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Hyrule Castle and the Ganondorf Battle Walkthrough

Twilight Princess 100% Completion Walkthrough23 chapters
Walkthrough overview
CoversCastle Town north gate, the castle courtyard (west garden, east garden, graveyard), the castle interior, the tower climb, the throne room and the four-stage Ganondorf fight
DungeonHyrule Castle: needs the Gale Boomerang, Clawshots, Hero’s Bow with Bomb Arrows, Dominion Rod, Spinner, Lantern and Wolf Link; 3 Small Keys and a Big Key; King Bulblin, three Darknut fights and an Aeralfos; final boss Ganondorf
RewardsDungeon Map, Compass, Big Key, Rupee chests (from 10 to 200), a supply room, two Miiverse stamp chests on the Wii U; no Heart Pieces or Poe Souls here; the ending and credits

Hyrule Castle is the last dungeon of Twilight Princess HD. You fight across a courtyard, collect three Small Keys, a Dungeon Map, a Compass and the Big Key, climb the broken tower and meet Ganondorf in the throne room. His fight has four stages: Puppet Zelda, Dark Beast Ganon, a mounted chase with Zelda’s Light Arrows, and a sword duel. Prepare in Castle Town first, because there is no quick way back to town once you are inside. Directions use the Normal Mode layout. Hero Mode mirrors the world, so swap left and right and east and west.

Hyrule Castle spires rising through the fog
Link walking toward the gate of Hyrule Castle across the grey courtyard
Link walking along the blue carpet of the throne room
Ganondorf seated on his throne in the dark throne room

Before you go to Hyrule Castle

Stock up in Castle Town

Refill your arrows and bomb bag, fill your bottles with the best potions you own, and keep one bottle empty for a fairy. If you finished the Malo Mart donation quest, wear the Magic Armor for the Darknut rooms and the last duel: it drains Rupees instead of hearts, so a full wallet acts as a second health bar. The items page lists every tool you use in the castle. Learn every Hidden Skill too, since the Back Slice, Helm Splitter and Ending Blow carry the last fights.

Stone stairs and timber-framed walls on a cobbled lane in Castle Town
Wolf Link and Midna running down a cobbled Castle Town alley

Open the castle gate

Walk to the north end of Castle Town. A cutscene shows Midna using the Fused Shadows to shatter the dark barrier around Hyrule Castle (if you have not seen it yet, it plays now; the Cave of Ordeals and Jovani are not required). When the rain starts, push the doors open and walk into the castle grounds.

Midna standing before the tall castle doors
Midna golden light breaking the dark barrier around Hyrule Castle
Link climbing the steps to the great castle grounds door

Hyrule Castle courtyard

Small Key

West garden: King Bulblin and the first Small Key

From the entrance, follow the stone path northwest. A magic barrier closes around you; defeat the Bokoblins and the Kargaroks that swoop down and the barrier drops. Open the door in the northwest. Another cutscene shows the castle, a second barrier forms and an endless stream of Bokoblins charges you; spin attack when they bunch together until the barrier fades.

Link fighting Bokoblins in the walled courtyard as a Kargarok swoops above
Link standing before the gold-patterned door in the northwest
Link spin attack hitting a bunched group of Bokoblins
Bokoblins charging Link in the endless barrier fight

Follow the walkway to a locked gate. Grab the chain to its left and pull it to raise the gate, then walk to the middle of the raised platform. King Bulblin drops from above and the walls lock. The fight is the same as at the Bulblin camp, and he is easily stunned by a sword slash. Strike him, use a Back Slice or Helm Splitter when he turns, and back off when he spins. Eventually he hands you the first Small Key with the words that he only follows the strongest, and rides away; Midna is amazed he can talk.

Link walking the stone walkway beside the locked gate
Link battling King Bulblin on the courtyard platform
Link holding up the small key with its message box complete
King Bulblin on horseback saying he follows the strongest side

Run to the north end of the area and open the chest for a red Rupee (20). Then return to the south part of the courtyard where you entered from Castle Town.

Link holding up a red Rupee with the "You got 20 Rupees!" message box
Link walking through the misty castle courtyard after collecting the Rupee
Dungeon Map

East garden: boomerang puzzle and the Dungeon Map

Follow the path northeast. A fourth barrier appears; defeat the Bokoblins and open the door to the east garden. Many Bokoblins charge you and Bulblin Archers fire flame arrows. Clear the ground troops with the sword and snipe the archers. Continue along the path to the east side, where two boars wait to the west. Ride one and charge into the wooden fences to knock them down, then ride northeast through the archer towers to topple them.

