                       THE LEGEND OF ZELDA:
                           MASTER QUEST
                      *** Companion  FAQ ***

                    by Steve Unfred, aka Radien
                       AIM nick: "RadienAIM"
                           ICQ: 2810798


NOTE: This document is best viewed with word wrap turned on.

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-----------------------------
 GENERAL TIPS AND STRATEGIES
-----------------------------

Since this quest is based on the style of gameplay seen in the 1st and
2nd quests, which are now quite old, some of you may be used to a rather
different style of ZC gameplay by now. However, many of us still
appreciate "old school." My goal has been to emphasize the fun parts of
the old style while fixing the not-so-fun parts. :)

The best way to prepare for Master Quest is to replay Zelda 2nd Quest...
or perhaps even to replay BOTH of the original Zelda quests. However,
many of you will not want to do that. If this is you, then read on!

The next section is a list of old Zelda strategies. They were in the
original two quests, and they still hold true in Master Quest. After
that section, I'll introduce some new strategies, and then a short list
of things that are different from the original 1st and 2nd quests.


== OLD ZELDA WISDOM -- OVERWORLD ==

(All of the following is always, or almost always true)

1. On the overworld, bomb rock faces to find caves. Bomb, bomb, and bomb
some more.

2. Burn green bushes to find stairs. Burn, burn, and burn again.

3. Play the whistle sometimes, as it will occasionally (though rarely)
make stairs appear.

4. Overworld screens that once had a secret passage on them in the 1st
or 2nd quest will sometimes -- but NOT always -- have a secret passage
in the same place.

5. Boulders and graves are often for pushing. (Note: in the original,
overworld boulders could only be pushed up and down; now all pushable
rocks are four-directional)

6. Regardless of the new dungeon locations, the whistle will take you to
the ORIGINAL locations of all 8 of the Triforce dungeons. The matching
warps are determined roughly by corresponding dungeon location, rather
than the level number.

7. You will always be rewarded for buying and acquiring as much
equipment as possible before entering the next level. Some useful items
to find and/or buy are the the Blue Candle, the Magic Shield, the Arrow,
the Bait, the Blue Ring, the White Sword, and the Magic sword.

8. Also remember that there are four additional Heart Containers that
can be found somewhere on the overworld. On top of the three you start
with, you can have a maximum of 16 hearts.


== OLD ZELDA WISDOM -- UNDERWORLD ==

(All of the following is always, or almost always true)

1. In rooms with blocks, sometimes pushing a block will open a shutter
or make a stairway appear. According to tradition, Master Quest makes
use "template rooms" -- rooms with block formations you've seen before
in the original Zelda. As a general rule, if you find the pushable block
in a template room, the same block will be pushable every time.

This is USUALLY the first block on the left, aligned on the same
horizontal row of tiles across the center of the screen. Always check
this block first.

2. When in doubt, defeat all enemies. If you try to push any blocks in
dungeons, you must always defeat the enemies first. Defeating them will
also sometimes cause important items appear, such as Keys.

3. When in doubt, bomb walls. Bombable walls are always bombable in the
same spot, so you need only check it once -- it'll be in the center of
each wall.

4. When in doubt, try walking through walls, where a passage WOULD be.
Some walls are false, and you can walk right through them. Be wary of
the occasional 1-way false wall (though they are rare).

5. The Boomerang, Magic Boomerang, Bow, Red Candle, Wand, Magic Book,
Raft, Ladder, Whistle, Red Candle, Magic Key, and two bomb upgrades are
all found in the first eight dungeons. Level 9 always contains the Red
Ring and the Silver Arrow.

6. Every dungeon looks like... well... something. If you have the map
item for each dungeon, you will usually be able to figure out what it's
modelled after. Oftentimes this is a creature with eyes, or some other
portion which leaves a blank space surrounded by mapped rooms. If an
unmapped room like this seems suspicious, investigate it! Quite often,
you can find a way into it, one way or another. Keep looking!


== NEW TIPS AND STRATEGIES FOR MASTER QUEST ==

1. In at least one way, Master Quest is a little more consistent than
the previous 1st and 2nd quests. EVERY dungeon in the game has one item
room.  Some dungeons will have more than one item, but always one item
*room.* You will almost always need that item, sooner or later. Find
that item room!

2. Some items that have functions above ground now have similar uses in
dungeons, as well. Try a few of them out.

3. Make use of whistle warps and 3-stair warps, when you get access to
them. They are your most convenient form of travel.

4. Unlike Zelda 2nd Quest, in Master Quest, you should always use the
keys in the dungeons you found them. Backtracking to previous dungeons
for keys is unnecessary. You also don't ever have to buy keys, although
you can resort to buying them if you're stuck.


== CHANGES PRESENT IN MASTER QUEST ==

1. Remember how, in the original Zelda, you were instructed to seek out
the aid of hint-giving old men on the Overworld when you were stuck?
Remember how those hints were usually virtually useless? Well, NO MORE!
In Master Quest, if you are stuck, the BEST thing you can do (besides
look at this FAQ) is to search the Overworld for secret caves and
stairs. Old men always give hints that are relevant to *something.*

2. Additionally, there are fewer secret caves on the overworld that lead
to useless stuff you already have access to, like potion shops and
gambling games. Keep looking; the worst you can find is usually a useful
hint.

3. Remember how, in the original Zelda, you were given a *negative*
incentive to search for caves and stairs, because so many of them had
those annoying "door repair charge" rooms? Remember how annoyed you
were, because the only way to know they were there was from past
experience? Well, NO MORE! Master Quest has NO door repair charge rooms
whatsoever.



---------------------------
  PREPARING FOR LEVEL 1
---------------------------

It may only be level 1, but this is Master Quest, so it's going to be
tough. If you'd like to go prepared, why not use this FAQ to find a
Heart Container that you might not discover until much later?  Here are
some hints.

Hint #1:
It's near the ocean.

Hint #2:
It's a bombable cave.

.....

Answer:
On the southern edge of Hyrule, keep walking east until you reach the
sea. On the fourth screen with coastline, there's a small bit of
bombable rock wedged into the upper-lefthand corner of the screen.  Give
it a taste of shrapnel and get an early start on your heart hoard.



------------------------
  JOURNEY TO LEVEL 1
------------------------

Question:
Where is level 1?

Hint:
Level 1 is also in a tree stump, but not the same one.

.....

Answer:
Find the "tree at the dead end." It's in the northeastern corner of the
overworld map.
Welcome to level 1, the "Sealed Chambers."

*************

GENERAL ADVICE - OVERWORLD

Try looking around for some ways to earn money so you can buy the blue
candle before you go to level 1.



-----------------------------------
  LEVEL 1: THE SEALED SANCTUARY
-----------------------------------

Question:
Where are the keys in level 1?

Hint:
Do what you normally had to do in Zelda 1.

.....

Answer:
It's not terribly difficult, so I'll give a general answer here: find
all of the rooms in the dungeon and kill all the enemies in them. You'll
need to bomb at least one of the walls, too.

*************

Question:
Where's level 1's dungeon item?

Hint:
Do you remember which blocks are pushable in any given room?

.....

Answer:
There is a room you have to bomb into, and it contains a bunch of Ropes
who yield a key. Push the first block on the left in the very center
row. That is the block you usually want to push in most LoZ-style
rooms.  Walk down the staircase, and you'll find the Bow.

*************

Question:
I defeated the dragon boss, but the shutter wouldn't open, and it left a
key instead of a Heart Container! WTF?!

Hint:
Well, maybe it wasn't really the boss. :) Try to determine where you
haven't been yet. There's a secret route somewhere.

.....

Answer:
 From the dragon's room, walk south through two false walls. Once you
get to the other side, you'll need bombs for the eastern wall in that
room. You can reach the eastern wall by pushing one of the blocks.



---------------------------
  PREPARING FOR LEVEL 2
---------------------------

It's possible to obtain the White Sword as early as level 2, but you
have to search very hard to find a heart container on the overworld so
early in the game.  For info on where to find it, look in the section
"Preparing for level 1."

There is yet another heart container that can be accessed at any time,
but it is too out-of-the-way to be worth getting until later on.



------------------------
  JOURNEY TO LEVEL 2
------------------------

GENERAL ADVICE - OVERWORLD

It'd be best if you tried to buy things you know you're going to need as
early as possible. Right now you should at least buy the arrow. You're
going to need it. Do you have the Blue Candle yet?

*************

Question:
Okay, now where's level 2?

Hint:
Master Quest's level 2 is the green dungeon in the hills that was level
5 in the first quest.

.....

Answer:
Try walking into the waterfall. Watch out for the swarms of tektites on
that screen.



-------------------------------
  LEVEL 2: WATERFALL SHRINE
-------------------------------

Question:
Where are the keys in level 2?

Hint:
Did you get the map? Try looking for rooms shown on the map that you
haven't made your way into yet.

.....

Answer:
Most of the keys are in bombable rooms. You'll need to use secret
passageways to access the four quadrants of the dungeon, too. The path
that eventually leads to the boss is also the one that contains the most
keys.

*************

Question:
Crap, the room with the blue Goriyas and the shooting statues is hard!!

Hint:
Keep at it! They have something you want.

.....

Answer:
Try using the bow and arrow along with bombs. Keep moving, and avoid
their boomerangs as your first priority. A Magical Shield helps here,
too. The blue Goriyas will yield you the wooden Boomerang.

