Dungeon Items in "A Link To The Past" (SNES) Quiz

Answer: Bow

The Eastern Palace is actually the second dungeon you'll visit in this game, but the first containing a unique item held inside a big chest. The palace is located at the east side (obviously) of Hyrule (aka, The Light World), inside a canyon a few screens northward from Lake Hylia. Inside the main chest, Link will find a bow that will finally allow him to make use of the arrows he had collected along the way (they can be found in a lot of different places, even before entering the Palace).

In most cases, the unique items for each dungeon are necessary for completing it. In this dungeon, Link will come across some Red Eyegores, enemies that can only be defeated by shooting two arrows at them, and they have to be destroyed to progress further into the dungeon. So, without the bow, it is not possible to complete the Eastern Palace dungeon.

Although the game's text suggests that bow and arrows are required to beat the Armos Knights, the dungeon's bosses, it is actually possible to defeat them using only the sword. However, it takes a little longer.

Answer: Power Glove

The Desert Palace is located across the map from the Eastern Palace, in the Desert of Mystery at the southwest end of Hyrule. Inside this dungeon, Link will acquire the Power Glove, which allows him to lift and throw light rocks (meaning the ones with a light green color, either small or big - the dark colored ones can't be picked up with the Power Glove). Having this new ability allows Link to unlock a second entrance to the dungeon, blocked with a few of these rocks, that eventually will lead to the boss.

Answer: Moon Pearl

The Tower of Hera is a massive fortress sitting atop Death Mountain, in northern Hyrule. The item contained inside the big chest, the Moon Pearl, is one of the rare cases in which it is not required at all to beat the dungeon. You can actually go through the whole tower without even getting to the chest.

However, although not needed for any instance of the dungeon, you won't be able to progress any further into the game without the Moon Pearl. After completing the Tower, Link will be directed to Hyrule Castle, where he witnesses Princess Zelda being kidnapped by the wizard Agahnim. After defeating him, Link will be transported into the Dark World. At this point, you will need to have the Pearl to allow him to keep his usual form - else, he will be transformed into a pink bunny without any special abilities, and you will have to backtrack to the Tower and try to retrieve the Pearl.

Answer: Magic Hammer

The Palace of Darkness is the first dungeon you'll come across in the Dark World. It could be considered as the Dark World counterpart of the Eastern Palace, as they are both located in the same area.

The Magic Hammer, the dungeon's unique item, will help Link knock down some pink enemies that resemble the "Whack-a-Mole" game, as they pop up and down into a blue hole continually, preventing Link to go over them in several parts of this dungeon, thus making the Hammer a must for escaping this palace. Also, this level features some turtle-like enemies that are only vulnerable when they are knocked upside down using the Hammer. Finally, the dungeon's boss, the Helmasaur King, wears a big metal mask that can be easily taken down with the Hammer (although it's not the only way to beat him).

As it was the case with the Power Glove, the Magic Hammer is very useful at many other instances in the overworld, as some areas are sealed by wooden stakes that can be hammered down. The entrance to dungeon #7 actually requires the use of the Magic Hammer.

Answer: Hookshot

The second Dark World dungeon is located at the southern section of the map, in the swamp area, of course. I find it interesting to mention that this is the only dungeon that requires a Light World interaction from the player to allow full entrance into it, as you will need Link to go to the Light World swamp, open the flood gates, and then return to the Dark World so that the first room of the dungeon can be crossed.

Inside this place you will find the Hookshot, which allows Link to cross some chasms by attaching onto any object that is on the opposite rim, and pulling him over the hole. This is useful not only on this dungeon, but on many other parts of the game.

The hookshot is also, as far as I know, the only way to defeat the dungeon's boss, Arrghus. This boss is protected by a mass of small cloud-like creatures that need to be pulled out and destroyed one by one. They can only be grappled with the hookshot in order for Link to attack them with the sword. Once they are all gone, the boss can be hurt by any other weapon.

Answer: Fire Rod

In my opinion, the most confusing of them all, the Skull Woods Dungeon will reward Link with the Fire Rod, a small wand that will shoot a fire ball towards the direction he's facing. It is the counterpart of the Ice Rod, which is found in overworld Hyrule in a cave by lake Hylia.

