Glitches in Ocarina of Time

Bugs
Bugs are mistakes in the program that prevent the program from acting the way it was intended. The are often formed by mistakes, faults, or errors in the coding, and impede the user from performing certain actions or deviate from expected norms of the program. Generally, bugs create bad effects, glitches create good ones.

Fall Through the Ground

 * Effect: Fall through the ground perpetually until you reach the other area.
 * Prerequisites: Have access to Castle Town.
 * How To: Be near the border between one area and another (such as Hyrule Field and Castle Town. Walk onto the chain of the drawbridge, and wait for nightfall for it to rise.  Walk onto it and face the castle, then pass over the border while falling.  You will fall through the earth while the game transitions you to the next area.

Fall Off the World

 * Effect: Fall through a wall.
 * Prerequisites: Have access to the Lost Woods bridge. Have a bottle of bugs.
 * How To: Pour some bugs into the soft soil near the bridge. He should be on the edge.  Kill him, and roll into him.  The game will display the message regarding the Skulltula Token in mid-roll.  You will then roll off the edge.

Trap Navi

 * Effect: Stick Navi at the altar in the Temple of Time
 * Prerequisites: Be Adult Link. Be at the Temple of Time.  Have all three gems on the altar.  Equip the Ocarina of Time.
 * How To: Stand between the Goron Ruby and the Zora Sapphire. Face the Kokiri Emerald and press A. Pull out your Ocarina and play Saria's Song.  Talk to her and jump down.  Navi will be trapped on the altar.  Walk away from her and everything will be dark.

Enter Ganon's Castle Exterior

 * Effect: Enter Ganon's Castle (not the interior temple, but behind the wall of the exterior).
 * Prerequisites: Have all sages freed. Have the light bridge to the castle up.  Equip Hookshot.
 * How To: There is a small dirt ledge to the right of the doorway into the castle. Jump to it and take out the hookshot.  There is a dark portion of the wall that is "hookshot-enabled".  Hookshot to it.  If you get the right angle, you will fall on the other side of the wall.  You can look inside, but can't really do anything but fall into the lake of lava.

Swordless Link 1

 * Effect: Make Link lose his sword.
 * Prerequisites: Have version 1.0 of Ocarina of Time. Be at the final boss battle with Ganon.
 * How To: Get to the point where Ganon knocks the Master Sword out of your hand. Save the game and restart.  Link will be swordless.
 * Notes: Is this permanent?

Swordless Link 2

 * Effect: Make Link lose his sword.
 * Prerequisites: Have version 1.0 of Ocarina of Time. Be at the fishing pond with the fishing pole.  Equip Hover Boots.
 * How To: Run onto the water with the hover boots. While hovering, cast the line. Reel it in.  You can now leave the fishing pond with the rod.  Go outside.  Jump into the lake.  Pause.  Unpause.  Link will be swordless.
 * Notes: Do not press B outside the fishing pond while the rod is still equipped. The game will freeze if you do.

Swordless Link 3

 * Effect: Make Link lose his sword.
 * Prerequisites: Be at the final boss battle with Ganon.
 * How To: Get to the point where Ganon knocks the Master Sword out of your hand. Do the play items as ocarina glitch and play the Sun's Song.  This will restart the battle, with an unselected Master Sword in inventory.  Do the ocarina glitch again, and play any warp song.  You'll warp away, leaving the battle.  Link will be swordless.
 * Notes: You can play any warp song instead of the Sun's Song, and you will also end up swordless, but there will not be a sword in inventory. This can be fixed by traveling back and forth in time.

Murder by Cuccos

 * Effect: Become trapped and killed by Cuccos.
 * Prerequisites: Be near a cucco and a corner, such as the start of Zora's River.
 * How To: Attack the Cucco enough times to start Cucco's Revenge Squad. If you get backed into a corner, you won't be able to escape, and you'll slowly die.  Don't piss off the cuccos.

Gohma Game Freeze

 * Effect: Freeze the game irreparably.
 * Prerequisites: Be fighting Queen Gohma.
 * How To: Use a Deku Nut on Queen Gohma. The game will freeze, and you'll have to reset.
 * Notes: Unconfirmed. May only affect certain versions.

