Changes

* Longshot - necessary. Needed to reach the boss room in the Water Temple, and for numerous puzzles afterwards.

* Longshot - necessary. Needed to reach the boss room in the Water Temple, and for numerous puzzles afterwards.

* Megaton Hammer - necessary. This is the only way to hurt Volvagia.

* Megaton Hammer - necessary. This is the only way to hurt Volvagia.

* Lens Of Truth - unnecessary. Okay, this is a crazy one. The first time through the game, you NEED this. Here are the main locations where the Lens of truth is necessary and how to get around using it...

* '''Lens Of Truth - unnecessary.''' Okay, this is a crazy one. The first time through the game, you NEED this. Here are the main locations where the Lens of truth is necessary and how to get around using it...

** There is enough invisible stuff in the Shadow Temple to make it practically impossible to do blindly. Invisible Hookshot targets, invisible platforms, invisible bad guys. However, it's easy to remember where the targets and platforms you need are located. And you can Z-target invisible enemies to avoid losing track of them.

** There is enough invisible stuff in the Shadow Temple to make it practically impossible to do blindly. Invisible Hookshot targets, invisible platforms, invisible bad guys. However, it's easy to remember where the targets and platforms you need are located. And you can Z-target invisible enemies to avoid losing track of them.

** Bongo Bongo's vulnerable spot - the red eye you need to shoot with an arrow - is invisible. But it's pretty easy to shoot it blindly. Shoot both hands, and Bongo Bongo will clench his fists before racing across the drum towards you. Aim squarely exactly between the two fists - where the boss's invisible body is - and as soon as the fists vanish off the sides of your screen, fire. You'll hit the eye and Bongo Bongo will drop, stunned and now visible, right in front of you. Easy.

** Bongo Bongo's vulnerable spot - the red eye you need to shoot with an arrow - is invisible. But it's pretty easy to shoot it blindly. Shoot both hands, and Bongo Bongo will clench his fists before racing across the drum towards you. Aim squarely exactly between the two fists - where the boss's invisible body is - and as soon as the fists vanish off the sides of your screen, fire. You'll hit the eye and Bongo Bongo will drop, stunned and now visible, right in front of you. Easy.

* Fairy Bow - necessary. Used earliest to shoot Poe paintings in the Forest Temple, but necessary for uncountable other puzzles.

* Fairy Bow - necessary. Used earliest to shoot Poe paintings in the Forest Temple, but necessary for uncountable other puzzles.

* Fire Arrows - unnecessary. This is quite important. There are several locations in the game after the Water Temple, where you might think that it was impossible to do without the Fire Arrows. However, a little thought reveals an alternate solution in all cases. Usually you can use Din's Fire, or shoot an ordinary arrow through an existing flame; for the cavernous gap protecting the Shadow Barrier in Ganon's Castle, you can get across by simply using your Longshot on the unlit torch on the right, and again on the Like Like at the far side.

* '''Fire Arrows - unnecessary.''' This is quite important. There are several locations in the game after the Water Temple, where you might think that it was impossible to do without the Fire Arrows. However, a little thought reveals an alternate solution in all cases. Usually you can use Din's Fire, or shoot an ordinary arrow through an existing flame; for the cavernous gap protecting the Shadow Barrier in Ganon's Castle, you can get across by simply using your Longshot on the unlit torch on the right, and again on the Like Like at the far side.

* Ice Arrows - unnecessary. What the hell use are these anyway?

* Ice Arrows - unnecessary. What the hell use are these anyway?

* Light Arrows - necessary. This is the only way to destroy the Barriers in Ganon's Castle.

* Light Arrows - necessary. This is the only way to destroy the Barriers in Ganon's Castle.

* Deku Shield - necessary. Used to convince Mido to let you through to see the Great Deku Tree.

* Deku Shield - necessary. Used to convince Mido to let you through to see the Great Deku Tree.

* Hylian Shield - unnecessary. While extremely useful for defence, a skilful player can play as far as the Mirror Shield without dying, simply by avoiding enemy attacks.

