Dodongo's Cavern Walkthrough

1. Tip

   This dungeon has no small keys and no Boss Key. Nearly every puzzle comes down to Bomb Flowers, and later your own Bombs.

   #1.1

2. Just inside, a wall of differently colored rock blocks the way. Pull up one of the Bomb Flowers beside it, set it down against the wall, and back away.

   #1.2

3. The blast opens the main cavern: a huge chamber with lava, a central platform, rising and falling stepping stones, and a giant Dodongo skull set into the wall. Baby Dodongos burrow out of the floor, and Beamos statues sweep the area with lasers.

   #1.3
4. Tip

   A Beamos can't be hurt by your sword. Drop a Bomb Flower beside its base to destroy it.

   #1.4

5. Cross to the west wall, dodging the Beamos beam. Use a Bomb Flower to blow open the cracked section of wall there, revealing a chest.

   #1.5
6. You get

   You obtain the Dungeon Map.

   #1.6
7. Tip

   A small hole on the same side leads to a Business Scrub who sells a Deku Shield for 50 Rupees once you've beaten him.

   #1.7

1. On the east side, destroy the Beamos, then use a Bomb Flower on the cracked wall nearby to open a passage.

   #2.1
2. Tip

   The other cracked wall on this side hides a Gossip Stone. Play Zelda's Lullaby in front of it to summon a fairy you can use or bottle.

   #2.2

3. In the hallway beyond, Baby Dodongos burst from the ground. Each one explodes a moment after you kill it, so back off quickly.

   #2.3
4. Collectible

   Gold Skulltula: part of the hallway wall is cracked. Kill a Baby Dodongo right next to it and the blast opens a small room with Keese and a Gold Skulltula. Clear the Keese, kill the Skulltula, then jump attack to reach the token.

   #2.4

5. At the end of the hall, a blue floor switch holds the next door open only while something weighs it down. Push one of the statues onto it and go through.

   #2.5

6. Keese roost in the short passage that follows; knock them down with the Slingshot.

   #2.6

1. The doors seal as a pair of Lizalfos drop in. They're quick, hop out of reach, and sometimes leap right over you to strike from behind.

   #3.1

2. Keep your shield up, wait for a Lizalfos to finish an attack, then counter with a jump attack or a few quick slashes. They retreat when hurt and come back, so stay alert. Beating both opens the doors.

   #3.2
3. Tip

   A Deku Nut stuns both Lizalfos for a moment, which sets up free hits.

   #3.3

4. Past the arena, bomb the cracked wall on the right. A Business Scrub behind it sells Deku Sticks; make sure you have a few for the next room.

   #3.4

5. The next chamber holds full-grown Dodongos. They take a slow breath before breathing fire, so sidestep the flames, then hit them from behind. They explode when they die, so back away.

   #3.5

6. The exit is sealed. Light a Deku Stick on one of the burning torches near the entrance and run along the row of unlit torches, lighting each one. When all are lit, the door opens.

   #3.6

1. You come out on a raised ledge in the main cavern. Step on the switch at the end of this passage to unbar the door on the far side of the cavern, then make your way across and go through it.

   #4.1

2. This tall chamber has a ring of Bomb Flowers circling a pillar, with one gap in the chain. Hold off on it for now.

   #4.2

3. Use the Bomb Flower beside the cracked wall near the door you came in to blast open a side room.

   #4.3

4. Three statues stand around a chest here, and the one blocking it is an Armos. Hit it and it wakes up and hops after you; stun it with a Deku Nut and slash it, or blow it up with a Bomb Flower. It self-destructs when defeated, so move away.

   #4.4
5. You get

   Open the chest for the Compass.

   #4.5

6. Back in the tall chamber, carry the lone Bomb Flower nearby and set it in the gap in the ring. The chain reaction brings a giant staircase crashing down into place.

   #4.6

7. Climb the staircase. Break the pots on the landings; they often hold Rupees.

   #4.7
8. Collectible

   Gold Skulltula: across from the upper door, a Skullwalltula and a Gold Skulltula share a vine wall. Shoot both with the Slingshot, then climb the vines for the token.

   #4.8

1. Through the upper door, Fire Keese swoop at you. Shoot them down with the Slingshot before they reach you.

   #5.1

2. Several statues stand around the middle of the room. Most are Armos, but the one in front of the ladder is an ordinary statue. Push it aside, climb the ladder, and step on the switch to open the north door.

   #5.2

3. The door leads onto a bridge high above the main cavern. Cross it, watching for Fire Keese, and go through the door on the far side.

   #5.3

4. This gray room is laced with Blade Traps that slide back and forth. They can't be destroyed, so watch their paths and slip past.

   #5.4

5. Stand on the gray block under the ladder to reach it and climb up. Follow the ledge and drop onto the platform with a Bomb Flower and a small chest holding a Red Rupee.

   #5.5

6. A cracked wall sits at the top of a ladder nearby. Hold the Bomb Flower until it's about to burst, then throw it at the wall; toss it too early and it rolls off the ledge.

   #5.6

7. Beyond, a platform is wrapped in fire. Shoot the eye switch on the wall facing it with the Slingshot to put out the flames, then cross before they reignite. Baby Dodongos guard the way out.

   #5.7

1. You enter the Lizalfos arena again, this time from a higher level. The pair attacks on narrower platforms; use the same tactics and watch your footing.

