How to use Zonai Dispensers in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

How to use Zonai Dispensers in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Images via Nintendo

Written by 

Harry Boulton

Published 

30th May 2023 11:20

Contents

Zonai dispensers are a new way to exchange your items in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, giving you a selection of exciting tools to use as you see fit. Zonai devices as a whole are completely new to the Zelda series, allowing players to manipulate the world with simple tools like mechanical fans, springs, and water pumps.

Of course, these devices are only useful within the game if you've got them to hand, so having the means to produce these tools would be incredibly strong.

Thankfully the Zonai Dispenser does exactly this, giving you a selection of Zonai devices that you can pull out at any moment to solve a problem you're facing.

So, check out the rest of this guide to find out all about Zonai dispensers in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, including how to use them and all of the rewards you can get.

How to use Zonai Dispensers in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Link depositing a bunch of items into the Zonai Dispenser in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Click to enlarge

Using Zonai dispensers in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a bit like cooking - all you need to do is place an item in the pot and the dispenser will spit out some Zonai devices in return. It is slightly more complicated than this though, as the dispenser does not accept most items in the game.

From our testing, it appears to only accept Zonai-related devices like Zonai charges and Construct materials, with the more valuable items dispensing far more items in return. A Large Zonai Charge, for example, gave us around ten different stores of Zonai devices, whereas a standard one only gave us one item back.

If you're not sure how to place the items into the pot to start the process, all you need to do is open up your inventory, select the item you wish to dispense and press the hold button, then walk up to the dispenser and press A when the prompt appears to start the process.

You don't have to worry about losing any of your items if they're incompatible either, as the dispenser will just send them right back to you if they aren't compatible. Any items that do work however will be consumed, so make sure you choose wisely.

Where can you find Zonai Dispensers?

A map showing the location of the Zonai Dispenser in Kakariko Village from Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. The map also shows the items that can be received from the Dispenser.
Click to enlarge
Images via Nintendo

Zonai Dispensers can be found in various locations across Hyrule and the skies above. The first one you will come across is on the Great Sky Island not too far from the In-Isa Shrine, along with the Steward Construct who will teach you how to use it.

Predominately, they can be found on the various islands that litter the skies of Hyrule. However, they can occasionally be found in some of the more significant settlements, such as Kakariko Village.

As you explore and build up your map by visiting different areas, the Zonai Dispensers will be marked by a small light-blue orb.

If you hover over the orb (as in the image above) you'll be able to see the items it can dispense, as well as the Zonai artefacts you are yet to obtain.

What are Zonai Dispensers?

Zonai dispensers are stations in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom that allow you to exchange a specified list of items for Zonai devices that can be used at a later date in time. These dispensers are dotted across the map but are typically found within the various Sky Islands that you will visit.

There are no exact exchanges or recipes that work consistently, and instead, you are given Zonai devices at random that differ between each different dispenser that you will find.

Zonai dispenser rewards

Link standing in front of a zonai dispenser that is dispensing lots of zonai balls
Click to enlarge

The rewards you will get in exchange for using the Zonai dispenser are a random assortment of Zonai devices that change across each of the different locations. For example, one dispenser might only give out Fans, Wings, Rockets, and Cooking Pots, whereas another might not include any of those.

Some of the items we have received so far include:

  • Fans
  • Wings
  • Rockets
  • Portable Cooking Pots
  • Water Fountains
  • Flame Emitters
  • Shock Emitters
  • Hydrants
  • Steering Sticks
  • Big Wheels
  • Batteries
  • Big Batteries
  • Lights
  • Homing Carts
  • Springs
  • Balloons
  • Time Bombs
  • Cannons
  • Stabilizers

Furthermore, as mentioned there are no specific 'recipes' as such, with the only consistency when using certain items being the number of Zonai devices you get back in return. The best item to use is definitely the Large Zonai Charge, as that will give you a significant number of devices to store in your inventory.

So, that's everything you need to know about the Zonai dispenser in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, going over how to use it and all of the rewards too.

Make sure that you check out our dedicated Zelda game page for all of the latest news and guides on the latest entry.

Harry Boulton
About the author
Harry Boulton
Harry is a Guides Writer at GGRecon, having completed a Masters of Research degree in Film Studies. Previously a freelance writer for PCGamesN, The Loadout, and Red Bull Gaming, he loves playing a wide variety of games from the Souls series to JRPGs, Counter-Strike, and EA FC. When not playing or writing about games and hardware, you're likely to find him watching football or listening to Madonna and Kate Bush.
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