From Mabe Village to Tail Cave
Recover the sword, solve the forest obstacle and enter the first dungeon.
Original monochrome 1993 Game Boy release. The Color Dungeon and photographs from Link's Awakening DX (1998), and the Switch remake's extra collectibles and equipment layout, are outside these guides. Period official guide artwork is identified in captions.
Recover your equipment on the shore
Talk to Tarin for the shield before leaving the house, then travel south from Mabe Village to Toronbo Shores. Hold the equipped shield toward the sea urchins to push them out of your path. Recover the sword at the beach and listen to the owl. Once armed, return through the village and take the northwestern route into the Mysterious Forest.
Change the forest raccoon back
The forest's raccoon makes the route loop. Find the Sleepy Toadstool through the cave area and carry it to the witch east of the forest to receive Magic Powder. Equip the powder and use it on the raccoon, revealing Tarin and removing his interference. You can then reach the chest containing the Tail Key. Check the inventory before searching the same loop again.
Open the cave and learn to save
Take the Tail Key to the keyhole outside Tail Cave, south of the village. In the dungeon, look for small keys, the map and the compass while working toward Roc's Feather. Press A, B, Start and Select together to bring up the original game's save menu. Save after important progress and before ending a session; this adventure does not save each pickup automatically.
If the forest keeps returning you to the raccoon, Magic Powder solves the obstacle.
Picture details
Game artwork belongs to its respective rights holders.