The Sage powers in Depth easier to explore, which the developers may not have even intended.
However, the final Sage power in TOTK is a bit of a letdown. There's a lot of buildup to it - it's by design the last Sage ability that players can claim, which can lead players to expect that it's some all-powerful, all-encoming boon that would break the entire game if it were introduced earlier. But it's not. The final Sage power simply doesn't live up to the potential it undeniably has, even when it's fully equipped and upgraded.
TOTK's Vow Of Mineru Is Too Slow
The Construct summoned by the Vow of Mineru just doesn't pull its weight in TOTK. It's supposed to be a combat powerhouse, marching rhythmically into battle and swinging its multi-ted arms in all directions, swiping enemies off their feet. However, it's just too slow to live up to its potential - it lags behind more often than it charges ahead. If it's well-equipped, it can do a fair bit of damage when it finally gets going, but Link will often finish a battle before the construct even gets started. It also rapidly depletes Link's battery power, so players had better hope they have their Energy Cells upgraded to a high capacity.
TOTK players have two options when using Mineru's mech in battle: pilot it directly, or leave it to its own devices. Unfortunately, neither of these strategies are particularly viable, although fighting alongside the construct can be slightly more effective than controlling it. It's still very slow, lumbering lazily around the battlefield while Link does backflips and wings weapons at enemies. However, that's the very reason why letting the construct move independently is preferable: it frees up Link to do his thing, while occasionally swooping in to deliver a hefty hit. It's far from his best ally in battle, but it couldn't hurt to use it from time to time.
However, the other TOTK Sages are far better choices when it comes to combat. Yunobo's roll can wipe whole enemy groups off the battlefield. Tulin's wind can stun them and make them vulnerable to attack, while Riju's lightning can make them drop their weapons. Sidon's bubble is a more versatile defensive option than the Vow of Mineru's shield, since it doesn't require Link to sacrifice mobility to absorb attacks. Ultimately, Mineru's construct is fun to mess around with when players first unlock it, and can be helpful when crossing hazardous areas like the Gloom-blighted Depths. But as soon as it loses its novelty, it's rarely useful.
How To Get Mineru's Vow In TOTK
The hoops players have to jump through to unlock the Vow of Mineru in TOTK only make the realization that it's practically useless more disappointing. First, players will have to complete the bulk of the main quest - the multi-stage mission called "Regional Phenomena," which tasks players with completing dungeons in four major settlements spread all over the map. Afterward, players will return to Lookout Landing and speak with Purah, who sends them into Hyrule Castle in pursuit of Zelda. The "princess" leads Link on a wild goose chase throughout the castle, culminating in a boss fight with ten Phantom Ganons. After explaining to Purah that the Zelda sighted was an impostor, players can begin the quest "Find the Fifth Sage."
"Find the Fifth Sage" starts in Kakariko Village, which players may have visited earlier in TOTK to check out the mysterious Ring Ruins. Now, though, players will finally discover their true significance in the quest "Secret of the Ring Ruins." Players will now be allowed to enter the Ring Ruin that Tauro previously forbade them from getting near, where they can take a picture of the stone slab inside using Link's Purah Pad. Next, they'll have to travel to Dracozu Lake, where players will have to find several pieces of armor and solve two riddles. Then, they must travel to the newly-appeared sky archipelago Thunderhead Isles. On Dragonhead Island, they'll find a large, closed door.
Not unlike the Master Sword, this door requires TOTK players to have collected at least 10 Heart Containers to open it. A beam of light will emerge, pointing players in the direction of the final quest in this line: "Guidance from Ages Past." This is a whole extra dungeon, in which players have to visit a series of locations to collect the various parts to Mineru's robot and essentially construct it themselves. Once this is complete, though, players will finally have access to the Vow of Mineru, Sage of Spirit.
Upgrading And Modifying Mineru's Construct In TOTK
Like all other Sages' Vows, the Vow of Mineru can be upgraded after finding Sage's Wills, located all across TOTK's sky islands. Players can turn these in at any one of TOTK's Goddess Statues to forge the Solemn Vow of Mineru, which increases the construct's attack. It's not the most useful upgrade, so players should save this one until after they've upgraded some of the more practical Sage powers.
There's a far simpler - and more adaptable - way to make the Vow of Mineru more powerful, though. Players can fuse anything they want to the construct's arms or back in order to grant it a variety of upgrades. Put a spiked ball on its arm, and it'll use it to smash enemies. Put a rocket on its back, and it'll gain the ability to jump. Fans increase its speed, springs defend it from behind, and cannons give it an option for ranged attack. As with all other Zonai Devices, these parts will eventually break when they run out of juice. Despite being only marginal and temporary upgrades, they make up the coolest feature of Mineru's construct: its customizability.
Even though Mineru's construct isn't particularly useful in combat, it has its perks. It's a great way for players to quickly and painlessly travel over difficult terrain. When allowed to fight for itself, it can sometimes help gain the upper hand in battle. Its customization feature is a fascinating idea, even if it doesn't reach its full potential. DLC could address this with additional Sage's Wills, or a variety of new Zonai Device interactions. In its current form, the Vow of Mineru is far from the best Sage ability. However, obtaining it is a necessary part of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom's story, so players will need to unlock it to complete the game no matter what.