*************

Question:
I found a secret passageway that takes me back to the beginning of level
2! Then I bombed a wall and fought a Gohma, but all I found was a
replacement key, the compass, and a weird dark room.

Hint:
Did you buy the Blue Candle?

.....

Answer:
The dark room may be jumbled with blocks, but one of the blocks is in a
position where it can be pushed. Light the room up, kill the keeses, and
find that block! You'll find a goody inside.


*************

Question:
Fighting a Manhandla in level 2 is a pain in the ***!!

Hint:
Sorry. :(

.....

Answer:
There are two ways to do this: either attempt to place a bomb exactly in
its center and kill all the heads at once, or try weakening each of the
heads with you sword or arrows BEFORE killing any of them. Then, fire
away, and hope you kill them all before it kills you. As always, keep
moving.


*************

GENERAL ADVICE - OVERWORLD

So, you're itching to get the Blue Ring and the White Sword by now, eh?
Well, if you didn't already have five hearts, the White Sword is now
within your grasp. It's in the usual spot, right above the waterfall.

As for the Blue Ring, have patience. It is very difficult to acquire at
this point in the game, so you'd probably better leave it for later. Try
level 3 and see how you fare.



------------------------
  JOURNEY TO LEVEL 3
------------------------

Question:
Okay, where's level 3?

Hint #1:
Level 3 is in the Lost Woods, which is west of the big lake; it's the
same forest where you found level 3 in the first quest.

Hint #2:
Having trouble finding it? Perhaps you lack an item that could help you.
The item isn't necessary, but it'll make things a lot easier.

Hint #3:
Did you miss something in level 2?

.....

Answer #1:
Level 2 has two items. The second is the Red Candle. Did you get it? If
not, go back to level 2, and check the level 2 portion of this FAQ.

Answer #2:
One of the bushes on the Lost Woods' "maze path" screen is burnable.
That's the entrance to level 3, known as "The Forest Stronghold."



--------------------------------
  LEVEL 3: FOREST STRONGHOLD
--------------------------------

Question:
Okay, I'm in level 3, but all I can find are a bunch of dead-ends!

Hint:
Are they really, though?

.....

Answer:
Bomb, bomb, bomb. If you don't have bombs, go buy them. Or go out and
kill Moblins. They drop them occasionally.

*************

Question:
Where's the map?

Hint:
Did I mention bombs?

.....

Answer:
Starting from the entry screen, bomb the western wall. Keeping walking
through passageways and bombing walls. There's a room which has four
blocks and two statues. Push the leftmost block, and you'll find a
passageway that leads you to the dungeon map.

*************

Question:
What happened to bombable gargoyles?

.....

Answer:
I removed it from the new version of this quest. I felt it was too
nonsensical and unlike the first Zelda game. Just bomb walls instead.


*************

Question:
I found a room with some water, sand, Gibdos, and Pol's Voices. How do I
get across?

Hint:
Do you have a way to cross that water?

.....

Answer:
Come back later in the game. You can't access the room on the other side
of the water at this point, because you need the raft.

*************

Question:
Where's the dungeon item room?

Hint:
It involves block-pushing, wall-bombing, and keys. And fighting, of course.

.....

Answer:
 From the entrance, bomb the right wall. Keep unlocking doors and
bombing dead-ends until you reach the diagonally-split room with red
Darknuts and Pol's Voices. From that room, unlock the door to the east,
defeat the enemies, and push a block to make a staircase appear. The
Whistle (or Ocarina) is found therein.

*************

GENERAL ADVICE - LEVEL 3

The item in this labyrinth is the Whistle, otherwise known as the
Ocarina. The Ocarina is handy on the overworld. Why not leave the
labyrinth and look around? If you want whistle hints, skip to the next
"overworld" hints section.


*************

Question:
I've found all the keys I need in level 3 and most of the dungeon has
been mapped out. I know where the boss and the Triforce are since I have
the map and compass, but how do I GET to them?

Hint:
Is there a possible route you're not trying just because you think it
wouldn't exist in a traditional Zelda game?

.....

Answer:
Try bombing into the Triforce room from the north. Surprise! ;) The room
is split, so you can't get the Triforce now, but you CAN bomb the left
wall once you're inside. The rest is pretty straightforward. Proceed on
and you'll find the boss: Digdogger.



---------------------------
  PREPARING FOR LEVEL 4
---------------------------

GENERAL ADVICE - OVERWORLD

This particular advice is IMPORTANT!

Don't try to enter level 4 without the Blue Ring, White Sword, and a
Magic Shield. Just as one of the old men will tell you, it's suicide!
This means you're going to have to do a lot of exploring first. The
upside is that there are a lot of goodies that you now have access to.
That's why the next section focuses on the overworld.

You actually should have gotten the white sword by level 3. Unlike the
original Master Quest, the White Sword is now found in its usual spot,
at the top of the waterfall. Make sure you get it if you haven't already.

*************

Question:
Okay, I ascended the Lost Hills using the original maze path. However,
at the top, there's a cave surrounded by water. How do I get in?

Hint:
Well, you just found the Whistle...

.....

Answer:
The Whistle won't make the water recede here, but that needn't stop you.
If you finished level 2, and you have the whistle, then you can warp
there directly. Keep calling the whirlwind until it lands you right in
front of the cave, since this is the screen that used to house level 5
in 1st Quest.

*************

Question:
How do I get through the Lost Woods? The old route doesn't work here,
and going north makes me exit the Lost Woods instead of going east!

Hint:
The old woman in the southwest corner of the map once again will give
you information for a small fee. Pay the middle amount if you want a
decent hint, and the full amount if you can't deal with another riddle.

.....

Answer:
Man, you're stingy. Alright... the new sequence requires you to "turn
around once" before proceeding. That means go east, south, and then west
twice.

*************

Question:
Hey, the Power Bracelet isn't where it usually is! What gives? I want to
use the 3-stair warps.

Hint:
You'll have to do without those shortcuts for awhile.

.....

Answer:
You can't get the Power Bracelet until after level 4. Check a later
question if you're still stuck after finishing that level.

*************

Question:
Where's the Blue Ring?

Hint:
The Blue Ring is quite a long trek away from home. In fact, it's at the
end of a long hike up Death Mountain.

.....

Answer:
The Blue Ring is located in the new bonus overworld area, which is Death
Mountain Trail, the highest parts of Death Mountain. (before you start,
make sure you have 250 rupees!) Need instructions to get to Death
Mountain Trail? Check the previous question.
To get to the Blue Ring, advance up DMT until you've crossed the
extension bridge. It's dangerous, so bring a Magic Shield and ready your
boomerang. Two screens further and you'll be there. Read on if you're
still stuck...

*************

Question:
Okay, I've crossed the bridge and clumbed the ladder. I still don't see
any Blue Ring.

Hint:
Check one screen north from the ladder.

.....

Answer:
Bomb the big rock in the center of the screen. That'll take you to the
shop which sells the ring you're looking for. Be sure to read this next
question while you're there.

*************

Question:
Where can I find the Letter?

Hint:
It's very near the Blue Ring. You can get both the letter and the ring
in one trip, if you're very careful.

.....

Answer:
One screen west of the large bombable rock that leads to the Blue Ring
shop, there are two long stairways and a HUGE Lynel ambush waiting for
you. Be very, very careful here, and don't be afraid to use arrows and
hide to avoid their swords. To the left of the base of the stairs, at
the back wall, there is a rock wall. Try bombing there.

*************

Question:
Okay, I did what you said above, and now I have a Blue Ring. Sweet. I
think I'll go further up the trail.

Answer:
Hold yer horses! You don't WANT to go any further... not just yet. Go
back down and explore the lower levels for now.

*************

Question:
The bonus overworld area is so dang far away. Are there any shortcuts?

Hint:
Yes, there's one. Did you notice any paths blocked off on the way up?

.....

Answer:
At one point you'll see a long stairway blocked off by some boulders.
You can get turn one of the boulders into a staircase tile, but only
from below. To do so, push the boulder on the left after you get the
Power Bracelet. Turning the boulder into a staircase will not only open
up a Secret Money cave, it will allow you to climb further up the
mountain trail behind it. The trail to a backdoor shortcut which takes
you down the base of Death Mountain, near the Graveyard.


------------------------
  JOURNEY TO LEVEL 4
------------------------

If you've prepared by doing what I've said above, you'll be ready for
level 4. Even so, it will be no cakewalk. Make sure you bring some
medicine just in case, and don't be afraid to run past enemies without
confronting them, if you can avoid it.


*************

Question:
Where do I find level 4?

Hint:
It's not far from where you'd expect it, but you'll have to walk around
to get to actual entrance. Bring bombs.

.....

Answer:
It's one screen north and one screen east from where it was in the first
quest... if you could swim, that is. Take the route through the Lost
Woods and the Graveyard to the very base of Death Mountain, then go
south along the northwest shore of the lake. Find the "corner" screen
which is mostly water, and bomb the rockface to the right of the path.
You are now stepping into dangerous level 4.

*************

--DETOUR--

While you're en route to level 4, there is a Heart Container you can
pick up by taking a detour once you reach Death Mountain.  If you're
interested, here's where you can find it:

Once you're on Death Mountain, make your way to the absolute
northwesternmost corner of the map.  From there, go south one screen.
Bomb the rock face to the right of the stairs, and you'll find
everyone's favorite/most hated old man, Abei, offering you a juicy Heart
Container. ...Or a bottle of juice, if you want. It's your funeral.

