Break the sage barriers, climb the tower and follow the remake’s expanded escape and Ganon battle.
Cross the sages' bridge
Visit the Temple of Time after all five adult temples to receive the Light Arrows. Refill arrows, magic and bottles, then go where Hyrule Castle stood. Approach the broken staircase at the chasm: the sages create a rainbow bridge. Enter and pass the Beamos to the barrier chamber.
References: Respec · tested Switch 2 route
Shadow trial: obtain the Golden Gauntlets
Take the purple-marked door first. Longshot to the chest, then light the torch with a Fire Arrow to reveal temporary platforms. Cross with the Hover Boots. Use the Lens for the hidden path, reach the lower floor switch and press it. Longshot to the large chest it creates and take the Golden Gauntlets.
References: Polygon · Johnny Yu · Ganondorfs Castle
Shadow: lift the great rock
Use the Golden Gauntlets to throw the giant rock beside the chest. Follow the revealed path and press the switch. Use the Lens and Hover Boots across the hidden platforms. Shoot the barrier core beyond the door with a Light Arrow.
References: Polygon · Johnny Yu · Ganondorfs Castle
Forest: create the first foothold
Defeat the Wolfos and light all five torches. In the fan chamber, play the Song of Time by the left-hand symbol. Collect its crystal, then use Hover Boots, the floor switch and its Longshot target to gather the remaining four. Destroy the barrier with a Light Arrow.
References: Polygon · Johnny Yu · Ganondorfs Castle
Water trial: solve the ice blocks
Defeat the Freezards, bottle blue fire, melt the red ice and refill before leaving. In the timed block room, push the far block into the hole. Use it as a stopper for the remaining block: slide that block toward the filled hole, then toward the back and across beneath the high red-ice ledge. Climb, melt the ice, hammer the switch and destroy the blue orb.
References: Polygon · Johnny Yu · Ganondorfs Castle
Fire: make a crossing from the stalactite
Throw aside the giant entrance rock and equip the Goron Tunic. Gather the five crystals before the platforms sink. Throw the internal giant rock into the hanging stalactite to make the remaining crossing. Longshot to the exit and destroy the red barrier core.
References: Polygon · Johnny Yu · Ganondorfs Castle
Light: find the invisible key
Defeat the invisible enemies. In the following Triforce room, use the Lens to find the invisible key chest; the Lullaby chest only contains a rupee. Unlock the route, gather five crystals around the rolling boulders and ceiling target, then pass the false wall and destroy the real core.
References: Polygon · Johnny Yu · Ganondorfs Castle
Spirit: send a Bombchu over the fence
Gather the five crystals around the blade traps, moving statues when needed. Clear the Torch Slugs and send a Bombchu over the mesh wall into the distant switch. Burn the ceiling web; reflect sunlight into the green-filling sun to the right of the doorway you entered. Destroy the final core.
References: Polygon · Johnny Yu · Ganondorfs Castle
Refill before entering the tower
Use the Lens beneath the central bridge to find the hidden fairy room. The optional Great Fairy outside is behind a giant rock and offers halved damage for 500 Rupees. Refill arrows and magic, then enter the cleared central tower.
References: Respec · tested Switch 2 route
Take the Boss Key after the Iron Knuckles
Defeat the Dinolfos, then both Stalfos. Continue to the two Iron Knuckles; begin with one, but expect the second to wake as the first loses its armour. Defeat both and open the Boss Key chest. Climb onward and unlock Ganondorf’s door.
References: Zelda Central · remake Ganondorf and Ganon
Return the volley, then fire a Light Arrow
Manually aim during this fight. Return Ganondorf’s energy sphere with timed sword swings. When it hits him, shoot a Light Arrow and cross to strike. Retreat before the next exchange; expect faster volleys and disappearing floor. Use climbable walls if you fall.
References: G2A · remake boss mechanicsPolygon · Johnny Yu · Ganondorfs Castle
Follow Zelda through the first gates
Follow Zelda down the collapsing tower and wait for her to unlock each gate. Defeat the two Stalfos in the sealed room, then continue to the broken bridge. Longshot its far target to cross with Zelda.
References: Zelda Central · remake Ganondorf and Ganon
Break the rubble while Zelda holds the enemies
After the floor collapses, Zelda holds the enemies back. Smash the blocking rubble with the Megaton Hammer and follow the exit. When she freezes the ReDeads ahead, clear the path and continue through the last gate.
References: Zelda Central · remake Ganondorf and Ganon
Ganon: break the tail crystal
Without the Master Sword, evade Ganon’s swings and wait for a heavy blade to stick in the ground. Move behind him and strike the glowing tail crystal with your available weapon, such as the Megaton Hammer. Break it to advance; Zelda returns the Master Sword.
References: Zelda Central · remake Ganondorf and GanonPolygon · Johnny Yu · Ganondorfs Castle
Recover supplies from the ruined walls
If hearts, arrows or magic run low, bait Ganon’s blades into the ruined walls around the arena. Collect the released supplies when there is a safe opening.
References: Polygon · Johnny Yu · Ganondorfs Castle
Ganon: destroy both glowing arms
Equip the Master Sword. Avoid the marked lightning strikes. Attack a glowing arm when his blade is stuck, or hit it with Light Arrows from a safe opening. Break both arms, then keep moving around the arena during his charge until Zelda opens his forehead eye.
References: Polygon · Johnny Yu · Ganondorfs Castle
Ganon: expose the final opening
Dodge the ground ruptures and shoot the open forehead eye with Light Arrows. After three hits he falls. Approach and strike with the Master Sword to finish the battle, then watch the sages seal him away.
References: Polygon · Johnny Yu · Ganondorfs Castle
Ganondorf → Ganon
Ganondorf: win the energy volley, shoot the exposed chest with a Light Arrow, then use the sword.
Ganon begins with the tail crystal. After Zelda returns the Master Sword, attack the glowing arms and avoid lightning.
After both arms break, evade his charge. Zelda opens the forehead eye: use Light Arrows, then the Master Sword for the ending.
Track this chapter
Check steps as you complete them in the game. You can undo any check.
Sources and edition changes
Switch 2 edition · sources checked November 5, 2026
This guide follows the 2026 Nintendo Switch 2 remake. Routes were checked against edition-specific walkthroughs and Nintendo documentation. We have not personally completed a console playthrough.
The N64 guide and its saved progress remain separate. Checklist totals measure this guide, not the game's completion percentage. New features are documented where the available evidence supports them.
Changes to keep in mind
- The Light trial’s required key is in an invisible chest; its Lullaby chest has a rupee.
- The tower Boss Key appears after the Iron Knuckles.
- Zelda returns the Master Sword; Ganon then exposes his arms and forehead eye.
- Edition-specific guides checked on 5 November 2026. This is documentary verification; HyruleAtlas has not replayed these steps on a Switch 2 console.
- This finishes the main story. It does not certify every optional Heart Piece, Skulltula or side quest.
- Golden Gauntlets open the Fire and Light trial entrances; the other trials can be entered earlier.
- Polygon · Johnny Yu · Ganondorfs CastleEdition-specific guide ·
- Respec · tested Switch 2 routeEdition-specific guide ·
- Zelda Central · remake Ganondorf and GanonEdition-specific guide ·
- G2A · remake boss mechanicsEdition-specific guide ·