Water Temple

One of the dungeons of all time

You have Switch 2 selected in the version picker. This chapter is verified against the N64 original — the remake is not out yet. Confirmed Switch 2 differences will appear in callouts like this one once we play through the remake. Until then: everything we know about the remake.

The Legendary Water Temple. Surely you must have heard of this Temple? Perhaps in stories of days gone past, or perhaps you saw visions of the Temple in your nightmares. Either way, it’s time to beat this temple.

Before you go to the Water Temple, make sure you get 1 more blue flame from the Ice Cavern. After you get it, thaw King Zora to get the blue tunic. This will allow you to stay underwater much longer.

To get to the Water Temple

Ride Epona until you get to Lake Hylia. Go to the center of the lake. The lake should be dried out and you should be able to walk to the door using you iron boots. Equip your iron boots and walk to the door at the bottom of the lake. Now open the door by shooting your Hookshot at the diamond above the door.

Open the Water Temple with your Hookshot

To beat the Water Temple

Having problems finding keys? We put them in bold so you don’t have to read the whole thing if you are just missing a key.

When you enter, you should be in a flooded room. Switch boots to your Kokiri Boots and float to the top. You should now get out of the water. Go to the edge of the ledge, and put your Iron Boots back on. Now jump in the water to the right and go through the passageway with the Torches at the entrance, at the bottom of the temple.

Go through the passage on the right at the bottom and talk to Princess Ruto

Now follow the path until you meet Ruto. Take off your iron boots and float to the top of that cavern.

Float to the surface after talking with Princess Ruto, grab the map through this door, and then play Zelda's Lullaby to lower the water — Float to the surface after talking with Princess Ruto, grab the map through this door, and then play Zelda’s Lullaby to lower the water

You will then get to a room with a door. Go through the door and fight the spikes, hitting them with your hookshot, you will get the Dungeon Map. Now exit this room and walk to the left. You should be standing in front of a Triforce on the wall. Stand in front of it and play Zelda’s Lullaby.

Get Key #1 (water level: low)

The water should lower, so jump down to the bottom floor. When you are at the bottom, align yourself facing the lit torch, and behind it should be the unlit torch. Fire an arrow through the lit torch, then it should catch the unlit torch on fire. Do this to the other torch and the door should open.

Go inside the room, and defeat the clams. Wait until they open their mouths and hit their internal organs. This should kill them. You will then get a small KEY.

Kill these clams with the hookshot to get your first small key

Get Key #2 (water level: low)

Go back out to the main room, and find a block to push on the lower level. You’ll need to push this block and follow the path to another room with a switch and a big spider.

Push this block on the lower level to find the path to key #2

The water spout will come up when you hit the diamond switch. You might consider killing the spider before crossing the water spout.

It might be a good idea to kill this guy before trying to jump across

Jump across the spout and through the next door. This room has a giant whirlpool with a dragon statue. You have to hit the switch inside the dragon statue’s mouth, and then quickly make your way through the door that opened.

Hit this switch with your hookshot and make it through the gate before it closes

You can hookshot up to the platform after hitting the switch

Once you’re past the metal gate that closes, you need to float upwards to grab key #2.

Float up once you're trapped here, to grab key #2 — Float up once you’re trapped here, to grab key #2

Now head back to the main room. It should still be shallow (water level: low), so go to the door with the lock on it in the center of the room.

Finally open the door to the giant center pillar in the main room

Get Key #3 (water level: middle)

When you enter the center pillar, the water will still be at the lowest level, so let’s raise it.

Go to the farthest block. Face up with the hookshot and try to find a hookshot catcher thing that the hookshot will hold on to. Shoot the hookshot at it to come to another Triforce on the wall. Play Zelda’s Lullaby again to make the water level change.

