Adult walkthrough: the five temples and Ganon's Castle
This follows the usual story order. You can return to being a child at any time by placing the Master Sword back in its pedestal.
1. Temple of Time and Kakariko
- Rauru gives you the Light Medallion in the Chamber of Sages, then Sheik greets you in the Temple of Time.
- Go to Kakariko Graveyard and race Dampé's ghost through his grave. The chest at the end holds the Hookshot.
- Optional: win Epona from Ingo at Lon Lon Ranch by riding her (call her with Epona's Song). She is needed later for Horseback Archery and is one way to cross Gerudo Valley.
2. Forest Temple
- Cross the Lost Woods to Sacred Forest Meadow. Sheik teaches you the Minuet of Forest (warp to the meadow).
- Hookshot onto the tree branch to reach the temple entrance.
- Inside, the Bow chest gives you the Fairy Bow. Defeat Phantom Ganon for the Forest Medallion.
- Back in the Temple of Time, Sheik teaches you the Prelude of Light.
3. Fire Temple
- Climb Death Mountain to Goron City. Stop the rolling Goron (for example with a bomb) and talk to him to receive the Goron Tunic; it protects you from the heat. After that the Goron Shop opens and also sells it for 200 Rupees.
- Enter Death Mountain Crater; Sheik teaches you the Bolero of Fire at the entrance.
- Inside the Fire Temple, free the imprisoned Gorons. The Megaton Hammer chest is near the top. Defeat Volvagia for the Fire Medallion.
4. Ice Cavern and the Water Temple
- Zora's Domain is frozen. Go behind King Zora to Zora's Fountain and walk across the ice floes to the Ice Cavern.
- Collect Blue Fire in a bottle to melt the red ice. At the end you find the Iron Boots and Sheik teaches you the Serenade of Water.
- Pour Blue Fire on King Zora to thaw him; he gives you the Zora Tunic so you can breathe underwater.
- At Lake Hylia, sink with the Iron Boots and Hookshot to the Water Temple entrance. Inside, the Longshot chest lies past Dark Link. Defeat Morpha for the Water Medallion.
- The lake refills. Shoot an arrow at the sun as it rises over Lake Hylia to get the Fire Arrow.
5. Kakariko, Bottom of the Well and the Shadow Temple
- With the Forest, Fire and Water Medallions, enter Kakariko Village; Sheik teaches you the Nocturne of Shadow.
- Learn the Song of Storms from the man in the windmill. As a child, play it in the windmill to drain the well and explore Bottom of the Well for the Lens of Truth.
- You also need Din's Fire (Great Fairy near Hyrule Castle, as a child) to light the torches at the Shadow Temple entrance.
- In the Shadow Temple, the Hover Boots chest comes early. Defeat Bongo Bongo for the Shadow Medallion.
6. Gerudo Valley, the Wasteland and the Spirit Temple
- Cross the broken bridge in Gerudo Valley with Epona or the Longshot.
- In Gerudo's Fortress, rescue the four carpenters. You then receive the Gerudo Token, which also opens the Gerudo Training Ground (Ice Arrow).
- Cross the Haunted Wasteland (Hover Boots or Longshot for the quicksand, Lens of Truth to see the guide). At Desert Colossus Sheik teaches you the Requiem of Spirit.
- Return as a child via the Requiem to clear the child side of the Spirit Temple and get the Silver Gauntlets. As an adult, get the Mirror Shield and defeat Twinrova for the Spirit Medallion.
7. Light Arrows and Ganon's Castle
- With the Shadow and Spirit Medallions, enter the Temple of Time. Sheik reveals her true identity and gives you the Light Arrow.
- The six Sages build a rainbow bridge to Ganon's Castle.
- Clear the six trials (each ends with a barrier you dispel with a Light Arrow), climb Ganon's Tower and defeat Ganondorf, then Ganon.
Useful optional upgrades
- Double magic from the Great Fairy in Death Mountain Crater (needs the Megaton Hammer to open).
- Golden Scale from the fishing pond in Lake Hylia, Golden Gauntlets in Ganon's Castle, Double Defense from the Great Fairy outside Ganon's Castle.
- Biggoron's Sword through the adult trading sequence.