Cross the invisible paths, sail the funeral boat and confront Bongo Bongo.
Open the entrance
Warp with the Nocturne of Shadow. In the circular entrance chamber, stand on the central platform and cast Din's Fire to light all the torches together. Enter, Longshot across the first gap and pass through the false wall.
Find the Hover Boots first
Use the Lens around the bird statue to identify the true skull marker; turn the statue's beak toward it to open the far gate. Before crossing, explore the false wall on the right and the rooms beyond. Use the Lens to follow hidden doors to Dead Hand. Defeat it by escaping a hand's grip and striking its lowered head; take the Hover Boots.
Cross the first abyss
Wear the Hover Boots and run straight across the short gap to the opened gate. In the Beamos hub, explore the side passage with two spinning blades. Collect all five silver rupees to open the room containing the first Small Key. Bomb the cracked wall in the hub and unlock the main route.
Pass the guillotine hall
Advance one blade at a time and watch for a falling Wallmaster. Cross the platform with the Stalfos. Use the moving platforms on the right to reach the silver-rupee chamber. One rupee is under the Beamos; bomb it. Collect the set to open the next room.
Support the falling spikes
Use the Lens to reveal a block in the wall at the right of the crushing-spike room. Pull it beneath the crushers so you can pass safely. Climb onto the upper structure, press its floor switch and reach the chest it reveals for key two.
Bomb the giant skull
The rupee door leads to a room with a rotating skull. Kill all the Keese so you can leave, climb up and drop a Bomb Flower into the skull's opening. Collect key three from the debris. Return and use the invisible Longshot target above the locked door.
Use both kinds of boots
Wear the Iron Boots to walk against the fans. Longshot to the wooden beam above the gap when needed. At the far end, reveal the false side wall with the Lens. Switch to the Hover Boots and let the fan carry you through that opening.
Search the small mound
In the next enemy room, bomb the mound just to the right of where you entered. Use the Lens to reveal the chest containing key four. Defeat the Gibdos if the exit is barred, then open the locked door.
Sail the ancient boat
Move the block beneath the ladder and climb aboard. Play Zelda's Lullaby on the Triforce. Fight the Stalfos while the boat moves. As it reaches the end and starts sinking, jump to the bank on the left.
Collect both final keys
Go through the bank's side door into the invisible-wall maze. Use the Lens to navigate. In the room with two approaching wooden spike walls, cast Din's Fire to burn them and take the Boss Key. In the invisible Floormaster room, defeat the large hand and all its little hands for the final Small Key.
Topple the statue
Return to the bank where you left the boat. Shoot the Bomb Flowers across the abyss; the explosion drops the statue into a bridge. Cross, unlock the far door and follow the Lens-revealed platforms with the Hover Boots to the boss entrance.
Awaken the Shadow Sage
Defeat Bongo Bongo, collect the Heart Container and use the blue warp. With the Shadow Medallion earned, your next destination is the Gerudo fortress in western Hyrule.
Bongo Bongo
Shoot each hand with an arrow to stun both. Keep the Lens active when you need to see the eye and body.
Shoot the exposed eye as it approaches, then close in for sword attacks. Repeat after the hands recover. Hover Boots soften the disruption from the drum but make movement slippery.
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.
- Switch the Lens off between invisible puzzles to conserve magic. Pots often contain refills.
- The Hover Boots only suspend Link briefly; start close to a ledge and run decisively. They do not allow sustained flight.
Walkthrough references
This independent route covers the original Nintendo 64 main story. Consult the credited guides for alternate paths and additional collectibles.
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