Unlocking Autumn & Finding Moosh
After successfully conquering the treacherous Dancing Dragon Dungeon and acquiring the valuable Flippers, your next crucial objective is to unlock the power of Autumn for your Rod of Seasons. This will open up new pathways and lead you to a powerful new ally, Moosh the Bear.
Acquiring the Autumn Season
The Autumn fairy is found in the Sunken City, accessible now that you possess the Flippers. This seasonal power is vital for progressing, as it causes leaves to fall, revealing hidden paths and items, and drying up certain bodies of water.
- Return to Sunken City: From the Dancing Dragon Dungeon, head back towards the Sunken City. You can warp to Horon Village and then proceed south, or simply retrace your steps.
- Enter the Sunken City: Once in the Sunken City, locate the large body of water. With your Flippers equipped, you can now swim freely.
- Find the Hidden Cave: Swim to the northern part of the Sunken City. Look for a small, submerged cave entrance on the northern wall.
- Meet the Autumn Fairy: Enter the submerged cave. Inside, you will encounter the Autumn Fairy. This benevolent spirit will bestow upon your Rod of Seasons the power to change the season to Autumn.
Important Note: While unlocking Autumn is a significant step, remember that this is not the final season fairy. The power of Winter still awaits discovery later in your adventure. The Autumn season is vital for progressing, as it causes leaves to fall, revealing hidden paths and items, and drying up certain bodies of water.
Finding and Befriending Moosh
With the power of Autumn at your command, your next task is to locate and gain the assistance of Moosh, a large, blue bear who will become an invaluable animal companion. Moosh is found in Natzu Prairie, and you'll need a specific item from the trading sequence to befriend him.
- Head to Natzu Prairie: From the Sunken City, head west to reach Natzu Prairie. Alternatively, you can warp to Horon Village and then head west into Natzu Prairie.
- Locate Moosh: As you explore Natzu Prairie, you'll soon spot a large, blue bear named Moosh. He's easily identifiable by his size and his predicament: he's hungry!
- Understand Moosh's Predicament: Moosh is hungry and won't move until he gets something to eat. Your mission is to provide him with a delicious Mushroom.
- Acquire the Mushroom (Trading Sequence):
The Mushroom is part of a longer trading sequence that began much earlier in your adventure. If you haven't completed these steps, you'll need to backtrack:
- Wooden Sword: Start by giving the Wooden Sword (found in Hero's Cave) to the Old Man in the cave in North Horon. He will give you the Ghastly Doll.
- Ghastly Doll: Take the Ghastly Doll to the woman in the house in the northeast of Horon Village. She will trade it for the Iron Pot.
- Iron Pot: Bring the Iron Pot to the chef in the kitchen of the Subrosian Dance Hall in Subrosia. He will give you the Lava Soup.
- Lava Soup: Deliver the Lava Soup to the Goron in the Goron Mountain area (accessible via the portal in Spool Swamp). He will give you the Goronade.
- Goronade: Take the Goronade to the thirsty man in the desert area of Samasa Desert. He will give you the Mushroom.
- Feed Moosh: Once you have the Mushroom in your inventory, return to Moosh in Natzu Prairie. Approach him, and Link will automatically offer him the Mushroom.
- Moosh Joins Your Party: Grateful for your assistance, Moosh will offer his services as an animal companion. He will now follow you and can be called upon when needed.
Moosh's Abilities and Importance
Moosh is not just a friendly face; he possesses unique abilities that are crucial for navigating certain areas and progressing through the game:
- Floating Over Gaps: Moosh can float over small gaps that Link cannot cross on his own. Simply ride Moosh and press the A button to initiate a short float. This is essential for reaching otherwise inaccessible platforms.
- Ground Pound Attack: By holding down the A button while riding Moosh, he will charge up a powerful ground pound. Releasing A will cause him to slam down, creating a small shockwave that can stun or damage nearby enemies and even break certain cracked blocks.
- Essential for Progression: Moosh is absolutely vital for reaching the next dungeon, the Naga's Dungeon (also known as the Poison Moth's Lair). Without his ability to float over gaps, you will be unable to access the dungeon's entrance.
Common Pitfalls and Tips
- Trading Sequence Completion: The most common pitfall for befriending Moosh is not having completed the necessary steps of the trading sequence to acquire the Mushroom. If you find Moosh but can't interact with him, review the trading sequence steps carefully.
- Remember Your Companions: Oracle of Seasons features three potential animal companions (Moosh, Dimitri, and Ricky). You can only have one active at a time. The companion you find first and help will usually be your primary companion for a significant portion of the game. If you encounter Dimitri or Ricky first and help them, they will become your companion instead of Moosh. However, for the path to the third dungeon, Moosh is generally the intended companion.
- Practice Moosh's Float: Getting the hang of Moosh's floating ability can take a moment. Practice in safe areas to judge the distance and timing needed to cross various gaps. Remember that his float distance is limited, so larger gaps may require a different approach or another companion.
- using Autumn: use your newly acquired Autumn power! Change the season with your Rod of Seasons in areas with piles of leaves to reveal hidden passages, items, or even enemies. Autumn also dries up certain shallow water bodies, allowing you to walk across them.
With Autumn unlocked and Moosh by your side, you are now well-equipped to tackle the challenges that lie ahead in Holodrum!