In this dungeon, the only major use of the rod is to open up a separate entrance that will eventually lead to the boss. It does not help at all with the battle (which is one of the hardest of the game). However, it is a vital item to make it through dungeon #7, Turtle Rock, as it is required to open way in some rooms, and also to battle the boss.

Answer: Titan's Mitt

An upgrade to the Power Glove, the Titan's Mitt will allow Link to pick up the heavier rocks, thus giving it full access to most areas in the game. It is found inside the fourth Dark World dungeon, located within the Thieves' Town, which is also called Blind's Hideout.

Another rare case, this item does not help at all when going through this dungeon, although it is required for later levels (basically, you'll need it to enter dungeons #5 and #6).

While this quiz is not focused on bosses, I think it's worth mentioning that this boss fight is the most creative one in the game, as there is a small puzzle involved when revealing the actual boss.

Answer: Blue Mail

The Ice Palace is the Dark World equivalent of the small island in the center of Lake Hylia. The Titan's Mitt, acquired in the previous dungeon, is needed to enter this one, as the portal is hidden under a dark rock in the Light World.

This dungeon's item is another case of equipment that is not absolutely required to complete the level: the Blue Mail. While it is an important addition to your inventory, as it reduces damage by half, you can totally do without it, though you might want to have some defensive skills to prevent receiving damage.

On a side note, the boss battle, fittingly, involves a creature trapped inside a giant block of ice, which you need to melt to fight it. One of the items that can get you through this is the Fire Rod that you found in dungeon #3.

Answer: Staff of Somaria

I'll enter a personal comment here. When we first played this game years ago with my brothers, this was the only dungeon we couldn't get into, as one of the items needed to access it is the Magic Flute, that we could never find. Therefore, it is actually the last of the Seven Dark World dungeons I went through.

The equivalent to the Light World's Desert of Mystery, the Misery Mire is a rainy, gloomy swamp that gives entrance to a massive underground maze that will reward link with the Staff/Cane of Somaria. This mysterious item is seldom used outside of the dungeons; it creates an orange block that can be pushed around and blown into four fireballs that do minimum damage.

The actual use of the Staff is to place that block over a switch that unlocks a door, preventing it to close, as there are some switches that actually require something to be on top of them. You'll find one of those inside this dungeon, so you won't clear it without picking up the Staff of Somaria.

It also has a special use in Turtle Rock, the next dungeon, as it can create a moving platform to navigate the huge abysses you'll come across in that one. There is no other part of the game in which you can perform that action with the Staff.

Answer: Mirror Shield

The final of the Seven Dark World dungeons, where Princess Zelda is imprisoned, lies at the easternmost part of the Dark World's Death Mountain. As you would expect, is a large dungeon, with a lot of obstacles and a few enemies and hazards that are not found anywhere else in the game. You'll also need a whole lot of equipment and magical power to navigate the different puzzles you'll come across.

The chest's reward is very nice - the Mirror Shield, which can protect Link from laser shots, and also cannot be eaten by enemies (not a theme of this quiz, but worth mentioning). It is not really needed to conquer this level, but it makes your life much easier at some points.

Last comment: this boss fight is unique in that it requires two items that are found outside of the dungeon: the Fire Rod and the Ice Rod. If you enter the fight without any of them, you have absolutely no chance of winning. It's a different case than that of dungeon #5, as you had an alternative item you could use to prevail in the battle - in this case, there is none.

Answer: Red Mail

The final dungeon of the game (but not the final level, as there is another battle), Ganon's Tower stands on top of the Death Mountain, where the Tower of Hera is in the Light World. You can only access it after clearing the seven dungeons, rescuing the maidens and collecting the respective crystals - they will combine their energy to break open the entrance to the Tower.

And the final dungeon item, well, it's a new suit of armor, this time red. It halves damage taken yet again (meaning that you will only receive 1/4 of the damage you would sustain with the initial suit), which at this point adds very little to the game. But, since the ending is so close, it wouldn't make any sense to add any innovative item.

As a matter of fact, the final battle against Ganon, which takes place after clearing his Tower, does require a special item: the Silver Arrows. Without them, again, you simply can't win that battle. However, they are hidden in a special place, and I think it's for the best that the decisive item requires the player to actively look after it around the world map, instead of running across it inside of a dungeon.