Palace of the Four Sword

The Palace of the Four Sword is a bonus dungeon included in the Game Boy Advance version of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, accessed by entering a new entrance on the eastern side of the Pyramid of Power. The first room is guarded by a fox-like Dark World inhabitant who will not allow you to enter unless you are worthy. If the player has completed the multiplayer The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords that is also on the game cartridge, and has also previously destroyed Ganon, they will be deemed worthy and the fox-like creature will disappear upon payment of twenty Rupees, allowing you to progress inside. The dungeon contains many dangerous bosses, even more difficult than the original bosses of A Link To The Past, providing arguably the greatest challenge since Zelda II.

The Palace and the Four Sword
Soon after entering the dungeon Link is faced with a large room with four doorways which he can enter, and a fifth protected by a magical barrier that even his Master Sword cannot destroy. Each doorway leads to a small series of puzzle-filled rooms, culminating in a boss battle before Link is presented with a sword in a pedestal. Each of the four blades represents an element of the Four Sword.

The puzzles contained within the Palace are not easy, and often make use of aspects of gameplay that were not available in the original version of A Link to the Past, such as Link's ability to dive when using the Zora's Flippers, and other advanced techniques. Link will also face the only Octoroks, Octoballoons and Keese in the Dark World, and despite looking similar to their Light World equivilents, they are stronger than those found in Hyrule. The dungeon even contains Like Likes, which only make their appearance in the Game Boy Advance version of the game, and are able to eat Link's Mirror Shield.

Once Link has collected all four blades, he is able to destroy the barrier that leads to the Dungeon Master. In the boss' room, the four swords soar away from Link and he must face four Shadow Links in turn, each seemingly having cursed each of the four elements. Upon their defeat, the Four Sword is finally restored to it's former glory and held aloft by Link.

Arrghus II


Guarding the Green Sword, a more powerful version of the original Arrghus in the game, a large and rather grotesque jellyfish surrounded by smaller jellyfish. Use the Hookshot to pick the small jellyfish off, and then while Arrghus is bouncing round the room, attack him. He takes 9 hits from the Level 4 Golden Sword to down.

Helmasaur King II


Again, a more powerful version of the boss guarding the Palace of Darkness. By using Bombs/the Magic Hammer to remove his mask, you can then hack away at him with your sword. Again, 9 hits from the Golden Sword, and then he will grow another mask. This time, remove the second mask, and then shoot a single Silver Arrow into the eye revealed on the Helmasaur King II; don't bother with the sword, it won't work.

Mothula II


Mothula II will split itself into 3 different Mothulas upon arriving, which will all attack and fire bees at you. A fake Mothula II can be easily destroyed in a couple of hits, but the original will then create more. There is no real strategy; just try to find the original Mothula II, and hack at him. 8-10 hits from the Level 4 Golden Sword should deal with him.

Blind II


Another improved version, this time of Blind the Thief. Get him in the head 3 times with your sword (while avoiding the highly dangerous laser attack he utilities), and Blind's head will detach. Now, attack the head and it will bounce around the room; try and make it bounce back on to Blind's body, and it will rejoin him. Repeat the first step, and two heads will detach. Bounce them both back to the body, and then repeat the first step again. Three heads will now detach; the end is near. Bounce all three back at Blind, and he will finally die.

The Four Links


Four doppelganger Links; arguably more difficult than all the first four bosses combined. They will attack one at a time, allowing for a less frantic battle. The first Link is rather easy, and can be disposed of in 8 hits; make sure to avoid the attacks, which should be easy. The second Link is nearly identical, except he can use the Whirlwind Spin attack. As long as you time your movements correctly, still not much trouble. Another eight hits, and he's down. The third is slightly more powerful; he'll use a dangerous dive attack that is difficult to detect and then dodge, and hits for a lot of damage. 8 more hits leave the final Link, and the Final Battle. This one employs the attacking strategies of all three previous Links, plus an even more dangerous and quick lunge attack; plus, it takes 16 hits to beat him!

Rewards
For completing the Palace of the Four Sword, the player is granted the ability to view a Quest Log on the pause screen; this shows various data about the player's status in the game.

Trivia
A glitch makes it possible to enter this dungeon without completing Four Swords.