Sword & Shield Maze
From Zelda Wiki, the Zelda encyclopedia
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| Location(s) | Subrosian Volcanoes |
| Game(s) | Oracle of Seasons |
| Main Item | Hyper Slingshot |
| Mini-boss(es) | Frypolar |
| Boss(es) | Medusa Head |
| Quest Reward(s) | Changing Seasons |
| Element(s) |   |
The Sword & Shield Maze is the eighth and final dungeon in Oracle of Seasons. It is also the only dungeon located in Subrosia.
Contents |
Entrance to the Maze
The entrance to the Sword & Shield Maze is at the "mouth" of a human-looking volcano in the northwestern corner of the Subrosian Volcanoes. This secluded section of Subrosia can only be accessed from a portal within the Temple Remains where the Temple of Seasons once stood. This dungeon is the only dungeon of the game where the Maku Tree cannot direct Link to the entrance. This is likely because the dungeon is not in Holodrum at all.
In a Linked Game, when Link enters the dungeon, Princess Zelda leaves her refuge to encourage the populace of Holodrum to prevent them from giving in to the destruction that now surrounds them, as the end of the game draws near. Zelda does so against the wishes of Impa, who wishes her to remain hidden.[1][2][3]
The theme of this dungeon centers around polar opposites: the first floor of the dungeon is ice-themed, while the second is fire and lava-themed. Also, the first floor of the dungeon, when seen from above, resembles a shield while the second floor resembles a sword, hence the name of the dungeon. These opposites are further interlinked by the fact that, in the Oracle Series, defense is usually represented by the color blue (i.e., the Blue Ring), and offense is usually represented by the color red (i.e. the Red Ring). Fittingly, the mini-boss of the dungeon is Frypolar, a fire-and-ice enemy. The item obtained in the dungeon is the Level-2 Hyper Slingshot.
The icy floors of the ice section of the dungeon cause Link to slip and slide, making navigation rather difficult. This problem can be solved using the Snowshoe Ring. At a certain point in the dungeon, Link finds magical ice crystals on the ice-themed floor. These must be thrown down to the fire floor in order to harden the lava, which allows Link to navigate further into the second floor of the dungeon.[4][5]
The boss of the dungeon is the fearful Medusa Head. Defeating the boss garners Link a Heart Container as well as the Changing Seasons, the final Essence of Nature.
Minor Enemies and Traps
Trivia
- This dungeon has a wider variety of enemies than any other dungeon in the Oracle Series.
- The American version of Oracle of Seasons is the only version to name this dungeon a maze. In all other versions, it is simply called "Sword & Shield Dungeon".
Gallery
Level 8 - Sword & Shield Maze
Map of the dungeon
The room containing the Magical Ice
Navigating the fire floor
The room atop the Temple Remains leading to the dungeon in Subrosia
References
- ↑ "Zelda! No! Don't leave the refuge! Not now!" — Impa (Oracle of Seasons)
- ↑ "Let go of me! I cannot stand by while the people live in fear of destruction!" — Princess Zelda (Oracle of Seasons)
- ↑ "No matter how frightening it is, you must not lose hope! Hope is the one thing that can lead you to peace!" — Princess Zelda (Oracle of Seasons)
- ↑ "Icy cores make piercing blades." — Owl Statue (Oracle of Seasons)
- ↑ "The magical ice freezes all." — Owl Statue (Oracle of Seasons)
 Names in Other Regions 
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Language | Name | |
| English | .jpg){kind=small}
|
Sword and Shield Dungeon |
| Japanese | 
|
剣と盾のダンジョン (Ken to Tate no Danjon) |
| Spanish | 
|
Mazmorra de la Daga y el Escudo |
| French | 
|
Donjon Épée&Ecu |
| German | 
|
Schwert und Schild Höhle |
| Italian | 
|
Dungeon Spada e Scudo |
Dungeons in The Legend of Zelda Series
Gnarled Root Dungeon · Snake's Remains · Poison Moth's Lair · Dancing Dragon Dungeon · Unicorn's Cave
Ancient Ruins · Explorer's Crypt · Sword & Shield Maze · Onox's Castle · Hero's Cave*
