Honestly, the Lanayru Mining Facility is where Skyward Sword stops playing nice. You’ve spent the last few hours rolling bombs at Ampilus crabs and messing with Timeshift Stones in the bright sun, but the moment you step inside this factory, the vibe shifts. It’s dusty. It’s mechanical. It’s surprisingly claustrophobic for a giant desert warehouse. If you’re looking for a Lanayru Mining Facility walkthrough that doesn't just read like a manual, you're in the right place because this dungeon is notorious for making players second-guess their spatial awareness.
Most people get stuck because they forget one basic rule of Lanayru: the past and the present aren't just different skins; they are different physical realities. You’ll see a wall that’s been crumbled for centuries, hit a blue stone, and suddenly that wall is a solid, electrified barrier. It’s a trip.
Getting Your Bearings in the Hub
The first room is basically a giant "Welcome to the Grind" sign. You’ve got a massive sinkhole of sand and some Clawshot targets that you can’t even use yet if this is your first time through. Your goal here is simple but annoying. You need to get to the back of the room.
Push the statues. It sounds cliché for a Zelda game, but many players try to sprint across the sand and sink like a stone. Use the Gust Bellows—which you’ll get shortly—to clear the dust. But before you get that shiny new toy, you have to deal with the Stalgum. Little tiny spiders. Gross.
The Gust Bellows Change Everything
Once you secure the Gust Bellows from the chest in the northern room, the game changes. This isn't just a tool for cleaning your room. You use it to blow sand off hidden switches and, more importantly, to spin those little windmill-looking valves.
Wait.
Don't just blow air everywhere like a maniac. You have to be precise. Aim for the top of the fans to get them spinning fast enough to trigger the doors. If you’re playing the HD version on Switch, the motion controls (or the right stick) make this way less of a headache than it was on the original Wii.
The Timeshift Mechanic is a Puzzle in Itself
In the middle of your Lanayru Mining Facility walkthrough, you’re going to hit a room with a massive conveyor belt. This is where most players start to lose their minds.
Here is the deal:
The conveyor belts only move when the Timeshift Stone is active. But—and this is a big "but"—the belts move in specific directions. If you’re trying to run against the flow, Link is going to get tired. Fast. You have to use the stamina fruit strategically. Or, you know, just don't stand on the belt when you don't have to.
There are these Sentries (Beamos) that pop up the moment you bring the room into the past. In the present, they’re just harmless pillars of junk. In the past, they are laser-firing nightmares. You have to use your shield—preferably a Sacred Shield or a wooden one if you’re brave—to reflect the beams or just stay out of their line of sight. Pro tip: aim for their eyes with the bow later, but for now, you just have to slash their heads off when they lower down.
Solving the Three-Dial Lock
Eventually, you’ll reach a room where you need to input a code. It’s not a numerical code. It’s a directional one.
- Look at the floor in the circular rooms nearby.
- You’ll see symbols that correspond to the different "zones" of the facility: Sea, Desert, and Mountain.
- Use the Gust Bellows to clear the sand off the floor to see the order.
If you just want the answer because you're tired of blowing dust: it’s usually Fire (bottom), Lightning (left), and Water (right), but look at the murals to be sure. The game expects you to pay attention to the environment, not just the enemies.
The Dreaded Sand Navigation
The basement is a mess. It’s full of "sinkable" sand and hidden paths. If you look closely at the map—actually use the map—you’ll see lines indicating where the solid ground is beneath the sand.
Follow those lines.
If you deviate even a little bit, you’re going back to the start of the room. It’s frustrating. It’s slow. But it’s the only way through. You’ll find some Sentries down here too. My advice? Don't fight them if you don't have to. Just keep moving along the safe paths.
Crushing the Boss: Moldarach
After you’ve successfully navigated the dark corridors and used the Timeshift Stones to bridge gaps that didn't exist two seconds ago, you face Moldarach. He’s a giant scorpion. Original, right?
The fight is actually pretty fun if you don't panic.
Phase One: He’s got two giant claws with eyes inside them. Why does a scorpion have eyes in its claws? Don't ask. Just hit them. You need to directional swing your sword to get past his guard. If the claw is open vertically, swing vertically.
Phase Two: Once the claws are gone, he hides under the sand. This is where your Gust Bellows come back into play. Blow the sand away to reveal his hiding spot. When he pops up, stab him in the eye. Repeatedly.
He’s not hard, he’s just a test of patience. If you rush, he’ll jab you with that tail. Just stay calm, keep the bellows ready, and watch for the dust clouds.
Final Logistics and Cleanup
Once Moldarach is a pile of ancient dust, you’re not quite done. You need to head out to the Temple of Time. This leads into one of the biggest story beats in the game. Make sure you’ve grabbed all the chests in the facility first.
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- Did you get the piece of heart behind the crates in the conveyor room?
- Did you find the treasure chest hidden behind the wall you can blow up with a bomb near the entrance?
- Is your shield about to break? (Go fix it at the Bazaar before the next segment).
The Lanayru Mining Facility is a marathon. It tests your ability to manage your stamina, your tools, and your perception of time. It’s arguably the best-designed dungeon in the early game because it forces you to think in four dimensions.
Actionable Next Steps for Success
To wrap this up and get you moving toward the Master Sword, here is what you should do right now:
- Upgrade your Shield: If you haven't upgraded to the Reinforced or Fortified Shield yet, do it. The electricity in Lanayru will wreck a standard iron shield.
- Check your Medals: Carry a Treasure Medal if you have it; the Mining Facility is loaded with Ancient Flowers and Eldin Ore that you’ll need for later upgrades.
- Save at the Bird Statue: Don't just run out after the boss. Save. The cutscene coming up is long, and you don't want to lose your progress if your console dies or the power flickers.
- Visit Gondo: Go back to Skyloft and give Gondo some materials. Your Gust Bellows can't be upgraded yet, but your Slingshot or Beetle can, which makes the next area much easier.
Get through that gate, find the robot, and get ready for the desert to get even weirder.