Face Shrine

Face Shrine is the sixth Dungeon in Link's Awakening.^[1] It is the location of the Coral Triangle. The entrance, located in the Face Shrine region, is settled on a piece of land next to the cliffs separating it from the Rapids Ride. It is surrounded by some Armos, much like the area with the Southern Face Shrine, but to a lesser extent. The item hidden in this Dungeon is the L-2 Power Bracelet, while the mini-boss is a beast called Smasher. The Boss is Facade.

Entrance to the Shrine

Before going to the Face Shrine, Link is directed to the Southern Face Shrine by the Owl.^[2]

Inside the Southern Face Shrine is a large Armos Knight that Link has to defeat. After obtaining the Face Key inside and reading the inscriptions on the wall, Link travels to the northern Face Shrine. In the Water in the Face Shrine region, Link finds a much smaller island that he can access. An Armos is blocking a stairway, which leads to the piece of land where the Face Shrine stands. After putting the Face Key into the Face Keyhole, the Face Shrine rises from the ground and become accessible.

It is a region on the eastern side of Koholint Island, although prior to Link's Awakening for Nintendo Switch it formed the north-western section of a larger region that also encompasses the Shrine Waterfall in the east, and the Ancient Ruins to the south.

The regions are comprised of two related shrines: the Face Shrine in the north, and the Ancient Ruins in the south that features a relief depicting the origins of the island.^[3] A lone Armos can be found on a small island in the water, covering stairs that descend into a cave that leads directly to the eponymous shrine.

Initially Link can only pass through a small passage along the southern edge. The rest of the area can only be accessed after navigating a small maze in the Shrine Waterfall to the east.

Themes and Navigation

The interior of the Dungeon is mostly brown flooring with pink walls. One region is flooded by swallow Water. An important obstacle in this Dungeon is large elephant statues, which are too heavy to be lifted with the Power Bracelet, but can be lifted with the L-2 Power Bracelet.

Smasher, the mini-boss, attacks exclusively by throwing a large ball at Link, and is invulnerable to conventional attacks. Link must throw the ball at the creature after dodging its attacks. The mini-boss room is located in a secret room that is not on the Map; it is in the "eye" of the "face" that the Dungeon forms.^[4] It can only be accessed by bombing the wall in the room to the south of it. The other eye also hides a room.

Many of the puzzles of the Dungeon revolve around Switch Blocks that can be raised and lowered by striking Crystal Switches. Another puzzle is just past the mini-boss room, where a normal looking room is located. This room has an exit to the north, however it warps Link back to another room to the south of it. The correct exit to this room is a stairway beneath an elephant statue.

The Boss of the Dungeon is Facade, a giant face in the floor. Flying Tiles and Pots in the room attack Link, then pits start to appear. Its weak point is its face, which can be hurt using Bombs when it appears.

When looked on the Map, the Dungeon is in the shape of a face. There are also a few rooms that have Blocks inside which make up the likeness of a face.

Minor Enemies and Traps

Other Appearances

Non-Canon Information

Link's Awakening (Cagiva)

In volume 1 of the Link's Awakening manga by Ataru Cagiva, after defeating Karuna, the Owl tells Link to go to Face Shrine, much to Felicia's surprise. In volume 2, Link fights a Stalfos once inside the Shrine. Once defeated, the Stalfos comments that if Link's will is imperfect, he will be defeated by his own self. While thinking about what the Stalfos said, Link finds a mural of the Wind Fish written in an unknown language. After touching it, he hears a voice which reveals that, when the Wind Fish wakes up, Koholint Island will disappear. After feeling lied to by Felicia and the Owl, Link leaves Face Shrine to seek answers.

Nomenclature

Names in Other Regions
Language	Names	Meanings
French^CA	Temple du Masque ^(LANS)	Temple of the Mask
French^EU	Temple du Masque ^{(LA \| LADX \| LANS)}^[6]	Temple of the Mask
Italian	Santuario del Volto ^{(LA \| LADX)}^[5] Tempio della maschera ^(LANS)	Face Shrine Mask temple
This table was generated using translation pages. To request an addition, please contact a staff member with a reference.

Gallery

Map of Face Shrine from Link's Awakening DX
Face Shrine's entrance closed from Link's Awakening DX
File:LADX Facade Face Shrine.png

Facade's chamber from Link's Awakening DX
The chamber with the Coral Triangle from Link's Awakening DX
Link about to enter Face Shrine from the Link's Awakening manga by Ataru Cagiva

References

↑ Encyclopedia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 148
↑ "Hoot! There are two shrines, one to the north, the other to the south. First, head south, where ancient ruins speak of the Wind Fish... You will learn much there..." — Owl (Link's Awakening DX)
↑ "Hoot! There are two shrines, one to the north, the other to the south. First, head south, where ancient ruins speak of the Wind Fish... You will learn much there..." — Owl (Link's Awakening DX)
↑ "Enter the space where the eyes have walls..." — Owl Statue (Link's Awakening DX)
↑ Enciclopedia di Hyrule, Magazzini Salani, pg. 148
↑ Encyclopedia, Les Éditions Soleil, pg. 148