Once you're done here, go back to the location in the previous question
and find your way into level 4. Make sure you're still well-stocked.



------------------------------
  LEVEL 4: SORCERER'S ROCK
------------------------------

Question:
I'm inside level 4, but it's a little disorienting. Where should I be
heading?

Hint:
There's a room near the center of the dungeon with a pushable block and
a staircase that you can't reach right away. Try to figure out what you
can do there.

.....

Answer:
You will have to re-enter this room several times during the level. Your
ultimate goal is to get to the stairs, but first you'll have to get the
dungeon item from elsewhere. Remember, though, that you must enter this
room at least /once/ from each direction of the compass. Doing so will
allow you to progress to new areas.

*************

Question:
I'm really confused. Where's the map? It would be very helpful.

Hint:
Try going northwest.

.....

Answer:
If you lack a key, first check the previous question. Once you have a
key, you can pretty much just walk to the northwest portion of the map.
Don't take any secret passageways or search for secrets until you've
passed the room with the Dodongos. In the next room, defeat all the
enemies and push the block to open the shutter. There's a Manhandla
inside who yields the map.

*************

Question:
How about the compass? Where's that?

Hint:
Try fighting bosses in the northwestern portion of the map.

.....

Answer:
If you need directions, check the previous question. Look for the blue
Gohma. It's in a non-hidden room, and killing it will get you the
compass. However, the reason it's easy to get is because it's not very
useful...

*************

Question:
Okay, I'm just north of the room that needs to be entered once from each
direction. However, a shutter is blocking me off. If there's a pushable
block here, then I can't push it from the southern half of the room. Why
can't I go further?

Answer:
There is indeed a pushable block in this room. Try to get to the
northern door, via a different route. You will need to detour
significantly towards the western half of the map.

*************

Question:
I just found a walk-through wall, but it teleported me two screens away
from where I started. Why?

Hint #1:
Do you have the map? Explaining it will be easier if you do.

Hint #2:
An old man somewhere will tell you about "stepping into the eyes of the
mask..."

.....

Answer:
Level 4 is shaped like a mask. Like many dungeons, the eyes have a
secret. However, that doesn't mean you can just enter them. If you try
to walk through a wall and into an eye, it will teleport you to the
/other/ side of the eye. This means you will end up crossing your own
path in this dungeon.

*************

Question:
Following your directions, I've gone a long ways into the dungeon, and
it's getting hard. How do I avoid getting lost?

Hint:
Most paths through the dungeon have some misleading open doors that will
force you to return to one of the rooms near the dungeon entrance.

.....

Answer #1:
If you're in the northwest quadrant, search for secrets before
proceeding further north. At the end of the northward route, there's a
one-way passage which forces you back to the start.

Answer #2:
If you're in the southeast quadrant of the map, always avoid going
south, unless you're backtracking.

*************

Question:
Where's the friggin' ladder already??

Hint: This is a long trip, so just be sure you have some keys with you,
and let's get down to business.

.....

Answer #1:
Using the dungeon map as your guide, try going northward through the
mask's right eye. (Yes, you have to walk through walls)

Answer #2:
After that, you have to cross your own tracks. Having gone northward
through the right eye, go west once and then bomb the south wall. Walk
through the hole you've made, and then enter the right eye from its west
side.

Answer #3:
After passing through to the right side of the eye, go one screen north,
and then continue east until you get to a dead-end. Defeat the blue
wizzrobes, and push the usual block. Bingo!

*************

Question:
Awesome! I have the ladder! ...Now what?

Hint:
You'll need one more key. It's pretty easily accessible.

.....

Answer:
Near the entrance, there's a dark room with a lot of orange wizzrobes.
Use the ladder to get the key in the center of the miniature moat in
this room.

*************

Question:
Great, but that didn't answer my question. Now that I have a key, where to?

Hint #1:
Remember the four-direction room? You haven't gotten to that stairway
yet, have you?

Hint #2:
You still haven't entered the four-direction room from the EAST. There's
a shutter blocking you from entering from the east, but you couldn't
open it before.

.....

Answer:
That's because you need the ladder to open the shutter. There's a
shortcut you can take to that room near the dungeon entrance, by turning
east into the room with the water and blue wizzrobes. North from there
is the room you want. Look for a pushblock switch. Since the blocks are
up against the water, you'll have to push one of them from the west
side, while standing on the ladder over the water.

*************

Question:
Ack! Wizzrobes and Bubbles and Like-Likes!!... You put a room THAT hard
right before the boss?...

Answer:
You don't have to fight them. :P Just be cautious, wait for an opening,
then unlock the door and enter the boss room. Inside is your first
Gleeok, and it'll be a nasty one with all four heads. All the old
strategies apply.  Congrats; your reward will be a Triforce piece, a
Heart Container, and the knowledge that you're leaving this dungeon
behind you.


---------------------------
  PREPARING FOR LEVEL 5
---------------------------

Time to take a break again. You now have the ladder, and you know what
that means? That's right, you can reach places you couldn't before, and
that means you should do so.

*************

Question:
Do I want a FREE Heart Container?

Answer:
YES! So, go to the east shore of the main overworld, and look for the
two docks separated from shore by water. Use the ladder for an
essentially free Heart Container, right where it was in both of the
other original LoZ quests.

*************

Question:
Mmmm... Heart Containers. Any other ones I can get now?

Hint #1:
Yes. And you passed by it on the way to the Blue Ring. It's hidden in
plain sight.

Hint #2:
It's below the extension bridge on Death Mountain Trail. Can't figure
out how to get down there, can you? Try looking somewhere other than down.

.....

Answer:
That rock peak is hiding a secret. Bring out your ladder and walk across
to it! Ladders aren't just good for crossing water, you know. :) On the
ledge, bomb the rock face, and you'll find a cave which leads you down
to a lower ledge. Defeat the Lynels, climb the ladder, and you're back
up on the original screen, Heart Container now within reach.

Unfortunately, after finishing the first four labryinths, you'll still
be two Heart Containers shy of being able to equip the Magic Sword. So I
won't bother telling you how to get to the Magic Sword until you have
the full 12 Heart Containers you need. Now, on to level 5...



------------------------
  JOURNEY TO LEVEL 5
------------------------

Question:
I can't find level 5. Is having the ladder enough?

Hint #1:
No.

Hint #2:
Is there any item you're still missing after all this time?
How about the Power Bracelet?

.....

Answer:
Remember how the whistle warps in LoZ 2nd Quest senr you to the OLD
labyrinth locations, rather than the new, relocated ones? Well, they
still do in Master Quest (except for the Lost Hills dungeon, since that
would allow you to skip the maze path after level 2). This means that by
using the Whistle, you can access the island level 4 was originally on,
even though you don't have the raft yet! Give it a try.

*************

Question:
Okay, that didn't help. All I found was a cave leading to the eyes of
level 4, and some rupees. Neat, but I still don't have the bracelet.

Hint:
Where was the bracelet hidden in the original Legend of Zelda?

.....

Answer:
It was under an Armos. Check the Armos in the top-right corner of the
island.

*************

Question:
So, now where in the world is level 5?

Hint #1:
You'll need make use of the item from level 4 to get to it, as well as
the Power Bracelet (referred to in the previous two questions).

Hint #2:
It's on a screen that didn't used to have any secrets.

.....

Answer:
This secret is a little obscure, so please forgive me, I found it
amusing. ^_^ Chances are you'll run into it on your own if you simply
attempt to use the ladder wherever you can. You've no doubt gotten the
heart container in plain sight just offshore on the eastern edge of the
map, right? Well, go one screen north. Walk out onto the second
platform. Ah-ha! Link instead pushes it, revealing a hidden staircase.
Whooda thunk it... Welcome to level 5.



--------------------------------------
  LEVEL 5: THE SUBMERGED LABYRINTH
--------------------------------------

Question:
Yay, level 5 at last! What loot is in store for us here?

Hint:
Doesn't this look a lot like level 2 in the first quest?

.....

Answer:
There's a room full of Goriyas and traps and two statues, and it's
directly north from the entrance. Defeat them, and you get the Magic
Boomerang. It was a long wait, but you've earned it. :) (especially
after that fight...)

*************

Question:
A map would be nice. Where is it?

Hint:
It's quite nearby, though the entrance to the map room is decently hidden.

.....

Answer:
In the room where you got the Magic Boomerang, walk through the east
wall. The wall is guarded by traps, so time it right. There's a Patra on
the other side, and a lot of water to cross while fighting, so be ready.
Your reward is the map.


*************

Question:
And where's the compass?

Hint:
Remember Zelda 1's obsession with "secret" rooms that aren't on the map?
Do you have the map? Look for a likely candidate.

.....

Answer:
The map is shaped like an ocarina with three visible finger holes. The
westmost "hole" contains the compass. Enter it by walking through the
wall from the west side. A blue Gohma guards the compass. Try to use the
ladder effectively when you fight, as there's water in the room.

*************

Question:
Crap! I'm in the northwest corner of the map, but what's up with these
boss monsters? There's so much water I have no room to move!

Hint #1:
You don't have to deal with that water, you know...

Hint #2:
What's this dungeon shaped like?
.....

