes in Faron and Deep Woods
- Search Eldin caves, cliffs, and branching paths
- Revisit equipment-gated locations with Clawshots and Bow
- Check Lanayru Desert and Sand Sea after Timeshift objectives
- Collect every revealed Goddess Chest from the sky map
Use a regional note or map marker for every activated cube and collected chest. This prevents repeated searches when several rewards are unlocked across different sky islands.
Rewards, Cleanup Tips, and FAQ
Goddess Cubes are valuable because they turn surface exploration into long-term rewards. The best cleanup strategy is to combine them with Pieces of Heart, Treasure, Gratitude Crystals, and other nearby collectibles instead of treating every cube as an isolated task.
Best Time to Collect
Activate easy cubes during the story and complete difficult routes during late-game cleanup.
Best Map Habit
Check the sky map after major discoveries and collect nearby chests before returning to the surface.
Best Cleanup Pairing
Combine Goddess Cube hunting with Heart Pieces, side quests, and equipment-gated exploration.
For official game information and exploration details, visit the Nintendo Skyward Sword HD site: https://zelda.nintendo.com/skyward-sword-hd/
Q: How do Goddess Cubes work in The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword?
Strike a surface Goddess Cube with a charged Skyward Strike. A matching Goddess Chest then becomes available in the sky and can be located through the sky map.
Q: How many Goddess Cubes are in Skyward Sword?
The game contains 27 Goddess Cubes distributed across surface regions including Faron, Eldin, Lanayru, and later equipment-gated routes.
Q: Do I need every item before collecting Goddess Cubes?
No. Many cubes are available early, but Clawshots, Bombs, the Bow, digging tools, and other abilities open additional locations during revisits.
Q: What should I do if I cannot find a Goddess Chest?
Return to the sky map, check newly revealed chest icons, and inspect remote floating islands. The chest is often far from the surface cube that unlocked it.