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The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds Guide > Walkthrough > DUNGEON: Swamp Palace

You must have the Hookshot and either the Tornado Rod or Ice Rod to proceed in here. Bombs are optional.


In here, begin by going forward and using the Hookshot to pull the wall lever back. When the room fills with water, swim to the sides and head into the north room. Here, you will find the large chest surrounded by flames, as well as a large switch on the high ledge by the boss door. You can only enter the west or east rooms for now. Let's go with the west room. At this point, you can't get the chest on the pillar, so continue down the stairs in the back to level B1.

Down here, you will find a flooded room with a raft and jellyfish enemies floating around. Attack them when they are not electrified (or use the Hookshot from a distance), then stand on the raft. Hookshot to the south and west, and open the first chest to get 20 Rupees. From there, Hookshot with the raft to the south, east, north, and east. Open the second chest to get Monster Guts. After that, go up the steps on the right side of the room and use the Hookshot to retrieve the Small Key atop a pillar.

While you're down here, enter the southwest room. Use the Hookshot to pull the enemy out of its shell, then kill it with your sword. Carry the shell to the right edge of the platform and toss it at the crystal switch. Open the chest that appears to get 300 Rupees! Exit that side room, then go northeast into the middle room. Avoid the bubbles and take the Compass from the chest in front of the locked door. Next, go into the east room.

In this room, there will be rushing water pouring from the walls. You need to use the Hookshot on the poles to get across safely. Defeat the jellyfish enemies and go to the south end where you can trigger the crystal switch, which stops the water. Go up the middle path to grab the Small Key. Now, return to the Compass room and unlock the north door before entering.

In the north room now, defeat some more jellyfish and use the Hookshot on the crystal switch in the northwest corner. This changes the direction of the rushing water in the middle of this room from left to right. Go across and ride the water into the flooded area at the other side, then swim onto the ledge next to the rushing water. Hookshot the crystal switch and the aqueduct above will flood the western gap with water. Go up the steps and merge along the wall, then ride the aqueduct water across the room.

At the other side now, use the Hookshot to diagonally hit the last crystal switch in the corner. This will flood the center of the room, so ride that wave of water back across to the middle. Then, take the stairs back up to 1F. When you arrive, you will have to face a giant jellyfish mini-boss. Attack with your sword a few times when it's not electrified, then back away to avoid getting shocked. It will flash red when weakened. After landing enough hits, the jellyfish will explode, revealing quite a few tiny ones. One sword swipe will kill each (avoid getting shocked still).

After you defeat the mini-boss, the entrance portal will appear and the center platform will rise up. Also, the two doors in the corners will be unlocked. Both doors lead to the same place, so just pick one (I chose the southeast door personally). In the room you arrive in, press the floor switch to raise a platform up to act as a shortcut (this automatically happens in the west room as well). Bomb the cracked floor to reveal an opening, then drop through it to B1. When you land on the catwalk below, unlock the door and enter the center room.

You will find two shelled enemies and a water switch in the middle of this room. Hookshot the enemies and defeat them, then stand on the left marker and Hookshot the water switch. Pulling from the left side drains water while pulling from the right floods the room. With the room below drained, drop down and enter the north room. Dive below the rolling spiked bar, then open the large chest at the north end to receive the Blue Mail. This will halve the damage you take, plus it's automatically equipped!

Exit this room now, and swim through to the southwest corner before entering that room. Defeat the enemies while avoiding the beam statue's laser, then look at the north wall to spot two wall levers. Pull the left one with your Hookshot (the right one drops enemies into the room) to unlock the northwest door. With that done, go back upstairs to 1F.

In that room, first defeat the enemies floating around with your Hookshot. Then, drop to the right side and step on the floor switch to open the northeast door. Now, go back up to the room entrance and stand on the Hookshot tile to the left. Hookshot onto the north wall, then merge with it and head counter-clockwise to the southern ledge. Pop out and you will be in front of the water switch. Raise the water (pull from the right) twice, then open the nearby chest to get a Small Key. Lower the water one step to the middle level, then go back to the central room to the northeast.

Here again, you can now access the big chest in the middle. Use the Tornado Rod or Ice Rod to temporarily extinguish the flames, then take the Big Key from the chest. Since this area is flooded at mid-water level, you can retrieve the chests in the side rooms. The east chest contains Monster Guts, but the west room has a Small Key, so go there. Once you have the key, Bomb the cracked floor if you didn't do so before, then fall through to B1. Unlock the other door to reach the center room, then go around to the water switch. Raise the water level twice to reach the southeast door, and go in there.

Drop to the area below and use the Hookshot to pull out the shelled enemies to kill them with your sword. Once they're gone, the aqueduct will push a Hookshot post within reach. You can enter a hidden room behind the waterfall to collect faeries if you need them. Otherwise, Hookshot across the gap and head upstairs to 1F. In this room, you will find two water switches. Defeat the enemies, then go up the west steps and Hookshot onto the wall. Merge and move around to the south ledge, then pull the left side of the switch to lower the water level to the lowest setting. Drop down and step on the floor switch near the other water switch, and the northwest door will open.

Now to get out of this room. Use the right water switch to raise the water level to the middle setting, then make your way back to the upper one and raise the water to the top level. Now, swim across and exit to the northwest. Back in the main room once more, swim to the northeast platform and break the pots to reveal a floor switch. Step on it to raise a solid platform for you to access the high water switch in here from, should you want to return here. When you are ready, unlock the boss door and confront the dungeon's boss.



Boss: Arrghus


If you played the SNES version, this boss is very similar but with a new twist. For the first part of the battle, Arrghus is surrounded by smaller eyeballs as it moves around the room slowly, pausing frequently. From a distance, use the Hookshot to pull the smaller eyeballs off one at a time, then use the sword to destroy them. It will periodically launch one of the smaller eyeballs in your direction, which you can simply move to avoid. Once all of the eyeballs are gone, the second phase begins.

This is where the battle differs from what you may remember. Arrghus will attempt to crush you three times in a row by jumping high in the air. Keep moving to avoid getting hit, but try to get a sword hit in each time the boss lands. After three bounces, Arrghus will use its other attack. It will charge up a beam aimed at you, then shoots five shots into the water. The water will shoot upward to damage you if you are standing there, so once again keep moving to avoid it. You can still run up and attack with your sword during this period as well. After three of the beam attacks, Arrghus will once again bounce in the air to crush you three times. Repeat the same process to defeat this rather easy boss.



Following the battle, collect the Heart Container and go up the stairs that appear. In the final room, touch the painting and you will meet Sage Oren, the Zora Queen. Exit the Chamber of the Seven Sages to return to the swamp.

NEXT: Before the Dark Palace