Link fighting Bokoblins inside the golden barrier in the east garden
Link with a flame burning near wooden fences in the east garden
Link riding a boar past a wooden scaffold archer tower along the castle wall
Link riding a boar charging into wooden fences along the castle wall

At the north end of the garden are pillars topped with spinning propellers. Walk to the gate at the west end and throw the Gale Boomerang over the pile of leaves on the ground; the wind clears them and reveals a Triforce-shaped line. The six intersections are the six pillars. Hit their propellers with the boomerang in the order the line is drawn on the map, and the gate opens.

Orange target markers over a glowing circular line on the garden ground
Link hitting a spinning propeller on a pillar near the garden gate
Link facing pillars topped with propellers and orange target markers at the gate

Walk through and open the chest for the Dungeon Map. Turn left to find a tall ladder up to the second level; follow the path south to a small chest holding a yellow Rupee (10), or the Sad Zelda Miiverse stamp on the Wii U. Drop down and go back to the south of the courtyard.

Link holding up the dungeon map with the full "You got the dungeon map!" message
Link holding up the Sad Zelda stamp with the full "You found the Sad Zelda stamp!" message
Small Key

Graveyard: the second Small Key

Leave the map room, turn into Wolf Link and walk along the wall near the leaf piles by the pillars; your senses mark a patch where you can dig under the wall. You surface in the graveyard after a short cutscene. Turn human and head west. Stalkin rise from the ground and are easy to clear with a spin attack; a Stalfos near the gate collapses to a bomb or strong hits.

Wolf Link at a dig spot beside a mossy graveyard wall
Link performing a spin attack among ghostly swirls in the graveyard
Link facing a Stalfos with its target marker in the misty graveyard
Link beside a collapsed skeleton in the misty graveyard

By the north wall stands a very tall tree. Use your senses as Wolf Link to see ghost soldiers pointing at the ground, or just aim a Bomb Arrow at the rocks at the base of the tree. This uncovers a switch; step on it and the nearby gate opens. Walk into the room beyond, defeating a Stalfos on the way. The large chest holds an orange Rupee (100) and the two small chests hold 21 Rupees between them.

Link standing before a row of iron bars in the graveyard room
Link with his sword drawn in a stone room beside a large chest
Link holding up a 100 Rupee gem in the graveyard room with the message box

Refill the Lantern at the oil jar and light the torch close by: the rain stops for a short while. Run to the west gate and light both torches there before the rain returns, and the gate opens.

Link beside a lit torch in the foggy graveyard with a fence behind him
Link pouring oil from a jar into the lantern with the tutorial message

Take out the Dominion Rod. Pull the statues one at a time to the south wall where you entered, where two indentations wait in the ground. Climb the steps on the right wall and cross over the two statues to the far side. Pull the chain at the top to raise the gate and open the chest for the second Small Key.

Link standing before two owl statues in the Dominion Rod puzzle room
Link aiming the Dominion Rod at a statue outlined in glowing green
A statue glowing green under the Dominion Rod beside a tree in the courtyard
Link holding up a small key with the message box beside an open chest

Dig back out the way you came as Wolf Link. In the map room, climb the ladder for a shortcut back across the garden, ignoring the respawned Bokoblins and archers, and leave by the door. Walk to the middle of the courtyard and up to the castle’s front doors. Buy or collect anything you need first; backtracking from inside is slow. Then unlock the door with the first Small Key.

Wolf Link with Midna on his back in the misty ruins
Link walking across the sunlit castle courtyard toward the front doors
Link standing before the chained castle front doors

Hyrule Castle interior

Compass

Entrance hall: the Compass

As you enter, a barrier closes around the hall. Defeat the Bokoblins and the Lizalfos that follow; the torches then light and a chest appears on a high ledge. Walk to the northeast corner and climb the short steps, Clawshot the chandelier and ride it up, drop onto the ledge and open the chest for the Compass.

Gold maze-patterned barrier walls closing around the entrance hall arena
Link fighting Bokoblins and Lizalfos inside the barrier arena
Link holding up the Compass beside the chest on the ledge
Link hanging from a chandelier by the Clawshot in the entrance hall

Use the Double Clawshots to swing across several chandeliers to the north balcony with the door, and go through.

Link hanging from a Clawshot on a chandelier in the great hall
Link on the north balcony facing the locked door between two lit torches
Darknut

First Darknut and the ledge chest

A Darknut waits in the next room and the door seals behind you. Step back from his heavy swings and slash him while he recovers. Strip his shield with a Shield Attack or a Helm Splitter, then circle behind him and Back Slice once only his sword is left. More about them on the enemies page. A chest appears at the north end of the room.

