The Story Back in the mists of time, before the era of The Legend of Zelda and The Adventure of Link, Hyrule was a land of fabulous palaces and magic. It was also a troubled land, and the divisions of Light and Dark were tearing it apart. The origins of this conflict lay even deeper in the shadows of time, with the coming of the Triforce and the greed of Ganondorf, King of Thieves. To comprehend Hyrule and Link's desperate quest, one must first know the ancient legend of the Triforce. In the Golden Land, where it was placed by the creators of the world, the Triforce beckoned to people. Ganon and his band of thieves long searched for the secret entrance to the Golden Land, eventually stumbling upon it. Then Ganon defeated his fellows for possession of the Triforce. In a period known as the Imprisoning War, the King of Hyrule brought seven wise men together to seal the door to the Golden Land, for Ganon's evil power had been spilling forth, causing corruption and darkness. The once peaceful land became a place of dreadful rumors of the coming of a magical enemy. At this time the Master Sword was forged, but there was no hero valiant enough to wield it. Before the wise men could seal off the Golden Land and the Triforce, Ganon's army surged into Hyrule and besieged the castle. The Knights of Hyrule fought heroically, but the power of the Triforce controlled their enemies, giving them inhuman strength. The battle raged back and forth through the gate. Many foes fell in the tide of battle, but too many Knights also were lost. It seemed that they were beyond hope. Then, at the end of the day, the wise men finally succeeded in blocking the door to Ganon's Realm. With the power of their master removed, the enemies fled or threw themselves into the moat. Hyrule was saved and over the years the Golden Land, which then became known as the Dark World, faded from the memory of people. The people of Hyrule may have forgotten about the Dark World, but the master of that evil land had not forgotten about Hyrule. Ganon brooded in his prison, surrounded by reminders of his fall. He grew ever more bitter as the dark years passed like the wailing of cold winds on a winter's night. Ambition burned in his eyes. He would find a way to wreak vengeance and claim total power. Many centuries passed with Ganon and the Triforce safely locked away. Then the disasters began: plague, drought, quakes, and fire. The King sought sage advice and a wizard named Agahnim stepped forth to end the strange disasters. He became a powerful advisor to the King, but he kept his true plans to himself. It seemed like a Golden Age, but it wouldn't last. Once Agahnim had consolidated his power, he began to abuse it. First to fall victim were the ancestors of the seven wise men. The wizard imprisoned 6 maidens in crystal cocoons and they were never seen again. Then princess Zelda herself was taken as she sent a telepathic plea into the night. The Hylian gift that enabled Zelda to send her message also allowed Link to hear her. Having received Zelda's message, Link felt compelled to save her, but his Uncle forbade him to leave the house. Link's Uncle thought that the lad's courage outweighed his common sense, yet he knew that something had to be done to save Zelda. Turning away from Link, he gripped his sword. He knew a secret entrance into the castle, although he didn't know the way out. Link couldn't tell how much time had passed since his Uncle had left - a minute? an hour? The only thing he knew was that Zelda had spoken to him. He had to help her! Taking a lamp to light his way, Link stepped into the lashing rain and headed toward the castle. As Link floundered about in the storm, he heard a second telepathic message from Zelda telling of a secret route into the castle. When he found the entrance, he also found his Uncle inside, wounded and unable to carry on. Link took his Uncle's sword and promised to return. Swords, Shields, & Armor Swords The Fighter's Sword The Sword is Link's main weapon. He cannot proceed through the game without it. You'll get the Fighter's Sword when you first meet Link's Uncle inside the secret entrance to Hyrule Castle. If you hold down the sword button until the tip of the sword flashes yellow, and you hear a sound, you can use the Whirling Blade Technique by releasing the button. Also, walking with the sword button held will let you walk anywhere while still facing in the same direction, and your shield will continuously block on one side of you. You'll find that Link always uses his sword with his left hand, except while facing east. This causes his shield to always face Death Mountain when he's fighting to the east or west. Later, you can use your sword or other items to attack a chicken. If you attack a chicken repeatedly, eventually the entire flock will retaliate against you. Just pick up the chicken you've been attacking to clear the flock. The Master Sword This is the