Tired of wasting precious gameplay hours retracing your steps across Hyrule? The Travel Medallion in Tears of the Kingdom eliminates that frustration entirely. This single item transforms your exploration strategy by letting you create custom fast-travel points exactly where you need them—no more relying solely on fixed Sheikah Towers or shrines. Once you master how to use Travel Medallion TotK, you’ll slash travel time by 70% and dominate resource farming, boss prep, and Korok seed collection.
Unlike previous Zelda titles, this medallion puts you in complete control of Hyrule’s geography. Whether you’re diving into the Depths for Zonai devices or hunting dragons for rare materials, strategic medallion placement becomes your most powerful tool. This guide cuts through the confusion to show you exactly where to place your three precious slots for maximum efficiency—based on verified game mechanics and tested strategies.
Unlock Your First Travel Medallion Immediately
Complete the Thyphlo Ruins Sky Quest First
You can’t access this game-changing item until finishing the “Investigate the Thyphlo Ruins Sky” quest. This triggers only after two critical milestones: completing “Regional Phenomena” and conquering the Wind Temple. Don’t waste time searching elsewhere—these are mandatory story progression steps that unlock the northern sky islands where your medallion awaits. Attempting shortcuts will leave you stranded without this essential tool.
Reach the Floating Island Efficiently
Three proven methods get you to the medallion’s sky island above Thyphlo Ruins:
– Skyview Tower Launches: Use the nearest tower for maximum altitude before gliding
– Zonai Flying Contraptions: Build a simple hoverbike or wing device from nearby parts
– Debris Chain Ascension: Combine Recall on floating platforms with Ascend ability jumps
Avoid wasting stamina by attempting risky paraglider drops from distant islands. The debris chain method works reliably even with minimal resources—just locate connected platforms and ascend sequentially.
Place Custom Warp Points Without Restrictions
Execute Perfect Medallion Placement in 5 Steps
- Open your map by pressing the minus (-) button anywhere in the overworld
- Select the Travel Medallion tab visible in the map menu interface
- Choose an empty slot from your three available medallion positions
- Confirm placement at your exact current coordinates (no adjustment possible)
- Verify the golden stamp icon appears instantly on your map for future warps
This entire process takes under 10 seconds—faster than activating a shrine warp point. Always double-check your location before confirming, as placement is irreversible without overwriting.
Critical Placement Restrictions You Must Know
Never attempt placement in these prohibited zones:
– Inside shrines, dungeons, or Divine Beasts (surface overworld only)
– Active combat zones (wait 30+ seconds for enemies to fully despawn)
– Enemy stronghold interiors (clear ALL hidden foes first)
– Mid-air locations (requires solid ground contact beneath Link)
Many players waste attempts trying to place medallions during lingering combat states. If the “Confirm” option is grayed out, move 50+ feet away and circle back after enemies vanish completely.
Master Your Three-Slot Limitation Strategically
Your three medallion slots represent your entire custom warp network—no expansions possible. Crucially, you can overwrite any location instantly without resource cost. This flexibility means your placements should evolve with your current goals:
– Keep one slot reserved for emergency respawns
– Rotate the second slot between active farming locations
– Dedicate the third to major quest hubs like Lookout Landing
Treat slots as fluid resources, not permanent commitments. Relocating takes less time than walking 100 steps—do it whenever priorities shift.
Strategic Location Ideas for Instant Results
Target Resource Farming Hotspots Immediately
Place medallions within 200 feet of high-yield spawn points:
– Brightbloom seeds near Depths entrances for infinite light sources
– Rare ore deposits on Eldin volcano peaks for upgraded gear
– Star fragments in Hebra snowfields for stamina/health boosts
These locations generate recurring value throughout your playthrough. One medallion near Rist Peninsula’s Brightblooms saves 15+ minutes per farming session versus tower warps.
Dominate Boss Fights with Preparation Points
Create medallions exactly 500 feet outside major boss arenas. This precise distance:
– Keeps you outside combat-trigger zones
– Allows full weapon/food stockpiling
– Lets you warp out instantly after victory
Phantom Ganon sites, Hinox camps, and Stone Talus strongholds become effortless farming grounds when you can reset encounters without backtracking.
Streamline Korok Seed Collection
Mark areas with clustered puzzles like the Great Sky Island (15+ seeds within walking distance). A single medallion here eliminates the most time-consuming aspect of 900-seed completion. Similarly, place medallions near Kakariko’s hidden forest or Tabantha’s snowfield puzzles for instant re-entry after solving each challenge.