Answer:
It's shaped like an ocarina, of course. Play your ocarina, and just like
it does on the overworld, the water will recede. :) Make sure you're
touching dry land when you do it. The water disappears, leaving you room
to fight. You can use this in both of the mini-boss rooms in level 5:
the 3-headed Gleeok, and the Blue Gohma accompanied by tons of
Wallmasters. Using the whistle is compulsory in Gohma's room, as you
can't get the key without making the water recede.

*************

Question:
Okay, I have some keys now, but nowhere to use them. Northeast of the
entry hall, there's a dead end peninsula. Is that the end of the road?

Hint #1:
Right before the dead end, there's a room with a Triforce emblem and water.

Hint #2:
Think... "water. What do I have for water?"

.....

Answer:
Play the ocarina! Sensing a pattern here? Be sure to play the Ocarina
often around bodies of water, even small ones, and even in dungeons.

*************

Question:
Okay, that last tip helped a little, but I'm still stuck. I still don't
see any new paths opening up.

Answer:
Try walking through the walls, now that you can reach them. A new wing
of the dungeon lies beyond the east wall, though you'll need a key to
proceed further. After passing through the wall, don't go south unless
you want to return to the earlier portion of the dungeon.

*************

Question:
I opened the locked door in the southeast part of the map, but it looks
like a dead-end. What gives?

Hint:
Just as in the previous questions, whip out your Ocarina and serenade
your Gibdo friends.

.....

Answer:
In addition to the Ocarina, you're going to have to push a block to make
a stairway appear.  Your reward for your musicianship is a rather ghetto
form of aquatic transportation: the Raft.

*************

Question:
Great! I've got the raft! ...Exactly HOW is this useful in a dungeon?

Hint #1:
It is, actually. You just need a place to push off.

Hint #2:
/Sand/ works well for that.

.....

Answer:
Near the old man's room, there's a place where you crossed the water
with your ladder, earlier. Go to the north side of the water, and push
the block on the left. It reveals a sandy area you can use to push off
from. Once you get the key, just go back the way you came using the
raft. Don't worry about the passageway that leads east; it's just a decoy.


*************

Question:
Okay, something's up here. I've checked every room for secrets, but I've
only explored half of the map! How do I get to the rest of the dungeon?

Hint #1:
Well, maybe you HAVE explored all you can right now.

Question #2:
WHAT? I've found everything I was supposed to! This is the next dungeon!
I should be able to finish it!!

Hint #2:
Perhaps you're trying too hard. Why not take a break?

Question #3:
I'm not leaving until I finish this dungeon!!

.....

Answer:
Give up yet? Diehard dungeon-crawlers who refuse to come up for air
until they finish a level will have trouble stumbling across this.
Remember the place you went with the raft that got you a heart
container? Go there.
WTF? A back door?! ...Why, yes, a back door. ^_^ Who ever said back
doors were against the rules in the original Zelda? Go at it!

*************

Question:
Okay, you meanie. I'm in the north half of the labyrinth. But there's a
room with so many Dodongos I don't have enough bombs for them.

Hint:
You forgot to go back to level 3, didn't you?

.....

Answer:
The room you couldn't originally access in level 3 has a bomb upgrade.
You can reach it by rafting across the pool of water. That should give
you 12 bombs, enough to to defeat all the Dodongos.
It's also possible to defeat them without the upgrade by using a few
Dodongo-fighting tricks, but hey, you probably wanted the upgrade
anyway, don't you?

*************

Question:
I found a hidden room that's filled with water. It's dark, and there are
lots of keeses. I can light the room with my candle, and cross the water
with the ladder, but the shutter won't open on the other side.

Hint:
Perhaps there's a push block?

.....

Answer:
There is indeed a push block, but you need to play the whistle to make
the waters recede. Then you'll be able to reach the center blocks. Among
the two, push the one on the left. Remember to defeat the keeses first.

*************

Question:
Okay, there was another key in that room, and I nabbed it up. But when I
went north, I was led in a circle. Where to?

Hint:
Chances are you have enough keys now. Are you sure there wasn't any
other trick to that secret route you just took?

.....

Answer:
Walk through the western wall into the middle "hole" of the
ocarina-shaped map. You can raft across the water to the other side.

*************

Question:
There's a hungry Goriya in the next room, but I fed him and all he did
was disappear; both doors were already open. What a gyp!

Hint #1:
Don't worry, you didn't waste your meat or your money.

Question #2:
Oh? But haven't I already been to all the adjacent rooms before?

Hint #2:
Yes, you have. Remember what was in them?

.....

Answer:
The room north of the Hungry Goriya has a room which you've probably
already been to, but need to access again. Bomb the north wall the
Goriya used to be blocking, and you'll re-enter that puzzle room from
the south. The room is unique because it creates a "crossroads," thanks
to the way the ladder works. You can only access the east door from the
west, and the north door from the south.
Cross the water from the south and proceed north.

Note: The "crossroads" room used to be a convoluted block puzzle. It had
multiple pushblocks, which I determined was too far removed from the
original Zelda, and replaced it with something more characteristic of
the game.

*************

Question:
I'm right next to the boss room, but how do I reach it? Water is
blocking the way.

Answer:
Geez, you aren't into a routine yet? Play the whistle to drain the water
from the room.

Next come two Digdoggers at once. It may be a little chaotic, but
chances are it'll be an easy battle if you just ready your boomerang.
Get the Triforce, and you're done! :)



------------------------
  JOURNEY TO LEVEL 6
------------------------

Question:
Okay! Where's level 6?

Hint:
An old man somewhere will tell you that a great beast once died
protecting a labyrinth.

.....

Answer:
This is an easy one. Many people find it well before they reach level 5.
Go to the desert and find the cattle skeleton. Bomb the wall behind the
skeleton, and there ya go. You've just found the entrance to the
"Infernal Maze."

Note: It used to be that you would bomb the actual cattle skull, but I
felt this was not in keeping with Zelda, so I changed it ever so slightly.



--------------------------------
  LEVEL 6: THE INFERNAL MAZE
--------------------------------

GENERAL ADVICE - LEVEL 6

Level 6, "The Infernal Maze," is colored the same as level 7 from the
first quest. In the first and second quest, this dungeon template had
easy fighting, because it hardly contained any enemies other than
Goriyas. Well.. things have changed. Now, a few dozen blue Darknuts roam
the place.

It's much more dangerous now, but it's still a place which offers a nice
opportunity. Even though it's level 6, it is technically possible to get
the dungeon item before you complete level 5, and maybe even before
level 4, if you are brave.

The catch is that it will be insanely hard to do it that early. But the
reward is great: none other than the Wand, a truly butt-kicking weapon.

--ABOUT KEYS--

The Infernal Maze is among the most key-heavy dungeons in the game. Most
of them are used to get to the dungeon item. Regardless, you're going to
need keys in order to advance. This portion of the FAQ may not be very
ordered (since you have a lot of freedom regarding the order in which
you acquire the keys), but if you REALLY need help, just read it all at
once.

*************

Question:
Where can I find the level 6 map?

Hint:
It's in the northwest section of the dungeon.

.....

Answer:
Keep going north and west until you find a room with a bunch of Darknuts
and a shutter to the south (to get this far, you will first need to bomb
some walls and obtain two keys). Defeat the Darknuts, go south, and
defeat the Manhandla and the Digdogger to get the map.

*************

Question:
Where can I find the level 6 compass?

Hint:
It's in the northernmost tip of the dungeon.

.....

Answer:
...Northernmost, yes; however, to get there you need to go through the
eastern section of the dungeon. Refer to the next question to find out
about that.

*************

Question:
How do I get to the eastern section of the dungeon?

Hint:
Boom.

.....

Answer:
Go north from the level 6 entrance until you get to a room with four
traps, some Goriyas, and some Bubbles. Bomb the eastern wall. Come
prepared with extra bombs so you can defeat the large numbers of Dodongos.

*************

Question:
Okay, I'm still looking for the compass. Where to?

Hint:
Find the room with two "eyes." Each eye is a pool of water with a block
in the middle.

.....

Answer:
In the above room, defeat all the enemies and blow the whistle. The
water will drain. Now, push the left block to open a secret passageway.
Read on to the next question if you want to find more than just the
compass...

*************

Question:
Okay I'd like some keys while I'm at it. Are there any nearby?

Hint:
You're going to need to find an alternate route into another "split
room" you might have seen already from the wrong side of a wall of blocks.

.....

Answer:
In the room where you find the compass (covered in the previous
question), bomb the south wall. Go south, and defeat all the keeses. NOW
you'll be in a position to be able to reach the key that appears when
they are all defeated.

*************

Question:
MORE keys!! I need MORE!!!

Hint #1:
Did you get the one that's relatively near the entrance to the dungeon?

Hint #2:
Did you check every wall in the eastern section?

.....

Answer #1:
 From the entrance, go one screen north, one screen west, and one screen
north. This is a chaotic room, with traps and Goriyas and Red Bubbles,
but the reward is straightforward: one key.

Answer #2:
Two screens north of the Dodongos that protect the way to the
easternmost portion of the dungeon, there is a split room with a bomb
lying in the middle of it. Try walking through the north wall. Fight
with vigor to survive: the room has bubbles, Goriyas, and loads of
moving traps. Your reward is another key.

*************

Question:
I'd like to know where I'm going here. Where is the dungeon item? And
the boss?

Hint:
If you've got the compass, you'll already know that the boss is in the
southwestern portion. The dungeon item in a ways north of that.

.....