legendary sword of evil's bane. You must win the Pendants of Courage, Power, and Wisdom, and then retrieve the Master Sword from its resting place in the Lost Woods. With this sword, you'll be able to use the beam attack when your hearts are full. Only the true hero can wield the Master Sword. The Bronze Sword Find the Blacksmith's partner in the lower part of the Village of Outcasts and lead him to his home in the Light World. In return, the two of them will temper your sword, giving you even greater offensive power. The Golden Sword The Golden Sword is the most powerful sword anyone has seen in the land of Hyrule. Use the Super Bomb to blow open the cracked wall in the Pyramid. Inside, throw your sword into the Wishing Pond, and the fat Faerie will reward your honesty with this devastating weapon. Don't forget to throw your arrows in the pond while you're there. You'll get the Silver Arrows (required to defeat Ganon) in return. Shields The Fighter's Shield As with the Fighter's Sword, you'll receive this shield from Link's Uncle inside the secret entrance to Hyrule Castle. The Red Shield After you obtain the Flippers, visit the Waterfall of Wishing. Along with the Boomerang, throw in your Fighter's Shield. You'll now have defense against fireballs. While you have the Fighter's or Red Shield, be careful in the Dark World when you come across Pikit, a strange little flower with a very long tongue. He'll steal your shield if he gets the chance (except for the Mirror Shield). If he gets your shield, destroy him before he takes anything else from you, and you'll get it back. Otherwise, you'll have to buy a new shield at one of the shops. The Mirror Shield Found inside Turtle Rock, the Mirror Shield will protect you from eye beams, as well as giving you overall better protection. Also, if you hold the sword button, you can continuously block eye beams and dangerous projectiles on the side your shield is facing. Armor The Green Jerkin This is the clothing Link starts out in. It will protect a person from the cold, but is of little benefit for defense. The Blue Mail Deep inside the Ice Palace, you'll find the Blue Mail. It offers more protection than Link's standard clothing. The Red Mail The Red Mail lies hidden in Ganon's Tower. It provides the best defense, reducing the amount of damage Link takes from enemies. Non-selectable Items All of the items below either operate automatically when Link requires their use, or can be activated using the A-Button. Some of them have no direct function, but help Link on his quest by increasing his life, magic power, or wealth. Link's Special Items The Pegasus Shoes When you successfully retrieve the Pendant of Courage from the Eastern Palace, proceed to the Village Elder's hideout. You'll learn more of the legend of the Knights of Hyrule, and you'll get the Pegasus Shoes, which enable you to dash (run) quickly, and bash into things. Dash-bash into trees to find Rupees, Faeries, and bees. Be careful, though. Bees in trees come in swarms. Zora's Flippers Make sure you have at least 500 Rupees on hand, and travel to Zora's Falls. Zora will sell you the Flippers. Now you'll be able to swim even in the deepest waters. The Power Glove Unlock the secrets of the Desert Palace, and find the big treasure chest holding the Power Glove. This glove will help you to lift the light-colored green stones you find nearly everywhere in Hyrule. Titan's Mitt Within Gargoyle's Domain, you'll get your hands on Titan's Mitt. It will give you the power to lift the darker green stones you can't lift with the Power Glove. The Moon Pearl What magic does the mystical Moon Pearl hold, which allows it to overcome the formidable power of the Triforce? No one knows for sure, but Link will retain his human (Hylian) form even in the Dark World, after you've gotten the Moon Pearl from the Tower of Hera. Heart Piece 24 of these are scattered throughout the Light and Dark Worlds. Obtain four of them, and your number of Heart Containers will increase by one. Heart Container You'll begin your quest with 3 Heart Containers, your source for energy. As your experience and knowledge of places grows, you'll earn more of them. There is only one unguarded, unbroken Heart Container in the entire land of Hyrule. It is located in a treasure chest inside Sanctuary. Small Heart These are what sustains you. Small hearts can be found in pots, skulls, under bushes, etc. Some enemies, when destroyed, will also provide you with them. However, an enemy stunned with the Boomerang or Hookshot will give you nothing but a Rupee when destroyed. Small hearts give you the life you need to keep going. Small Magic Potion As with small hearts, small potions can be found in many places. Each of these will fill up 1/8 of your magic meter. Try freezing enemies with the Ice Rod or Medallion of Ether, and then pounding them with the Magic Hammer. Quite often you'll receive (small or large) magic potions