Link slashing a Darknut that raises its greatsword
Link performing a Shield Attack on the Darknut
Link slashing a Darknut whose shield has been knocked away

Light the two unlit torches and run up the platforms they raise. Face the lone lit torch on the west wall, throw the Gale Boomerang to put it out and run up the final step at once without waiting for the boomerang to return. If you miss, relight the torch and try again. Open the chest for a purple Rupee (50). Stairs on either side of the ledge lead to two routes that meet again on the balcony; the east is easier and the west holds bonus chests.

Link running up a stone step onto a raised platform in the torch room
Link facing a lit torch on the wall of the torch room
Link holding up a purple Rupee with the message You got 50 Rupees
Darknut

West route: paintings, two Darknuts and the big chests

Defeat the two Lizalfos guarding the door; a spin attack opens well. Shoot the ropes holding the two paintings on the east wall. Hit the crystal switch behind the north painting to open the gate (the second switch drops yellow Chus). Go through the door to the south.

Two Lizalfos with curved blades attacking in the hall before the door
Link fighting two Lizalfos in the blue-carpet door hall
Link standing before the closed wooden door in the hall

Two Darknuts fight you in the hall. Stay on one side of the room so that one stays idle while you work on the other; wear the Magic Armor if your hearts are low. When both are down two doors open. Take the one in the northeast and open the chest to the right for a purple Rupee (50). Step on the switch between the two torches to make a chest appear on the northwest balcony.

Link fighting one Darknut while the second waits in the blue-carpet hall
Link with sword drawn in the blue-carpet hall as embers burst from the floor
Link holding up a purple Rupee with the message You got 50 Rupees on the torch-lit balcony
Link beside the chest on the northwest balcony of the torch room

That chest holds a Silver Rupee (200), but takes effort. Drop to the floor below, Clawshot the low chandelier, then the chandelier hanging over the chest, and open it. You cannot get back to the southwest ledge from there, so return through the passage to the north, back to the Darknut hall, and leave by the door at the southwest to reach the courtyard. A gate with a chest behind it waits there.

Link aiming the Clawshot at a low chandelier in the hall
Link holding up a silver Rupee with the message You got 200 Rupees
Dynalfos

East route: torches, Dynalfos and a lowered chandelier

The east route is quicker. The room beyond is dark with four torches near the opposite door. Shoot down the painting on the west wall between two torches to reveal the lighting order: southwest, northeast, northwest, southeast. Keese appear when you light the first torch. When the last is lit the door opens.

Link walking a dark red-carpeted hall where a distant torch glows
Torches burn beside the far door of a red-carpeted hall guarded by armored knights

Two Dynalfos wait in the next room; Bomb Arrows from the doorway make short work of them. In the door to the northeast is a switch that lowers a chandelier for an easy return. Go back, take the door on the opposite side and you are in the courtyard again facing a chest.

Two armored lizard knights with shields and axes stand on a red carpet
An armored lizard knight with a shield stands in a hall beneath a Triforce banner
Big Key

Outer balcony: the Big Key and the third Small Key

Walk out along the balcony. Lizalfos charge and Bokoblin archers shoot, but a hawk’s cry brings help: Rusl and the Hyrule Resistance from Telma’s bar fell the archers and blow up the Lizalfos. Open the gate-guarded chest on the west half for the Big Key.

A Lizalfos on the outer walkway of Hyrule Castle
Hyrule Resistance soldiers arriving in the castle courtyard
A hawk perched on the arm of a Hyrule Resistance soldier
Link holding the Big Key with its full message box

Walk to the east half and a barrier closes around you with an Aeralfos. Fight it as in the City in the Sky: Clawshot it when it holds its shield out, slash it on the ground, finish it with a Shield Attack. Open the chest nearby for the third Small Key. Return to the locked door at the center of the balcony, in front of the castle, and unlock it.

Link facing an Aeralfos on the castle balcony
Link slashing an Aeralfos that has landed on the balcony floor
Aeralfos airborne over the balcony with a target marker above it
Link holding a small key with its full message box

The tower climb to the throne room

Soldier

Ghost soldier room

Change into a wolf and kill the Ghoul Rats that attach to you with a spin attack. Many floor blocks crumble when stepped on, but the ghost soldiers point to the safe route: walk straight from the first soldier to the second, then follow the next soldier’s arm, and so on until you reach the east side of the room. Turn human again.

