Follow the original N64 water-level sequence, collect all six Small Keys and recover the Longshot.
Enter beneath Lake Hylia
Wear the Zora Tunic and Iron Boots. Sink to the temple entrance in the lake and Hookshot its blue crystal to lift the gate. In the central room, sink to the bottom and take the passage between two torches to meet Ruto. Remove the boots and follow her upward.
Lower the water; collect key one
At the top of Ruto's shaft, play Zelda's Lullaby at the Triforce to lower the water fully. Drop back down. Use a lit arrow through the central torch, or Din's Fire, to light both doorway torches. Defeat the Shell Blades beyond for a Small Key: strike their exposed flesh when they open.
Find key two in the dragon room
Take the bottom west passage from the central room. Push its block until it falls, then follow the water route. Activate the crystal to raise a water spout and cross. In the swirling-water room, activate the crystal in the dragon's mouth, then quickly Hookshot the target beside the underwater gate. Pass through before it closes and surface to the key chest.
Raise the water halfway
Return to the central room and spend a key on the central tower's ground-floor door. Hookshot upward to its inner ledge. Play Zelda's Lullaby at the Triforce to raise the water to the middle level.
Return to Ruto's shaft
Enter Ruto's bottom-floor passage again, then float only to the current middle waterline. Bomb the cracked wall there and take key four. Return to the main chamber.
Reach the highest water switch
Unlock the west door on the middle level. Stand on the water spout and activate its crystal so it carries you up. Follow the passage to the high Triforce and raise the water fully. Before leaving this level, enter the east passage and pull its block as far as it will go; you need that access later.
Climb the falling platforms
Unlock the top-floor west door. Descend to the lowest platform and use the Hookshot targets on the moving platforms to climb the waterfall. Unlock the door at the top.
Raise and lower the dragon statues
Shoot the crystal to raise the heads, then Hookshot the first. Lower them, Hookshot the wall target across the room and climb over the lowered head. Raise them again to reach the next head. Lower once more, stand on that head and raise it beneath your feet to reach the exit. Clear the enemies and cross to the next room.
Face Dark Link
Walk to the far side of the shallow lake, then return toward the central tree to make your double appear. Use unpredictable close attacks; the Megaton Hammer or Din's Fire can bypass his sword counters. Defeat him and take the Longshot from the following chest.
Find key five beyond the river
Play the Song of Time behind the Longshot chest to remove the floor block. Follow the river carefully around its vortices. Near the end, shoot the eye and Longshot to the chest through the briefly opened grate. Take the key, then return through the dragon-water route to the main room.
Collect key six at middle water
Lower the water using Ruto's upper Triforce, then raise it halfway inside the central tower. On the middle south side, shoot the eye and Longshot across the timed gate. Follow the passage to the block you prepared earlier. Move it to reach the last Small Key.
Use the bottom north passage
Sink to the bottom north passage. Longshot across the spikes and unlock the door. Cross the room with water currents and rolling boulders to its opposite door; the Iron Boots help you hold your position when appropriate.
Hold down the submerged switch
In the Stinger room, bomb the two weak wall sections to access both sides of the block. Push and pull it around the opened passage until it drops onto the floor switch. The water rises, allowing you to reach the next door.
Reach the Boss Key
Step on the next switch and cross the three raised water spouts before they fall. Beyond, avoid the rolling boulder and follow the submerged passage, defeating the Shell Blade. Surface, spend your remaining key and open the ornate Boss Key chest.
Restore the high water
Return to the central room. Use the middle west spout route to reach the top Triforce again and raise the water fully. Longshot to the dragon target on the north side, then run up the slippery slope while avoiding its moving blade traps. Enter the boss door.
Shoot into the sunrise
After Morpha, take the heart and the blue warp for the Water Medallion. Lake Hylia refills. On the lakeside platform with the inscription, face the rising sun and shoot a normal arrow into it. Swim to the little island where the Fire Arrows land and collect them for Ganon's Castle.
Morpha
Target the small nucleus inside the water tentacle. Pull it onto land with the Longshot, then strike it with the sword.
Stay near a corner with room to retreat. Move away when a tentacle reaches toward you: a successful grab throws Link hard. Repeat the pull-and-strike cycle.
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.
- Six Small Keys are used in this original-quest route. The most commonly missed one is beneath the floating platform inside the central tower.
- N64 Iron Boots are equipped from the pause equipment screen. The 3DS touch-screen shortcut is not part of the original controls.
- Low, middle and high water are controlled at three different Triforce marks; play Zelda’s Lullaby at the corresponding mark to change the water level.
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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