Bottom of the Well

1. Enter the Drained Well

As Child Link, play the Song of Storms inside the Kakariko Village Windmill to drain the well, then climb down the exterior ladder to reach the entrance. Crawl through the small hole at the threshold to access the underground canal. Watch your footing as you emerge along the perimeter to avoid plunging blindly into the depths below.

2. Scout the Outer Canal Perimeter

Move cautiously around the circular canal perimeter, navigating illusionary walls and keeping an eye out for invisible pits hidden under the shallow water channels. Open the chest tucked into the northern perimeter room to claim the Dungeon Map, while keeping an ear out for ReDeads that will freeze you in place with a piercing gaze scream if approached carelessly from the front. If you take a misstep through the floor, you will plummet into the flooded B2 Pit Fall hazards and must search for stairs or a ladder to climb back up.

3. Clear the Eastern Side Chamber

Search the side rooms and hidden alcoves along the canal to pick up scattered Small Keys and locate the chest containing the Compass. Enter the eastern side chamber to encounter a hungry Like Like guarding the area. Slay the monster carefully to reach Gold Skulltula #1 resting directly behind it, avoiding getting swallowed whole.

4. Search the Central Area and Western Chambers

Unlock the doors in the central area with your Small Keys to access hidden alcoves and illusory walls, claiming Gold Skulltula #2 from behind a locked door. Afterwards, proceed to the western chamber where multiple wooden coffins line the room. Ignite a flame source to burn away the wooden coffin concealing Gold Skulltula #3 to claim the token.

Tip: Deku Sticks can serve as a portable flame source to burn away the wooden coffin.

5. Confront Dead Hand for the Lens of Truth

Follow the central pathway into the boss antechamber to challenge the mini-boss Dead Hand, a pale monstrosity flanked by four white hands rising from the floor. Intentionally draw close to a hand or let it seize you so the main body unearths itself and approaches; once it drops its neck to strike, mash your buttons to break loose and attack its exposed head with Deku Sticks or Kokiri Sword slashes. When the beast falls, open the large treasure chest that materializes to secure the Lens of Truth before returning to Kakariko Village.

Tip: Smashing the head with Deku Sticks inflicts heavy damage once the beast lowers its neck.

The short version

What matters

• Defeating Dead Hand to acquire the Lens of Truth, which is the main progression treasure of the well.
• Collecting all 3 Gold Skulltula tokens from the eastern chamber, central locked room, and western coffin room.
• Grabbing Small Keys from alcoves if you aim to open the locked rooms for full exploration.

Common mistakes

• Walking directly into the frontal gaze of ReDeads, which paralyzes Link and leaves you open to attack.
• Letting a Like Like swallow you in the eastern chamber, which will destroy your Deku Shield.
• Carelessly traversing the circular perimeter without watching for invisible pits, causing you to fall into B2 and lose time climbing back up.

What you can skip

• Collecting the Dungeon Map, Compass, and secondary chests if you aim for a full clear rather than the direct speed route.