for doing this. Large Magic Potion Just like small potions and small hearts, large potions can be found nearly everywhere. One large potion will completely fill an empty magic meter. Rupees Rupees are the currency of Hyrule. Green ones are worth 1 Rupee. Blue ones are worth 5 Rupees. Red are worth 20 Rupees. Use them to purchase items in shops or to purchase special items or services from individuals. Make sure to visit the Fountain of Happiness. While you're there, throw some Rupees in to increase your capacity for carrying bombs or arrows. Faeries These ancient creatures will help you restore your life. Each Faerie you come into contact with will raise your life meter by 7 hearts. You can catch Faeries with your Bug Catching Net, and store the Faeries in magic bottles for later use. If you happen to lose your life while you have a Faerie in a bottle, she will revive you, and you'll be able to continue where you left off. Bees A bee can be your friend as well as your foe. Bees are usually found by slashing grass and bushes, or by dash-bashing a tree. Sprinkle Magic Powder on a bee to turn it into a Faerie. Or, catch bees with your Bug Catching Net and store them in magic bottles. Release a bee from a bottle, and watch it attack your enemies. Locate the Good Bee in a cave northeast of Lake Hylia. If you catch this one, place it in a bottle. Release it, and after polishing off your enemies, it will nearly always return to you to be re-caught. If you don't want to keep the Good Bee, take it to the bottle merchant in Kakariko Village. Release it near him and he'll pay you 100 Rupees. By the way, the bottle merchant also has a taste for fresh fish. Apples Apples can be found by dashing into certain trees in and around Hyrule. They help to restore your life. The Arsenal Bow & Arrows Retrieve the Bow from the Eastern Palace, and you'll be able to shoot arrows. Arrows are especially useful against armored foes. Once you open the cracked wall in the Pyramid, make sure to throw in your bow & arrows to get the Silver Arrows. You'll need these for the final battle with Ganon. Use an arrow on any one-eyed statue or enemy you encounter, and surely your quest will become easier. Boomerang You'll find the Boomerang in Hyrule Castle. You can use it to retrieve items, stun enemies, hit switches, and in some cases, destroy enemies. Magical Boomerang When you have the Flippers, visit the Waterfall of Wishing. Throw in your Boomerang to receive the Magical Boomerang. It goes farther and faster than the regular Boomerang. Hookshot Hidden in Swamp Palace, the Hookshot will allow you to cross valleys, stun enemies, hit switches, and retrieve small items. Also, when you're in danger of being damaged, extend the Hookshot. You'll be invincible for as long as it is extended. Bomb Bombs can be found all over Hyrule. Use them to blast open cracked walls and floors, and to damage enemies. Bombs are useful in hitting switches that are in positions otherwise difficult to reach. Be careful. Bombs can damage Link, as well as his foes. Super Bomb The Super Bomb can only be found in the Bomb Shop in the Dark World. Use it to blow open cracked walls which are not affected by regular bombs. You can only carry one Super Bomb at a time. Be careful not to drop off a ledge, and don't dash while you have the Super Bomb following you, since the A-Button will activate it. This bomb cannot damage Link. You must beat both levels 5 and 6 in the Dark World before the Super Bomb will show up for sale in the Bomb Shop. Magic Mushroom When you find this smelly item in the Lost Woods, take it to the Witch to receive the Magic Powder. Magic Powder The Magic Powder has many uses. You can use it to clear away bushes. You can also use it to transform certain enemies into helpless little blobs. Sprinkling Magic Powder on a Fire Faerie or on a Bee will transform it into a life-saving Faerie. You can use this same technique with Dark Faeries (the ones that transform you into a Bunny) if you sprinkle them before they have the chance to move. Additionally, if you sprinkle certain people with the Magic Powder, you'll get a Faerie. You can even sprinkle it on a certain chicken inside a building to make that chicken human. Finally, sprinkle Magic Powder on the statue inside the well near the Blacksmith's shop to increase your capacity for magic. Fire Rod Skull Dungeon holds the powerful Fire Rod. Use it to open the final entrance of the dungeon, as well as to help you defeat the dungeon's evil master, Mothula. Other uses for the Fire Rod include destroying enemies, lighting torches, and melting ice. Ice Rod Locate the Ice Rod in a cave to the east of Lake Hylia. Use it to damage certain enemies, and to freeze other foes. It is particularly useful against enemies of a fiery nature. Bombos Medallion Make your way to the monolith near the entrance to the Desert of Mystery. Translate the ancient inscription using the Book of