Water Temple Walkthrough In Zelda: Ocarina Of Time

Just wet go

by Matthew Reynolds
Sat, 7:07pm

The Water Temple is an Adult Link dungeon in Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

What follows is a step-by-step walkthrough, outlining the critical path, chests and anything optional you'll likely want to investigate.

To help with navigation, major items and Gold Skulltulas will be highlighted in bold, and you can use the below table of contents to jump through the walkthrough quickly.

Once done, consult our main Zelda: Ocarina of Time walkthrough for where to get next in the story.

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How to access the Water Temple

First, you need to have cleared the Ice Cavern. This is found in Zora Fountain (where you encountered Lord Jabu-Jabu as Child Link) in the now frozen-over Zora Domain. This grants you two items you need: the Iron Boots and the Zora Tunic.

Also, by far not essential but useful for a particular encounter is Din's Fire, which can be sourced from the Great Fairy Fountain on top of Death Mountain.

When ready, use the Serenade of Water to be teleported to Lake Hylia, then immediately drop off the ledge in front of you and into what remains of the lake.

Water Temple walkthrough in Zelda: Ocarina of Time

With the Iron Boots equipped, you’ll sink and find a locked door: shoot the switch above it with the Hookshot to enter.

Water Temple walkthrough

Here's how to complete the dungeon from start to finish.

Lowering the water level, Dungeon Map (3F and 1F)

You'll start in a rectangular room with a central column, a moat of water and various branching paths. You’re currently on 3F, where the water level currently is.

The aim of this (infamously confusing) dungeon is to raise and lower the water level so you can come back to this central area and explore new locations and get everything you need to face the boss.

First, from 3F, jump off the west side with your Iron Boots on to reach 1F underwater. Enter the room to meet Princess Ruto.

After the cutscene, take off the Iron Boots to float up several floors to 3F. Open the chest here for the Dungeon Map, making exploring a little clearer.

Also in this room is a Triforce symbol on the wall. Play Zelda's Lullaby there to lower the water level to 1F. (For future reference, the way back to this Triforce is indicated by a blue path on the walls.)

Compass, two Small Keys (1F)

Drop all the way down to 1F to be in the room where you met Ruto originally; here, fire an Arrow through the central torch to those in each corner to open the door.

Inside, defeat the Spikes (the Hookshot works best) to get a Small Key.

Return to the main central room, where there is now no water; the level is currently at its lowest.

Go south from this main central room, Bomb the crack in the wall, then enter the pool of water behind.

Emerge the other side for a long room with a switch that reveals a Hookshot column above.

Proceed past the enemies and up another Hookshot post where you'll find a chest with the Compass in at the end.

Back to the critical path. In the main central room, to the west there’s a block you can push down the passage west. It'll drop into some water; follow using the Iron Boots, avoid the Shell Blade, then unequip at the end to float back up again.

You'll now be in a room with a small chest on an inaccessible ledge, and a whirlpool of water below. Jump into the water and equip the Iron Boots so you land on the ‘body’ of the dragon statue.

Now, hit the switch in the mouth of the dragon statue with your Hookshot, unequip the Iron Boots and swim towards the gate that opens, and equip them again once inside.

Clear out or avoid the enemies, float up above, then open the chest for a Small Key.

Now you must backtrack to the main central room (1F, with no water), where you should now have two Small Keys in your possession. On the west side of the central pillar is a locked door: one of of your Small Keys to enter.

Central pillar (1F and B1)

Once inside, walk forward, turn around, and on the upper right you can Hookshot to the ledge above. Now play Zelda’s Lullaby in front of the Triforce to raise the water level to 2F. (For future reference, the way back to this Triforce is indicated by a green path on the walls.)

Doing so will see the block that was previously on 1F float and rise up, revealing a passage in the ground. Use the Iron Boots to descend into the passage to B1.

You’ll come to a large room with a switch above. Hit it, clear out all the enemies, then unequip the Iron Boots where the Shell Blade entered to rise into a room.

Here you'll find a Red Rupee in a chest, and a Gold Skulltula on the wall opposite towards the corner.

Now backtrack to the central column - where you raised the water - and before you proceed through the door on 2F, find the Hookshot target on the ceiling high above, where there's a Gold Skulltula in the opposite corner.

Drop back down and head through the door on 2F.

Small Key and raising the water to 3F (2F)

You are now in the main central room (2F, water level at that height).

Go east, Bomb the cracked wall, then Iron Boots your way through the water passage with the Stingers to the other end.

To solve this puzzle with the torrent of water raising the lid in the corner, shoot the switch in the pool of water at the end to lower it, stand on the lid and shoot it once more to activate it and raise you up.

In the end is a chest with a Small Key.

Backtrack to the main central room, now use the Iron Boots to go the submerged 1F (where you met Princess Ruto), then unequip them to emerge at a cracked wall. Bomb it, clear the enemies inside, then get the Gold Skulltula on the wall.

Backtrack to the main central room, then head west through the locked door (surrounded by a pink path which, based on the previous paths we've followed, will also lead to a way to raise the water level).

Inside is a torrent of water at the very end. Hit the switch to lower it, with a Blue Tektite standing on the lid. Clear them out, stand on the lid, hit the switch and rise up.

You’ll now emerge next to a Triforce: play Zelda’s Lullaby to raise the water to the top-most level.

