Labyrinth 5: Lizard

Struggling with the Darknuts

Darknuts are the enemies that give you the hardest time in Level 5 of the Underworld labyrinths. Darknuts inhabit only two rooms here, but these two rooms are the toughest of all the rooms in Level 5. It’s almost impossible to get through these two rooms, even for an advanced player, without the Water of Life. Enemies that have unique weaknesses, like Digdogger and Pols Voice, appear in this level. Some people in Level 5, including the Old Man, tell you about the weaknesses of these enemies. Don’t miss them.

Let’s Find a Map and a Compass

The Map and the Compass become more important as the labyrinths get more complicated. Get the Map two rooms north of the entrance. The Compass can be found in the third room from the top of the far-right row of rooms.

After you get the Map, check the rooms with it one by one as you advance. If you skip this check, you may get lost. The secret is to take your time and not rush through the labyrinth. You may find it helpful to use some of your own ideas in making a map.

Find the Entrance to the Shortcut

There are four rooms located in the upper part of Level 5, but you must go through the room in the bottom-left corner of the labyrinth. This grants you access to the upper rooms. As soon as you enter this room, find the set of stairs surrounded by eight blocks. Push one of them in order to gain access to the stairs. You’ll need to contend with a small platoon of Darknuts before you can even think of investigating the blocks. Use Bombs to take them out quickly, then get to that staircase!

Look for the Entrance to the Treasure Room

The entrance to the treasure room is hidden in the top-left corner of the Map, where again, several Darknuts await you. They are nasty enemies because they always block the rooms you must go through. You have no choice: defeat all the Darknuts. Put aside the task of finding the entrance to the treasure room until later. Don’t give up!

After you’ve beaten all the Darknuts, look for the entrance. To open the entrance, investigate the block in the middle of the room.

Gibdos Hit Hard!

The Gibdos make their first appearance in this level. They are slow enemies, but if they touch Link, he takes massive damage. Underestimating them because of their speed gets you into trouble.

Their slowness, however, is still an advantage for Link. Since they don’t attack suddenly, Link has plenty of time to avoid their attacks. Expect to see them a lot in Level 5 and the later labyrinths.

Gibdos Don’t Hide Items Well

Some Gibdos hold things like Keys, just as some of the Stalfos did in previous labyrinths. For example, one Gibdo walks around with a Key in his hand in the room just above the entrance, and another one holds a Bomb in the room just west of that.

How to Deal with Pols Voice

There are many Pols Voice in Level 5. Their movement patterns are pretty simple—jumping up to the top of the room, then back down to the bottom.

Avoid fighting Pols Voice from the front, because they can jump into you with little effort or notice. Place yourself at the side of the screen until the Pols Voice come toward you, then attack them with your Sword just as they jump up. If only there was a quicker way to beat them…

Cash in on More Bombs

Link receives 12 Bombs if he pays the Old Man in the top-right room of the labyrinth 100 Rupees. Consider this a warning of things to come and save up your Bombs. You need a Bomb in order to enter this room in the first place, so don’t burn through them all while fighting tougher enemies, like the Darknuts found in this labyrinth.

The Secret of Digdogger’s Weakness

Link can learn about the weakness of Digdogger, the boss of this labyrinth, from the Old Man one room north and one room east of the starting room. According to him, the Digdogger hates certain sounds, but this information is a little too vague to use. At least you know Digdogger’s weakness has something to do with sound.

If you find something that produces a certain kind of sound, you might be able to take advantage of the weakness.

Getting Helpful Info in a Hidden Room

Open your Map and give it a gander. Level 5 is shaped like a lizard, and one of the empty spaces on the Map represents the lizard’s eye. But that space is more than an aesthetic element; it conceals a hidden room. Find another Old Man in this hidden room, and he’ll divulge important information on how to defeat Pols Voice. These floppy-eared creatures are surprisingly resilient—perhaps Link’s sword isn’t his best option.