Key (Disambiguation)

Keys are recurring items found in dungeons of every The Legend of Zelda game. They are necessary for advancing through locked doors. Keys can be obtained through a variety of different puzzles, such as defeating all the enemies in a room, activating a switch, disarming a trap, or simply found in plain sight or inside Treasure Chests. Once a Key is used, it disappears from Link's Inventory.

There are three different types of common Keys: Small Keys, Boss Keys (which grant access to the dungeon's boss room), and Dungeon Keys (needed to enter their respective dungeon).

Small Keys
Small Keys are featured in many Zelda games. They are the most frequently encountered Keys in the games, with most being rewarded after completing a dungeon's puzzle. Exclusive to, Small Keys could also be purchased from Merchants and be used in any dungeon. Small Keys are used to open locked doors and key blocks. In every Zelda game, except for The Legend of Zelda, they can only be used in the dungeon where they are found.

In certain games, the Compass is able to reveal the location of or otherwise notify Link the presence of Small Keys. In and the Oracle games specifically, a tone is sounded upon entering a room containing a hidden Key.

In and, Small Keys appear as objects that can be picked up, like Pots or stones. A Link must carry the Key to its keyhole, and will drop it if he takes damage. If the Key falls into a pit, quicksand, or water, it will reappear in its initial spot. Some enemies, such as Karat Crabs and Key Bandit Poes in Tri Force Heroes, will attempt to take the Key from the Links, in which case they must be defeated, stunned, or otherwise avoided in order to progress.

Boss Keys
Boss Keys are one of the three standard dungeon items, the other two being the Compass and the Dungeon Map. They are also called Big Keys in A Link to the Past,, , and ,   and are specifically known as Nightmare Keys in Link's Awakening. They are generally harder to find and used to open the big door leading to the boss' chamber. In A Link to the Past, Big Keys are also necessary to open the Treasure Chests containing a dungeon's special item, and doors unlocked by the Big Key may not necessarily lead directly to the boss.

In Twilight Princess, the Big Key from the Goron Mines had to be put together by obtaining the three Key Shards from the Goron Elders. In Snowpeak Ruins, the Big Key is replaced by the Bedroom Key, as said dungeon is actually the mansion residence of Yeto and Yeta.

In and, Link must carry the Boss Key in his hands rather than inventory, making him unable to attack and vulnerable to attacks. In certain instances in Spirit Tracks, the key is electrified and Link must have Zelda possess a Phantom in order to carry it for him.

Dungeon Keys
Dungeon Keys allow access to a dungeon. Not all dungeons in games that feature Dungeon Keys require a Dungeon Key to open. Alternatively, Dungeon Keys are specific to which dungeon they open.


 * In, Link must find the Tail Key, Slime Key, Angler Key, Face Key, and Bird Key
 * In, Link must find the Graveyard Key, Crown Key, and Mermaid Key
 * In, Link must find the Gnarled Key, Floodgate Key, and Dragon Key
 * In, Link must obtain three Keys held by Snurglars to gain access to the Fire Temple
 * In SS undefined, Link must obtain five pieces of a Key buried and held by enemies around Eldin Volcano to gain access to the Earth Temple

Other Keys
In, Great Keys are special Keys given to the Links upon completing a mission. They are required to unlock the final mission in the game, as well as to unlock bonus content.

Phantom Hourglass featured three Keys needed to open special doors spread across the islands of the World of the Ocean King: the Sun Key, the Ghost Key, and the King's Key.

Boss Door Objects
In Skyward Sword, Boss Door Objects are a special type of Keys with unique three-dimensional structures. The objects must be rotated until they glow gold, indicating that it is in the correct orientation. These objects are then inserted into the lock and the door opens automatically.