Guides / The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

Eastern Palace

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past guide · First dungeon

The Eastern Palace is the first main dungeon of the game, located in the eastern region of the Light World. Link must navigate puzzle rooms filled with rolling boulders, pressure switches, and Stalfos to obtain the dungeon treasure and the Big Key. Defeating the boss at the end rewards the Pendant of Courage, the first of three pendants needed to claim the Master Sword.

Items

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Dungeon Map: In a chest inside the first room immediately after entering the palaceCompass: In a chest located in a northern room on the first floorBig Key: In a guarded chest on the upper floor, unlocked by stepping on a hidden switch beneath a potBow: Inside the Big Chest in the central chamber of the palaceHeart Container: Drops upon defeating the Armos Knights in the boss roomPendant of Courage: Appears in the boss room after defeating the Armos Knights

Secrets

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In the room with the moving floor tiles and pots, lifting a central pot reveals a hidden floor switch that opens the locked door.Bombing the cracked wall on the lower level leads to a fairy fountain room where Link can heal and bottle fairies.

Enemies

Popo

Red segmented insect-like enemies that move along the ground and die in one hit.

Stalfos

Skeletal foes that leap away when Link swings his sword, easily trapped against walls or hit with pots.

Eyegore

Weak to Bow and Arrow

Green statues that awaken when approached; shooting them in their open single eye takes them down quickly.

Armos Knights

Weak to Bow and Arrow

Dungeon boss consisting of six rotating stone statues; the last remaining knight turns red and aggressively stomps toward Link.

Tips

Lift pots to look for hidden switches beneath them if a door is barred with no visible lever.
Save your arrows for the Eyegores and the boss, as the Bow makes both encounters significantly faster and safer.
Bring an empty bottle containing a fairy from the Light World in case your health drops to zero during the boss fight.

Not listed for this area: shops and people.

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Kakariko Village

Desert Palace

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