Waterfall platforms and Hookshot switch puzzle (3F)

You’re now in the main central room (3F, water level at that height - this is the same as we started the dungeon, but now we have one Small Key in our possession; if you don't, you can reset the water level by using Iron Boots all the way down to 1F, follow the blue path, then follow the green path, and finally the pink path, exploring everything outlined in this walkthrough on the way.)

Go west through the locked door to a long room with a waterfall and several ledges running down with Hookshot targets on. Make your way up them until you reach the top and can go through the door.

Next is a room with various dragon statues and a switch in the centre.

You can solve this puzzle as follows:

Hit the switch (raise) and Hookshot across to the south-west corner
Hit the switch (lower) then Hookshot to the target on the wall (next to the dragon head that lowers)
Go round the corner, hit the switch (raise)
Hookshot to the north-west dragon, hit the switch (lower)
Climb on the dragon head, hit the switch (raise)

It should also be noted after you raise the water for the first time, Blue Tektites will appear; it's worth taking the time to defeat them to save you getting bumped into the water at any point.

You can now access the north passage. Run through the misty room, then back to the tree, to see a mysterious figure waiting next to it…

Boss: Dark Link

Dark Link is an interesting battle: a sub-boss with a similar moveset to yours. The easiest strategy is to use Din’s Fire - this is unlocked from the Great Fairy Fountain on top of Death Mountain - otherwise block and observe their attacks (including a spin attack) and wait for an opening before you rush in.

Water rapids (2F)

Once done, head through the door at the end for your reward - the Longshot, which helps you reach further targets than previously.

Drop down at the end for some water rapids and various whirlpools you have to avoid.

Use the Iron Boots to avoid each one, but be sure to stop at the second to last corner, where there's a Gold Skulltula on the wall above.

At the end is a small platform next to a gate and a gold eye switch above. Hit the Switch, then quickly target the Hookshot target in the gate that opens before it closes again.

The passage then takes you to the same room as the whirlpool room from earlier, so drop down and return to the main central room.

Where to go after the Longshot (final Small Key)

You’re now in the main central room (3F, water level to match) with the Longshot. Return the water level to 2F (reset the water level completely by using Iron Boots all the way down to 1F, follow the blue path, then follow the green path).

In the main central room on 2F, on the north side is an eye switch that opens a gate with a Hookshot target you can only reach with the Longshot.

There's a small chest behind the grate in the corner you need to reach. First, use the ceiling target with the Hookshot in the right corner so you an access an underwater passage. Follow the route round the corner for a block in the right wall. Pull it out.

Emerge from the water on this side, then repeat the route - using the Hookshot on the ceiling target in the corner - so you then approach the underwater block from the side. Push it out the way, then head up where the block was housed originally, to access the chest with the Small Key.

Boss Key (1F)

Now, keeping the water level at 2F (if you have reset it, make sure you follow the blue then green paths), use the Iron Boots to 1F, then take the passage north.

In the partly submerged passage, you can now access the locked door using the Small Key we just acquired.

In this large room with water currents and Blue Tektites, clear the Blue Tektites first, then swim across and go through the door.

On the left in this room are three cracked walls. Bomb them to reveal a block in the middle of the passage they lead to.

Push the block out from this middle hole and onto a switch in the water to raise the level.

The next room features three torrents of water. Cross over the lids - being mindful of the Blue Tektite along the way - then head through the door at the end.

You'll emerge at a T-junction, with a waterfall on your left, and the previous water current and Blue Tektite room to your right. Wait until a boulder emerges left to right, then go through the waterfall on your left. Look up here for a Gold Skulltula.

In this boulder corridor, go left past the Shell Blade, then through the door for the Boss Key.

Now return to the main central room (you can do so by following the boulder to the open room, then going south through the passage).

How to reach the Boss Room (3F)

The water will be in the middle on 2F, so follow the pink path to raise the water level to its highest (3F).

This allows you to go to the north door with the Longshot, then past the spikes in the water-logged steps using the Iron Boots to access the Boss Room.

Boss: Morpha

Morpha is quite simple in theory: the boss itself is a nucleus that travels through the water and along tentacles that emerge from the water in an attempt to grab you. To damage Morpha, Hookshot the nucleus out of the tentacle, then attack it with your sword.

In practice, however, it’s a little tricky. Not every tentacle will feature the nucleus, so you have to wait until it travels along one. And when it does, the slow speed of the Hookshot means it can be easy to miss; try and get close if you can, while also remaining out of harm's way.

The further into the battle you go, the more tentacles emerge, but if you remain locked onto the nucleus, you should be able to keep track of those and remain a safe distance to avoid their attacks. If you're struggling to keep track of the tentacles, then staying at the outside edge of the boss room - allowing you to have your back against the wall - can help.

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Once the battle is over, collect the Heart Container and step into the warp point for a cutscene and the Water Medallion. You’ll then arrive back at Lake Hylia, with the water level restored as it was as Young Link.

Where to go after the Water Temple

Before we move onto the next temple, on this island is a plaque in front of you which reads: "When the lake is full and dawn breaks, release an arrow toward the halo of light."

If you are reading this as soon as the Water Temple has wrapped, the sun should still be rising; aim for it with your Bow and fire an Arrow, which will see it transform into Fire Arrow on the platform ahead. Swim over and grab them.

If the sun is too high in the sky, you have to wait until the morning, or play the Sun’s Song to change the time of day.

Finally, while we're discussing side-quests, you now have everything you need to complete the Biggoron's Sword quest if you so wish - helping you unlock the most powerful sword in the game.