Palace of Twilight Walkthrough

20.1 Item Upgrade: Giant Quiver

Now that we have the double clawshots, warp Castle Town. Head to the STAR Mini-game.

Pay the 15 rupees and enter the cage. The game works just as it did the first time only a little more challenging. Get all the stars at the bottom first and progress your way upwards. Collect all the stars in 90 seconds and Purlo will reward Link with the giant quiver, which holds up to 100 arrows.

There’s a heart piece we can get now, too. Leave the game and then leave Castle Town. Talk to Midna and warp to the Kakariko Gorge. Walk to the northwest portion of the Gorge and look at the massive rock pillars that are in the gorge. There is a clawshot target on one of them so claw on over to it. Against the west wall you’ll see another clawshot target; hook on to it. Clawshot onto the ivy and climb it. Climb to the other side of the pillar and you’ll find a treasure chest. Open it to get a piece of heart.

Speak with Midna and warp to the Mirror Chamber.

20.2 Entering The Twilight Realm

Upon arrival at the Mirror Chamber, start up the small steps towards the Mirror of Twilight. The shards will reform and then the Sages will appear. This is all cut-scene.

When able to, enter the temple.

20.3 The Twilight Palace & Getting the Compass

Starting off, Midna will give a brief plea for hiding in Link’s shadow a little longer. As your make your way west there are creatures with green illuminating marks on them. Midna identifies them as not monsters. Continue west and go through the door.
In this room, take out the Twilit Deku Babas and Keese. As you progress your way through you’ll see a floating Zant mask. This mask will shoot fireballs at you, so just block with the shield. Lock on to the mask and deflect the fireballs back at it. This will stun the mask, then attack with your sword. After the room is clear a treasure chest with a small key will appear. Get the key and then clawshot onto one of the targets to get up to the locked door. Unlock it and go through.

This room will be filled with a dark fog. As you start through, you’ll be transformed into Wolf Link. Use the wolf senses to navigate through here. Attack the Zant mask and a few treasure chests will appear. One treasure chest will contain the compass, the other a small key. Get both items and head through the locked door.

The door will close and seal behind you. A quick scene will show a hand grasping a crystal at the opposite end of the room. Run towards the crystal and two walls of twilight will appear. An apparition of Zant appears and he summons a huge twilit ball and creates a warp portal. Keese will fly out of the portal.Take out the Keese and chase after the image of Zant. When you get close enough to Zant, slash at him. Eventually Zant will summon another Twilit energy ball and more baddies. Take them out and pursue Zant and smite him some more. Eventually the apparition of Zant will be defeated and the room will fill with black fog like from the previous room.

Head to the crystal in the room. Midna will tell us this is a Sol. After talking to Midna, slash the hand that holds the Sol and carry the Sol and place it on the ground in the small inner circle. By now the hang will turn red and come to life. This enemy is known as Zant’s hand is Twilight Princess’ answer to Wallmasters. It’s goal is to get the orb back, so make sure you’re quick.

Dropping the orb will create a set of steps to the exit. Run up the steps and quickly turn and clawshot the Orb up to you. Carry the orb out of the room.

Run forward and drop down to the lower area where the black fog is. Zant’s Hand will slide out into this room, it’s creepy and persistent. Drop the Sol into the hole in the center of the room and a large staircase appears. Quickly run to the top of the staircase and clawshot the sol up with you. If the hand is getting too close, a few arrow hits will stun it for a moment. At the top of the staircase toss the Sol to the higher level to the south. Then carry it all the way to the south portion of this higher ledge and jump down. Go through the door.

As you enter the room, you’re still being chased by the hand. Drop down and defeat the the enemies in your way. Look at the map: there is a passage at the west end of the room. Holding the Sol near the falling black fog will eventually disappear. Claw onto the target that is on the wall and open the treasure chest to get a piece of heart.

Drop down and lift the Sol once again. Carry it to the south end of the room, avoiding all these enemies and the hand. Go through the door to the north.

As you start outside, the creature that stands in front of you will revert to its normal Twili form. In the center circular platform there are two spots in the ground. Place the Sol in one of the spots and a platform is highlighted on the west side. Midna pops out and says that there is a second sol to be found. Walk over to the block that has been illuminated. It will take you to the area at the east side of the Palace. Go through the door.

20.4 Getting The Dungeon Map

Take out the keese then jump to the lower area. Use the clawshot to grab onto one of the four targets on the walls then use the second clawshot to grab onto the target that is on the ceiling. Lower yourself down and land on a moving platform.

A Zant Mask will appear at the north end of the room. Jump across the moving platforms to get to the north side of the room and take out the Zant Mask. After doing so a treasure chest with a small key appears at the northeast corner of the room. Go get the key. Use the key on the locked door and head north.