Answer:
Do you have the map yet? If you do, you'll know that the dungeon is
shaped like a wolf's head, facing left. The boss and the Triforce are in
the lower jaw. The item -- which is the Wand -- is somewhere in the
snout. Now that you know where you're going, you need to collect enough
keys to get all the way through the snout. Or if you want to pass up the
wand, you can use those keys to go directly to the boss in the lower jaw.

*************

Question:
Okay, buddy, I'm STILL short on keys. Spill it.

Hint #1:
There's a hidden area that will lead you to not one, not two, not three,
but *four* keys. Needless to say, this is a series of rooms you can't
miss if you want that Wand.

Hint #2:
There's something you probably missed near the dungeon entrance.

.....

Answer:
Go to the room near the entrance which has a bunch of blue bubbles and
statues that DON'T fire at you. Walk through the eastern wall from here.
You'll encounter a Gleeok. Defeat it to get one key.

*************

Question:
Okay, one key. Now where's this treasure trove of keys you spoke of?

Hint #1:
Did you get the key and leave?... You missed something!

Hint #2:
There's a secret passage in this room. Once you've killed the Gleeok,
push the block on the left-center. It leads to a dead-end.

.....

Answer #1:
Dead-end? It's not really a dead-end. In reality, all four of the walls
can be walked through. The way out of this area is south, but don't go
that way just yet. Try going north first. Defeat the twin Digdoggers and
nab the second key in the series.

Answer #2:
So, you defeated the Digdoggers. Time to go back through the south wall,
right? ...Wrong! Walk through the west wall from the Digdogger room.
You'll reach a split room, but from this side you can take the key that
appears when you defeat the enemies.

Answers #3:
Now that you explored all the areas north of the secret passage, return
to the "eye" of the wolf, but this time walk through the southern wall
and defeat the enemies in the room you find beyond it. Woohoo! FOUR keys
in one wing!!

However, there's one more key in this dungeon. *ducks flying rocks*
...Wait... don't kill me!! >_< You don't need to worry about the last
one until you are ready to fight the boss.

*************

Question:
So now I've got loads of keys. Lead me to the Wand, dangit!

Hint #1:
Head towards the wolf's snout. In other words, the northwestern wing.

Hint #2:
The path to the Wand will lead you through several rooms full of
Darknuts which you don't have to fight. Then, a two-headed Gleeok
surrounded by an utter maelstrom of bats and fire-shooting statues.
North of that, another room where you need only avoid the Darknuts and
open the locked door. Then, a Patra.

.....

Answer:
Trouble? The path didn't end at an item room? Well, go back to that
Patra room. Once it's deafeated, you can push a block. Badda-bing. It's
Wand time. Goriyas, run and hide.

*************

Question:
There's a dude selling info nearby. What's that about?

Hint:
Directly east of the Wand room is an old man selling advice. He's pretty
no-nonsense about it, so pay up. Just as he says, it's info you'll NEED
to know.

.....

Answer:
Lemme guess... you're broke. 9_9 Well, alright. His most expensive
answer is "West, North, East, North, will lead you to the stone door's
threshold." One of his other answers quite clearly states that these
directions will help you to reach level 7.

*************

Question:
So, where's the level 6 boss?

Hint #1:
Go to the southern portion of the map and head west.

Hint #2:
There's a cross-shaped push block room which blocks your progress west.
Go south and a shutter will close behind you, but it will re-open if you
defeat the blue Darknuts and Goriyas, so ignore the stairway and go back
north.

Hint #3:
You'll need to open a locked door to proceed west, but it can be
replenished soon after. The last key is nearby.

.....

Answer #1:
In the room with blue and red Goriyas plus Wallmasters, walk through the
northern wall. Go prepared... there is a "big circle" Patra on the other
side. After this dangerous fight, you've got your last key.  There's a
shutter door to the north of the Patra that will open once you've
defeated it, but you'd probably best ignore it and return through the
false wall to the south, since that's where you want to be anyway if
you're ready to fight the boss.

*************

Question:
omg BOSS! Any pointers?

.....

Answer:
You're up against two Manhandlas and a bunch of fire-shooting statues.
It's not the most dangerous boss fight in the game, but definitely not
easy, what with the dozens of fireballs flying in all diretions. My
advice? Bring medicine and bombs, and ready your Wand. Don't be afraid
to go on the offensive.



---------------------------
  PREPARING FOR LEVEL 7
---------------------------

Have you finished levels 1 through 6? Did you get all the Heart
Containers in the previous "Preparing" section of this FAQ? That means
you have... 1, 2, 3, 4... OMG! Twelve Heart Containers!! Magic Sword
here we come!!

*************

Question:
That's all well and good, but I don't have the faintest clue where to
find the Magic Sword. Where is it?

Hint #1:
Start out on Death Mountain Trail.

Hint #2:
Look in the southeasterly portion of DMT.

.....

Answer:
You'll need to open up two secret paths to get to it, each with a
particular puzzle. Read on to find out how to open them.

*************

Question:
I see a cave leading to some stairs that go down to the south... but I
can't reach them. Where does that cave let out?

Hint #1:
Well, it lets out above, so you'll have to go north a screen. There,
you'll see three boulders in a triangle formation.

Hint #2:
Have you ever seen this formation before? Perhaps if you've ever played
Zelda 2: Adventure of Link...

.....

Answer:
Play the Whistle (you may stand anywhere on the screen when you do). A
stairway appears! This is a reference to "Three-Eye Rock," which was the
entrance to the sixth palace in Zelda 2: Adventure of Link. You can
proceed onward down this path, but there's something you need to do
first or else it'll lead you to a dead end.  It involves the waterfall
you passed when you came in.

*************

Question:
The cave below leads to the stairs I saw before (previous question), but
at the bottom of the stairs, there are two rock dams. One of them blocks
my way, and it can't be bombed. What gives?

Hint #1:
This is the second puzzle. Unfortunately, you can't solve it here. Go
back up and backtrack.

Hint #2:
That water's coming from somewhere. Perhaps you'd better follow it upstream?

Hint #3:
There's a waterfall falling into a pond. Do you remember what we do with
waterfalls?

.....

Answer:
We walk into them. Now that you have the Power Bracelet and the Ladder,
you can push that rock out of the way, then use the Ladder to cross the
pond and walk into the waterfall. The cave will lead you below, where
you can walk around on top of the cliffs next to that rock dam you saw
before.
There's also a cave with a woman inside, which you can reach with your
Ladder, but she doesn't seem too helpful, except to tell you bombs won't
budge the dam itself. However....

*************

Question:
How do I break that damn dam, already?

Hint #1:
Are you still on the west side of the screen with the dam, on top of the
rocks? Good. Look around.

Hint #2:
Do you know what's stronger than bombs? Immense water pressure. And
apparently you don't have enough of that pressure, because the dam is
still holding.

Hint #3: Perhaps if you redirected the water that is currently cascading
down the mountain...

......

Answer:
The answer here is to block up that waterfall. Fortunately, there's a
rock arch right above it. Stand on your ladder so you can place a bomb
smack-dab on to of that arch, and watch the rocks block up that
waterfall, just like your girlfriend clogs up your drain with her long hair!

...Okay, so maybe your girlfriend doesn't use your shower. _; Or maybe
you don't have a girlfriend. Or maybe your girlfriend is bald... but
that's irrelevant, because the dam is broken!!

Now... go around and use the three-eye rock entrance to walk downstream
(scroll up to read about this if you don't know how to get there). It
seems Abei has set up shop in a very pretty area. (even if it was hard
enough to get to... grumble...) Now, the Magic Sword is yours! ...And
it's a good thing, 'cause you're gonna NEED it.



------------------------
  JOURNEY TO LEVEL 7
------------------------

Question:
Alright, where is level 7?

Hint #1:
There is almost always a traditional "Graveyard" dungeon. This would be
the one.

Hint #2:
It's actually in the same place level 6 was in LoZ 1st Quest. However,
The contents of that screen have changed.

.....

Answer:
 From the grave-filled screen that used to hold the entrance to level 6
in the 1at quest, try walking through the northern rock face. Bingo! It
appears there's a maze path. You can also walk through the west and east
walls, as well.

*************

Question:
Sigh, another maze path. How do I get through?

Hint:
The old man in level 6 was selling info that would help you here. Didn't
you pay him anything?

.....

Answer #1:
The combination is West, North, East, North.

Answer #2:
So, the secret sound played, but the screen looks the same? Try pushing
a few graves and see what turns up. Jackpot!  Those stairs you found
will lead to level 7, "The Forgotten Catacombs."

*************

Question:
The first thing I encounter is a looooong string of rooms going
eastward, with lots of Bubbles, and apparently nothing of value. There
is one offshoot that leads north to a Gleeok, but I can't get far enough
into the room to fight it. What gives?

Hint:
You'll have to go around. The answer involves false walls...again.

.....

Answer:
Go one screen west from the doorway that WOULD have led you northward.
Be very careful to avoid the red Bubbles, and walk through the north
wall. Be warned: there are two difficult battles with Wizzrobes and
Bubbles before you can make it to the Gleeok. The Gleeok itself will
actually be relatively easy by now, if you have the Magic Sword.

*************

Question:
More locked doors...? CALL THE LOCKSMITH!

Hint:
The key you need is behind another false wall, somewhere.

.....

