Dodongo's Cavern

Time to blow some stuff up

Enter Dodongo’s Cavern

To enter Dodongo’s Cavern, you must destroy the rock that blocks the path. To do this, go to the ledge that overlooks the entrance. Then pick the bomb plant and throw it over the edge of the cliff so it lands on the boulder blocking the entrance. (Covered in Previous Walkthrough)

As you enter, the very first room will just have a couple bomb flowers and a bombable door. Bomb the door to enter the main room of the dungeon.

Grab the map, optional

The main room has a central platform with some moving platforms around it. Jump to the left side if you want to grab the map. The map is in the wall that is bombable, so grab a bomb flower and throw it to break the wall and grab the map.

Bomb the Bombable wall on the left to get the map, if you want

The opposite side of the room has the actual path you’ll need to go (jump back over the platforms and then head to the right). You can kill those laser guys by throwing a bomb at them.

Kill the laser guys by throwing a bomb at them

Push the statue to unlock the door

After the laser guy on that side of the room (opposite of Map Chest), there will be a bombable wall. You will bomb this wall, and then follow the path until you get to the statue that you can move. On the way to the statue, you’ll see a bombable wall on the right, you can optionally use a dodongo (the lizard guys) to blow up the wall to grab your first Skulltula.

Blow up this wall with a Dodongo to grab a Gold Skulltula

Eventually you will reach the statue that you can push (the far statue when approaching), and you will need to push it on top of the button to unlock the door.

Push the statue on to the button to unlock the door

First Lizard Guys Fight

You’ll see a hallway with a couple bats, and then you can enter the next room to fight some lizard guys. These lizard guys are harder to fight than many other enemies in this dungeon. You will want to block with your shield and then attack them after they attack you. That’s the best way that I figured out how to beat them easily. You can also throw a Deku Nut to stun them.

Use a Deku Nut to stun these lizard guys

You can also block them with your shield, and then attack

Light the three torches

After killing them, go to the unlocked door. You can kill the crawling bigger dodongos if you want to, but you don’t have to. You must light the three torches with a Deku Stick. Light the Deku Stick on fire with the torch that is lit. You must then go through the door that was unlocked.

You will arrive in the main room. Step on the switch, then cross the room and open the door.

You'll be back in the main room, where you can open the opposite door by stepping on this switch — You’ll be back in the main room, where you can open the opposite door by stepping on this switch

Drop the stairs with a bomb

Go to the newly opened door. Get the bomb from the bomb plant off to the side. Place it in the gap between both sides of bombs. Then the stairs should fall and you should go up.

Throw a bomb between both sets of bomb flowers to blow them all up

The compass is in the room right next to where you’re standing after throwing the bomb, if you want it. After dropping the stairs, climb up them and then go to the top of the room. You can kill the second Gold Skulltula if you want (on the vines with a regular spider).

Grab the second Gold Skulltula if you want

Enter the room at the top of the stairs. When you get in there, kill the bats. Do not touch the statues yet. There is only one that you can move. The statue on the opposite side of the door you came in can be moved. Move it and then climb the ladder. Step on the button on the top of the platform. This will open the door you came in, and also a new door.

Spike room

Go through the new door. Cross the bridge (don’t fall). When you get to the other side, go to the next room. You will see big platforms that reach the ceiling. Go between the first and second one. When you get to the next path, turn left, then right. Don’t get hit by the spikes.

You should now be in front of a big gray block. Move it so you can reach the platform to the right of it. Get the bomb from this one and throw it to the place the ladder leads to. It should destroy the wall.

Blow up this wall by timing the bomb just right

Shoot the eyes to drop the flames, 2nd Lizard Guys Fight

Go through the passageway and you should see some flames coming from a platform. Get out your trusty slingshot and shoot the eye above the flame. Then jump across. Go through the door. Get past all of the reptiles and go to the next room. Defeat the Dragons, then go through the newly opened door.

You'll shoot any of these eyes you see — You’ll shoot any of these eyes you see (sometimes they are to the side)

You need to shoot the eye above the flame again. Once you jumped to the platform, turn left and shoot that eye to extinguish the next flame. Then jump across past the platform to the next room.

Drop bombs through bridge holes

Jump across to the ledge, then go to the next room. Activate the switch and then head to that bridge nearby. By now, you should have bombs and a bomb bag. Drop bombs through the two holes in the bridge to light up the big rock statue’s eyes.

After his mouth opens, go through it and open the door. Jump up on the ledge to the right and walk through the passageway until you get to the blocks.

Pushing a block a long way

Pull the block on the right until it is even with the block on the ledge.

Then get ontop of the block and push the other block down to the ground (on the other side). You can blow up the wall on the right to grab another Gold Skulltula.

You can optionally grab another Gold Skulltula to the right

Push it until you get to the block blocking the path. Put it under the one blocking the path. Now you can push that other block out of the way.

Boss: King Dodongo

Go to the next room. Follow the path until you get to another block. Push it off the ledge and into the hole in the ground. This will open the door to the main boss of Dodongo’s Cavern. Throw a bomb on the weak spot in the ground to open the path to the boss: King Dodongo

Avoid King Dodongo by standing slightly to the side

Throw a bomb in his mouth when he is sucking in air

To defeat this huge Dodongo, throw bombs in his mouth when he opens it. Then, when he is stunned, hit him with your sword as much as possible. Then walk into the light after getting the heart.

After Dodongo’s Cavern

King Darunia will meet you and give you the Goron’s Ruby, which is the Spiritual Stone of Fire. This is the second (of three!) stones that we’ll need to unlock the Temple of Time.

I recommend grabbing a few things on the way to Zora’s Domain. First, head up Death Mountain (using your new bombs to blow up some rocks that are in the way).

Blow up these rocks to access the top of Death Mountain

Follow the path up Death Mountain (you can use your Hylian Shield to block rocks - but good luck, I always take damage). Climb up the ladders at the end of the path, killing the Skulltulas on the way up. At the top of Death Mountain, use a bomb to blow up the entrance to a Great Fairy Fountain.

Blow up this wall to access the Great Fairy Fountain

After learning a new sword technique, you can talk to the owl who will fly you back down to Kakariko Village. It’s important to jump off the roof slightly to the right, where you will land on a ledge that leads to a Heart Piece.

Fall down on this platform to access a heart piece through a crack in the wall

After getting the Heart Piece and the Sword Technique, I think we’re ready to head out to Zora’s Domain for the last Spiritual Stone.

Dodongo's Cavern ✓ Completed