Rescue the imprisoned Gorons, find the Megaton Hammer and bring down Volvagia.
Speak to the young Goron
In adult Goron City, stop the rolling Goron with a bomb. Speak to him about the dragon and the Gorons until he gives you the Goron Tunic. Equip it. Pull the statue in Darunia's room to reveal the crater passage; Hookshot across the broken bridge, learn the Bolero of Fire from Sheik and descend into the temple.
Meet Darunia and free a prisoner
In the lobby, climb the stairs and enter the left door. After speaking to Darunia, use the platforms on the left to reach a cell switch. Free the Goron and open his chest for a Small Key. Return to the lobby and unlock the right door.
Search both ends of the lava chamber
From the bridge, explore the left-side door for a second prisoner and key. On the opposite side, bomb the cracked wall to find another cell and key. Return to the bridge and unlock the far door.
Ride the fire lift
Slide down, climb the chain mesh and jump to the block above the fire geyser. Push the block onto it, stand on it and ride upward. Unlock the next door. In the Torch Slug room, move the block to climb to the upper ledge, then use a bomb on the crystal switch below to lower the flames while you climb the fence.
Rescue both Gorons in the maze
On the lower floor of the rolling-boulder maze, work around the perimeter. One cell is opened by a nearby floor switch; another is through a side doorway. Rescue both and take both keys before using the locked exit.
Return above the rolling boulders
Cross the narrow upper passage; an eye switch opens the optional map room. Unlock the route into the rising-fire chamber, run up its grating and take the upper door back into the boulder maze. Bomb the cracked floor on the first raised platform. Climb down to a prisoner and key, then climb back up.
Open the distant cell
Jump across the raised maze platforms to the floor switch. It opens the cell at the opposite end of this upper route. Reach it for another key. Return to the rising-fire chamber and take its other locked exit.
Work around the invisible fire walls
Navigate the large fire maze carefully; flames reveal themselves when you approach. Take the locked passage across the middle, passing a caged Goron you cannot yet free. On the far half, step on the timed switch and run to the temporarily lowered barrier. Bomb the fake door behind it to reveal the real entrance.
Defeat the first Flare Dancer
Target the dancer and Hookshot its small core out of the fire, then strike it while it flees. Repeat until it is defeated. Ride the central platform upward. In the next room, activate the crystal switch with a delayed bomb so you can climb the fence while its flames are down.
Race to the Megaton Hammer
At the top, step on the floor switch. Run along the narrow curved staircase before the chest's flames return. Open the chest for the Megaton Hammer; fall safely back and retry the switch if the timer expires.
Drive the platforms downward
Hammer the face block near the room entrance. Drop with it, smash the totem aside, then hammer the next floor section into a staircase. Carry a crate onto the blue switch below to keep its door open. Continue hammering the marked blocks and rusty switches.
Free the Goron below
At the Time Block, play the Song of Time to move it, cross and hammer the rusty switch. Drop to the cell it opens and collect its key. Return above and hammer the large column so it falls into the lava room where Darunia entered the boss door.
Return to the lobby's ground floor
Go back to the entrance lobby. Hammer the totem blocking the ground-floor locked door. Clear the enemy rooms, defend against the flying tiles and defeat the second Flare Dancer. Hammer the rusty switch to free the final prisoner and collect the Boss Key.
Cross to Volvagia
Return to Darunia's lava room by the lobby's upstairs left door. The lowered column now provides a route to the boss door. Win the battle, take the heart and enter the warp for the Fire Medallion.
Volvagia
When the dragon's head emerges, avoid its hair swipe, hammer the head and strike while it is stunned.
During flight, keep moving away from its fire breath. When it circles overhead, watch for falling rocks and their shadows. Save your close attacks for the next exposed head.
Ready for the next horizon?
Check steps as you go, or mark this entire chapter complete when you finish it in the game.
Notes from the archive.
- Every rescued Goron's chest matters to this route. If a locked door stops you, check the cells on both levels of the rolling-boulder maze.
- The Goron Tunic removes the heat countdown; it does not make lava or fire harmless.
Walkthrough references
This independent route covers the original Nintendo 64 main story. Consult the credited guides for alternate paths and additional collectibles.
Know someone who remembers?