Answer:
Go back to that long west-east string of rooms. Keep going east and
checking north walls until one of the north walls turns out to be
walk-through (it'll be in a room with keeses and vires). In the
peninsula-like room on the other side, use arrows or preferably a Wand
to dispatch the Like-Likes and bats, and you'll get a key.

*************

Question:
Mind giving me directions to the map before I go further?

Hint:
Yeah, it's somewhere along the southernmost portion of the map.

.....

Answer:
Remember that long west-east string of rooms we know and love? Go east
as far as you can. Then go a bit further, specifically by bombing the
wall. Defeat the Aquamentus.
It leaves you nothing? Not bloody likely. Walk through the east wall.
Cha-ching. Here you'll find the Map, and some free Zol "sword fodder" in
case you need rupees and hearts.

*************

Question:
Dead-end! I passed another "crossroads" puzzle room and came to a
dead-end room that gives no secrets that I can find... I can't find any
other false or bombable walls. Where to?

Hint:
Are you SURE that's a crossroads room? It may LOOK like a "crossroads"
room where you can only go north from south, but think about it: the
obstacle you're facing is water.

......

Answer:
Pull out your Ocarina and play a tune. The water at the crossroads
disappears, clearing the way to all four directions. Suddenly this room
has become a lot more convenient.

*************

Question:
Here's a room with a bunch of bats and a ring of blocks. I kill the
bats, and a bomb item appears, one shutter opens, and a stairway appears
as well, but the other shutter doesn't open. Weird. What's up?

Answer:
Nothing in particular. This is the way you get back to the earlier part
of the dungeon. The stairway in the center is a distraction you
shouldn't worry about. You can't reach the bomb from outside the ring of
blocks.

*************

Question:
Further on I find tons of Wizzrobes, blue Darknuts, and two Manhandlas.
Meanie. Anyway, the Manhandlas gave me a key, but I'm stuck again.

Hint #1:
There's a possible secret you've seen before that you've probably
forgotten to check.

Hint #2:
The blue Darknuts are in a room filled with water.

.....

Answer:
Once again, play your Whistle. The water drains and a stairway appears!
WARNING: It's much easier to fight the Darknuts WITHOUT draining the
water. You might want to fight them using your Ladder before you play
the Whistle. Isn't combat easier when you don't play fair?

*************

Question:
Okay, the stairs led me to... the compass. And a dead-end? Is that all?

Hint #1:
Nope.

Hint #2:
You can press a block to open the stairway which leads you back to where
you came, but this is not in fact a dead-end.

.....

Answer:
Bomb the east wall and proceed. Prepare for a blue Gohma accompanied by
lots of fire statues.

Beyond that you'll find some difficult wizzrobe battles, but otherwise
the coming rooms are fairly straightforward. If you have enough keys,
you will be able to fight the boss soon.

*************

Question:
The boss is TWO Patras?!? Ouch... any hints?

Answer:
They're very dangerous, but you can take 'em.  If you used up your blue
and red potions obtaining the key in the previous difficult room, do
yourself a favor and GO GET MORE. You won't have to repeat that last
fight with the blue Wizzrobes and Vires, though you'll have to
re-navigate the dungeon to get back to the boss.

The only advice I have is to take out the "big circle" Patra first, but
you will probably end up doing that anyway. Just stay out of range until
the "big circle" Patra stops expanding its outer ring.  After it makes
three outward swoops, close in and slash like there's no tomorrow.
Remember that enemies flashing from damage can't hurt you until they
stop flashing, so if you put your sword between you and the small
Patras, there's a chance you won't get hurt by them. Try not to get too
close to the "oval" Patra; its main tactic is to lure you in too close
when you attack, so that when you miss your target, the small Patras can
hit back.

Don't be afraid to run when you have enough room to avoid an attack, and
you should succeed. The 7th Triforce piece awaits. However...

*************

Question:
No dungeon item? That's odd. I've found the Triforce piece, and filled
out every portion shown on the map, except for one room. Should I move
on to level 8?...

Hint:
Probably not.

.....

Answer:
You should keep looking, even though there's nothing else that's
mandatory in this dungeon. The map may be mostly filled out, and in
truth, you've explored almost all there is to explore underground. But
keep looking.

*************

Question:
Okay, wise guy. Tell me where the item is. I don't see anything
different here.

Hint #1:
Remember level 3 in LoZ 2nd Quest? You couldn't get the item before you
defeated the boss. Do you remember where you had to search afterwards?

.....

Answer:
The Triforce room. Search the Triforce room. However, this time it's a
little different. Try pushing blocks in that room. And there you have
it: the Triforce room has a hidden staircase.

********

Question:
Above ground?... Sneaky. Now, where's the item room?

Hint:
This is the Lost Graveyard, otherwise known as the level 7 "overworld
cross." There will be some secret passages here and there which lead
back underground. Two of them hold some nice items.

.....

Answer #1:
The westernmost tip of the overworld cross, which has a bunch of red and
blue darknuts, has a pushable grave in the upper right corner of the
screen. Inside you'll find the Magic Book. Not a terribly useful item,
but since your own fire doesn't hurt you in Master Quest, it's worth
picking up.

Note: The Magic Book was mandatory in the original Master Quest. This
was a very weird way to use an item, so I axed it for the remake.

Answer #2:
The southernmost tip of the overworld cross, which contains a bunch of
annoying Wizzrobes, has a grave you can push. The staircase beneath it
leads to the real prize for this detour: you'll be taken back
underground, where an old man waits to offer you a bomb upgrade. Make
sure you have 100 rupees, and go on to enjoy the happy feeling of More
Explosives.


------------------------
  JOURNEY TO LEVEL 8
------------------------

Question:
Okay, cough it up. Where's level 8?

Hint #1:
The Stone Fortress is a stone's throw away from its original location,
as well as its location in the 2nd Quest.

.....

Answer:
 From level 8's original 1st Quest location, go one screen north and one
screen west.  Keep burning the top row of bushes until one reveals a
staircase.
Welcome to level 8.


---------------------------------
  LEVEL 8: THE STONE FORTRESS
---------------------------------

GENERAL ADVICE - LEVEL 8

Normally, I'd start off right here with the question-and-answer method
of hinting. However, Level 8 is unique. Level 8 will be, in some ways,
quite different from the other levels so far in Master Quest, but in
other ways it will be like level 8 was in the 1st Quest: very
straightforward, but with lots of bosses.

However, there's a new catch. There are two ways to do this level: the
easy way and the hard way. In other words, players who know exactly
where to go will be able to *avoid* the most difficult parts of the
dungeon entirely. Players who DON'T find the secrets, however, will have
to force their way to the dungeon item by fighting some difficult
mini-bosses.

Why is this the case? Well, in case you're keeping tabs, the only item
left for your to find is the Magic Key. Level 8 has tons of locked
doors. The locked doors  are located on two main paths: one of the paths
leads to the Magic Key, while the other leads to the boss. However,
there are not enough regular keys for you to reach the boss before
finding the Magic Key.

The locked doors on the other path will lead you towards the Magic Key.
You don't HAVE to open them, though. They merely lead you through a
series of shortcuts which let you avoid the difficult mini-bosses.

What does this mean? Well, if you waste all your regular keys trying to
get to the boss, you'll come up short, and then have to go find the
Magic Key anyway. However, if you don't have any regular keys left,
you'll have to fight EVERY mini-boss in the dungeon. Sound fun? I didn't
think so.

The answer? First, find the map. That will help you search effectively.
Secondly, avoid rooms with super-difficult battles when you can, because
those bosses are probably leading up to the Magic Key or the dungeon
boss. You, however, want to find the small keys, first. Reaching them is
easy... finding them is not.

Of course, you could always buy all your keys from a merchant...but
where's the fun in that?

Now, on with the questions...


*************

Question:
So, you say I really need the map, eh? Well, where is it?

Hint:
Go north. And keep going.

......

Answer:
Specifically, wander north until you find a room full of traps and
mummies. Bomb the northern wall. There are a few rooms from there on
which require you to defeat some moderately-difficult monsters, but the
rest is straightforward. The room with the two Manhandlas will yield you
a map.
Oh, by the way: some of the rooms I just told you to fight through, you
CAN skip, but first you have to know where to find some keys. If you'd
rather read on than find out for yourself, it would be safer to find the
keys and THEN get the map. It's up to you.

*************

Question:
Okay, I've got the map. The dungeon seems to be shaped like a dragon
facing to the right, bearing it's teeth. What does this mean to me?

Hint #1:
There are spaces between its teeth. Have you heard any hints about
"dragon's jaws?"

Hint #2:
An old man somewhere will tell you something along the lines of "it is
possible to escape from the dragon's jaws unharmed."

.....

Answer:
What the old man is referring to is the nature of the "teeth" rooms.
Most of the rooms which are where the dragon's "teeth" appear to be, are
apparently traps, where a one-way shutter will close on you and force
you to take a secret passageway back to the beginning of the dungeon.

...Or so it seems.

In the "jaws" area of the map, try walking through walls, particularly
into rooms that aren't marked on the map. Keep walking through walls
until you can walk through no more, even when you encounter rooms with
one-way shutters that look like dead-end traps. You'll find a lot of
keys. Be happy.

*************

Question:
Dude, I have keys. Now how do I get the Magic Key, if I need it so badly?

Hint:
Try to reach the "nose."

.....

