You’re standing on a sky island, looking down at Hyrule, and you see it. A massive, glowing green shape carved into the grass. It's a Geoglyph. If you’ve played The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for more than twenty minutes, you know these things are basically giant projectors for Zelda's backstory. But honestly? Most people find them in a totally random, chaotic order that absolutely ruins the emotional payoff of the story.
Finding all memory locations totk provides is a massive undertaking. There are 18 in total. If you stumble upon Memory #15 before you’ve seen Memory #4, you’re going to be sitting there scratching your head while a major plot twist gets spoiled before you even know the characters involved. It’s annoying. I’ve seen players get genuinely frustrated because they accidentally skipped to the "ending" of the past narrative just because they felt like exploring the Hebra Mountains early.
The Forgotten Temple is Your Roadmap
Stop wandering aimlessly. Seriously. Before you go hunting for every Dragon's Tear across the map, you need to head to the Forgotten Temple in the Tanagar Canyon. You’ll find Cado and Impa there.
Inside the back of the temple, there’s a floor map. It’s a literal cheat sheet. It shows you exactly where every Geoglyph is located and, more importantly, the order in which you should view them. The game "softly" nudges you to do this, but many people just ignore it and start paragliding toward whatever looks shiny. Don't be that person. The story of Rauru, Sonia, and the tragedy of the Zonai hits way harder when it's linear.
Breaking Down the Geoglyphs and Tears
The bulk of your journey involves the 11 Geoglyphs scattered across the surface. Each one contains a small puddle—the Dragon's Tear—hidden within the design. You have to find the "solid" teardrop in the pattern; the others are just outlines.
1. The Zonai King
Located on North Hyrule Plain. This is usually the first one everyone finds. It’s simple, it’s easy, and it introduces Rauru. You get a sense of the scale here. It’s basically the tutorial for the rest of the search.
2. An Unfamiliar World
This one is tucked away in the cold reaches of the Hebra Mountains, specifically on the Lindor’s Brow. It’s a bit of a climb. You’ll see a palace-like shape. Zelda is trying to figure out where—or rather when—she is.
3. Mineru’s Counsel
Found in West Hyrule Ridge. Look for the "Purah Pad" shape. It’s a bit meta, honestly. Zelda talks with Mineru, and we start getting hints about "draconification," which is a word that should immediately make you feel slightly uneasy if you're paying attention to the lore.
4. The Gerudo Assault
Head toward the Dragon’s Quarters in the Gerudo Highlands. This one is shaped like a curved scimitar. It’s a tense memory. Seeing Ganondorf before he becomes the "Demon King" we know is always a highlight of Zelda storytelling. He’s manipulative, calm, and clearly up to no good.
5. A Show of Fealty
On the slopes of Sapphia’s Table in the Gerudo Highlands. It looks like a person kneeling. This is where the tension between the Zonai and the Gerudo really starts to boil over. It’s short, but the framing is great.
6. Zelda and Sonia
Back to the center of the map, near Hyrule Ridge. It looks like a bunch of curls or a lady. This is a quieter, more character-focused moment. Sonia is a fantastic character, and her chemistry with Zelda feels genuinely warm, which just makes the later stuff hurt more.
7. Strike from the Skies
Located on the coast of the Southeast Necluda area. It looks like a scimitar. Or a dagger. Hard to tell from the ground. This memory shows the first real act of aggression. Things are starting to fall apart for the ancient kingdom.
8. Birth of the Demon King
North Auric Crest. This is the big one. It looks like a massive, distorted face. This is where the "villain origin story" peaks. If you find this one too early, it feels a bit unearned. If you find it in order? It’s chilling.
9. The Sages' Vow
On the Talus Plateau in Lanayru. It’s shaped like a secret stone. This is where the different races of Hyrule pledge themselves to Rauru. It mirrors the modern-day quest Link is doing, which is a nice touch by the writers.
10. A King's Duty
Lake Hylia. It looks like a tomb or a shrine. Rauru is coming to terms with what he has to do. It’s a heavy memory. The lighting in this specific cutscene is gorgeous, too.
11. A Master Sword in Time
Sikukuu Highland in the Eldin Mountains. It looks like the Master Sword. This is the final "standard" Geoglyph. It connects the past to Link’s present-day struggle in a way that finally makes the whole "tears" thing make sense.
The Memories You Can't Just "Find"
Wait. I said there were 18 memories. If there are only 11 Geoglyphs, where is everything else?
This is where people get confused. Several memories are tied to the Main Quest. You get them by progressing through the story naturally.
- Memory #1: This is the "Master Sword's Power." You get this much later in the game, usually involving the Great Deku Tree. It’s a flashback to before the game even started.
- Memories #14, #16, and #17: These are tied to the "Trail of the Master Sword" and the "Find the Fifth Sage" questlines. You literally cannot miss them if you finish the game.
- Memory #18: This is the secret one. You only get this after finding all 11 Dragon's Tears. Once you grab the 11th, a 12th tear appears at the Magis Coast in the Akkala region. This is the emotional climax of Zelda's journey. Don't look it up. Just watch it.
Why Finding Them All is Mandatory
You can beat the game without finding all memory locations totk offers. You can run straight to the final boss if you’re good enough at parrying. But you shouldn’t.
The narrative weight of the final battle completely changes if you’ve seen every memory. There is a specific revelation in Memory #18 that changes your perspective on the "Light Dragon" you see flying around the world. Suddenly, that dragon isn't just a source for upgrade materials; it's a tragic figure.
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Also, finding all the memories is the only way to get the "true" ending cutscene. It’s a small addition, but for long-time fans, it’s the closure you actually want.
Pro-Tips for the Hunt
- Use the Skyview Towers. Launch yourself up, then look down with your scope. You can pin the teardrop location from the air much easier than running around in the grass.
- Check the "Solid" Spots. On every Geoglyph, look for the teardrop shape that is filled in with color. The rest are just outlines. The filled-in one is where the memory is.
- Get a Horse or a Hoverbike. Some of these are in the middle of nowhere. Walking to the one in the far reaches of the Gerudo Highlands is a slog.
- The Map Order: If you want the chronological order, follow this list: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, then the final hidden 12th tear.
What to Do Next
Once you’ve marked the Forgotten Temple on your map, grab a few stamina-restoring meals. You’re going to be doing a lot of climbing and gliding.
Start with the North Hyrule Plain Geoglyph (the one that looks like Rauru) and work your way clockwise or follow the order listed in the temple's map room. If you’ve already found a few out of order, don't sweat it too much—just try to watch the rest in sequence to save the story's momentum. After you finish the 11th, keep your eyes on the Akkala coastline. That's where the real truth waits.