Wolf Link on glowing floor blocks with a ghost soldier in the distance
Wolf Link on floor blocks beside a ghost soldier
Wolf Link on floor blocks with a ghost soldier ahead in the room

The broken stairs

Climb the narrow broken staircase. A barrier closes at the top with two Lizalfos. Defeat them and continue up the next flight, where gratings cover small torches: Clawshot from torch to torch to cross the gaps. At the top another barrier appears with two more Lizalfos.

Link climbing a narrow broken stone staircase in Hyrule Castle
Link aiming the Clawshot at a golden grate over a torch in Hyrule Castle
Link hanging from the Clawshot at a wall torch with the Let go prompt

The next flight has Spinner tracks on the railing. Ride the Spinner from rail to rail, avoiding the three spikes that also travel the rail, to reach the top floor.

Link walking up a stone stair beside a spike-edged rail track
Link riding the Spinner along the spiked rail above the stairs
Darknut

Last Darknut and the supply room

A third Darknut guards the top landing behind another barrier; beat him with the same tactics as before. Before the boss door, a side door opens with the second Small Key from the graveyard. Its chests hold Rupees from 5 up to 200, bombs, arrows and other supplies, and the chest with the Happy Zelda Miiverse stamp (50 Seeds without it). If this is your 49th stamp, the Twili Midna stamp arrives automatically.

Link facing a Darknut with a greatsword in the golden maze hall
Link holding up the Happy Zelda stamp with its message box
Link holding up 200 Rupees with the message box in the supply room
Link holding a bundle of 30 arrows with the item message box
Link lifting a bomb bag with the bombs (20) message box
Link holding a blue Rupee with the 5 Rupees message box

Check your hearts, bottles and ammunition, then open the boss door with the Big Key. Pots and skulls in the throne room give back hearts and fairies during the fight, but nothing refills your arrows.

Link standing before the locked boss door with its Triforce emblem
Link climbing the stone steps toward the castle entrance arch
Ganondorf

Ganondorf battle: all four phases

Ganon's Puppet: Zelda

Phase 1: Puppet Zelda

You emerge outside near the top of the castle, climb the steps and enter over a blue carpet into the throne room where Zant once appeared. Zelda lies asleep and Ganondorf sits on the throne. After he mocks the Twili and shows his Triforce of Power, he puts his power into Zelda, who rises as a puppet and throws Midna out of the room.

Sleeping Zelda on the floor beside Midna and Link in the throne room
Ganondorf standing before his throne with the glowing Triforce of Power
Zelda standing in the golden Triforce triangle as Midna looms above

Puppet Zelda floats and attacks three ways. She dashes with her sword, which a shield blocks (a hit makes you lose your lock-on for a second). She summons a giant golden triangle on the floor; leave it at once or lose hearts. Her main attack is a ball of light: slash it back and she deflects it again, tennis style, but the ball speeds up each time, until she misses and is hit. Hit her three times and Midna uses the three Fused Shadows to break the curse. Break pots between rounds for hearts.

Puppet Zelda hovers in an archway as her glowing light ball streaks toward Link
Link raising his sword as Puppet Zelda's light ball flies toward him
Link knocked down inside a glowing golden triangle on the castle floor
Zelda surrounded by white light as she is struck in the castle hall
Bright light from a Fused Shadow bursting out as the curse breaks
Dark Beast Ganon

Phase 2: Dark Beast Ganon

Ganondorf becomes the huge Dark Beast Ganon, whose weak point is the silver scar on his belly. He runs around knocking down pillars, then vanishes through portals; several red portals appear and one turns purple when he is about to charge out, with a pulsing sound. Keep your back to a wall with the bow ready, shoot an arrow between his eyes as he emerges to stun him, then run in and slash the scar. Sometimes he drops from above onto you, so roll aside.

Dark Beast Ganon looming in the castle doorway as Link readies his sword
Link slashing the bright silver scar on Dark Beast Ganon's belly
Link waiting in the hall as a purple portal glows on the floor
Dark Beast Ganon charging past Link beside a stone block in the hall

After a few hits he learns the trick and jumps over your arrows. Switch to Wolf Link, wait for him to come out of a portal and, when he is close, press the button shown to grab his horns. Overpower him in the power struggle, throw him to one side, lock onto the scar and bite it. Repeat the grab until Ganon concedes. Midna then revives Zelda.