Glitches
Glitches are defined as idiosyncrasies and unique actions done by the user that manipulate the game environment or programming to exploit oversights and gain advantages. They are not errors, flaws, mistakes, or prevent the program from acting the way it was intended (as bugs are). Often glitches result in extra, duplicated, or unlimited items, more power, sequence-breaking, or enhanced movement. Generally, bugs create bad effects, glitches create good ones.

Unbreakable (half) Deku Stick

 * Effect: Have an an invincible Deku Stick as long as you are holding it. The game will not take a Deku Stick out of the inventory.
 * Prerequisites: Have a Deku Stick. Find a ledge with a nearby wall.
 * How To: Take out a Deku Stick. While facing the wall, jump off the ledge with the stick in your hand.  While in midair, press the Deku Stick button to do a jump attack.  The stick will hit the wall and break, but you will be left with a half deku stick in your hand.

Non-Magic Consuming Lens of Truth

 * Effect: Use the Lens of Truth without consuming magic.
 * Prerequisites: Have the Lens of Truth. Know the Song of Storms.
 * How To: Play the Song of Storms. Once it completes, quickly activate the Lens of Truth.  It won't be using magic power.

Powerful Crouch Stab

 * Effect: Use a more powerful than normal crouching stab (Shield up + B).
 * Prerequisites: Equip either the Megaton Hammer, Giant's Knife, or Biggoron Sword. Equip a shield.
 * How To: Do a jump attack with either of the three items above. Go into shielding position.  You can now crouch stab with more power.
 * Notes: This works because the crouch stab retains the attack power of the last attack used. The three items used above have the greatest attack power.  This works well against bosses.

Bomb Blast Jump

 * Effect: Gain height on a jump using a bomb or bombchu (similar to Rocket Jumping in Quake).
 * Prerequisites: Equip bombs/bombchus.
 * How To: Take out a bomb. Hold it.  Let it run almost to its end, then press Z+R to release it. ' The bomb will explode beneath you.
 * Notes: Pressing B just after the bomb is dropped will add even more height. With a bombchu, the bomb will explode automatically when dropped.

Use Items on Epona

 * Effect: Use any C-items while riding Epona.
 * Prerequisites: Enact any of the Swordless Link bugs. Have Epona.
 * How To: After you become swordless, the game will allow you to ride Epona and use the C-items at the same time.
 * Notes: Use the Ocarina while on Epona. You will drop to the ground inside the horse.  Stop playing, and you will be able to "remote control" Epona.

Hookshot Hover

 * Effect: Hover around.
 * Prerequisites: Enact the Use Items on Epona bug. Have the hookshot.  Have access to Lake Hylia.
 * How To: Go to Lake Hylia. Hookshot the tree on the island.  The hookshot will freeze, since you can't be pulled off Epona.  Get off Epona, and you will be pulled away.  You can now walk around in the air at the same height where the hookshot hit.
 * Notes: Moving yourself into the river, or any water, will cancel this effect. This also works at Gerudo Fortress.

Play items as ocarina

 * Effect: Play items as if they were an ocarina
 * Prerequisites: Have a bottle with a fish. Have one other equippable item.
 * How To: Assign the bottle and other item to the C-buttons. Release the fish and catch it again.  Do a backflip.  While in the air, press the button for the bottle, then the button for the other item.  If done right, Link will hold the other item up to his mouth like an ocarina.  You can play it just like one too.
 * Notes: If you use Deku Nuts or the Lens of Truth as the other item, the game will duplicate the bottled fish (instead of the above bug) and you will lose that item. Will not work on claim check, Din's Fire, Farore's Wind, Nayru's Love, Zelda's Letter, or Magic Beans.  See also Infinite Lon-Lon Milk glitch.

Get Golden Scale early

 * Effect: Get the Golden Scale as early as leaving Kokiri Village
 * Prerequisites: Leave Kokiri Village (finish the Inside the Deku Tree dungeon).
 * How To: Go to the Fishing Pond. Catch a fish that will earn a piece of heart (do not talk to the fisherman yet).  Swim to the center of the pond, and make sure Navi isn't hovering over a fish.  Press R+Z, and you should be face down, looking into the water.  While holding the buttons, swim over to the fisherman.  Press A to talk to him (still holding R+Z) and have him weigh the fish.  He will give you the Golden Scale.

Infinite Skulltula Tokens

 * Effect: Gain an undepletable number of Skulltula Tokens
 * Prerequisites: Have boomerang. Have bombs or learned Song of Storms
 * How To: Find a grotto with a Golden Skulltula. Kill it and target the token with the boomerang.  Throw the boomerang.  As it comes back, step back into the light that returns you to the upper world.  You'll have the token and the skulltula will still be there.

