Zelda The Wind Waker: Get The Ballad of Gales

How To Get The Ballad of Gales In Zelda The Wind Waker

By Daniel Hidalgo | 2025-06-10 09:11:54
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker features a vast open world set across the Great Sea, a sprawling ocean dotted with islands. While sailing is a core part of the adventure, traversing long distances can become tedious without a faster way to move. Fortunately, players can unlock fast travel by learning the Ballad of Gales, a powerful song that warps Link to key locations.
This guide explains how to unlock fast travel in The Wind Waker, detailing how to obtain the Ballad of Gales and listing all available warp locations.

How to Unlock Fast Travel in The Wind Waker


To fast travel, Link must first acquire two essential items:
  • The Wind Waker Baton – Received early in the game from the King of Red Lions after arriving at Dragon Roost Island.
  • The Bow – Found later in the Tower of the Gods dungeon after completing Dragon Roost Cavern and The Forbidden Woods.

    • Once you have both, you can seek out Cyclos, the wind god, who teaches the Ballad of Gales.

    Finding and Defeating Cyclos


    While sailing the Great Sea, watch for large tornadoes with whirlpools beneath them. One appears near Forsaken Fortress—sail into the whirlpool to be pulled upward.
    • Equip your Bow and shoot Cyclos (at the top of the tornado) three times.
    • After defeating him, Cyclos will teach Link the Ballad of Gales, unlocking fast travel.

    How to Play the Ballad of Gales


    To activate fast travel:


  • Tilt the left analog stick left to set the song to 4/4 time.
  • Use the right stick to input: ▼ ► ◄ ▲ (Down, Right, Left, Up).


    • This song can only be used while sailing on the King of Red Lions.

    All Fast Travel Locations in The Wind Waker


    The Ballad of Gales warps Link to nine key locations:


    • Dragon Roost Island
    • Forest Haven
    • Greatfish Isle
    • Mother and Child Isles
    • Outset Island
    • Southern Fairy Island
    • Tingle Island
    • Tower of the Gods
    • Windfall Island


    After playing the song, a short cutscene shows Link being whisked away in a tornado before arriving near the selected island.

    Why Fast Travel is Essential in The Wind Waker


    With the Great Sea’s massive scale, the Ballad of Gales significantly reduces backtracking. While it doesn’t cover everyisland, it provides quick access to major story and side quest hubs.

    Pro Tips for Faster Sailing


    • Swift Sail (HD Version Only): In The Wind Waker HD, the Swift Sail doubles boat speed.
    • Wind Adjustment: Use the Wind’s Requiem to change wind direction for smoother sailing.

    Final Thoughts


    Unlocking fast travel in The Wind Waker streamlines exploration, making the adventure more enjoyable. By defeating Cyclos and mastering the Ballad of Gales, players can skip lengthy sea voyages and focus on the game’s dungeons, puzzles, and secrets.


    For more Zelda tips, check out our guides on dungeon walkthroughs, heart piece locations, and hidden treasures!

    Platform(s): Nintendo Switch 2
    Developer(s): Nintendo EAD
    Publisher(s): Nintendo
    Mode:
    Age rating (PEGI): +7
    Video preview▶


    Other Articles Related

    All Bomb Bag Upgrade Locations in Zelda The Wind Waker
    Discover all Bomb Bag upgrade locations in Zelda: The Wind Waker. Enhance your gameplay with our comprehensive guide 
    Where To Find All Killer Bees in Zelda The Wind Waker
    Discover all the locations of Killer Bees in Zelda: The Wind Waker. Enhance your gameplay with our guide!
    How To Get Skull Necklaces In Zelda The Wind Waker
    Discover how to obtain Skull Necklaces in Zelda: The Wind Waker with our comprehensive guide. Unlock secrets 
    How To Get All Wind Waker Songs In Zelda The Wind Waker
    Discover all the enchanting songs from Zelda: The Wind Waker. Dive into the melodies that bring the adventure to life!
    How To Get Golden Feathers in Zelda The Wind Waker
    Discover how to collect Golden Feathers in Zelda: The Wind Waker with our comprehensive guide. Unlock secrets 
    How To Get Knight's Crest in Zelda The Wind Waker
    Discover how to obtain the Knight's Crest in Zelda: The Wind Waker with our comprehensive guide. Unlock secrets  
    How To Get The Ballad of Gales In Zelda The Wind Waker
    Discover how to obtain the Ballad of Gales in Zelda: The Wind Waker with our step-by-step guide. 
    How To Get The Hero's Sword in Zelda The Wind Waker
    Discover how to obtain the Hero's Sword in Zelda: The Wind Waker with our step-by-step guide. Unleash your adventure 
    How To Get The Master Sword In Zelda The Wind Waker
    Discover how to obtain the Master Sword in Zelda: The Wind Waker with our comprehensive guide. Unlock secrets  
    How To Get Joy Pendants in Zelda The Wind Waker
    Discover how to collect Joy Pendants in Zelda: The Wind Waker with our comprehensive guide. Unlock secrets and enhance your gameplay
    Where to Find Failume Heights Mini Cargo Trucks in Zenless Zone Zero
    Discover the best locations to find Failume Heights mini cargo trucks in Zenless Zone Zero. 
    How To Get Elixir Soup in Zelda The Wind Waker
    Discover how to obtain Elixir Soup in Zelda: The Wind Waker with our comprehensive guide. Boost your gameplay