Shadow Temple Walkthrough Ocarina of Time

Hyrule’s hidden history of torture and secrets, carved into a temple beneath the graveyard. Invisible floors, fake walls, guillotines and spinning scythes mean the Lens of Truth is on almost all the time.

Age: Adult
Dungeon: Adult temple 4
Main item: Hover Boots
Boss: Bongo Bongo
Prev / next: Bottom of the Well · Spirit Temple

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Shadow Temple screenshot — Inside the Shadow Temple. Select to enlarge.

At a glance

Location: Behind the ledge at the back of Kakariko Graveyard.
How to get in: Sheik teaches the Nocturne of Shadow in Kakariko. Warp to the ledge and light every torch at the door at once with Din’s Fire.
Bring: Din’s Fire Lens of Truth Hookshot Bombs Iron Boots
Main item: Hover Boots
Reward: Shadow Medallion (Impa, Sage of Shadow) + Heart Container
Gold Skulltulas: 5

Shadow Temple route, step by step

Use the Lens of Truth to find the real path; the Dungeon Map is in the first hidden room.
Beat Dead Hand for the Hover Boots, then turn the bird statue to face the real skull and float across.
Find the Compass in the Gibdo room.
Cross the guillotine and spinning-scythe rooms, collecting Silver Rupees for keys.
Walk the fan corridor in the Iron Boots so the wind can’t push you off.
Play Zelda’s Lullaby on the boat, ride it while fighting Stalfos and jump off before it sinks.
Burn the walls with Din’s Fire, beat the two ReDeads for the Boss Key, drop the statue as a bridge by shooting the Bomb Flowers, and Hover to the boss.

Key chests

Contents	Where
Hover Boots	Dead Hand’s room
Dungeon Map	First hidden room near the entrance
Compass	Room with the Gibdos
Boss Key	Room behind the walls burned with Din’s Fire, after two ReDeads

Shadow Temple map

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Shadow Temple dungeon map — Dungeon map. Select to enlarge.

Screenshots

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Shadow Temple: A Shadow Temple chamber — A Shadow Temple chamber

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Shadow Temple: Bongo Bongo’s title card — Bongo Bongo’s title card

Enemies in Shadow Temple

ReDead

Gibdo

Stalfos

Floormaster Wallmaster model

Wallmaster Like Like model

Like Like

Beamos

Big Skulltula Skulltula model

Skulltula

Keese

Blue Bubble Red Bubble model

Red Bubble Blade Trap model

Blade Trap Gold Skulltula model

Gold Skulltula

Tips

The Lens drains magic fast: carry a Green Potion or turn it off between rooms.
Set a Farore’s Wind point before the boat ride.
Wear the Hover Boots in Bongo Bongo’s arena: they stop the drum from bouncing you around.

Boss: Bongo Bongo

Title: Phantom Shadow Beast
Weak to: Its single eye, after both hands are stunned

Bongo Bongo drums on the floor with two disembodied hands. Stun both hands with arrows or the Hookshot, then shoot the eye in its body (look through the Lens of Truth to see it) and slash it while it lies stunned. Wear the Hover Boots so the drum doesn’t throw you about.

All boss strategies →

FAQ

How do you open the Shadow Temple?

Warp there with the Nocturne of Shadow and cast Din’s Fire next to the door so every torch lights at once.

Do you need the Lens of Truth?

Yes. Many floors and walls are invisible or fake; get the Lens from the Bottom of the Well first.

How do you beat Bongo Bongo?

Stun both hands with arrows or the Hookshot, then shoot its eye and slash it. Wear the Hover Boots.

Sources & picture credits

Guide text is original retrogameindex writing, checked against Zeldapedia and walkthrough guides. Screenshots, models and artwork © Nintendo; local copies archived from Zeldapedia file pages (listed on the image gallery).