The Legend of Zelda
Famicom Disk System / NES · 1986
Explore Hyrule, recover the pieces of the Triforce, and rescue Princess Zelda from Ganon. Find walkthroughs, boss strategies, and tips for The Legend of Zelda.
Explore the guide
The Legend of Zelda Walkthrough
- The Gathering: Wooden Sword and the First Rupees: Recommended preparation for the first dungeon.
- Money Caves, the Red Potion and the Blue Ring: Overworld money caves and shops before Level 1, including the Blue Candle and the 250-rupee Blue Ring.
- Level 1 The Eagle: Guide to the first dungeon.
- Level 2 The Moon: Guide to the second dungeon.
- Level 3 The Manji: Guide to the third dungeon.
- Level 4 The Snake: Guide to the fourth dungeon.
- The Magical Sword and the Medicine Shop: The Magical Sword cave in the graveyard, and a Red Potion from the medicine shop on the way to Level 5.
- Level 5 The Lizard: Guide to the fifth dungeon.
- Level 6 The Dragon: Guide to the sixth dungeon.
- The Potion Shop and the Ring Shop Again: Buy Monster Bait and a Red Potion between Level 6 and Level 7.
- Level 7 The Demon: Guide to the seventh dungeon.
- Level 8 The Lion: Guide to the eighth dungeon.
- Level 9 Death Mountain: Guide to the final dungeon.
- The Ending: Beat Ganon, take the Triforce of Power and rescue Princess Zelda.
Second Quest Walkthrough
- Second Quest Start: Buy the Blue Candle, take the 100-rupee cave gift, claim the first Heart Container and the Power Bracelet, then cross to Level 1.
- Second Quest Level 1: Enter Level 1 across the lake bridge, take the Wooden Boomerang from the Goriya room and beat Aquamentus.
- Second Quest Blue Ring and White Sword: Buy the Blue Ring from the north-east shop, then take the White Sword from the cave above the waterfall.
- Second Quest Level 2: Enter under the Armos, find the Recorder in the basement, beat the two-headed Gleeok and take the desert cave heart.
- Second Quest Level 3: Drain the pond with the Recorder, use Monster Bait to reach the Magical Boomerang, then beat the three Dodongos.
- Second Quest Level 4: Lift the boulder into the Lost Hills, pay the 50-rupee toll, collect the Book of Magic and the Raft, and beat Digdogger.
- Second Quest Level 5: Cross by Raft to the central island, get the Bow, Map and Compass, then beat the three-headed Gleeok.
- Second Quest Magical Sword and Letter: Take the Raft to the north-east island heart, buy arrows, claim the Recorder-staircase heart at G1.
- Second Quest Level 6: Play the Recorder at the graveyard, take the Stepladder, beat blue Gohma with arrows, then reach the far-dock heart.
- Second Quest Level 7: Burn the forest tree, use the Ladder across the stream, pay the 50-rupee toll, and beat the four-headed Gleeok.
- Second Quest Level 8: Enter by the cliff above the river, collect the Magical Rod and Magical Key, buy the bomb upgrade and beat three Dodongos.
- Second Quest Level 9 and Ending: Enter by the far north-west wall, collect the Red Ring and Silver Arrow, beat Ganon and rescue Princess Zelda.
Side Quests & Collectibles
- Heart Container Locations: Locations of all 5 hidden Overworld Heart Containers to reach the maximum 16 hearts.
- Sword Upgrades: Locating the hidden caves containing the White Sword (requires 5 hearts) and the powerful Magical Sword (requires 12 hearts).
- Blue Ring and Red Ring: Acquiring the damage-reducing Blue Ring (damage halved) from a secret shop and the Red Ring (damage quartered) within Level 9.
- Bomb Upgrades: Finding the Old Men who offer to increase Link’s maximum Bomb carrying capacity.
- Potion Acquisition: Delivering the Letter to the Old Woman to unlock the ability to purchase the Life Potion and 2nd Potion.
- Money Making Game and Secret Rupees: Money Making Game caves, secret caves paying 10, 30 or 100 rupees, door repair costs and where rupees go.
- Overworld Secrets: Burnable trees, bombable walls, Armos staircases, Power Bracelet exits and the Lost Woods route.
- Shops and Prices: Magical Shield 90 to 160, Blue Candle 60, Key 80 or 100, Blue Ring 250, Arrows 80, Bombs 20.
Resources & Guides
- Items: Overview of Link’s inventory, weapons (Swords, Boomerangs, Bow, Rod), tools (Candles, Raft, Ladder, Recorder), and defensive gear (Shields, Rings).
- Maps: Overworld and dungeon maps for both quests.
- Enemies: A bestiary detailing Hyrule’s monsters.
- Characters: Guide to the Old Men, Old Women, Merchants, and Princess Zelda.
- Boss Guide: How to defeat the eight dungeon guardians and Ganon.
- Dungeons and Triforce Pieces: Entrance, key item, mini-boss, boss and reward, plus the eight Triforce of Wisdom pieces and the way into Level 9.
- Introduction: Getting started with The Legend of Zelda.
- Story and Setting: The premise of the game.
- Game Genie Codes: A reference list of Game Genie cheat codes for The Legend of Zelda.
- MIDIs: MIDI renditions of the game’s themes.
- 100% Completion Checklist: 9 levels, 8 Triforce pieces, 13 Heart Containers, 3 swords, 2 rings, bomb upgrades, potions and key items.
The original adventure
The Legend of Zelda first released on Famicom Disk System / NES · 1986.
