Quick Guide

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link quick reference for recommended levels, item locations, and optimal paths. Includes specific stat recommendations.

Recommended Levels:

These level guidelines strike a balance between being prepared for the next stage and minimizing experience point (EXP) grinding. Higher levels are recommended for players aiming for a "000 run" (no saving, no game over).

Levels are listed in Attack-Magic-Life order:

• 1-1-1: Start of game
• 1-1-2: In vicinity of North Castle (obtain first 50-EXP Treasure Bag)
• 1-2-2: Before entering Parapa Palace
• 1-2-3: Inside Parapa Palace
• 2-2-3: Inside Parapa Palace once more
• 2-3-3: Clear Parapa Palace by inserting 1st crystal into stone statue
• 2-3-4: In vicinity of Saria Town
• 3-3-4: Before entering Midoro Palace
• 3-4-4: Inside Midoro Palace
• 3-4-5: Inside Midoro Palace once more (grind by defeating Bubbles)
• 4-4-5: Clear Midoro Palace by inserting 2nd crystal into stone statue
• 4-5-5: At Death Mountain
• 4-5-6: Before beginning Island Palace
• 5-5-6: Inside Island Palace
• 5-6-6: Clear Island Palace by inserting 3rd crystal into stone statue
• 5-6-7: Before beginning Maze Palace
• 6-6-7: Inside Maze Palace
• 6-7-7: Clear Maze Palace by inserting 4th crystal into stone statue
• 6-7-8: Inside Palace on the Sea
• 7-7-8: Clear Palace on the Sea by inserting 5th crystal into stone statue
• 7-8-8: Before beginning Three-Eye Rock Palace
• 8-8-8: Inside Three-Eye Rock Palace
• 1-Up: Clear Three-Eye Rock Palace by inserting 6th crystal into stone statue

Before Parapa Palace

1. Learn Shield magic: Rauru Town (talk to woman outside middle house in 2nd part of town).
2. Obtain Treasure Bag (50 EXP): tree northeast of North Castle.
3. Pass through cave northeast of Rauru Town, then through trap south of Parapa Desert.
4. Obtain Heart Container #1: clearing in small forest along coast south of Parapa Desert.
5. Go to Parapa Palace: northeastern end of Parapa Desert.

Parapa Palace

1. Take elevator down, go left 1 room, obtain Key #1.
2. Go right 4 rooms, visit Fairy.
3. Take elevator up, go right, obtain Key #2.
4. Continue right 1 room, obtain Key #3 and Red Magic Jar from Iron Knuckle statue.
5. Go left 1 room, take elevator down 1 floor, go left 1 room, take elevator down, go left 1 room, obtain Treasure Bag (50 EXP) on collapsing bridge.
6. Continue left 1 room, obtain Candle.
7. Go right 2 rooms, take elevator up, go right 1 room, take elevator down, go right 2 rooms, defeat Mazura, obtain Key #4.
8. Insert 1st crystal into stone statue, exit.

Before Midoro Palace

1. Obtain Magic Container #1: cave southwest of North Castle.
2. Obtain Trophy: cave in Tantari Desert.
3. Learn Jump magic: Ruto Town (2nd part of town, after obtaining Trophy).
4. Pass through cave south of Ruto Town (requires Jump).
5. Visit Fairy: tree at north edge of Moruge Swamp.
6. Obtain Doll #1: Moruge Swamp, catty-corner to boulder blocking cave entrance.
7. Cross bridge trap to go to Saria Town.
8. Learn Life magic: Saria Town (1st part of town, after finding mirror inside 1st building in 2nd part of town).
9. Obtain Treasure Bag (100 EXP): tree east of Saria Town.
10. Cross bridge trap east of Saria Town.
11. Visit Fairy: tree east of previous bridge trap.
12. Obtain Red Magic Jar: Midoro Swamp, on easternmost edge of road.
13. Obtain Treasure Bag (200 EXP): cave east of Midoro Swamp.
14. Obtain Red Magic Jar: Midoro Swamp, southwest corner.
15. Go to Midoro Palace: western end of Midoro Swamp.

Midoro Palace

1. Obtain Red Magic Jar from Iron Knuckle statue at entrance.
2. Take elevator down 2 floors, go left 1 room, obtain Key #1.
3. Go right 1 room, take elevator down again, go right 1 room, obtain Key #2.
4. Go left 1 room, take elevator back up 2 floors, go left 2 rooms, obtain Key #3.
5. Continue left 2 rooms, obtain Red Magic Jar from Ra statue.
6. Take elevator down 1 floor, go left 1 room, obtain Treasure Bag (50 EXP) among falling blocks.
7. Continue left 1 room, obtain Handy Glove and Red Magic Jar from Iron Knuckle statue (requires Jump).
8. Go right 2 rooms, take elevator down, go right 4 rooms, obtain Key #4.
9. Go left 1 room, take elevator down, go right 1 room, obtain Treasure Bag (100 EXP) on collapsing bridge.
10. Continue right 2 rooms, defeat Jermafenser, obtain Key #5.
11. Insert 2nd crystal into stone statue, exit.

Before Island Palace

1. Talk to Bagu: woods south of Midoro Palace.
2. Talk to River Man: Saria Town (building by river in 3rd part of town, then cross bridge left to exit town).
3. Enter Death Mountain:
• Go east into 1st cave.
• Go east into 2nd cave.
• Go east into 3rd cave (ignore elevator inside cave).
• Go east into 4th cave.
• Go east into 5th cave (obtain Red Magic Jar while inside; requires Jump).
• Go south into 6th cave.
• Go south into 7th cave.
• Go south into 8th cave (obtain Red Magic Jar while inside).
• Go west into Sp.