Walkthrough 2 of 7

Midoro Palace

Clear the long Western Hyrule upgrade circuit, learn three spells and Downward Thrust, then defeat Helmethead.

Route briefing

Areas
Tantari Desert · Ruto · Moruge Swamp · Saria · Death Mountain · Mido · Midoro Swamp · Midoro Palace
Prerequisite
Complete Parapa Palace and obtain the Candle.
Preparation
This is the longest chapter. Bank level-ups before Death Mountain, refill in each town, and do not enter Midoro without Fairy and Downward Thrust.
Major encounter
Helmethead in Midoro Palace; Death Mountain is the chapter's main survival gauntlet.
Reward
Block-breaking with the Hammer and Handy Glove, Fairy traversal, Downward Thrust, and the western route to Island Palace.
Optional
Point bags, red potions, and both overworld Link Dolls are optional but valuable. The Heart Container is optional for the story, not this 100% route.
Missable
Link Dolls disappear permanently after collection and do not return after a game over; save their extra lives for a difficult stretch if preferred.

Numbered 100% route

  1. Use the Candle in the cave south of North Palace and collect Magic Container #1. Search Tantari Desert's cave for the stolen Trophy, then return it in Ruto to learn Jump.
  2. Travel through the Jump-gated cave south of Ruto. In Moruge Swamp, collect Link Doll #1 one square southwest of the boulder-blocked cave.
  3. Find Bagu's forest house and speak to him. In Saria, crouch under the table in the first house of the second section to recover the Mirror, return it to the woman in purple, and learn Life.
  4. Tell the river guard you know Bagu, cross the bridge, and enter Death Mountain. Follow the cave network carefully; defeat Dairas when they block narrow ground and avoid lava knockback.
  5. At Spectacle Rock, take the cave branch that ends at the Hammer. Outside, smash the nearby boulder and drop into the revealed hole for Magic Container #2.
  6. Use the eastern exit route. Collect Link Doll #2 on the coast southwest of King's Tomb, break the Moruge Swamp cave boulder, and recover the Water of Life.
  7. In Mido, cast Jump to reach the church and learn Downward Thrust. Give the Water of Life to the sick girl's mother and learn Fairy from the Wise Man.
  8. Northwest of Mido, smash the boulder blocking the right cave for Heart Container #2. Search the left cave for its point bag, then cross Midoro Swamp to the palace.
  9. In Midoro Palace, sweep the elevator branches for four Keys. Use Downward Thrust on bubbles, blocks, and enemies while protecting yourself from lava knockback.
  10. Claim the Handy Glove from the guarded lower branch; it lets the sword break palace blocks. Continue to Helmethead, take his Key, and place the second Crystal.

Boss strategy

  • Cast Shield and attack Helmethead's head with controlled jump-slashes.
  • Each broken helmet becomes a flying projectile. Keep moving while continuing to hit the final exposed head.
  • Do not spend all magic before the boss; Life can rescue an otherwise good attempt.