Run forward into the black fog and three shadow beasts will appear, as well as a wall of twilight. For ease, using Wolf Link to take them out. Once defeated, walk to the north end of the room and you’ll see another Zant Mask. Take it out. After you do, three more will appear inside the fog. Using Midna’s charged attack to defeat these guys is the fastest. Once all three have been defeated, a treasure chest will appear at a higher ledge in the room.

Walk to the north side of the fog and clawshot towards the target on the wall. From here, use the clawshot to grab onto the ceiling target. Use the ceiling target as well as the many targets along the wall to get to each of the treasure chests. Two contain purple rupees, one contains a small key, the other contains the dungeon map. Once you’ve collected all the goodies, go to north and use the small key on the locked door.

The door will shut behind you. Run forward and you’ll meet up with another apparition of Zant. Walls of twilight will enclose us. The image of Zant will start the battle with a bunch of shadow babas. Defeat this phantom Zant the same was before. Upon defeat, the black fog will return. Head to the Zant Hand and release the Sol.

Pick up the Sol and walk towards the center of the room. The Zant hand will awaken. Place the sol in the center of the room and a staircase will appear. Take out all the shadow beasts on your ascent and quickly clawshot the orb to you and head through the door.

Like before, the hand is after us, so run to the center of the room and drop the Sol in the hole. Defeat the shadow beast as well as baddies. This time, get your bow out and stun the Zant Hand. Use the clawshot targets along the north wall and then claw to the ceiling. Grab onto one of the targets on the west wall and then climb the steps that have been created. Climb the steps to the south end of the room and from there use the clawshot to pull up the sol. Drop down to the area below and go through the door.

Once you enter this room, run straight and drop down into the black fog. There is a crystal at the north end of this room that will light up and create two illuminated platforms. Stand on the one to the east and it will take you to the higher area on the east side of the room. Be careful of the hand that follows you. Jump over to the treasure chest that the platform takes you to. Open this chest for another piece of heart.
Return to the crystal at the north end of the room and let one of the platforms raise you higher. Now jump onto the other moving platform. Continue to jump across these moving platforms with the Sol. You’ll reach a platform with two crystal switches. The sol will light them up, creating another moving platform. This will take you to the door at the south end of the room. Go through it.
The Twili that is right outside the door will return to normal. Step on the square platform and ride it back to the main portion of this area. Drop the second sol into the hole and Link’s sword will fill with a golden light. Now the Master Sword can cut through the black fog.

20.5 Getting The Big Key

Walk north and there is a stream of pouring black fog. Take out the baddies and do a spin attack. The fog will temporarily vanish. Jump across the gap and go through the door.
Walk to the north end of the room, slashing your master sword to get rid of any black fog. Defeat the shadow baddies. At the north end of the room, there are two more Sols, but these are not powered with light. There are two spots for them within the black fog. Cut through the fog to find these spots and place both sols in their place. This will create a staircase in the center of the room.

Climb the staircase and there will be an unlit crystal. Slash at it with your master sword and it will light up. Step on the platform and it will take you to the east side of the room. Defeat the shadow Baba here and then three unlit crystals will show. Walk southward and you’ll see several Zant masks have appeared. Now that the Master Sword has some extra juice, it only takes one hit to defeat the Zant Mask. Defeat all of the masks to get a treasure chest to appear with a small key inside. Get the key.

Walk to the middle of the three crystals and perform a spin attack. All three will light up and a new moving platform will appear under you. Stay on it and it will take you to the upper area of the west side of the room. Use the small key and go through the door.

At the end of the balcony there are several shadow beasts and a ton of shadow kargaroks. Defeat them all then perform a spin attack to hit the two crystals. Ride the moving platform that appears to get to the south island. Defeat the Zant Mask here and then several more will appear back on the balcony. Use the spin attack to hit the two crystal switches and ride the platform back to the balcony.
Defeat the masks and another treasure chest with a key will appear at the north end of this area. There is still another treasure chest in this area. Use the spin attack to get behind the curtain of black fog. Defeat a few more shadow Kargaroks that are resting here and then clawshot onto the ceiling target and then use the double clawshot on all the other targets as you climb your way to the top of this area. At the very top, there is a target on the ceiling. Drop down from there and open the treasure chest to get the big key.

Perform a spin attack to get rid of the fog and then head towards the locked door at the northwest portion of this area. Enter through the door.

