The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

This section of the guide for The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds covers the game's interface, controls, and the initial steps of the adventure.

The Game Screens

The top screen displays the Life Gauge (heart containers), the Energy Gauge (used for quest items and replenishes over time), and the Action Icon (indicates interaction possibilities like Merging or talking). The bottom screen shows the map, with options to switch dungeon floors, zoom, and use the Lost Maiamai Icon to track the 100 missing Maiamai. You can also pin locations on the map and view your Rupee total. Quest item assignments for X and Y buttons are shown, along with the Light and Dark World Icon to switch between Hyrule and Lorule.

Gear and Items

From the bottom screen, you can access subscreens to view and manage all your equipment, items, pendants, pieces of heart, and special items. Items can be re-equipped by dragging and dropping them into their designated slots.

Controlling Link

Familiarize yourself with the controls to navigate Hyrule and Lorule effectively:

The Action Button (A) is versatile, enabling actions like Merging with walls, interacting with characters, pushing/pulling objects, and diving while swimming. Swimming is performed using the B button.

Sword and Board

Link's primary attack is his sword. Pressing B performs a single slash, with faster presses resulting in quicker swings. Holding B until the sword glows initiates a Spin Attack, releasing it unleashes a whirlwind that damages and knocks back nearby enemies. Collecting all 100 Maiamai allows for an upgrade to the Great Spin Attack. The R button raises Link's shield, which can defend against attacks and reflect projectiles.

A Journey Begins

The adventure starts with Link awakening in his bed after a dream. Gulley appears, urging Link to visit the Blacksmith. Before leaving, take time to practice the controls and break some pots in the room. Notably, Majora's Mask can be found on the eastern wall of Link's room, a reference to fans of the series. Once outside, follow Gulley.

Items

• Red Rupee
• Lamp
• Small Key
• Forgotten Sword

Enemies

• Bee
• Blob
• Poe
• Rat
• Rope

You'll learn about the weather vane and how to save your game, good to do so now. You'll want to activate all the weather vanes you come across for later in the game. As you wander around the town you'll notice bushes. These function like pots, you can pick them up and toss them around often revealing valuable rupees or recovery hearts.

To the Blacksmith

Head west and follow Gulley as he dashes northward. As you approach the river take a left to continue west and reach the Blacksmith's Forge. Inside a scene occurs and Link ends up with the [CAPTAIN'S SWORD]. You'll need to take this to the Captain who just left. He returned to Hyrule Castle and the Blacksmith marks this on your map, convenient. Head east to reach the castle's bridge.

Off to the Sanctuary

Talk with the guard on the bridge who informs you that the Captain has in fact not come here and is instead at the Sanctuary. The guard marks this location on your map and advises using the western path. Make your way west and north until you reach a sign that points to the Sanctuary, due north. Continue up the dirt path to another sign which indicates the Sanctuary is east. At outer area of the Sanctuary you'll find a weather vane, use it and talk to Dampe and Seres.

After a scene you'll end up with the [FORGOTTEN SWORD]. You can now use this to break pots and cut down bushes, just beware the bees you'll encounter for destroying the vegetation.

• Bee — Damage: 1/4 Heart. These little guys will often come buzzing out when you cut down bushes or grass. They can be caught with a net and bottled once Link acquires these items.

Save at the weather vane and proceed east to the Graveyard. You need to find the secret passage, but you'll have to contend with Blobs and Poes. If you push the gravestones aside you can find rupees and such but the only one you need to push is the obvious central one.

• Blob — Damage: 1/2 Heart. The green goo is found everywhere, so get familiar with it. They are pretty slow in general but can emerge from the ground for a quick surprise now and again.
• Poe — Damage: 1/2 Heart. Poes move fast and are erratic. Often it's best to just go on the offensive and swing violently to end the fight.

Graveyard

As you enter you'll notice it's pretty dark, but light shines through on a [CHEST] that holds the [LAMP]. Equip the Lamp and use it to get some light then go to the north end of the room. There are two unlit braziers, so use your Lamp to light them and open the path going north. The next room is fairly dark but there are braziers all over the place to help brighten it up. You'll have to contend with Rats and Ropes in this area, so be careful.

• Rat — Damage: 1/2 Heart. Rats aren't much of a big deal individually but a few of them can swarm you quickly. Take them out early to avoid unnecessary damage.
• Rope — Damage: 1/2 Heart. Ropes are essentially snakes and they will move slowly until Link alerts them. When the dash at Link simply swing with good timing to knock them back.

There are two [CHESTS] in this area, so start by heading to the low ground to find a [RED RUPEE]. On the high ground you'll find the second item, a [SMALL KEY]! Proceed to the northwest and use the small key to reach a small room. Link is ambushed by three Poes, so quickly defeat them and use the Lamp to light the braziers. Once the Poes have been defeated the door to the north will open. In the next room you'll notice there isn't much around, except for two levers. Grab the northwest one and move backwards to fully extend it and exit to the north. You'll get a scene here that leads to the next part of Link's journey.

NOTE

• You can pull the other lever if you want, you'll just have to fight some Ropes.

Cucco Ranch Mini-Game Details:

• Egg Level: Cost 20 Rupees. Dodge for 30 seconds for a prize of 40 Rupees.
• Chick Level: Cost 30 Rupees. Dodge for 30 seconds for a prize of 60 Rupees.
• Rooster Level: Cost 50 Rupees. Dodge for 30 seconds for a prize of 150 Rupees and a Piece of Heart.
• Endless Level: Cost 10 Rupees. Dodge endless cuccos. Prizes include 100 Rupees (100 Seconds), 300 Rupees (300 Seconds), 500 Rupees (500 Seconds), 800 Rupees (800 Seconds), and 3,000 Rupees & Large Cucco (999 Seconds).

• Ravio's Bracelet
• Charm
• Purple Rupee
• Blue Rupee
• Red Rupee
• Bottle #1 (Cost: 100 Rupees)
• Shield (Cost: 50 Rupees)
• Scoot Fruit (Cost: 50 Rupees)
• Fool Fruit (Cost: 30 Rupees)
• Net (Requires a bottle)
• Bee Badge (Requires a Golden Bee)
• Piece of Heart #1 (Cucco Ranch)
• Large Cucco (Cucco Ranch)