Hookshot up here and play Zelda's Lullaby to make the water go to the middle level — Hookshot up here and play Zelda’s Lullaby to make the water go to the middle level

There are two keys to grab at this middle level. The first one is inside the center pillar room. As soon as you raise the water to the middle level, put on your iron boots and float down to the center of the room. You should notice a new path you can take down near the spikes (near the door that you )

After raising water to the middle level, drop back down and go into this new passage

After killing the enemies in the room under the center pillar room, float up the newly open grate and grab the small key

Get Key #4 (water level: middle)

You can grab one more key before raising the water level to the top. Exit the center pillar room so you should be back in the main room again.

You’ll want to go back to the place you saw Princess Ruto. Go through the passage with the torches on the side, and float up to the middle area of that 3-level area (right above where you lit the torches on fire).

Float to the middle area of where you saw Princess Ruto and bomb the wall to get the key — Float to the middle area of where you saw Princess Ruto and bomb the wall and grab the small key

You can bomb the wall here to grab another small key.

Go get the Longshot

Now head back to the main room. You should have 3 keys at this point. Float up to the middle floor. Now search for a door with a lock over it. Jump over to it with the hookshot and open it. When you get inside, head to the right and stand in the middle of the water spout. Shoot an arrow at the diamond to lift yourself up to the next level.

Ride this spout up to the top level to raise the water again

At the next level, jump off the spout and go through the door. Now play Zelda’s Lullaby at the Triforce. This will raise the water level once more. Now jump down and over to the third floor. Now that the water level is raised all the way, you should see another door with a lock on it.

Jump to it and open it. This part is kind of tough, so don’t get mad if you fall down the hole.

You have to use your hookshot to quickly grab each platform as it moves, so you can get higher

Jump to the platform right in front of the entrance, then jump down to the next one. Now aim your hookshot at the moving blocks. Keep moving from block to block, going up, until you get to the next door with a lock on it.

Now open that door to be in a room with many dragon heads and spiders.

In this room you're basically shooting the diamond switch, and then grabbing the next grabbable hookshot spot, and repeating — In this room you’re basically shooting the diamond switch, and then grabbing the next grabbable hookshot spot, and repeating

Shoot the diamond in the center of the room to raise the water level. Now use your hookshot and go across the water to the nearest statue. Now shoot the center diamond again, and cross the next place to get to the far side of the room. You should now be next to a dragon head you can jump over, so jump over it. Now shoot the diamond again. This will let you fly across the next place with your hookshot. Aim it at the hookshot catcher thing, then hit the diamond again with your hookshot. This should lower the dragon head right next to a ledge. Stand on the head and hit the diamond with your hookshot, or an arrow.

This should bring you to a place with spiders and a big blob. Kill the spiders first. Now throw bombs at the blob until it melts. Shoot your hookshot at the ceiling above where the blob was. This will allow you to open antoher door. Go through it to find a crystal clear lake.

Walk on the island in the center and turn around. You should see Dark Link.

Mini-Boss

Dark Link

Reward: Longshot

How to Defeat Dark Link in the Water Temple

Dark Link is one of the trickier mini-bosses in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time because he copies many of Link’s sword movements. If you try to fight him like a normal enemy, especially while Z-targeting, he will often mirror your attacks, block them, or jump onto your sword. The key is to stop letting him control the rhythm of the fight.

Main Strategy: Do Not Z-Target

The most consistent advice is to avoid Z-targeting Dark Link. When you Z-target him, he closely mirrors your movements, which makes sword attacks much more likely to clash or miss. Without Z-targeting, he still dodges and counters sometimes, but he gives you more openings.

Move around him manually, wait for a moment when he is close, then slash without locking on. Horizontal swings and spin attacks are usually more reliable than straight thrusts, because Dark Link can jump onto your sword when you stab.

Use Spin Attacks

Spin attacks are one of the safest sword-based options. Let Dark Link approach, then release a spin attack when he gets close enough. Quick spins can also work: rotate the control stick in a full circle and press B. This can catch him even when normal slashes are being blocked or mirrored.

If he backflips away from charged spin attacks, use faster, close-range spin attacks instead of waiting too long.

Angle Your Sword Swings

Dark Link mirrors your animations, so your positioning matters. One useful trick is to stand slightly off-center instead of facing him directly. If he is positioned to your side, your sword slash may connect with his hitbox before his mirrored swing can cancel yours out.

