Dungeon 8: Zora's Domain

Welcome to the final dungeon of your quest, hero! Zora's Domain is a sprawling, water-filled labyrinth that will test all the skills and items you've acquired. Be prepared for intricate puzzles involving water levels, currents, and plenty of aquatic foes. Your Mermaid Suit will be essential here, so keep it equipped!

Dungeon Overview

Location: Zora's Domain (Past)
Key Item: Mermaid Suit (required to enter and navigate)
Mini-Boss: Octogon
Boss: Plasmarine
Reward: Rolling Sea (Essence of Time)

Entering the Dungeon

To access Zora's Domain, you must first travel to the Past. Once there, head to the northern reaches of Zora Village. You'll find the entrance submerged. Equip your Mermaid Suit and dive into the deep water to enter the dungeon.

First Floor Exploration (1F)

From the entrance, swim north into the next room.
You'll find a large room with several deep water sections. Swim to the northeast corner and climb out onto the dry land.
Head west, defeating any Zora or Tektite enemies you encounter. You'll reach a block puzzle. Push the single block into the hole to open the door to the north.
Enter the northern room. This room contains a series of moving platforms and a switch. Carefully navigate the platforms, avoiding the Spiked Beetles. Hit the crystal switch with your Sword or Seed Shooter to change the water flow.
Return to the previous large room. Notice the water current has changed. Swim into the newly accessible current on the west side of the room. This will carry you to a new area.
In this new area, you'll find a chest containing the Dungeon Map. Collect it to get a better overview of this complex dungeon.
Swim south from the chest room, then west. You'll enter a room with a large central platform and several Zora enemies. Defeat them and proceed through the western exit.
You'll now be in a room with a series of underwater passages. Dive down and navigate through them, avoiding the Cheep-Cheeps. Emerge on the other side and head north.
This room has a large block that needs to be pushed. Push it into the water to create a path. Continue north.
You've reached a room with a locked door to the east. You'll need a Small Key. For now, head west.

Obtaining the Compass and Small Keys

In the western room, you'll find a series of conveyor belts and enemies. Navigate carefully. There's a hidden passage on the north wall. Use your Power Bracelet to push a block and reveal it.
Enter the hidden passage. This leads to a room with a chest containing the Compass.
Return to the room with the conveyor belts. Head south. You'll find a room with a series of unlit torches and a locked door. Light all the torches with your Seed Shooter (using Ember Seeds) to unlock the door.
Go through the newly opened door. You'll be in a room with a single Zora and a chest. Defeat the Zora and open the chest to receive a Small Key.
Return to the room with the locked door to the east (from step 10). Use your newly acquired Small Key to unlock it and proceed.
This room contains a series of underwater passages and a strong current. Dive down and carefully swim against the current when necessary, or let it carry you to new areas. Your goal is to reach the north exit.
In the next room, you'll encounter several Hardhat Beetles. Use your Shield to flip them over, then attack with your Sword. Once defeated, a Small Key will drop. Collect it.

Reaching the Mini-Boss

With the Small Key in hand, head back south through the current room.
From the room where you got the Small Key (step 14), head east. You'll find another locked door. Use your Small Key to open it.
This room is a maze of underwater passages and deep water. Dive down and navigate through, making your way to the northern exit. Be wary of the Zora enemies.
You've arrived at the Mini-Boss chamber!

Mini-Boss: Octogon

Octogon is a large octopus-like creature that swims around the room. It will occasionally surface and spit rocks at you. The key to defeating it is to use your Hookshot. When Octogon surfaces, quickly use your Hookshot to pull it towards you. This will stun it, allowing you to strike with your Sword. Repeat this process until it is defeated. Be careful of its rock projectiles and the occasional dive attack.

Upon defeat, Octogon will drop a Small Key and a warp portal will appear.

Continuing Through the Dungeon

Take the warp portal back to the dungeon entrance if you need to heal, otherwise, use your new Small Key on the locked door to the east of the Mini-Boss room.
This room has a series of water jets that push you around. Use your Pegasus Boots to dash through them when they recede, or time your movements carefully. Your goal is to reach the south exit.
You'll enter a room with a large central pool and several Zora. Defeat them. Notice the unlit torches around the room. Light them all with Ember Seeds to reveal a hidden staircase in the center of the pool.
Dive into the staircase to descend to the basement (B1F).

Basement Exploration (B1F)

You'll emerge in a dark, underwater passage. Swim north.
This next room is a large underwater area with several currents and Spiked Beetles. Navigate through the currents, using your Mermaid Suit to swim against them when necessary. Your goal is to reach the eastern side of the room.
On the eastern side, you'll find a series of blocks. Push the correct block to create a path to a chest containing the Boss Key!
With the Boss Key in hand, you need to make your way back to the main floor. Retrace your steps through the underwater maze.
Once back on 1F, return to the room with the central pool where you found the staircase (step 24).
From this room, head west. You'll find a locked door that requires the Boss Key.
Unlock the door and enter. This is the antechamber to the final boss!

Boss: Plasmarine

Plasmarine is a large, amorphous blob-like creature that resides in a pool of water. It has two main forms and attacks:

First Phase: Plasmarine will swim around the pool, occasionally surfacing to shoot projectiles at you. It is invulnerable in this state. You need to manipulate the water level. Look for the crystal switch in the room. Hit it to drain the water.
Second Phase: When the water is drained, Plasmarine will flop onto the dry ground, becoming vulnerable. It will attempt to jump and crush you. This is your chance to attack! Use your Sword to strike its core repeatedly.

The strategy is to repeatedly hit the crystal switch to drain the water, then attack Plasmarine with your Sword while it's exposed. Be careful when it jumps, as it can deal significant damage. After taking enough hits, it will revert to its water form, and you'll need to repeat the process of draining the water. Keep up the assault, and Plasmarine will eventually be defeated.

Congratulations! Upon defeating Plasmarine, you will receive the Rolling Sea, the eighth and final Essence of Time!