   #6.1
2. Tip

   A ledge on the north side of the arena holds a couple of Recovery Hearts.

   #6.2

3. The next room has two burning platforms in a row. Shoot the first eye switch and hop onto the first platform, then turn left and shoot the second eye switch. Hop across before the fires return.

   #6.3

4. You arrive above the Blade Trap room. Hop across the platforms to the large chest.

   #6.4
5. You get

   You obtain the Bomb Bag, filled with 20 Bombs. Set them down or throw them; from now on they handle every cracked wall and Bomb Flower job.

   #6.5

1. Continue to the room with a floor switch. Step on it to raise a platform in the main cavern, linking the cavern floor to the upper level.

   #7.1

2. A plaque here hints that a new path will open once the giant Dodongo sees red.

   #7.2

3. Walk out onto the bridge above the giant skull. Two holes in the bridge sit right above its eyes; drop a Bomb through each one.

   #7.3

4. When both eyes glow red, the skull's jaw falls open. Go down to the cavern floor and walk into its mouth.

   #7.4
5. Collectible

   Another Gold Skulltula hides in a high alcove at the top of the staircase chamber. You can only reach it with the Boomerang from Inside Jabu-Jabu's Belly, so return later.

   #7.5

1. Inside the mouth, Fire Keese attack. Clear them out, take the passage to the right, and bomb the cracked wall to the north.

   #8.1

2. An Armos guards the next room, which is full of pots. Destroy it with a Bomb. One pot holds a fairy.

   #8.2
3. Collectible

   Gold Skulltula: it lurks right where the Armos was standing. Kill it and grab the token.

   #8.3

4. Climb the blocks to the top of the wall, follow it through a short tunnel, and push the large block off the ledge into the room below.

   #8.4

5. Drop down after it and shove the block into the square hole in the floor. It holds down the switch inside and opens the door ahead.

   #8.5

6. Restock from the chest of Bombs in the next room, then bomb the cracked floor. You drop straight into King Dodongo's lair.

   #8.6

1. Boss

   King Dodongo is a colossal fire-breathing lizard. He prowls the edges of the arena, which has a pool of lava at its center.

   #9.1
2. Boss

   When he stops and takes a deep breath, throw a Bomb into his mouth or set one right in front of it so he swallows it. A lit Bomb Flower works too.

   #9.2
3. Boss

   The Bomb goes off inside him and he collapses, dazed. Run in and slash his head as many times as you can; Deku Stick jump attacks deal heavy damage.

   #9.3
4. Boss

   When he recovers, he curls into a ball and rolls around the arena. Get out of his path: a corner is the safest place, and crouching behind the Hylian Shield soaks most of the impact.

   #9.4
5. Watch out

   If you're too slow with the Bomb, he breathes a long stream of fire. Sidestep it instead of trying to block.

   #9.5
6. Tip

   Bomb Flowers grow around the arena, so you can keep fighting even if your bag runs empty.

   #9.6
7. Boss

   Repeat the Bomb, stun and slash cycle a few more times. When he's beaten, he staggers into the lava and burns up.

   #9.7
8. You get

   Once the lava cools, collect the Heart Container and step into the blue light.

   #9.8

1. Darunia meets you outside, overjoyed, and declares you his Sworn Brother.

   #10.1
2. You get

   He gives you the Goron's Ruby, the Spiritual Stone of Fire. That's two stones; one to go.

   #10.2
3. Tip

   With Bombs, much of Hyrule opens up. Darunia mentions a Great Fairy at the mountain's summit: climb there, bomb the cracked wall near Kaepora Gaebora, and play Zelda's Lullaby inside to receive the Magic Meter. You need it to use magic such as Din's Fire.

   #10.3
4. Tip

   At the summit, Kaepora offers to carry you down the mountain. Grab hold to land in Kakariko Village.

   #10.4

Every Gold Skulltula and Piece of Heart you can grab around here as child Link. Checking one off here also checks it off in the full trackers.

Gold Skulltulas (5)

• Side Room Off the Baby Dodongo Hall GS-061

  In the southeast room crawling with Baby Dodongos, blast open the cracked wall with a bomb or by letting a Baby Dodongo explode beside it. Clear the Keese in the hidden room and kill the Skulltula.

  Either age

• Vines in the Staircase Room GS-062

  In the big staircase room, once the stairs are down, find the Skulltula on the vine wall near the exit. Shoot it with the Fairy Slingshot (adult: Fairy Bow or Hookshot), then climb the vines for the token.

  Either ageFairy Slingshot or Fairy Bow

• Behind an Armos Past the Skull GS-063

  After opening the giant Dodongo skull's mouth, go through to the room beyond and bomb the false wall at its far end. The Skulltula lurks behind an Armos statue there.

  Either ageBombs

• Alcove Above the Staircase GS-064

  On the second floor, with the staircase in place, follow the west walkway to the climbable wall and look for the small alcove holding the Skulltula. Snag it with the Boomerang (adult: Hookshot).

  Either ageBoomerang or Hookshot

• High Ledge Reached via Pierre GS-065

  As an adult, in the Baby Dodongo room near the first Lizalfos fight, play the Scarecrow's Song where Navi turns green and Hookshot up to Pierre. Kill the Skulltula on the high ledge; a Longshot can also reach it without the song.

  Adult LinkScarecrow's SongHookshot