Mudora, and you'll receive this magical medallion. Bombos glows with the power of fire. Use it to destroy all the enemies on a screen, or to melt ice. Ether Medallion Find this medallion at the monolith on Death Mountain. With it, you can freeze enemies, and destroy certain other enemies. You'll need this medallion to open the entrance to level 6 (Misery Maze). The Ether Medallion is also helpful in rooms with invisible floors. Quake Medallion In the Dark World, in the same place you find the Waterfall of Wishing in the Light World, you'll run across a sign with a message, warning you not to throw anything into the nearby circle of stones. It's just too tempting. Throw a bush or skull into the circle of stones, and you'll get the Quake Medallion. Use it to stun enemies, transform them into helpless blobs, or even to destroy them. Call on the magic of Quake to open the entrance to Turtle Rock. Lamp You can find the Lamp in one of 3 places: In a chest inside Link's house, in a chest inside the second room of the secret passage into Hyrule Castle, or in the chest next to Zelda inside her dungeon cell at Hyrule Castle. The Lamp will enable you to see in dark rooms, acting somewhat like a flashlight. You can also use it to light additional small torches to brighten a room. Don't forget the special significance of lighting 4 torches in the same area. Magic Hammer Find the Magic Hammer inside the Palace of Darkness. Use it to bump turtles onto their backs, to destroy certain enemies, to pound down stakes that block your way, or to pound down the mole-like creatures bobbing up and down and blocking your path inside caves and palaces. Use it on a frozen enemy, and your chances of receiving magic potion are high. The Magic Hammer can break small pots and skulls, and remarkably, can also reflect the Wizard Agahnim's magical fireballs. It is also somewhat effective in removing the mask of the master of the Palace of Darkness, the Helmasaur King. Shovel In the Haunted Grove of the Dark World, you'll run into a strange creature who was once the Flute Boy. In return for helping him find his flute, he'll lend you the shovel. Use it to dig on almost any flat surface (outside). You'll also be able to temporarily use a shovel each time you play the Shovel Game, in the Dark World. Flute After getting the shovel, use your Magic Mirror inside the Dark World Haunted Grove. Dig in the northwest portion of the Light World Grove, to find the Flute. Now, return to the Dark World Grove, and play the Flute a final time for the Flute Boy. In Kakariko Village, you may run across a sleeping relative of his. Playing the Flute for this person will bring memories of the Flute Boy to him. Now, in the center of the village, you'll find a weather vane. Play the Flute here to release the Flute Boy's duck. From now on, whenever you play the Flute outside (Light World only), the duck will fly you to one of 8 selectable Light World locations, making travel much quicker. Bug Catching Net In one of the houses in Kakariko Village, you'll find an ill little boy. He will lend you the Bug Catching Net. Use it to catch bees, Faeries, and also to repel Agahnim's magic fireballs. Book of Mudora Visit the library in the southern portion of Kakariko Village. If you have the Pegasus Shoes, dash into the book case to bump the book off the top shelf. The Book of Mudora allows you to read the ancient language of the Hylia, found on monoliths and other monuments in Hyrule. Magic Bottle Use Magic Bottles to store red, green, or blue potions, or to store bees or Faeries you catch with the Bug Catching Net. You'll find 4 Magic Bottles during your quest. You can purchase one from the merchant in Kakariko Village, who, by the way, is always in the market for Good Bees and fresh fish. Find the second Magic Bottle in the back room of one of the houses in the village. Swim from Lake Hylia, up, toward the castle. Under the first bridge you find, a sleepy hobo will give you the third bottle. Finally, after locating the Blacksmith's partner and taking him home, you'll find a locked chest in the Dark World, inside the deteriorating building which is in the same position as the Blacksmith's Shop in the Light World. Take the chest to the man at the entrance to the Desert of Mystery. He'll unlock the chest for you if you promise to keep it a secret. Inside the chest is the fourth bottle. To earn free magic potion, toss an empty bottle into the Wishing Pond inside the Waterfall of Wishing, or inside the Fat Faerie's room in the Pyramid of Power. Cane of Somaria Locked safely inside Misery Maze is the Cane of Somaria. Use it to create magic blocks to hold down floor switches that require weight to stay down. The magic blocks also harm enemies if the enemies touch the blocks. Use a magic block to guard yourself from enemy attacks. You can push a block in front of you to navigate across invisible floors, and make sure to use the Cane of