Try keeping Dark Link to Link’s left or right, then use horizontal slashes. Some players recommend holding sideways and attacking so the swing begins where Dark Link is standing. Once a hit connects, continue the combo before he recovers.

Be Patient and Watch for Openings

Dark Link becomes more aggressive as the fight goes on, so rushing can get you punished. Stay calm, keep moving, and wait for him to approach. When he attacks or finishes a dodge, strike quickly. If you are using only the Master Sword and shield, expect this fight to be messy; taking a few hits is normal.

Easier Item-Based Options

Several items can make the fight much easier:

Din’s Fire damages Dark Link without needing to out-swordfight him. Bring magic or green potions if you plan to rely on it.
Megaton Hammer is very effective if you already cleared the Fire Temple. Turn away or wait for him to approach, then hit him with the hammer.
Biggoron’s Sword gives you more reach and damage, making the fight shorter.
Deku Nuts can create an opening if you are struggling to land a clean hit.

These methods are not required, but they are useful if you want a safer or faster clear.

Health Note

Dark Link’s health scales with Link’s maximum hearts. If you enter the Water Temple early with fewer heart containers, he will take fewer hits to defeat. If you have collected many hearts, the fight may last longer.

Recommended Approach

For a standard sword-based win, avoid Z-targeting, circle manually, use horizontal slashes, and mix in quick spin attacks when Dark Link gets close. Do not rely on thrust attacks. If the fight is giving you trouble, use Din’s Fire or the Megaton Hammer to bypass much of his mirror-fighting behavior.

Whirlpool cave and small key #5

After defeating Dark Link, you can walk through the door and open the treasure chest to get the Longshot.

Now walk behind the treasure chest and walk right next to the block in the floor. Play the Song of Time to remove it.

Now jump down the hole and you will now be in a river. You’ll find a couple things, like a Golden Skulltula and a platform with a couple pots (one of them has a fairy).

Use your iron boots and your Longshot to grab this Skulltula

Swim downstream, avoiding whirlpools and make it to a small platform on the left side of the river.

Climb this platform and shoot the yellow eye opposite to open the grate — Climb this platform and shoot the yellow eye opposite to open the gate

Now turn around and fire an arrow at the yellow eye. This will open a gate. Use your longshot to grapple on to the chest and pull yourself over to it. This chest has another small key.

Longshot over to this chest after opening the gate

Now go to the right and jump down into the water, and head back to the main room.

Small key #6

Go to the place that you first lowered the water (hallway with torch on either side, at bottom floor) and lower it to the first level. Now go to the main room and to the room in the center and raise the water to the second level. Now go out the door and look for a gate on the second level with an eye under it. Now shoot the eye with an arrow and quickly get out the longshot and aim for the longshot catcher.

When you are at the other side, turn left and walk down the passageway until you get to a large, pinkish block. You’ll have to do two things here if you haven’t pulled the block yet (if you had explored earlier you might have). Basically your goal is to move the block from blocking the right path, to blocking the straight path.

Pull this block and then loop around and push it

First, pull the block out as far as you can. Then, loop back around to the 2nd floor and do the whole “shoot the yellow eye / longshot to the longshot catcher” bit that we just did. Then you can finally push the block out of the way, and grab another small key on the right.

Get the Boss Key

Now go to the main room and go to the place to raise the water to the third level (you can also raise it later, but might as well do it now). Now put on your iron boots and sink to the bottom. Go through the north passage all the way then turn around and face up.

Use the Longshot to reach this far away hookshot spot

You should see a hookshot catcher. So fire your longshot at it. Now turn around to see a locked door with a catcher above it, which you can only reach with your new Longshot. Fire the longshot over there to get to the door. Now open it and get to a room with many spiders and boulders. Put your iron boots on and jump in so you don’t get sucked down the whirlpool. When you get to the other side, get up to the ledge and open the door.

Now you will get to a room with a switch and a hidden block you have to push onto the switch. Jump to the left ledge and blow up the wall with bombs.