* '''Hylian Shield - unnecessary.''' While extremely useful for defence, a skilful player can play as far as the Mirror Shield without dying, simply by avoiding enemy attacks.

* Mirror Shield - necessary. This is the only way to hurt Twinrova.

* Mirror Shield - necessary. This is the only way to hurt Twinrova.

Note, incidentally, that this route also completely circumvents the Bolero Of Fire cutscene, enabling you to enter the Temple without ever getting that Ocarina song.

Note, incidentally, that this route also completely circumvents the Bolero Of Fire cutscene, enabling you to enter the Temple without ever getting that Ocarina song.

* Zora's Tunic - unnecessary. If you know what you're doing in the Water Temple, the longest you ever have to spend underwater is about 45 seconds - this is while you get the Small Key underneath the central column. If you have around 7 full hearts when you drop into the water then you will get 7 hearts time 4 quarters times 2 seconds = 56 seconds before you drown. Piece of cake.

* '''Zora's Tunic - unnecessary.''' If you know what you're doing in the Water Temple, the longest you ever have to spend underwater is about 45 seconds - this is while you get the Small Key underneath the central column. If you have around 7 full hearts when you drop into the water then you will get 7 hearts time 4 quarters times 2 seconds = 56 seconds before you drown. Piece of cake.

===Boots===

===Boots===

* Minuet of Forest - necessary. There is no way to enter the Forest Temple without enduring this cutscene.

* Minuet of Forest - necessary. There is no way to enter the Forest Temple without enduring this cutscene.

* Bolero of Fire - unnecessary. See the entry for Goron Tunic to find out how to circumvent the area of Death Mountain Crater which triggers the Bolero Of Fire sequence.

* '''Bolero of Fire - unnecessary.''' See the entry for Goron Tunic to find out how to circumvent the area of Death Mountain Crater which triggers the Bolero Of Fire sequence.

* Serenade of Water - necessary. After you get the Iron Boots you have to sit through this cutscene.

* Serenade of Water - necessary. After you get the Iron Boots you have to sit through this cutscene.

* Prelude of Light - necessary. It is impossible to beat the game without going back to being child Link at least once... to do this, you must return to the Master Sword section of the Temple of Time... and if you do that, you'll be exposed to the Prelude of Light cutscene.

* Prelude of Light - necessary. It is impossible to beat the game without going back to being child Link at least once... to do this, you must return to the Master Sword section of the Temple of Time... and if you do that, you'll be exposed to the Prelude of Light cutscene.

* Dungeon Map - always unnecessary. If you have a good memory and sense of direction, you can navigate any dungeon without this.

* Dungeon Map - always unnecessary. If you have a good memory and sense of direction, you can navigate any dungeon without this.

* Silver Rupees - usually necessary. Used to open certain doors in dungeons.

* Silver Rupees - usually necessary. Used to open certain doors in dungeons.

* Small Key - almost always necessary, with some important exceptions. In the Water Temple, it is possible to skip any single Small Key due to a level design oversight which enables you to cunningly bypass one of the locked doors. Also, in the Shadow Temple, the Farore's Wind trick can be used to skip four of them. Since they don't show up in your inventory, however, Small Keys aren't usually considered to be "items" as such.

* '''Small Key - almost always necessary, with some important exceptions.''' In the Water Temple, it is possible to skip any single Small Key due to a level design oversight which enables you to cunningly bypass one of the locked doors. Also, in the Shadow Temple, the Farore's Wind trick can be used to skip four of them. Since they don't show up in your inventory, however, Small Keys aren't usually considered to be "items" as such.

* Heart Container - unnecessary. A number of people have beaten the whole game on just the original three hearts you receive, and with no deaths.

* Heart Container - unnecessary. A number of people have beaten the whole game on just the original three hearts you receive, and with no deaths.

* Fishing Pole - unnecessary. Who needs fish?

* Fishing Pole - unnecessary. Who needs fish?

* Sinking Lure - unnecessary. Fishing? FISHING?!

* Sinking Lure - unnecessary. Fishing? FISHING?!