Haunted Wasteland

1. Entering the Wasteland

After speaking to the Gerudo guard atop the watchtower near the fortress exit to open the large gate, cross the river of sinking sand directly ahead using your Hover Boots or by targeting wooden crates with the Longshot. Step carefully across the moving quicksand so you do not sink into the hazard.

2. The Flagged Path and Merchant Detour

Follow the sequence of flags marking the initial safe passage through the sandstorm. If you wish, take the optional left branching path along the wooden bridge deviation to find the Flying Carpet Merchant floating on an oasis platform, where paying his fee provides a bundle of Bombchus. Return to the main trail once you are done to continue toward the outpost.

3. Exploring the Stone Ruins Basement

Head into the two-level stone ruins and descend beneath the stairs into the lower torchlit basement chamber. Defeat the Gold Skulltula clinging to the wall between two torches and collect its token using your Hookshot, Longshot, or by climbing the wall. While here, use fire to light all three basement torches to spawn a consumable Business Scrub Seed reward.

Tip: Use the Longshot or Hookshot to easily nab the token from between the torches.

4. Awakening the Phantom Guide

Ascend to the rooftop platform of the stone ruins and interact with the stone plaque. Activate your Lens of Truth to reveal the hidden spectral Poe known as the Phantom Guide. Agree to accept the guide's help so it begins floating across the dunes to show you the safe passage through the storm.

Tip: Keep the Lens of Truth active so you do not lose sight of the Poe.

5. Braving the Final Dunes

Trail the Phantom Guide closely along the winding paths through the sandstorm toward the exit archway leading to the Desert Colossus. Spiky, rotating Leevers will continually erupt from the sand, but you should dodge around them with your sword ready rather than halting your movement. Keep pace with the floating guide all the way to the exit archway to finish your crossing to the Spirit Temple quest area.

Tip: Sprint and dodge past the Leevers instead of stopping to fight so you never fall behind your spectral guide.

The short version

What matters

• Collecting Gold Skulltula Token #91 from the wall between the two torches inside the ruins basement.
• Following the Phantom Guide closely across the dunes to reach the Desert Colossus and Spirit Temple.
• Lighting the three basement torches if you require a Business Scrub Seed consumable reward.

Common mistakes

• Stopping to attack burrowing Leevers during the final dune trek; bypass them so you do not lose the Phantom Guide and get reset to the outpost.
• Walking into the sandstorm without looking through the Lens of Truth atop the ruins; the Phantom Guide is invisible without it.
• Wandering off the flagged route or trailing off the guide's path, which sends Link back to the entrance or stone ruins.

What you can skip

• You can bypass the left detour to the Flying Carpet Merchant if you do not want to spend rupees on Bombchus.