Forest Temple

The Forest Temple is the fourth dungeon in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time although it is usually completed out of order. Here is a speed guide for this dungeon. You will need Farore's Wind for best results.

In the first room of the Forest Temple, ignore the Wolfoses and use the Hookshot to shoot as far up the vines to the right as you can - then climb the rest of the way. Hookshot across to the chest and collect Small Key #1. Drop down and enter the main part of the temple.

Big Skulltulas can be killed instantly - from the front, even! - using the Hookshot.

Set a warp point as you enter the main room, after the Poes have stolen the torch flames. Head straight north and pass through the next room to fight a pair of Stalfos for Small Key #2. Leave by the way you came in.

Turn right in the main room and play the Song Of Time to shift the blue block out of the way and enter the northwest courtyard. Go right, climb the vines, killing the Skullwalltulas if you wish, and enter the doorway.

Kill the Bubble (Deku Nuts work well here) but ignore the chest; continue into the next room which will bring you out on a ledge in the northeast courtyard.

Jump across (yes, jump) and stand on the red switch to drain the wells which connect the courtyards. Drop down and enter the well.

Travel along the connecting tunnel underneath to collect Small Key #3. Immediately warp back to your warp point in the main room.

Head left and use your first Small Key to enter the big grey room with the block puzzle. Solve the block puzzle to climb all the way to the top to another grey room with an eye switch.

Use Small Key #2 to enter the twisted corridor.

Proceed along the twisted corridor and right through a third locked door.

Backflip over the first railing above the stairs and run to the bottom. Cast FW and then fight three Stalfoses on the trot. Collect the Fairy Bow and head back the way you came. Stand with your back to the middle painting to shoot the other two with Arrows, then beat the red Poe. It's possible to get more than one hit in when she becomes visible if you're quick with spin attacks. Grab Small Key #4.

Go back through the twisted corridor, shoot the eye outside, and enter the now-straightened corridor. Collect the Boss Key and drop through the hole in the floor.

Escape this next room and go right along the balcony in the northwest courtyard. Take the door on the right.

Fight the Floormaster for Small Key #5. Warp back to your warp point and go through the opposite door.

Fight a second Poe. Try to manoeuvre it as far up the stairs as possible while fighting it. Ignore the chest this time; climb to the top of the stairs and enter the locked door.

Go right, through the straight corridor and open the final locked door to enter the rotating platform room.

Jump three platforms clockwise and pull out your bow. Draw a bead on the torch and fire as the iced-up eye passes behind it to twist the second corridor.

Go back and fall through the hole to reach the chessboard room. You can make it to the far side, ignoring the Skulltulas, in two falls of the ceiling. Remember to hit the switch on the way!

For the block puzzle, try to avoid having to move more than three blocks. Look at it carefully during the first few seconds to figure out how to do this, as in the long run you'll save time. Make use of the first glance at the blocks as they fall. Defeat the third Poe. Use the door to return to the main room.

In the main room, you can recognise the odd Poe out by watching them as they appear. The real Poe spins one extra time. You could use your Hookshot to attack it - it does the same damage as an arrow, and saves arrows, but is marginally slower. Repeat, to activate the elevator and descend...

Optimizing this whirly bit is a bit tricky. You need to rotate the room one click anticlockwise, then go northwest to hit switch #1. Then rotate another click anticlockwise, and go east to hit switch #2. Finally, rotate two clicks clockwise and head south to hit switch #3, then you have a free run north to the boss.

Boss guide: Phantom Ganon

Back to Speed-running OoT...