All Magic Container Locations in Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

Magic Container Locations: Expanding Link's Arcane Power

Mastering the arcane arts in Zelda II: The Adventure of Link is absolutely crucial for Link's survival and success. Magic Containers are invaluable upgrades, permanently increasing your maximum Magic Meter by one block. While there are four such containers hidden across the Hyrule overworld, additional Magic Containers can be acquired by defeating certain palace bosses, making the total number of Magic Containers more than four. This guide will detail all possible Magic Container locations, ensuring you maximize Link's magical capabilities for the challenging journey ahead.

Collecting all available Magic Containers will significantly enhance your ability to cast powerful spells like Jump, Shield, and Life, making your journey through palaces and encounters with formidable foes much more manageable. Prioritize these upgrades as you progress through Hyrule!

Overworld Magic Containers: Hidden Across Hyrule

There are four Magic Containers cleverly hidden within caves and secret passages across the Hyrule overworld. These require specific items, spells, or a keen eye to locate. Below is a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to finding each of them.

Overworld Magic Container 1: Rauru's Northern Cave

• Location: Directly north of the town of Rauru, hidden within a forest square.
• Required Item: Candle (obtained from the Wise Man in Rauru).
• Difficulty: Easy
• Enemies: Bots, Goriya (minimal threat)

This is likely the first Magic Container you'll encounter, as it's accessible relatively early in the game. It serves as an excellent introduction to finding hidden caves.

1. Obtain the Candle: Upon arriving in the town of Rauru, speak to all the villagers. One will direct you to the Wise Man. He resides in the house at the far west of town. Speak to him, and he will bestow upon you the Candle, an essential item for illuminating dark caves.
2. Exit Rauru: From the town of Rauru, exit to the north.
3. Navigate the Overworld: You will enter the overhead map screen. Head directly north, past the small bridge that spans the river.
4. Locate the Hidden Forest Square: Continue north until you reach a patch of forest. Look for a single, distinct square of forest that appears slightly different or out of place compared to its surroundings. This is your hidden cave entrance. It's often a darker shade of green or simply stands out from the uniform forest pattern.
5. Enter the Cave: Walk onto this specific forest square to enter the cave.
6. Illuminate the Cave: Inside the cave, it will be pitch black. Open your inventory (by pressing START), select the Candle, and use it. The cave will instantly light up, revealing your path and any enemies.
7. Traverse the Cave: Navigate through the short, straightforward cave. You may encounter a few weak enemies like Bots or Goriya. These are easily defeated with your sword.
8. Claim Your Reward: At the end of the cave, you will find the first Magic Container. Walk over it to collect it, and your Magic Meter will instantly increase by one block.

Overworld Magic Container 2: Mid-Western Hyrule Waterfall Cave

• Location: West of the town of Saria, behind a waterfall.
• Required Spell: Jump Spell (learned from the Wise Man in Saria).
• Difficulty: Medium
• Enemies: Moblins, Goriya, Octoroks (in the overworld)

This Magic Container requires a bit more progression, as you'll need to complete the first palace and learn a crucial spell to access it.

1. Complete Parapa Palace: Your first objective is to complete the Parapa Palace (the first palace in the game). Navigate through it, defeat the boss (Horsehead), and retrieve the Trophy.
2. Learn the Jump Spell: Return to the town of Saria, which is located west of Rauru. Speak to the Wise Man in Saria (he's typically in the house at the far west). He will teach you the Jump Spell, a vital ability for reaching higher ledges and bypassing obstacles.
3. Exit Saria: Exit Saria to the west.
4. Locate the Waterfall: On the overhead map, head west until you reach a large body of water (the Western Sea). Follow the northern edge of this water body, moving westward. You will eventually come across a prominent waterfall on the western side of the map, near the coast.
5. Cast Jump and Enter: Stand directly in front of the waterfall. Open your magic menu (by pressing SELECT), select the Jump Spell, and cast it. While under the effect of the Jump Spell, jump into the waterfall. Link will pass through it, revealing a hidden cave entrance.
6. Traverse the Cave: Inside the cave, navigate through the enemies, which often include Moblins or Goriya. The cave is relatively short and straightforward.
7. Claim Your Reward: At the end, you will find the second Magic Container. Collect it to expand your Magic Meter further.

Overworld Magic Container 3: Eastern Hyrule Hammer Cave

• Location: Southeast of the town of Mido, in a rocky area.
• Required Item: Hammer (obtained from the Death Mountain Maze).
• Difficulty: Medium-Hard
• Enemies: Orange Iron Knuckles, Wizzrobes, Daira (in the cave); Bago-Bago, Iron Knuckles, Goriya (in Death Mountain)

Accessing this Magic Container requires venturing into the perilous Death Mountain and acquiring the powerful Hammer, an item that allows Link to smash certain obstacles.

1. Obtain the Hammer: Your primary goal is to obtain the Hammer. This item is found deep within the Death Mountain maze, which is located east of the Midoro Swamp and south of the town of Mido. Be prepared for a challenging journey through the maze, filled with tough enemies like Bago-Bago and Iron Knuckles. It's recommended to have a good amount of health and attack power before attempting Death Mountain.
2. Exit Death Mountain: Once you have the Hammer, exit Death Mountain and head towards the town of Mido.
3. Exit Mido: From Mido, exit to the south.
4. Locate the Rocky Obstruction: On the overhead map, head southeast. You'll pass through a forest and eventually reach a rocky, mountainous region. Look for a specific section of rocks that appears to be blocking a path or entrance. It will be a single square of rock on the overworld map that seems out of place or like a potential barrier.
5. Use the Hammer: Stand next to these rocks. Open your inventory, select your newly acquired Hammer, and use it. Link will smash the rocks, revealing a hidden cave entrance.
6. Enter the Cave: Enter the newly revealed cave.
7. Traverse the Cave: The cave itself is usually straightforward, but may contain stronger enemies like Orange Iron Knuckles, Wizzrobes, or Daira. Be cautious and use your best combat strategies.
8. Claim Your Reward: Proceed to the end of the cave to claim the third Magic Container.

