A Link Between Worlds Walkthrough: Chapter 11: Skull Woods

Table of Contents

Embarking on the journey through Skull Woods in The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds requires careful navigation and strategic thinking. Here’s a comprehensive step-by-step guide to assist you:

Accessing Skull Woods:

In Hyrule’s Kakariko Village, locate the large house in the top-right corner, previously associated with the Thief. Merge into the back wall of this house to access the dimensional Rift, transporting you to Lorule. Upon arrival in Lorule, proceed eastward until the path directs you north. Continue north into the forested area, where you’ll find the entrance to Skull Woods near a Save Point.

Dungeon Exploration

Note: Skull Woods is notorious for Wallmasters—giant hands descending from the ceiling—that can transport you back to the dungeon’s entrance if they capture you. Remain vigilant and avoid their grasp.

Initial Entry: Enter the dungeon and move left into a long vertical corridor. At the bottom, step on the floor switch to unlock the door and proceed.

Navigating Traps: Traverse the path, being cautious of traps, and exit southward to the forest exterior.

Re-entering the Dungeon: Outside, head right and then north to find a hole in the ground; drop down to re-enter the dungeon.

Acquiring the Compass: Use the moving platform to reach a chest on the right containing the Compass. Continue to the next room, heading to the locked door in the bottom-right corner.

Obtaining Small Keys: Exit to the forest again and navigate to a cluster of purple bushes. Cut through them to reveal another hole; descend. In the dungeon, move left to find a cracked floor. Lure a Wallmaster to slam onto the cracked area, causing you both to fall to a lower level. Step on the nearby switch, proceed left and upward, and use the Wallmaster again to access a chest with a Small Key.

Progressing Further: Return to the locked door in the bottom-left of the previous room and unlock it. Pull the right-hand switch to open a passage; proceed through. Merge into the wall to navigate right, then position statues onto the left switches. Ascend the left stairs, merge into the wall to cross gaps, and pull the switch to extend a bridge.

Activating Platforms: Move right, descend, and step on a switch to activate a moving platform leading to the central area. Stand beneath a floor switch and bait the Wallmaster to press it, activating another moving platform.

Defeating Enemies: Use the platform to enter the next room, defeat all enemies to unlock the path, and continue left using moving platforms.

Collecting the Big Key: Merge into the wall above a chest, move left, and step onto the next moving platform. Open the chest to obtain a Small Key, then unlock the door below. Light the torch on the left to reveal Gibdo enemies; defeat them to proceed. Ascend the stairs, merge through gaps, and retrieve the eyeball from the right side. Throw it into the right eye-like pillar.

Final Steps to the Boss: Exit south, navigate through the forest to another hole concealed by purple bushes, and descend. Merge into the bottom wall to access the left-side eyeball. Utilize moving platforms to transport the eyeball to the large chest area, placing it into the left eye-pillar to access the Big Key. Descend via the top-left exit, proceed to the long horizontal room, head right, and use the Big Key to enter the Boss’s Lair.

Boss Battle: Knucklemaster

The battle arena is fraught with hazards. The floor contains numerous cracks, which can collapse if you stand on them too long, leading to potential falls into the abyss below. Additionally, Wallmasters—giant hands descending from the ceiling—periodically attempt to grab Link, transporting him back to the dungeon’s entrance if successful. Constant vigilance and movement are crucial to avoid these threats.

The Knucklemaster clenches into a fist, charges up with orange energy, and attempts to slam down onto Link’s position. After recovering from a charge, the Knucklemaster may rise and attempt to squash Link by slamming down from above. This attack not only poses direct harm but also destroys sections of the fragile floor, reducing the safe area for maneuvering.

Position Link strategically to entice the Knucklemaster into executing its charging attack. As the Knucklemaster charges, merge into the nearest wall. This causes the boss to crash into the wall, stunning it temporarily and exposing the eye on its palm. While the Knucklemaster is stunned, disengage from the wall and swiftly strike its eye with your sword. Always be on the move to avoid the Wallmasters and to prevent standing on cracked floors for too long, and continue baiting the charge, merging into walls, and attacking the eye until the Knucklemaster is defeated.

At approximately half health, the Knucklemaster exhibits heightened aggression. The boss’s attacks become quicker, requiring sharper reflexes, and it more frequently attempts to crush Link, further compromising the arena’s integrity by destroying additional floor sections. During this phase, it’s imperative to stay alert, adapt to the shrinking safe zones, and continue employing the wall-merging tactic to exploit the Knucklemaster’s vulnerabilities.

Post-Battle Reward

Upon defeating the Knucklemaster, Link is rewarded with a Heart Container, increasing his maximum health. Additionally, this victory leads to the liberation of Seres, one of the Seven Sages, advancing the quest to restore peace to Hyrule and Lorule.