Somaria on the little question marks you see in Turtle Rock. Doing so will create a movable platform for you to travel on. Staff of Byrna The Staff of Byrna surrounds you with magical light. You'll be protected from harm during this time, and any enemies near you will take damage from the swirling light if they are too close to you. To find the Staff of Byrna, use the main Death Mountain warp tile. Straight down from where you appear in the Dark World is the cave containing this item. You'll need the Magic Hammer to get past some pegs just inside the entrance. Make sure you have some magic potions or Faeries in bottles, since the floor of this cave is covered with spikes. Once you have the Staff, you can use it to exit the cave without taking any more damage. Magic Cape In the northeast corner of the cemetery is a tombstone blocked in front by dark green stones. Lift up the stones using Titan's Mitt, and then dash into the tombstone. The tombstone will move back, revealing the entrance to a secret underground room. Inside you'll find the Magic Cape. The cape will make you invisible, except for your shadow. You'll be invincible while the cape is activated. The Magic Cape also allows you to pass through the large blue bouncers found in several levels and caves. Magic Mirror After obtaining the Power Glove, you'll be able to lift the large stone blocking the entrance to Death Mountain. Inside, you'll find a lost old man. Lead him out of the cave, and he'll give you the Magic Mirror. When you are in the Dark World, and wish to return to the Light World, use the mirror. Or, when you are inside a palace, use the mirror to return to the most recent place through which you entered. Dungeon Items Inside the many dungeons are some common items which will help you find your way through the complex labyrinths and mind-boggling puzzles you'll encounter. Here are just a few of the things you'll find inside the dungeons and palaces. Dungeon Commodities Keys Keys are essential to any dungeon, since each level contains many locked doors. Keys can be found in pots, treasure chests, and even inside enemies. Some keys are also located in positions which might require you to bash into something using the Pegasus Shoes. You'll find one Big Key inside each level. The Big Key is used to open doors with big locks, and to open Big Treasure Chests. Map Maps help you find your way in unfamiliar places. Use the map for a particular dungeon to keep from getting lost, and to locate certain items or rooms. Compass Unlike traditional compasses, the compasses found in Hyrule always point in the direction of evil or danger. Inside a level, you can use the compass to find the evil master (boss) of the palace. Treasure Chest Inside small chests you'll find keys, rupees, arrows, bombs, as well as other items. Big Treasure Chest The Big Treasure Chest inside a dungeon always contains an important artifact. Most of the time, the item found inside can be used in some way to help you through the current level, whether it is used to open a door, or to defeat enemies or the level boss. Pots & Skulls Light World dungeons hold dozens of pots. Dark World dungeons are filled with skulls. Both are merely containers for small items like hearts, bombs, or magic potions, and sometimes keys. Big Pots If you find an accessible large pot, it might do you well to jump in. You'll usually find a Faerie fountain after dropping into one of these large pots. Torches Torches light the dark catacombs of the palaces. Using your Fire Rod or Lamp, you can light the small torches. Lighting them will help you in those places in need of light. Should you find four torches in the same room, or a total of four torches in 2 adjacent rooms, be sure to light all of them. Doing so is certain to help you, since the appearance of four torches in the same place signifies something special is nearby. Statues Whether you push them, pull them, shoot them with arrows, or pull their tongues out, the many kinds of statues you see inside the dungeons nearly always hold mysterious power. Crystal Switches Strike these enchanted switches with your sword, or one of your other items, like the boomerang, hookshot, or a Somarian Block. You can also hit these switches from a distance or around corners using a bomb. These switches control rows of pegs in the floor that rise to block your way. When a switch is blue, the blue pegs are down and red are up. When a switch is red, the red pegs are down and blue are up. Star Switches Star switches control the positions of holes in the floors of certain rooms. Sometimes you'll need to step on one of these to open the way forward, clearing holes in the floor that blocked your progress. If a Star Switch is grayed out, you will find an active one nearby. Warp Tiles Warp tiles transport you to other parts of a dungeon or palace. Make sure to note the locations of such tiles, and remember where each one transports you.