Task 5: Leave Your Home and Explore Faron Woods

Slicing Mr. Scarecrow

Leave the village by the only exit, and meet Rusl at the woodland glade where your home is. He tells you he’s delivered something to your room. Before you find out what it is, head to Talo, Malo, and Beth, who are waiting near that scarecrow. They’ve spotted your Slingshot and want a demonstration of its power!

Use the ZL button to target the scarecrow, then fire at him. Blam! That pumpkin head is split wide open. Beth and Talo are wowed. Press left or right on the Left Analog Stick to look around.

Now spend some time shattering a second scarecrow that’s appeared, and then use the Left Analog Stick to manually aim at the collection of five targets on the trees. Pan right to spot them all, with your Slingshot out. Then fire! Speak to the children, and they pester you about that present Rusl left for you. Check your home, but remove the arachnid pests, first.

Walltula Two Walltulas are scuttling on your treehouse’s side. These nasty little critters cling to vertical surfaces and bite if you’re right next to them. Aim your Slingshot from ground level, using ZL trigger to auto-aim, and take down the one on the ladder. Look up onto your roof, and manually tackle the one up there. Both require only one hit, and each gives up a Rupee when it explodes.

With the Walltulas defeated, climb the ladder, and enter your home. Inside the main level, a chest has appeared! Open the chest, and you’ll discover your second weapon: it’s the Wooden Sword that Rusl made for you!

Overworld Chest #1:

Wooden Sword

Wooden Sword

You got the Wooden Sword! It was returned to you fully repaired. It’s easy to use: just press the B button!

Exit your house, and spend more time with the trio of tykes. Talo is excited about your sword; he wants to use it on some troublesome monkeys who’ve been seen in the woods. Agree to teach them how to use your sword, and in turn, learn yourself.

The Wooden Sword Talo asks you to show off a slice move on the scarecrow. Press the B button to unsheathe your sword, then press it again to execute a horizontal slice. Use ZL to target the scarecrow, then swing like you did before. Although Beth wants to see a stab, try the vertical slice first. Use the swing against single foes in quick succession with many other swings. Attempt a stronger attack, the stab. Start by targeting a foe with ZL, press up on the Left Analog Stick, then press the B button. Use the stab on single foes you want to defeat quickly. Beth asks you to show off your spin attack. Malo murmurs that it’s easy to pull off. Briefly hold the B button and release it to launch the spin attack. A couple of seconds later, your sword recharges, and you can try again. Use the spin on multiple enemies, or for quick takedowns. Watch the recharge time! This is an exceptional move so use it often. Talo isn’t ready to let you leave before you show him the jump attack. Malo mutters that it’s achieved with the A button while you target with ZL. Use the jump attack on enemies as you close in for a quick initial strike.

The children are impressed, you just learned all the main sword strikes. They spot a monkey nearby and run after it, leaving you alone.

Spend some time practicing the four techniques shown on the scarecrow. Be sure you can remember how to damage foes in those four different ways. When you’re done, speak to Colin, who’s standing at the village entrance. He tells you the children have run into the forest.

Chase after them. Mount Epona, and head northward, down the woodland path. You can’t take Epona into the village, as Colin stops you. Remember to sparingly use the spurs to increase Epona’s speed. In the next glade, Beth is waiting to the side. Talo and Malo have both gone on ahead, and she can’t catch up to them. Chase down those troublesome tykes after optionally checking the glade for items. In the next glade, the weird Malo tells you Talo went across the bridge. Follow him!

Gallop over the now-unlocked Ordon Bridge after passing the spring, and don’t stop. Epona isn’t going to leap off the bridge’s sides, so don’t worry about falling. Continue to the other side, into the more dangerous hillocks and glades of Faron Woods….

Missing Links

1. Horsing About in the Grass

You don’t need to dismount when investigating grassy areas; running through them with Epona usually results in hidden items appearing.

2. Sword Swiping in the Grass

As soon as you’re granted the Wooden Sword, you can swipe at long grass instead of running about in it. Run, and press the B button to swing the sword from side to side. For some real grass clearing, try a cool spin attack (rotate the Left Analog Stick, then press the B button, or hold the B button for a few seconds, then release).