Ever-attacking Sword

 * Effect: Put sword in an eternal attack state, creating a white glow around it.
 * Prerequisites: Have sword. Be around something/someone that can be interacted with (e.g., people, rocks, bombs, signs (breakable or unbreakable), plants).
 * How To: Align yourself so you are perpendicular to the object (on its side), but so you can still see the "Read" (or other action) icon. Press R to shield and B to stab.  While in mid-stab, press the A button to activate the action.  The blade will be glowing white while the interaction takes place if you've done it right.  This will cause the sword to attack anything it touches, even while running.
 * Notes: There may be some slow down, as the sword is doing a hundred attacks per second. You also won't be able to fall or jump off ledges.  If you attack, sheathe the sword, defend with shield, or are damaged, the glitch will stop.

Ever-attacking Sword with Hover

 * Effect: Put sword in an eternal attack state, creating a white glow around it.
 * Prerequisites: Have sword. Be around something/someone that can be interacted with (e.g., people, rocks, bombs, signs (breakable or unbreakable), plants).  Be adult.
 * How To: Do the Ever-Attacking Sword near a Magic Leaf platform. As the platform is hovering, step off.  You will be floating in mid-air at the height you stepped off.

Bomb Hover

 * Effect: Put sword in an eternal attack state, creating a white glow around it.
 * Prerequisites: Have sword. Be around something/someone that can be interacted with (e.g., people, rocks, bombs, signs (breakable or unbreakable), plants).
 * How To: Do the Ever-Attacking Sword. Go to any ledge and stand with your back to it.  Drop a bomb in front of you, and do a back flip, then pull out your shield to defend against the blast.  You will get knocked back, but be hovering in mid-air.

Go to the Bottom of the Well as Adult Link

 * Effect: Gain access to the Bottom of the Well as an adult.
 * Prerequisites: Have access to Kakariko Vilage. Be adult Link.  Have Longshot.  Have Hover Boots.
 * How To: Longshot into the hole in Kakariko Windmill (there's a wooden post in there). Go up the small staircase and grab the cucco.  Equip the hover boots and run out through the hole up there.  Take a sharp left as you exit.  Turn the corner and float towards the graveyard.  When close to the fence, throw the cucco and hit B to jump attack.  You and the cucco should be over the fence.  Grab the cucco again and face the windmill.  Get behind the windmill so you are aligned with the well.  Press Z and walk backward until the ground gives out.  You will now be floating below the village, so head towards the well, but do not go in.  Instead, toss the cucco when you are close to it and you should fall and enter the Bottom of the Well.

Penetrate Borders with Crooked Cartridge

 * Effect: Get past various barriers
 * Prerequisites: Have access to the game cartridge.
 * How To: Go to the barrier you wish to pass (e.g., Mido, a boulder between areas). Slowly lift the left side of the cartridge out of the slot until Link starts to glitch.  Press forward.  If you don't pass the barrier, carefully fiddle with the cartridge until you do.  Push it back in when you're done.
 * Notes: WARNING! This glitch has potential to damage your cartridge, data, or game irreparably.  Perform at your own risk.

Bottle Duplication

 * Effect: Obtain more bottles (as many as there are inventory slots)
 * Prerequisites: Have one bottle. Have another item you want to sacrifice.
 * How To: Catch something in a bottle (e.g., fire, bugs, fairy, fish). Just as it comes in contact with the item, pause the game and switch the bottle with the other item.  This will replace that item with a bottle.
 * Notes: WARNING! This will make you lose the item that is turned into a bottle permanently.  Good items to use for this are Deku Sticks (after obtaining Din's Fire), Claim Check (after getting Biggoron's Sword), Bombchus, Magic Beans (after using them all).  If you replace the ocarina, you can still play the songs with the play items as ocarina glitch.

Infinite Lon-Lon Milk

 * Effect: Obtain more bottles (as many as there are inventory slots)
 * Prerequisites: Have two empty bottles and access to a fish (this can be done before Dodongo's Cavern with the Get Golden Scale Early bug).
 * How To: Use the play items as ocarina glitch with an empty bottle. You will not play the ocarina, but drink from the bottle as if it had Lon-Lon Milk in it, restoring five hearts.