Overworld Magic Container 4: Great Palace Region Island Cave

• Location: On an isolated island in the Great Palace region, accessible via raft.
• Required Item: Raft (obtained from the Maze Island Palace).
• Difficulty: Hard
• Enemies: Blue Iron Knuckles, Red Darknuts, Wizzrobes, Fokka (in the cave); various high-level enemies in the Great Palace region.

This final overworld Magic Container is found in the late stages of the game, requiring you to have acquired the Raft and navigated to the easternmost continent.

1. Obtain the Raft: To reach this container, you must first obtain the Raft. This is found in the Maze Island Palace, located on an island in the eastern sea. To reach Maze Island, you typically need to have learned the Fairy Spell from the Wise Man in Darunia, which allows you to access a hidden cave leading to the eastern sea.
2. Travel to the Eastern Continent: Once you have the Raft, travel to the eastern continent. The most common route is to use the Raft from the dock near the town of Old Kasuto, or from the eastern coast after exiting the Maze Island area.
3. Navigate to the Great Palace Region: Navigate the eastern continent until you reach the region surrounding the Great Palace. This area is characterized by desolate landscapes and some of the strongest overworld enemies in the game.
4. Locate the Isolated Island: Look for a small, isolated island off the coast in the Great Palace region. It's typically to the north or northeast of the Great Palace entrance itself. It will be a distinct, small landmass in the water.
5. Sail to the Island: Use your Raft (select it from your inventory) to sail to this small island.
6. Enter the Cave: Once on the island, you will find a cave entrance. Enter it.
7. Traverse the Challenging Cave: This cave is often guarded by some of the toughest standard enemies in the game, such as Blue Iron Knuckles, Red Darknuts, or even advanced Wizzrobes and Fokka. Be prepared for a significant fight; your best spells and combat techniques will be necessary. Consider using the Shield spell or Reflect spell if facing Wizzrobes.
8. Claim Your Reward: Carefully navigate through the cave, defeating or avoiding enemies as necessary. At the very end, you will discover the fourth and final Magic Container. Collecting this will fully max out your Magic Meter from overworld sources, providing you with maximum spell-casting potential for the final battles.

Palace Boss Rewards: Additional Magic Containers

Beyond the four hidden overworld containers, Link can also earn additional Magic Containers by defeating specific palace bosses. These are crucial for further expanding your magic capacity and are often a welcome reward after a challenging boss battle.

The following bosses will award Link with a Magic Container upon their defeat:

• Palace 2: Midoro Palace
  • Boss: Gooma
  • Reward: Magic Container
  • Strategy: Gooma is a large, axe-wielding enemy. His main attack is to throw his axe, which returns to him like a boomerang. The key is to wait for him to throw his axe, then quickly jump over it as it returns. While he is recovering his axe, he is vulnerable. Attack his head with your sword. The Jump spell can be helpful for dodging his axe.
• Palace 4: Island Palace
  • Boss: Barba
  • Reward: Magic Container
  • Strategy: Barba is a multi-headed dragon that emerges from lava pits. He will pop out of one of three pits, breathe fire, and then retreat. The trick is to hit his head with your sword when he emerges. The Jump spell is essential here to reach his head. The Shield spell can reduce fire damage if you get hit. Time your jumps and attacks carefully.
• Palace 6: Hidden Palace
  • Boss: Volvagia
  • Reward: Magic Container
  • Strategy: Volvagia is another dragon-like boss, similar to Barba but often more aggressive. He also emerges from lava pits and breathes fire. The strategy is largely the same: jump and hit his head when he's vulnerable. However, Volvagia often moves faster and has more unpredictable patterns. Having high attack and defense levels, along with the Shield spell, is highly recommended.

Table: Magic Container Acquisition Summary

General Tips for Magic Container Hunting

• Prioritize Early: The Magic Containers found in Rauru and after Parapa Palace are relatively easy to get and provide a significant boost to your early-game magic capacity, making subsequent challenges much easier.
• Explore Thoroughly: Always check suspicious areas on the overworld map. Single squares of forest, mountains, or unique water features often hide secrets.
• Use Your Items: Remember to use your acquired items like the Candle, Hammer, and Raft when you encounter environmental obstacles. They are often the key to unlocking new areas.
• Master Spells: The Jump Spell is not just for combat; it's crucial for accessing many hidden areas, including the waterfall cave.
• Be Prepared for Combat: Caves containing Magic Containers, especially later ones, are often guarded by strong enemies. Ensure Link's attack and defense levels are adequate, and have a good supply of potions or the Life spell ready.
• Check Walls: While not directly for Magic Containers, always remember to check suspicious walls inside caves by hitting them with your sword. Many hidden passages and items (like bags of magic or extra lives) can be found this way, which can aid in your overall journey.

Collecting all Magic Containers is a significant step towards preparing Link for the ultimate confrontation with the Great Palace's guardians and, ultimately, Dark Link. Each additional block of magic allows for more frequent spell usage, which can be a game-changer in challenging areas and boss fights. Maximize your magic and become an unstoppable force!