Walk forward and a wall of twilight will block your path. A few shadow beasts will fall down. Defeat them just as you’ve always done and the wall of twilight will vanish.
Slash through the black fog and you’ll see four crystal switches. Stand in the center and perform a spin attack. A moving platform appears and will carry you up. Four platforms then appear in all four directions. Jump over to the next platform that is to the west. Ride it across the room and two platforms will appear, jump to the one at your right. This platform will rise straight upward and you’ll see a ledge to the west. Jump over to it and defeat the Deku Baba

Jump to the platform that is at the northwest corner of the room and it will take you to the east side of the room. Use the clawshot to grab onto one of the far targets. Defeat the Zant Mask that is in this area and then look up. There is a target that is at the bottom of a pillar. Grab onto it and then lower yourself onto a moving platform. This will take you back to the west side of the room. Use the clawshot to grab onto the target and then defeat another Zant Mask. A treasure chest appears nearby. Open it up to get a small key.

A new platform appears near the center of the room. Jump over to it and it will take you to the highest part of the room. Use the small key to open the locked door.
Slash your way through the black fog and a wall of twilight will form. Defeat the numerous amounts of shadow beasts that fall from the ceiling. Once they are all gone away with, the wall of twilight will vanish. Walk to the north end of the room and use the big key on the locked door. Enter to finally face off with Zant.

20.6 Boss Fight: Usurper King Zant

Walk up the steps and enjoy the cut-scene giving us more background. Eventually the fight with Usurper King Zant will start.

This boss fight will incorporate all of the previous boss fights and will end outside of Hyrule Castle. Each phase of the boss fight will be like that of its previous counterpart in the game.
Phase 1: Forest Temple
Equip the Gale Boomerang.
Zant will float around the room and shoot toxic energy balls at Link. Block with your shield. After several balls are shot your way, Zant will teleport to another area and repeat the same process. Immediately when Zant teleports, Z-target him and throw the Gale Boomerang at him. Zant will fall into the liquid below and bounce towards the land. Run up to him and slash away with your sword. Repeat this a few times and Phase 1 will be complete.
Phase 2: Goron Mines
Get your Iron Boots ready.

This phase takes place on a huge magnetic plate. Zant will attempt to rock the magnetic plate, trying to get Link to fall into the lava below. Equip the iron boots and you’ll stick to the ground. After he jumps madly a few times, he’ll then settle down and shoot his projectile at you once again. Block it with the shield and then take off the iron boots. Quickly run over to Zant as he is out of breath and slash at him with your sword. Repeat this process a few times and Phase 2 will be done.
Phase 3: Lakebed Temple

Leave the Iron Boots ready and equip the Zora Armor.
Once you hit the ground a massive head mask of Zant will emerge from underground. The mask will open and Zant will be inside shooting his standard projectiles towards Link. Z-target him and use your shield to block his attacks. Once his attacks are over, use the clawshot to pull Zant out of the mask and slash at him. He will next appear in the massive mask and it will burrow underwater. Now four masks will appear and the center ground will cave in. Only one of the masks will open that contains Zant. Repeat this same process of waiting for him to finish his attack then pull him out with the clawshot. Repeat this a few more times and Phase 3 is complete.

Phase 4: Forest Temple Part 2
Unequip the Zora Armor and the Iron Boots.
This is the same room where we fought Ook earlier. Change back into the hero’s clothes and take off the iron boots. Zant will jump around the various pillars in this room and then finally settle at a pillar. He’ll begin to shoot his projectiles at you once again. Roll into the pillar that he is standing on twice and Zant will fall to ground. Smite him with your sword. Repeat this process a few more times and phase 4 is over.

Phase 5: Snowpeak Ruins
Equip the Ball and Chain.
Zant grows to large size and will fly around the room. Zant will super-size and fly around the room. Watch for Zant’s reflection on the ice and wait for him to come crashing down to the floor. Roll out of the way and use the ball and chain to hit Zant’s foot. Once you hit him, Zant will shrink down in size. Run over and slash at him repeatedly. Zant will eventually grow back to his humongous size. Repeat the same process a few times until you’ve defeated him and phase 5 is over.
Phase 6: Hyrule Castle

The 6th and final phase takes place on the steps of Hyrule Castle. Zant produces swords as hands and begins slashing at Link. Zant will also begin spinning rapidly and moving towards Link. When he is just slashing at you, use the back slice to attack him. When he is spinning around, just move out of the way. He’ll get tired from the spinning and this will allow Link to run and slash away with his sword. As the battle progresses, Zant will get faster and faster. Just keep hitting him whenever you can, and avoid his crazy spinning attacks.

Eventually Zant will fall to the ground defeated and you’ll appear back in the Palace of Twilight. Midna regains the fused shadows that were stolen by Zant earlier in the game. A cut scene will take place introducing us to the real Big Bad of the game.

Collect the heart container that is near Zant’s chair and then talk to Midna to leave the area.