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

Palace of Darkness

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

The Palace of Darkness is the first dungeon Link tackles in the Dark World after defeating Agahnim. Link must navigate a maze of warp tiles, darkened rooms, and cracked walkways while utilizing the Hammer to progress. Defeating the boss at the end rewards Link with the first of seven Maiden Crystals.

Items

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Magic Hammer: Inside the big chest in the central basement chamberMap: In a chest inside the entrance hallCompass: In a chest guarded by Anti-Fairies in the western wingBig Key: Inside a chest found in the dark maze room in the eastern wingCrystal 1: Rewarded after defeating the dungeon boss, Helmasaur King

Secrets

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In the basement room with the conveyor belt, bombing the lower-left cracked wall reveals a hidden room containing several chests with Rupees.In the central northern room with the telepathic tile, bombing the cracked floor on the right side opens a hole leading down to the platform with the Magic Hammer chest.

Enemies

Helmasaur King

Weak to Bombs, Hammer, Bow and Arrow

Dungeon boss wearing a thick mask that must be cracked open before its face can be damaged.

Helmasaur

Weak to Slashing from behind, Hammer

Small armored lizard whose front mask deflects sword attacks.

Stalfos

Weak to Sword, Bombs

Skeleton that jumps away when Link swings his sword.

Red Bari

Weak to Sword

Jellyfish creature that electrifies itself periodically and splits into smaller Biri when hit with a normal blade.

Goriya

Weak to Bow and Arrow

Creature that mimics Link's movements and opens its vulnerable front when facing him.

Anti-Fairy

Weak to Magic Powder

Bouncing red skull of energy that drains Link's health on contact and turns into a fairy if sprinkled with Magic Powder.

Wizzrobe

Weak to Sword, Arrows

Magic user that phases into view to shoot energy beams across the room before disappearing.

Spark

Electrical orb that circles the perimeters of platforms and walls.

Trap

Spiked metal hazard that slides toward Link when he steps into its line of sight.

Tips

You must pay Kiki the monkey 100 Rupees outside to unlock the entrance to this dungeon, and you must not take damage on the path leading there or he will run away.
Keep the Bow and Arrow equipped in the dark maze room to easily snipe green and red Goriyas from across the barriers.
The Magic Hammer can break Helmasaur King's mask in just a few hits if you prefer to save your Bombs.

Not listed for this area: shops and people.

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Agahnim's Tower

Swamp Palace

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