| Skills | 7 Hidden Skills, always learned in a fixed order |
|---|---|
| Stones | 7 Howling Stones: six teach a skill and the Sacred Grove stone opens the grove. The first skill has no stone |
| Form | Howl as Wolf Link at the stone; meet the Golden Wolf as human Link |
| Reward | The seven techniques, plus a closing speech from the Hero’s Shade after the last lesson |
| Layout | Directions use the Normal Mode layout. Hero Mode mirrors the world, so swap left and right and east and west |
The Hidden Skills are seven sword techniques taught by the spirit of a past hero, who appears as a Golden Wolf. To learn one, find a Howling Stone and howl its tune as Wolf Link, then howl it a second time in the vision that follows. A wolf symbol then appears on your map. Travel there as human Link and find the Golden Wolf, and he teaches you the next technique.
Table of Contents
How to learn a skill
Stand next to a Howling Stone and listen to the wind. As Wolf Link, repeat the tune by matching the high, middle and low bars on the screen. You are taken to another landscape where you must howl the tune again, this time with the Golden Wolf joining in. Afterwards he asks you to find him as human Link, and the place is marked on your map. When you reach him he asks whether you are ready, tests the skill you learned before and then teaches the next one.
The stones can be howled in any order, but the skills are always learned in the same order: Ending Blow, Shield Attack, Back Slice, Helm Splitter, Mortal Draw, Jump Strike, Great Spin. If you miss a wolf symbol on your map you can come back for it later. The game does not label the songs, so the names here are descriptive.
Quick reference
| # | Skill | Howling Stone | Song | Golden Wolf | Chapter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 1 | Ending Blow | None: story event | None | Faron Woods, on the path just before the Forest Temple | Faron Woods |
| 2 | Shield Attack | Death Mountain, in the geyser field on the trail up the mountain | “Song of Healing” | Ordon Spring (Ordon Village) | Hyrule Field and Kakariko, Ordon Village |
| 3 | Back Slice | Upper Zora’s River, on the outcrop in front of the door to Hena’s Fishing Hole (river must be thawed) | “Requiem of Spirit” | On a pillar at Castle Town’s east entrance, in Hyrule Field | Lanayru Province, Lake Hylia side quests |
| 4 | Helm Splitter | North Faron Woods, just before the entrance to the Sacred Grove | “Prelude of Light” | Hyrule Field outside Castle Town’s south entrance, by the staircase on the left side | Faron Woods, Poe Souls and Malo Mart |
| 5 | Mortal Draw | Lake Hylia: on the south cliff near the stone watchtower, just after you climb the ladder | First unnamed song | Gerudo Desert, in the north-east beyond the first Bulblin barricades (smash the fences on a boar) | Lake Hylia side quests, Gerudo Desert |
| 6 | Jump Strike | Snowpeak: at the cliff edge just before the cave that leads to the summit | Second unnamed song | Kakariko Graveyard, in the open at the back | Snowpeak Mountain, Hyrule Field and Kakariko |
| 7 | Great Spin | Hidden Village, in the backyard of a building on the left (the Cucco Leader’s yard) | “Twilight Princess Main Theme” (the longest song) | Castle Town, in the central square | Hidden Village, Hyrule Castle |
The seven skills
1. Ending Blow
Howling Stone: None: story event. Song: None. Golden Wolf: Faron Woods, on the path just before the Forest Temple. You meet the Golden Wolf as part of the story after Faron Woods is cleansed, so there is no stone to find. He teaches the Ending Blow right outside the Forest Temple. What it does: Press the attack button on an enemy that has been knocked to the ground to deliver a finishing stab. Works on Bokoblins, Lizalfos and other enemies you can topple. Chapter: Faron Woods.
2. Shield Attack
Howling Stone: Death Mountain, in the geyser field on the trail up the mountain. Song: “Song of Healing”. Golden Wolf: Ordon Spring (Ordon Village). After Eldin is freed from the twilight, the stone on the Death Mountain trail starts the lesson. Howl the tune, then travel to Ordon Spring in human form to find the Golden Wolf. What it does: Lock on to an enemy and thrust your shield forward to stun a weak enemy and knock it off balance. It sets up the Helm Splitter. Chapter: Hyrule Field and Kakariko, Ordon Village.
3. Back Slice
Howling Stone: Upper Zora’s River, on the outcrop in front of the door to Hena’s Fishing Hole (river must be thawed). Song: “Requiem of Spirit”. Golden Wolf: On a pillar at Castle Town’s east entrance, in Hyrule Field. Howl the tune at the stone in Upper Zora’s River, then find the Golden Wolf sitting on the pillar on the field side of Castle Town’s east entrance. What it does: Get behind an enemy, for example by rolling past it, and strike its back for a big hit. Chapter: Lanayru Province, Lake Hylia side quests.
4. Helm Splitter
Howling Stone: North Faron Woods, just before the entrance to the Sacred Grove. Song: “Prelude of Light”. Golden Wolf: Hyrule Field outside Castle Town’s south entrance, by the staircase on the left side. Howl the tune at the stone in the north of Faron Woods, then look for the Golden Wolf by the stairs outside Castle Town’s south gate. What it does: After a successful Shield Attack, follow up at once with the attack button to split the enemy’s helmet and strike through it. Good against armored foes. Chapter: Faron Woods, Poe Souls and Malo Mart.
5. Mortal Draw
Howling Stone: Lake Hylia: on the south cliff near the stone watchtower, just after you climb the ladder. Song: First unnamed song. Golden Wolf: Gerudo Desert, in the north-east beyond the first Bulblin barricades (smash the fences on a boar). Climb the ladder to the stone and howl, then cross the desert on a boar to find the Golden Wolf. What it does: Keep your sword sheathed, lock on and wait for the enemy to come within reach, then press the attack button for a lightning draw. Very strong against Darknuts and other armored enemies. Chapter: Lake Hylia side quests, Gerudo Desert.
6. Jump Strike
Howling Stone: Snowpeak: at the cliff edge just before the cave that leads to the summit. Song: Second unnamed song. Golden Wolf: Kakariko Graveyard, in the open at the back. Howl at the Snowpeak stone (best at night), then return to Kakariko Village and walk to the back of the graveyard for the Golden Wolf. What it does: Hold the jump-attack button to charge your blade until it flashes, then release for a larger strike that damages enemies around the target. Chapter: Snowpeak Mountain, Hyrule Field and Kakariko.
7. Great Spin
Howling Stone: Hidden Village, in the backyard of a building on the left (the Cucco Leader’s yard). Song: “Twilight Princess Main Theme” (the longest song). Golden Wolf: Castle Town, in the central square. Smash through the building on the left side of the village to the yard with the Cucco Leader and the stone. Howl, then look for the Golden Wolf in Castle Town’s central square. This lesson finishes your training. What it does: With your hearts full, the spin attack has far greater power and range. Chapter: Hidden Village, Hyrule Castle.
The Sacred Grove stone
The seventh stone is in the Sacred Grove and carries a Triforce mark instead of the Sheikah eye. It plays Zelda’s Lullaby and you howl it to open the way deeper into the grove. It does not teach a skill, and its tune is the only one that does not summon a Golden Wolf. Chapter: Master Sword.
Tips
Do the Back Slice early. It is quick to learn and useful against many enemies. Mortal Draw is best against Darknuts and other armored foes, and the Great Spin only works at full health. After the last lesson the Hero’s Shade tells you that you have mastered all of the skills.