You'll have to blow up two walls to get this block out of its hiding place — You’ll have to blow up two walls to get this block out of its hiding place

Now push the block as far as it will go and get back to the room. Go to the other side of the water and blow up the crack there. Now pull the block until you go as far as you can. Then go back to the other hole and then push the block down on to the switch.

This will raise the water allowing you to go to the door above the ledge. Now go up the ledges to the door and open it.

Shooting these spiders first is a good idea

Now you will be in a room with a switch. Step on the switch and then quickly jump across the spouts to the next door. Open the door to come to a passageway.

Grab this skulltula and then go into the path below it

You’ll see a skulltula to the right which you can grab. Now, wait for the boulder to pass, and then put your iron boots on and go right and down the passageway under the waterfall.

Now past the clam and up to the locked door. Open it to find the Boss Key.

Now you have to head back to the main room. Go to the third floor and open the boss door across on one of the ledges (that you can reach now with your Longshot). Run up the path not getting hit by spikes, then go to the next room.

Boss Fight

Morpha - Giant Aquatic Amoeba

Reward: Heart Container + Water Medallion

How to Defeat Morpha in the Water Temple

Morpha is the boss of the Water Temple and fights very differently from most bosses in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The real target is not the water tentacle itself, but the red nucleus moving inside it. Your goal is to pull that nucleus out of the water with the Longshot, then hit it before it escapes.

Main Strategy: Pull Out the Nucleus

Keep your distance and watch the water. Morpha will raise one or more tentacles from the pool and move the red core through them. When the nucleus is inside a tentacle and close enough to target, Z-target it and fire the Longshot. If the Longshot connects, it pulls the nucleus out of the water and onto the platform.

As soon as it lands, switch to your sword and attack quickly. Jump attacks are especially useful because they deal strong damage and help you punish Morpha before it slides back into the pool.

Stay Out of Grab Range

Morpha’s main danger is its tentacle grab. If you stand too close, the tentacle can catch Link, lift him into the air, and throw him across the room. This wastes time and can knock you into the spikes around the arena.

A safe approach is to stand just outside the tentacle’s reach. Let Morpha extend toward you, then Longshot the nucleus when it moves down the tentacle. Do not rush toward the water unless the nucleus has already been pulled out.

Use the Corners

One of the easiest ways to control the fight is to use the corners of the arena. Stand near a corner, pull Morpha’s nucleus out with the Longshot, then attack it toward the wall or corner. If you position yourself well, the nucleus may get trapped long enough for several sword hits.

For a faster kill, pull the nucleus out, run around it so it is between Link and the wall, then slash or jump attack repeatedly. This can keep Morpha from immediately escaping back into the water.

Keep Moving in the Second Phase

As the fight goes on, Morpha can create additional tentacles. This makes the arena more dangerous because it can attack from more than one direction. Keep the camera under control, avoid standing still too long, and stay near the outer platforms instead of the center.

If two tentacles are active, focus on avoiding grabs first. Wait until you have a clear shot at the nucleus before using the Longshot.

Pull the nucleus out and bash it with your sword

Best Weapons to Use

The Longshot is required for the standard strategy because it pulls Morpha’s nucleus out of the water. Once the nucleus is exposed, use your strongest available melee weapon.

Master Sword: Reliable and available in a normal Water Temple run.
Biggoron’s Sword: Faster if you have it, because it deals more damage.
Jump attacks: Strong punish option after pulling the nucleus out.
Megaton Hammer: Can work, but the sword is usually easier to use quickly.

Recommended Approach

Stand on the outer platform, wait for Morpha to form a tentacle, Z-target the red nucleus, and pull it out with the Longshot. Hit it with jump attacks or quick sword slashes, then back away before it reforms. Use the corners to trap the nucleus when possible, and keep moving once Morpha starts using multiple tentacles.

After beating the Water Temple, be sure to shoot the sun real quick in the morning from the pedestal near the Water Temple, so you can get the Fire Arrows.

Now off to Kakariko Village…

Water Temple ✓ Completed