Answer:
 From the dungeon entrance, go north a bit, then northeast. Make sure
you aren't going towards the lower jaw -- that's where the boss is (just
like level 7). Once you're sure you're not going that direction, look
for locked doors and open them. Open every locked door. When you come to
a room with a shutter, an open door, and a boss, take the open door.
There'll be another locked door on the other side -- and as we know, all
locked doors here lead to shortcuts. The boss and the shutter are there
only as a last resort if you run out of keys.

At the end, there's a room filled with blue Darknuts, Gibdos, and two
Bubbles. The Magic Key is near!

*************

Question:
The Magic Key is near, you say, but it's not here... What gives?

Hint #1:
There's an old man in this very dungeon who will tell you "the chimera
that has lost its fire is partial to music."

.....

Answer #1:
"Lost its fire?" Hey, that could be a statue that doesn't shoot fire
while the others do! Get busy lookin'!

Answer #2:
It's in the room east of the Darknut/Gibdo/Bubble room. Just as the old
man says, play some music for that statue, and it'll give way to a
staircase that leads to the Magic Key.

*************

Question:
All right, I've got a Magic Key! What do I do now?

Answer:
Do I really need to tell you?... Look for locked doors, and open every
door you find! However, don't fight those mini-bosses you skipped.
There's no reason to do so, really, unless you like a challenge (or you
enjoy getting your face pummelled).

*************

Question:
The boss is... a 6-headed Gleeok?? And fire-shooting statues... great.
What now?

Answer:
Kill it! There's no real secret here. Just try your best to keep track
of which fireballs came from statues, so you can block them with your
shield. This isn't actually one of the hardest bosses, so keep a
medicine on hand, be careful, and you'll be fine.

Congratulations! You are now the bearer of the Triforce of... Wisdom?
Doh! No Triforce of Courage for you. Princess Zelda's been using this
one... hmmm, smells like jasmine. Oh well. I guess this isn't so bad.
Ganon, WATCH OUT!


---------------------------
  PREPARING FOR LEVEL 9
---------------------------

 FINAL HEART CONTAINER

Question:
Level 9 already? No way, I'm facin' Ganon in style! Where's the last
Heart Container?

Hint:
Huh? Er... Oh yeah. Last Heart Container. Right.
Okay, use the Wand in the forest again. It's nearby.

.....

Answer:
One screen north of the Stone Fortress entrance, see? There's one wide
path that goes through the woods horizontally, and it is intersected by
two narrow, vertical ones. Look at the leftmost vertical path. At the
very top, where it touches the north edge of the screen, there is a bush
which you can burn with your Wand. It's adjacent to that narrow path.

NOW, on to level 9.


------------------------
  JOURNEY TO LEVEL 9
------------------------

Question:
How do I get to Ganon's lair?

Hint:
Simple. Climb Death Mountain Trail to the top.

.....

Answer:
Need help? Well, use the path you used to get to the Blue Ring, and then
keep climbing once you pass that point. The path up the mountain splits
into two long staircases. Take the right one if you're ready to move on.

*************

Question:
I'm out of potions! Do I REALLY have to hike all the way back down the
mountain to get a refill?...

Hint:
Nope! Look around a bit, at the top of the leftmost of the two parallel
staircases.

.....

Answer:
At the top of the aforementioned staircase you'll be able to bomb a rock
wall to open a cave. What you'll find inside is a rather unconventional
(but affordable) means of restocking your necessities...

*************

Question:
Alright, I'm ready to enter level 9. Now how do I get IN?

Hint:
Go to the top of Death Mountain to find the entrance.

.....

Answer:
Isn't it obvious? There's a big rock in the middle of a walkable area at
the peak. Bomb it. (Perhaps it's called "Monacle Rock?")



----------------------------------
  LEVEL 9: DEATH MOUNTAIN PEAK
----------------------------------

GENERAL ADVICE - LEVEL 9

You will quickly realize that Death Mountain Peak is the only dungeon in
Master Quest to have multiple floors... four of them, to be exact. You
will also eventually realize that it is frickin' huge. Just so you know,
it weighs in at a grand total of *120* rooms. Don't run away just yet,
though. There are also a few things about level 9 that will be simpler
and more straightfoward than other dungeons.

The first of these is the fact that level 9 has no secret passageways.
So, you may have four floors to deal with, but your position on the map
will move around in a pretty consistent manner. In fact, this is one of
the vital strategies for success: keep track of the rooms you think
you'll need to get to, and then look carefully on the map to find out
how to get near that room. It will help you figure out where to look for
bombable and false walls.

The second point of relief is that a lot of those 120 rooms have no
enemies in them: for the most part, that means the stairwells. You won't
have to fight much in rooms with staircases.

The third point is that you won't have to repeatedly defeat the enemies
in each room just to proceed. The only times you need to defeat them are
when you want to try to push a block, and when there's a shutter that
looks like it might open. Since you already have the Magic Key, you
won't have to defeat enemies just to see whether they leave a key behind
when the room is cleared out. From here on out, all new items are
optional except for the Silver Arrow.

The last point is that level 9 has shortcuts! :D These appear in the
form of split rooms with bosses in them -- you can only defeat those
bosses from one side of the room, but once you do, you'll be able to
push a block out of the way which reveals a shortcut for future use.
Navigation is still difficult, but if you pay attention to the
shortcuts, you can save yourself a lot of time and effort.

With that primer, you should be about ready to go at it. One last
pointer before you start, though: as usual, level 9 contains the Silver
Arrow and the Red Ring. However, unlike previous quests, getting the Red
Ring in Master Quest is REALLY worth your time. The Red Ring will become
accessible after you've completed less than half the dungeon, and after
that point, the fighting really gets tough. So look for it. You'll be
glad you did.


*************

Question:

I just walked in the door. What should I know first about the layout of
the dungeon?

Answer #1:
The first thing you'll encounter (after the down staircase directly
beyond the entry hall) is a room where Abei used to be.  From here, the
northern doorway leads to a dead end with blue Bubbles (useful if you
continue the game after touching a red Bubble) and the southern doorway
leads to the rest of the dungeon.
The first thing you'll do is follow the staircases down from floor 4
(where you entered) to floor 1. There are numerous staircases between
the floors, so expect to return to other floors by other means until you
have explored most of the dungeon.  Each staircase room has a floor
pattern which resembles one of the dungeons from the original Legend of
Zelda.

Answer #2:
On floor 2, you'll encounter an empty room with dark floor tiles and
four blue Wizzrobes. From that room, the right doorway leads to a dead
end, while the north doorway leads to a staircase room that is shaped
like the Moon from level 2 of 1st Quest. Follow this staircase down to
floor 1.

Answer #3:
The north doorway from the Moon staircase room leads to the wing where
most of the shortcuts in the game converge. As you defeat the boss
monsters guarding these shortcuts, you'll be able to access them from
this area.

*************

Question:
Alright, I'm confused already. Too many stairways and floors! Where am I
supposed to be going?

Hint:
One of the first portions of the dungeon that you'll have access to is
comprised of one meandering string of rooms and a few dead ends.  Your
task is to find the room that isn't a dead end.

.....

Answer #1:
Try to get to the bottom floor (F1). It shouldn't take long to the
bottom. The stairways in this dungeon are a twisted mess which go up and
down all over the place, so you'll quickly start to visit bits and
pieces of all four floors, rather than explore each floor all at once.
Once you reach F1, go north. If you see a room with no lava and a bunch
of blue Darknuts, you're on the right track. From this point there will
be only one way to go, and it won't require you to find bombable or
false walls until the very end of the path.

Answer #2:
Need help finding the bombable wall? You won't have to leave floor 1 to
get to it. In fact, the staircase room shaped like the Manji symbol from
level 3 of 1st Quest, though easily accessible, leads to a dead end on
the 2nd floor.  Instead, look for a room with two red Bubbles, two blue
Bubbles, and five Like-Likes.  From there, bomb the south wall.  This
will lead to new possibilities.

*************

Question:
I made it past the room with the Gleeok and the eight statues, and
encountered a room with six blue Darknuts and four fire-shooting
statues. What should I do here?

Hint #1:
Defeat the Darknuts and take the now-open shutter door on the left,
which leads to a staircase room that's shaped like the Lizard from level
5 of Zelda's 1st Quest.  You will need to return to the blue Darknut
room again later, so remember where it is.

Hint #2:
Would you like a Map? Well, now's your chance.

.....

Answer:
Once you take the Lizard staircase up a floor, immediately bomb the west
wall. The map item you acquire there will only show the floor you are
currently on, but now the shape of the dungeon will become quite clear.

*************

Question:
I went onward after finding the Lizard staircase, but it led to a room
with a Patra that I can't really fight, because there's no room to move.
What gives?

Hint:
Although it's possible to fight the Patra from that tiny corner you're
boxed into, you're not really meant to. I recommend you return to floor
1 via the Lizard staircase and look around the nearby area.

.....

Answer #1:
Go back to the blue Darknut room with the four shooting statues (though
the blue Darknuts might not have returned since you last defeated them).
From there, bomb the east wall. That should reveal a staircase room that
is shaped like the Snake from level 4 in the 1st Quest.

Answer #2:
Traversing to the 2nd floor from the Snake staircase leads you to the
aforementioned Patra room. Kill it! When you defeat the Patra, backtrack
to the Blue Darknut room, because everything beyond the Patra from this
point is another dead end.

Answer #3:
After defeating the Patra, go back around to the Lizard staircase and
enter the scattered-block Patra room from the west side. Now you can
push one of the blocks out of the way and proceed northward. The next
screen will be a "crossroads" room, and after that you'll face the next
challenge.

