| Essences of Nature | 8, one from each of the eight dungeons, in the order of the Maku Tree’s hints. |
|---|---|
| Dungeons | 8 numbered dungeons, plus Onox’s Castle, which has no essence. |
| Maku Tree reward | The Huge Maku Seed, given once you hold all eight essences. It breaks the barrier to Onox’s Castle. |
| Seasons | Changes come from the Rod of Seasons, which you power from the Temple of Seasons in Subrosia. |
Oracle of Seasons has eight Essences of Nature, and each one sits at the end of a numbered dungeon. You collect them in order as the Maku Tree points you on. Once you hold all eight, the Maku Tree gives you the Huge Maku Seed, which opens the barrier to Onox’s Castle. The dungeons below are listed in the order you clear them. Each one gives a boss Heart Container before you reach its essence.
Dungeon quick reference
| Dungeon | How to open it | Mini-boss | Boss | Essence of Nature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Gnarled Root Dungeon | Gnarled Key from the Maku Tree, on the island in North Horon | The Goriya brothers | Aquamentus |  Fertile Soil |
| 2. Snake’s Remains | Winter, to freeze the water near the Woods of Winter | Facade | Dodongo |  Gift of Time |
| 3. Poison Moth’s Lair | Summer vines on the cliff in Spool Swamp, after the Floodgate Key | Three Omuai | Mothula |  Bright Sun |
| 4. Dancing Dragon Dungeon | Dragon Key, used at the waterfall on Mt. Cucco | Agunima | Gohma |  Soothing Rain |
| 5. Unicorn’s Cave | Autumn, at Eyeglass Lake | Syger | Digdogger |  Nurturing Warmth |
| 6. Ancient Ruins | Stone temple on a river bank in Holodrum; bring the Magnetic Gloves | Vire | Manhandla |  Blowing Wind |
| 7. Explorer’s Crypt | Walk into the stone building in the graveyard on the Western Coast, with summer set to clear the vines | The Poe Sisters | Gleeok |  Seed of Life |
| 8. Sword and Shield Maze | Large red doorway in Subrosia, after the volcano erupts | Frypolar | Medusa Head |  Changing Seasons |
The eight dungeons
1. Gnarled Root Dungeon
Open the tree with the Gnarled Key, which the Maku Tree gives you at the start. Inside, collect the Seed Satchel, the Dungeon Map and the Compass, and beat the Goriya brothers, the mini-boss. Light the torches with Ember Seeds to get the Boss Key. Aquamentus waits behind the boss door. When he falls, take the Heart Container and walk up the carpeted aisle to the altar for the Essence of Fertile Soil. The Gnarled Root Dungeon chapter has the room order.
2. Snake’s Remains
Snake’s Remains opens in winter, when the water in front of it is frozen so you can cross. Clear the rooms for the Power Bracelet and the Compass. Facade is the mini-boss, and the Boss Key is in a chest on the upper platforms. Dodongo is the boss. Throw a bomb into his mouth, then lift him with the Power Bracelet and throw him onto the spikes. Take the Heart Container, then climb to the glowing Essence of Gift of Time. See the Snake’s Remains chapter for the rooms.
3. Poison Moth’s Lair
Enter through the vine-covered cliff cave in Spool Swamp, with summer set at the stump. Get the Roc’s Feather in the middle of the dungeon. Use it to reach the Compass and the second Small Key. The mini-boss is three Omuai. Get the Boss Key from the basement, then beat Mothula. Its Heart Container drops, and the stairs open to the Essence of Bright Sun. The Poison Moth’s Lair chapter lists each room.
4. Dancing Dragon Dungeon
Use the Dragon Key at the waterfall on Mt. Cucco and swim in from the lake stump. Inside, the mini-boss is Agunima. A Business Scrub sells Ember Seeds for 20 Rupees, and you will need them for the torches. The Boss Key sits underwater in the eye-shaped pool. Gohma is the boss, and it drops a Heart Container. The Essence of Soothing Rain waits in the chamber past the boss. The Dancing Dragon Dungeon chapter covers the full route.
5. Unicorn’s Cave
Unicorn’s Cave opens in autumn at Eyeglass Lake. The Compass and first Small Key are at the start, then the Dungeon Map and the Magnetic Gloves. Syger is the mini-boss. The boss is Digdogger, a spiked urchin that you hit with the spiked ball using the Magnetic Gloves. When it is beaten, take the Heart Container and walk north to the altar for the Essence of Nurturing Warmth. The Unicorn’s Cave chapter has the details.
6. Ancient Ruins
Enter the Ancient Ruins from the stone temple on a river bank. Bring the Magnetic Gloves from Unicorn’s Cave and the Roc’s Feather for the gaps. The floors are full of block puzzles and magnet orbs. The Magical Boomerang sits on the third floor, and it upgrades your boomerang. Vire is the mini-boss. Manhandla is the boss, and you hit its core with the Magical Boomerang after clearing its blooms. Take the Heart Container and the stairs to the altar for the Essence of Blowing Wind. The Ancient Ruins chapter lists the floors.
7. Explorer’s Crypt
Enter from the graveyard on the Western Coast. You need summer set at the stump to clear the vines on the path. Inside, the Poe Sisters are the mini-boss. The Roc’s Cape is in a chest in the dark, spike-ringed room. Collect Small Keys for the locked doors, then take the Boss Key from the red chest on a blue-tiled floor. Gleeok, the two-headed dragon, is the boss. Its Heart Container appears, and the Seed of Life essence waits in the chamber west of the boss room, under a blue crystal. The Explorer’s Crypt chapter covers the switch puzzle.
8. Sword and Shield Maze
Enter the Sword and Shield Maze through the large red doorway in Subrosia. It is the only dungeon in Subrosia. Along the way are icy rooms, pink-block puzzles and rail carts. The Compass is in an icy room with rows of spikes, and Roc’s Cape flies you over them. Frypolar is the mini-boss. It changes between ice and fire forms, so use Ember Seeds on the ice and Mystery Seeds to change its form. The Boss Key is in a side alcove with a yellow floor. Medusa Head is the boss. Stun her with Pegasus Seeds from the Hyper Slingshot, then close in with your sword. Her Heart Container drops, and the blue essence room past the boss room holds the Essence of Changing Seasons. The Sword and Shield Maze chapter covers each room.
The Huge Maku Seed
Huge Maku Seed
When you hold all eight Essences of Nature, return to the Maku Tree. Walk to the clearing in front of its trunk, the green patch with a round blue ring on the ground. The Maku Tree gives you the Huge Maku Seed. Take it to the barrier north of Natzu, and it dissolves so you can reach Onox’s Castle. The Huge Maku Seed chapter shows the trip.
Onox’s Castle
Onox’s Castle has no dungeon item and no Essence of Nature. The last room before the boss holds Facade, which you can hurt only with bombs. Clear the castle, then fight General Onox in his armored form. When his armor is gone, he returns as the Dark Dragon in a side-scrolling arena, where you need Roc’s Cape. Defeating him frees Din from her crystal. The Onox’s Castle chapter covers both forms.
