You're standing in the middle of a ruined outpost in Hyrule, looking at a wall that looks like every other wall, and wondering why on earth you’re chasing a ghost story. Honestly, we've all been there. If you’re playing The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, you’ve likely stumbled upon the mention of Misko's treasure pirate manuscript. It’s one of those quests that makes you feel like a genuine detective, or at least someone who's really good at reading cryptic notes left behind by a legendary thief.
Misko isn't just some random NPC. In the lore of the game, this person was basically the Lupin of Hyrule. They stole the most iconic, powerful, and downright weird artifacts from the royal family and stashed them in caves across the map. The pirate manuscript specifically points you toward a very specific set of gear: the Tingle outfit. Yeah, the green jumpsuit. It’s ridiculous, but the stats—and the "Rupee-loving" legacy—make it a must-have for completionists.
Where Does the Quest Actually Start?
You don't just trip over this quest by accident. Well, you can, but it's easier if you go to Cephla Lake Cave first. Look for the two brothers, Domidak and Prissen, hanging out outside a tent near the Eldin Canyon region. They’re obsessed with Misko. After you help them out with a different treasure hunt involving a lot of dog feeding (seriously, bring apples for the dog), you can eventually buy "manuscripts" from them.
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The Misko's treasure pirate manuscript costs 100 Rupees. It’s a bargain when you realize it saves you from scouring the entire coastline of Necluda. The text itself is a bit of a riddle. It talks about a "hidden cave at the Cape Cales cliff face" that faces the Sea of Necluda. It mentions a "song of the pirate" and a secret entrance that only opens under specific conditions.
Cracking the Cape Cales Riddle
So, you head to Cape Cales. It’s that massive, jutting cliffside in the southeast, overlooking the Eventide Island area. Most players make the mistake of looking on top of the cliff. Don't do that. You’ll just waste your stamina and get a nice view of a Hinox you probably don't want to fight yet. The entrance to the Cape Cales Cliffbase Cave is literally at sea level.
You need to get down to the water.
The trick is the whistle. The manuscript hints at a sound or a signal. If you stand on a raft or a piece of driftwood right in front of the boarded-up cave entrance and press down on the D-pad to whistle—the same button you use to call your horse—the boards will splinter away. It’s a cool mechanic that the game doesn't explicitly tutorialize, which is why so many people get stuck swimming in circles.
Inside the Pirate's Den
Once you're inside, the vibe changes completely. It’s dark, damp, and looks exactly like where a legendary thief would hide their best loot. There’s a giant pirate ship inside the cave. Yes, a whole ship.
- You'll need to deal with some monsters.
- The ship is crawling with Stal-enemies (skeletons) that wake up when you get close.
- Don't ignore the crates; Misko was a hoarder, and there are useful materials scattered around.
The actual treasure—the Tingle’s Tights—is located in a chest on the ship. But wait, there’s a nuance here. The "Pirate Manuscript" is specifically tied to the Tingle gear, but Misko has other manuscripts too. If you're confused because you found a piece of the Climbing Gear or the Barbarian Armor, you’re likely following a different manuscript, like the "Twins Manuscript" or the "Fierce Deity" one. The Pirate one is strictly for the Cape Cales location.
Why Misko Matters for Your Playthrough
Misko’s gear isn't just about fashion. Each piece usually has a secondary effect that changes how you interact with Hyrule. The Tingle set, for instance, gives you a "Night Speed Up" bonus if you wear the whole thing. It’s creepy, sure, but moving faster at night while looking like a 35-year-old man who thinks he's a fairy is a vibe you can't get anywhere else.
Nintendo designed these quests to encourage exploration of the cave systems, which are arguably the best part of the Tears of the Kingdom overworld. Unlike the shrines, which feel clinical and puzzle-heavy, Misko's caves feel lived-in. They have a history.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
People often try to use Ultrahand on the cave door. It won't work. It’s a sound-based trigger. Also, check your weather. If it’s a massive storm, navigating the water near Cape Cales is a nightmare because the waves will toss your boat around. If you don't have a boat, just glide down from the top of the cliff and aim for the small wooden platform near the door.
Another thing: make sure you actually have the quest active in your log. While you can technically find the treasure without the manuscript, having the quest marker makes life significantly easier. Talk to Domidak again if the prompt isn't showing up. Sometimes the game gets finicky if you haven't finished the initial "Misko's Treasure" intro quest.
The Lore Behind the Thief
There’s a lot of debate in the Zelda community about who Misko actually was. Some think they were a contemporary of the current Hyrule, while others point to the ancient nature of the gear as proof that Misko lived hundreds of years ago. The fact that they have the "Fierce Deity" mask—an item from a literal different dimension if you follow Majora's Mask lore—suggests Misko was more than just a common crook. They were a dimension-hopping collector.
Your Next Steps in Hyrule
Now that you've got the Misko's treasure pirate manuscript sorted and the Tingle's Tights in your inventory, don't stop there. The "Pirate" manuscript is just one of three that Domidak and Prissen sell. You should immediately head back to them to trigger the next two: the "Twins Manuscript" and the "Droplet Manuscript."
- Go to the Dueling Peaks for the Twins quest. You'll need to look at the ceiling of one cave to solve the floor puzzle of another. It’s a classic "mirror image" riddle.
- Prepare for a swim for the Droplet quest. It’s located in the Lanayru region and involves a very specific timing puzzle with the water levels.
- Upgrade the gear. Take your new loot to a Great Fairy. Misko’s treasures often require rare materials like Star Fragments or specific monster guts to reach their full potential.
Finding the treasure is only half the battle; using it to survive the tougher regions of the Depths is where the real game begins. Keep your ears open for the sound of whistling wind—in Misko's world, it usually means you're standing right on top of a fortune.