*************

Question:
Another staircase, this time shaped like the Dragon from 1st Quest's
level 6. Does it lead anywhere?

Hint:
You might not know it, but if you just finished the scenario in the
previous question, then you should be ready to retrieve the Red Ring.
Take the Dragon staircase to floor 1, then keep checking your map and
looking for new ways to proceed. Or just read on for the answer...

.....

Answer #1:
South of the Dragon staircase on the 1st floor is a room with
Like-Likes, Zols, and a ring of lava. Walk through the east wall. Beyond
the "crossroads" room, you'll encounter a sandy chamber with two Manhandlas.

Defeat the two Manhandlas and proceed south. From there, walk south,
bombing walls to the south or west as necessary. You should eventually
get to a room with an easily-defeated oval Patra, and a well-earned Red
Ring item room as a reward. Ahh, the sweet smell of victory...

*************

Question:
I'm at the top of the Dragon staircase, still on floor 2. The door to
the east eventually leads northward to a 4-headed Gleeok that I REALLY
can't fight because it's out of reach. How do I fight it?

Hint:
Remember what you did in the Patra room with scattered blocks?

.....

Answer:
Backtrack until you are in the staircase room that's shaped like the
Dragon, and proceed to walk through the north wall. Now you can take the
Gleeok head-on! Make it wish it'd never been conjured. (Note: Once the
Gleeok is dead, you'll have access to a shortcut! Check "Answer #3" in
the very first level 9 question if you want to use it.)

*************

Question:
I just found a staircase room shaped like the Demon labyrinth from level
7 of 1st Quest, but I don't know which way to go next. Where should I be
heading?

Hint:
You are now upon the next major leg of your exploration of Death
Mountain. The Demon-head stairway will take you from floor 2 back down
to floor 1, and this time you'll be exploring the northern edges of floor 1.

.....

Answer:
The lower Demon staircase room has doorways exiting the room in three
directions. You can safely ignore the north and east doorways, as both
are dead-ends (though, the east doorway eventually leads to a blue
Bubble, should you need it).  Instead, go west.

*************

Question:
Where can I find the Compass?

Hint:
If you haven't been asking this question yet, now's a very good time to
ask, assuming you just took the Demon staircase to floor 1.

.....

Answer:
Near the aforementioned staircase, there is a room with five Lanmolas.
To the west of this room is a staircase room shaped like the Lion's head
from level 8 of 1st Quest. You'll have to walk all the way around to the
west side in order to enter the room, though, as it is sealed off from
the north and the east by one-way shutters. Once you've gone north,
west, south, and finally entered the Lion's head staircase room, take it
to floor 2. Then, walk through the false wall to the east. The Compass
is yours.

*************

Question:
Where's that guy that says "Go to the next room?"

Hint:
He had to make it into this dungeon somewhere. It's tradition! Anyway,
he's in the northwest portion of Floor 1.

.....

Answer:
While this guy is there only for tradition, the area he's located in is
a good place to take a breather and get a couple of hints. To get there,
read on:
After you've defeated the Digdogger and gone west, your path will turn
south for awhile. During that time, look for a room with four Gibdos and
four Vires. When you find it, check the west wall. Walking through it
will lead you to a series of not-too-difficult rooms.
Now, keep heading west. Eventually you'll hear a boss roar! You can't
get to Ganon from this wing, but now you know exactly where he is, with
or without the Compass. Bomb the north wall in the current room. You'll
find that old man telling you to go to the next room. Do so, by walking
through the east wall. You'll get a clue about navigating this dungeon,
though it's nothing I haven't hinted to you already.

*************

Question:
Which way to the Silver Arrow?

Hint #1:
After you defeated Digdogger and turned towards the south, you would be
able to continue south for awhile. Try to keep going south, but keep
your eyes peeled.

.....

Answer #1:
The moment your path gets directed to the west, instead bomb the south wall.

Answer #2:
After bombing into a room with Wizzrobes and Like-Likes, walk through
the false wall to the west. You'll reach a staircase shaped like the Hat
labyrinth that was level 6 in the 2nd Quest.  After taking that
staircase, go south one screen and find the staircase room shaped like
the tongue-like spiral that was level 7 in 2nd Quest.
Now that you're on the right track, the rest is pretty much a
non-branching route onward, with nothing worse than a dead-end here and
there, plus a way to exit this path and go back to the start of the
labyrinth. Read on if you need more help.

Answer #3:
Soon after the above, you should end up facing what appears to be wave
after wave of bosses. The good news is that each time you clear a room,
it will stay clear permanently. The bosses you have to fight are three
Digdoggers at once (ready that boomerang!), two Patras at once, another
Gleeok, and finally another two Manhandlas. Keep at it!
The Dodongos guarding the staircase room shaped like the wide spiral
from level 8 in 2nd Quest are optional, so ignore them and go on. The
Silver Arrow lies at the end of this non-branching road. When you reach
the end of this path, you'll find yourself back on Floor 4, just a
wall's-breadth away from the dungeon entrance.

NOTE:
Branching off from the boss rooms, there is a room filled with lava and
Zols. There is a pushblock in the center which is situated in such a way
that you can push it out of the way and go east. However, when you
return to the room, the block will be reset, in a manner that prevents
you from returning to the string of bosses. Do not use this shortcut
unless you're not in good enough shape to survive the coming boss monsters!!

*************

Question:
I'm ready to kick some Ganon-butt. Where can I find the big pig?

Hint #1:
You'll want to be on floor 1, first. The path diverges from the same
path that eventually brought you to the Silver Arrow.

Hint #2:
Start at the room that has (or had) two Digdoggers, and start looking
for the staircase room that's shaped like the Skull from level 9 of the
1st Quest, which is guarded quite appropriately (if ineffectively) by a
bunch of normal Bubbles. You will need to bomb a wall to get there.

.....

Answer #1:
Okay, time for some more specific directions. You won't have to bomb or
walk through any walls until you reach a room filled with lava and
Keeses.  Bomb the west wall from that room and proceed to floor 2, then
begin moving southward. Bomb the first south wall that gets in your way,
and you'll find a staircase room shaped like Ganon's head from level 9
of the 2nd Quest, which contains a slew of red Bubbles for you to
avoid.  If one touches you, you can backtrack two screens north to find
a blue Bubble, then try again.

Answer #2:
Once you've taken the Ganon's head staircase back down to floor 1,
you'll be presented with one northward door which leads to a blue Gohma
guarding another shortcut. This shortcut isn't quite as convenient as
the other ones, but make a note of its location in case you need it.
Don't take it now, though, because it won't lead you to Ganon.

Answer #3:

Instead, return to the Ganon's head staircase room and bomb the south
wall (you can also bomb the west wall, but that will merely put you on
the wrong side of the screen in a "crossroads" room). After bombing
southward, bomb the west wall as well.
You may be running low on bombs right now, eh? If so, there's an open
doorway heading east which will eventually lead you to a bomb refill.
Just avoid those annoying Wizzrobes, grab it, and return with fury,
because the next room is filled with blue Darknuts (although you don't
actually have to fight them).  Bomb north from the Darknut room, and
keep going northward until your progress is blocked.

Answer #4:
Phew. Almost there. You will no doubt be blocked by... well... a block.
It's one of those T-intersections where the block can be pushed out of
your way, but doing so will obstruct one of the possible exits. Rather
than mess around with it, return to the previous room, which will have 5
blue Lanmolas if you haven't killed them already.
 From there, walk through the wall to the east, then the wall to the
north, then the wall to the west. (There are plenty of blue Wizzrobes
you'll meet on the way, but it's best to ignore as many of them as
possible and get on with it.) This will land you back in the room that
originally stopped you, but when come at it from the east side, you can
go north.
Ganon's chamber is guarded by one last "big circle" Patra. Fight it with
caution, and hopefully you will be facing Ganon with most of your health.

NOTE: From the Patra room mentioned above, don't walk through the east
doorway unless you don't want to fight Ganon right now. It leads back to
the Skull staircase. However, if you want to leave the dungeon, this is
the only way to get out of the northeasternmost portion of the map
without quitting the game and selecting "continue."


*************

Question:
Alright, Ganon's chamber! Well, I'm willing to bet you made him harder.
Did you?

Answer:
Yes. :) But not by much. You remember those four statues in the corners
of his chamber? Well, now they shoot fire. The reason this doesn't
increase the difficulty by much, though, is because Ganon's fireballs
inflict more damage than statue fire.

Here is my one bit of advice: In case you never noticed it before,
touching Ganon -- though he's invisible -- does a LOT more damage than
touching his fireballs. Thus, the most effective strategy is to lash out
with your sword frequently in all directions, and only move to dodge
fireballs. You'll hit him eventually, and after several shots, Link will
be one Silver Arrow away from claiming victory.

*************


Did you just finish fighting Ganon? Congratulations! You've completed
The Legend of Zelda: Master Quest! If this is the case, regardless of
whether you used this FAQ a lot, feel free to PM me or post in my hosted
quest forum at www.purezc.com, and I will give you a hearty thanks for
playing my quest all the way through. ^_^ Either way, I would appreciate
your rating, telling me what you thought of this quest!

Also, if you find any inconsistencies in the FAQ or the quest itself,
please PM me or post in my hosted forum on PureZC and let me know ASAP
so I can fix it.

Thanks for playing!

~Radien