Wolf Link and Midna grappling with Ganon's horns in the castle hall
Throw prompt on screen as Link grabs Ganon's horns
Wolf Link lunging at the scar on Ganon's belly
Dark Rider Ganondorf

Phase 3: Ganondorf on horseback

After a scene in which a fiery head of Ganondorf appears and Midna takes a new form, Midna warps Link and Zelda to Hyrule Field. Ganondorf rides in on his horse with Midna’s crushed headpiece and an army. Zelda calls on the four Spirits of Light for the Light Arrows and rides with you on Epona. The fight feels like the King Bulblin chase: stay close behind Ganondorf and keep him locked on. When Zelda has a clear shot she fires; a hit stuns him, so ride up and slash with the Master Sword.

A burning head of Ganondorf erupts in the hall as Link and Midna watch
Midna in her new glowing form near a castle column
Ganondorf on horseback crossing Hyrule Field through dark smoke
Four glowing Spirits of Light gathering above the field for the Light Arrows
Ganondorf on his black horse with a lock-on marker during the chase
Zelda on horseback glowing with light as she rides after Ganondorf

Keep following, keep him targeted and swerve around his attacks. After several hits Ganondorf falls from his horse. He mocks your sword, draws his own blade and a barrier closes around you both.

Zelda on horseback chasing Ganondorf across the grassy field
Zelda's hand glows as she fires a light arrow across the grassy field
Ganondorf stands with his blade glowing as he draws it before the duel
Dark Lord Ganondorf name card as Link and Ganondorf square off for the duel

Phase 4: Dark Lord Ganondorf

The last stage is a pure sword duel. Do not use the Shield Attack, as it only hurts you. His weakness is the Back Slice; he blocks it poorly. Circle to your right, because Ganondorf is right-handed and that keeps you farther from his blade, Back Slice, then slash repeatedly until he blocks.

Link slashing with the Master Sword during the duel in the arena
Link leaps and spins upside down beside Ganondorf during the sword duel
Link circles Ganondorf in the arena while Ganondorf's cape sweeps out behind him
Link and Ganondorf's blades clash in a sword duel on the grass

When he swings his huge sword, the button prompt reads “Chance”. Press it and the blades collide; mash the button to win the clash and he is left open for a few free hits. You can also cast the fishing rod at him: he stares at it confused for a moment, and you can slash him from the front. Skulls around the arena hold hearts or fairies, and the Magic Armor protects your hearts.

Link and Ganondorf lock swords in a clash with the A button prompt on screen
Ganondorf lunges with his sword as lightning crackles behind him

When he drops to a knee, lock on and use the Ending Blow to drive the Master Sword through him.

Link locks on to Ganondorf with the target marker over his head
Ganondorf lies on the ground as Link's Finish prompt appears for the Ending Blow

Ending, credits and what comes next

The final cutscenes lead to the credits, ending with Midna’s goodbye in the Mirror Chamber. Afterward you return to a save from before the final fight, so you can reload to explore and hunt missing collectibles, or start a fresh file in Hero Mode, which mirrors the world, doubles the damage enemies deal and stops hearts dropping.

Ganondorf hunched over and collapsing on a grassy field under a dusky sky
Ganondorf standing at sunset with a glowing blade at his chest
Princess Zelda in profile beside the Mirror of Twilight in the Mirror Chamber
Midna speaking in the Mirror Chamber in front of a glowing rune wall
Midna close-up with glowing mirror rings behind her as she says goodbye
Midna in a snowy flurry beside the swirling mirror as she leaves

If anything is still missing, check Heart Piece locations, Poe Souls and Golden Bugs. The Cave of Shadows is the main extra left. The story page recaps the plot and the boss guide covers every boss.

Chapter checklist

TypeItemWhere
Small Key Small KeyKey 1Dropped by King Bulblin, west garden; opens the castle’s front doors
Small Key Small KeyKey 2Chest after the owl-statue puzzle, graveyard; opens the supply room
Small Key Small KeyKey 3Chest after the Aeralfos, outer balcony; opens the tower door
Dungeon Map Dungeon MapHyrule Castle mapEast garden chest behind the boomerang gate
Compass CompassHyrule Castle compassBalcony chest in the entrance hall, reached by chandelier
Big Key Big KeyBoss door keyOuter balcony chest, after the Resistance arrives
Rupees Rupees20 (red)North end of the King Bulblin platform
Rupees / stamp10 (yellow) or Sad Zelda stampEast garden ladder chest
Rupees Rupees100 + 21Three graveyard chests
Rupees Rupees50Boomerang-and-torch ledge chest, first Darknut room
Rupees Rupees50 + 200West route chests (purple, then Silver)
SuppliesRupees up to 200, bombs, arrows, Happy Zelda stamp or 50 SeedsTop-floor supply room

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