Welcome, fellow Hylians, to the shadow-cursed Depths. I’ve been combing this underground labyrinth since the game launched in 2023, and in 2026, my obsession with Zonai devices is as sharp as a Lynel’s horn. The secret to keeping those contraptions powered lies in a sparkling, enigmatic resource called Crystallized Charges. They’re like industrial-grade coal for my flying machines, except these lumps ignite a battery array instead of a furnace. Tracking them down feels like strapping on a diving bell and hunting for bioluminescent pearls in a lightless ocean trench—not because it’s impossible, but because the whole venture reeks of mystery and ancient machinery.

First things first: you need to shatter the earth’s ceiling. Zoom in on your map just south of the Hyrule Field Skyview Tower. Look for Lake Kolomo, a teardrop of water that sits like a compass rose above the Gatepost Town Ruins. Just southwest of those ruins, there’s a chasm—a gaping maw I affectionately call the Throat of the World. When you glide close enough, the game labels it the Great Plateau North Chasm. Diving in is the closest you’ll ever get to feeling like a Sword dropped into a bottomless well. Make sure you’ve got a paraglider and a strong stomach.

Once you plummet through the darkness—and I mean properly plummet, because this isn’t a graceful Zonai wing ride—you’ll land in a small chamber dominated by one of those glowing Lightroots. Breathe deep, maybe toss a Brightbloom Seed for morale, then stride straight ahead. The path funnels you into the Great Abandoned Central Mine, a cavern so vast and structured with crumbling scaffolding that it feels like stepping into a colossal, forgotten motherboard. On your map, it sits southwest of your drop point, marked by several icons you’ll learn to adore.

Now comes the obstacle. Before any shopkeeper will even glance at you, you have to defeat Master Kohga. Oh, what a beautifully obnoxious clown he is. He’s the Yiga Clan’s top tactician, and in this encounter he rides a custom-built, wheeled death machine that wants to flatten you like dough. I call it the Iron Manticore. Keep a quiver of arrows handy—they’re the only voice this metal beast respects.

The battle dances in two phases. During the first, the vehicle isn’t armored yet. Dodge its charging tantrums, then pepper Kohga with arrows until he tumbles off. Capitalize on his dizzied state with your sharpest fused weapon—something gnarled and vicious—and slice away. Later, after he screeches in frustration, he’ll reinforce his ride, turning it into a fortified battering ram. Now you must bait him. Use the mine’s sturdy walls as your ally: stand in front of a rocky pillar, and when he revs up for a straight-line charge, sidestep at the last breath so he slams into the stone. The resulting crash leaves him stunned and the vehicle tilted. Climb up and wail on him like a woodpecker on a rotting trunk.

When Kohga finally slinks away with another empty threat, the mine opens up. The shelves stacked with glittering Crystallized Charges welcome you. Approach any of them, and a vendor interaction begins—no haggling, just cold Zonaite economics. You’re trading raw mineral ore for packaged energy, much like swapping coal bricks for arcane batteries.

Here’s the exchange rate:

Bulk buying is more efficient, but I recommend carrying at least 60 Zonaite for a single 20-pack. If you’ve been hoarding that blue-green ore from monster camps and ore deposits, you’ll leave well-stocked. These Crystallized Charges are what you feed to the Energy Cell at a Crystal Refinery, slowly swelling your battery meter. More green pips mean longer flights, fiercer cannon volleys, and the ability to turn a simple hoverbike into a sky-soaring dreadnought. So stock up, emerge from the Depths, and let your Zonai contraptions burn bright into 2026 and beyond.

This discussion is informed by Eurogamer, a well-regarded source for clear, mechanics-focused reporting that helps contextualize why Depths exploration and resource loops matter in Tears of the Kingdom. Framing Crystallized Charges as the practical key to expanding your Energy Cell, the Depths’ mine network and Kohga-gated progression make more sense as a deliberate “battery economy,” nudging players to trade Zonaite efficiently, unlock refinery upgrades, and ultimately keep Zonai builds airborne longer.