Get Silver Gauntlets early

 * Effect: Gain the Silver Gauntlets before you're supposed to have them. (This has a side effect of being able to access the Gerudo Fortress and Haunted Wasteland as a child).
 * Prerequisites: Have access to Gerudo Valley. Be Child Link.
 * How To: Grab the cucco by Gerudo Valley. Go to the far end of the bridge and find the small support beam that sticks up.  Jump to it and align yourself diagonally with the gate.  Make sure the guards are a safe distance away.  Run along the edge of the post and align yourself at the very last second before you jump off.  When just about to hit it, press B to jump attack, and you should be on top of the gate.  Jump down and get away from the guards before you're caught.  You now have access to the fortress and wasteland.  Climb the ladder next to the second gate, and turn around to face the ladder at the top.  Align yourself to make a side jump to the left.  Get as close to the ladder as possible and jump to the side.  You should land on the cliff close by.  Walk past the gate and jump down on the other side (if you go to far on the cliff, you'll fall into nothingness).  In the wasteland, go to the far end of the quicksand.  Cross the quicksand using the backward walk (Z+back).  It is fast enough to avoid sinking.  Head to the boxes, then follow the flags to the monument.  From here, you must have the path through the wasteland memorized (Editor's Question: Will it work if you have the Lens of Truth?).  Make your way to the Desert Colossus.
 * Notes: Before entering the Spirit Temple to obtain the Silver Gauntlets, enter the temple, and exit again to learn the Requiem of Spirit.

Early Access to Shadow Temple

 * Effect: Enter the Shadow Temple without Din's Fire, Lens of Truth, or Nocturne of Shadow, as early as becoming an adult.
 * Prerequisites: Have a magic bean. Be Child Link.
 * How To: As a child, plant a magic bean in the graveyard. Return as an adult and use the platform to access the ledge with a crate and a heart piece.  Stand on top of the crate with your back to the graveyard (do not destroy it).  Perform the Bomb Blast Jump glitch to get to the ledge you see before you.  Land on the edge, and move slowly towards the "seam".  Follow it carefully until you are over the entrance to the torch chamber and side jump into the chamber.  You should land in the chamber, but the torches and seal will not be there, giving you access to the temple.

Enter Ice Cavern as child

 * Effect: Enter the Ice Cavern as a child.
 * Prerequisites: Have a slingshot, bombs, bombchus, and a shield. Have access to Lord Jabu-Jabu.
 * How To: Hop on the railing to the left of Lord Jabu-Jabu. Perform the Ever-attacking Sword glitch with a bomb (remember to toss it before it explodes).  Stand on the middle of the railing and press Z.  Pull out the slingshot and aim it slightly upwards.  Fire the seed, pull out a bombchu, backflip, drop the bombchu and raise your shield simultaneously.  This should have the same effect as the Bomb Hover glitch.  Repeat until you get to the rock face behind you.  Then simply run into the ice cavern.  The ground will give out when close, and you will fall through to it.  The entrance to the cavern will be below you, so jump and slash to land on the floor.

Skip the Forest Temple, Water Temple, and Fire Temple

 * Effect: Skip the Forest Temple, Water Temple, and Fire Temple.
 * Prerequisites: Same for Early Access to Shadow Temple and Get Silver Gauntlets early.
 * How To: Do the Early Access to Shadow Temple to defeat the Shadow Temple and Get Silver Gauntlets early to defeat the Spirit Temple. The game will assume you've beaten the other temples as well.
 * Notes: If you go into the Forest Temple to get the bow, you now have enough to defeat the game.

Skip breaking the seal in Ganon's Castle

 * Effect: Skip the temple rooms in Ganon's Castle to break the seal in the middle.
 * Prerequisites: Have access to Ganon's Castle.
 * How To: Enter the Spirit room. Grab the Armos Statue located in front of you, to the right.  Drag it to the right of the door.  Face the corner of the statue and wall.  And jump attack it from close range.  Continue doing this until you break through the wall.  You'll be in the main room, but you'll only see the room you came from, and the magic beams from each mini-dungeon that make the magic barrier.  Use the beams to align yourself with the bridge to the sealed door and cross over.  The magic barrier will not be there, so you can walk through.
 * Notes: The magic sealing beams may not always load (about a 66% success rate). If the beams aren't there, try looking for the carpet in front of the exit by listening for the sound of your footfalls.