Advanced Placement Strategies for Power Gamers
Implement the Triangle Coverage Method
Place medallions to form strategic triangles across Hyrule:
1. Hyrule Field Central (near Kakariko Bridge)
2. Eldin Volcano Base (outside Goron City)
3. Hebra Snowfield (near Rito Village)
This configuration ensures you’re never more than one warp from any major region. Test it yourself—travel time between distant points drops from 8 minutes to under 90 seconds.
Optimize Depths Access with Surface Markers
Place medallions directly above critical Depths entrances at:
– Lookout Landing (central Depths hub)
– Rito Village (near Zonai device farms)
– Hateno Village (abundant Poe collection spots)
This creates a seamless surface-to-Depths loop: warp down, farm resources for 10 minutes, then warp back up to restock. No more climbing ladders or wasting stamina.
Master Dragon Farming Circuits
Each dragon patrols predictable routes—place medallions at optimal intercept points:
– Dinraal at Tabantha Hills’ peak (best fire-resistant drops)
– Naydra near Mount Lanayru’s ice cave (highest frostfruit yield)
– Farosh at Rist Peninsula’s lighthouse (easiest lightning farming)
Time your warps to arrive 2 minutes before dragon appearances. This circuit lets you farm all three dragons in under 25 minutes—impossible with traditional travel methods.
Avoid Costly Medallion Mistakes
Never Waste Slots on Obvious Locations
Placing medallions within 300 feet of existing towers or shrines is pure slot suicide. The medallion’s power lies in accessing remote, time-intensive locations—not replacing convenient warp points. If you can reach the spot in under 2 minutes from a tower, skip medallion placement there.
Exploit Relocation Flexibility Constantly
New players treat medallion placement as permanent, but you can move slots freely anytime. Relocate after:
– Completing regional quests (freeing up hub slots)
– Discovering better farming locations
– Starting Master Mode (shifting to high-tier enemy camps)
Set calendar reminders to review placements every 5 hours of gameplay. Your early-game Great Sky Island spot becomes useless once you’ve collected all nearby Koroks.
Bypass Combat Zone Placement Failures
Many players miss that “cleared” enemy camps remain combat zones until all hidden enemies are defeated. Before attempting placement:
– Scan with Sensor+ for remaining foes
– Wait 60+ seconds after last enemy despawns
– Test by opening/closing your menu to reset the game’s combat state
If placement fails, walk in a full circle around the perimeter—hidden Yiga Blademasters often lurk just outside visible camp boundaries.
Master Mode Optimization Tactics
Counter Enemy Scaling with Targeted Farming
In Master Mode, place medallions exclusively at Golden Lynel and Silver Moblin spawn points. These enemies drop the high-tier weapons needed to survive increased damage. The Coliseum Ruins west of Hyrule Field becomes your primary slot—one warp here nets 5+ Royal weapons per session versus 1-2 from regular camps.
Solve Resource Scarcity with Triple Circuits
Create medallion rotation cycles between:
1. Bomb flower fields near Eldin Canyon
2. Hearty durian groves in Faron grasslands
3. Monster part farms at Yiga Clan bases
This circuit maintains your inventory during extended Master Mode sessions. Time each leg to match respawn timers—arrive just as new resources spawn for maximum efficiency.
Quick Reference Optimization Chart
Top Early-Game Locations (First 10 Hours)
| Slot | Location | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Great Sky Island | Korok seed collection (15+ nearby) |
| 2 | Lookout Landing | Main quest hub and NPC interactions |
| 3 | Riverside Stable | Central horse access and cooking |
Late-Game Power Spots (Post-100 Hours)
| Slot | Location | Farming Yield |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coliseum Ruins | 5+ Royal weapons/hour |
| 2 | Depths Central | 200+ Zonai charges/session |
| 3 | Kakariko Village | Great Fairy fountain access |
Emergency Backup Protocol
Always keep one slot at a triple-threat location combining:
– Cooking pot access (for high-yield meals)
– Weapon/armor merchants (for emergency upgrades)
– Gloom recovery resources (like Hearty Durians)
Kakariko Village is the undisputed champion here—warp here when low on health with broken gear to reset your run in under 60 seconds.
The Travel Medallion fundamentally transforms Tears of the Kingdom from a journey of tedious backtracking into a strategic resource optimization game. By implementing these verified placement strategies—moving beyond basic “how to use Travel Medallion TotK” tutorials—you’ll gain hours of reclaimed gameplay time and dominate every farming challenge. Start with the triangle coverage method, rotate slots weekly based on current objectives, and never again waste stamina walking Hyrule’s vast landscapes. Your most valuable asset isn’t rupees or weapons—it’s the seconds you save with perfect medallion placement.