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The Key Cavern is the third Dungeon in Link's Awakening.[1] The Dungeon's entrance is behind a fence of statues resembling Slime Eye, one of which has the Slime Keyhole. Despite being called a cavern, this Dungeon isn't set inside a cave, but more or less a bricked building. The Slime Key, which is possessed by Prince Richard, is required to enter. The mini-boss of this Dungeon is a pair of Dodongo Snakes, which require Bombs to defeat them. The main tool of this Dungeon is the Pegasus Boots, which is necessary to break away blocks that cannot be bombed as well as used to aid Link in defeating the Boss, Slime Eye, who guards the Sea Lily's Bell.

Entrance to the Cavern[]

When Link enters Ukuku Prairie and heads to where Richard's Villa is located, he passes by the Dungeon's entrance which is at first closed and requires the use of the Slime Key to open. South of the entrance is Richard's Villa, where Prince Richard now resides ever since he had been kicked out of Kanalet Castle. Prince Richard has the Slime Key with him but does not let Link have it until he fetches all five of Prince Richard's Golden Leaves from Kanalet Castle.[2] After Link hands all of them to Prince Richard, he will let Link into his maze of bushes and hidden pits. Link would eventually make his way to an Owl Statue, in front of which the Slime Key was buried.[3] Link then has to use it in the Slime Keyhole to open the entrance. To get to the entrance itself, Link has to go around Richard's Villa and cross a lake using the Roc's Feather.

Themes and Navigation[]

The mini-bosses of the Dungeon are two Dodongo Snakes, which can be defeated by feeding them Bombs. Defeating these opens the way to the Treasure Chest where the Dungeon's item, the Pegasus Boots, are hidden. The Pegasus Boots allow Link to perform a running attack when combined with his Sword, which is necessary for defeating the Boss of the Dungeon, Slime Eye. This Nightmare takes the form of a giant eyeball, which hides above Link on the ceiling of the room until Link runs into the wall with the Pegasus Boots, making it fall to the floor.[4] It then must be split into two smaller eyes using the running attack before it can be hurt by conventional weapons.

When looked on the Map, the first and third floors of this Dungeon form the shape of a very large Small Key, while the second and fourth create Small Keys. The name of this Dungeon is thus named after its shape. Fittingly, there is a multitude of Small Keys in this Dungeon. There are a few rooms which require a Small Key to enter, but yield only enemies and another Small Key when explored. Also, to proceed to the top floor where the Boss room is, Link must collect four Small Keys to open four Locked Block blocking the way to the staircase. This Dungeon additionally appears to be themed on the Boss Slime Eye, as there are Slime Eye statues outside and Zols tend to live here. The Keyhole to open the Dungeon is also called the Slime Keyhole. There is also a pattern of eyes above the Dungeon's entrance, as Slime Eye is a giant eyeball in its original state. There are also more than average amounts of bombable walls and Bombites.

Enemies and Traps[]

Trivia[]

  • Key Cavern contains one more Small Key than it does unlockable doors. The final Small Key in the Dungeon drops from above automatically in the final room before the Boss, when there is no use for it. If Link has not unlocked the optional rooms in this Dungeon, it can be used to unlock them, although since both of them contain Small Keys themselves and have no other purpose the end result will always leave Link with an extra Small Key.

Nomenclature[]

TMC Forest Minish Artwork Names in other regions TMC Jabber Nut Sprite
LanguageNameMeaning
CanadaFrenchCASouterrain aux Clés (LANS)Underground of Keys
FranceFrenchEUCave aux Clés (LA | LADX)[5][6]
Souterrain aux Clés (LANS)
Key Cave
Underground of Keys
ItalyItalianCaverna della chiave (LANS)
This table was generated using translation pages.
To request an addition, please contact a staff member with a reference.

Gallery[]

References

  1. Encyclopedia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 148
  2. "Salutations! You wouldn't know by the look of me, but I used to live in the castle! My servants went berserk and I was forced to flee to my villa... So, you want the key to Ukuku Prairie, do you? I may be able to help you... Let's make... a deal, shall we? I want you to retrieve the Golden Leaf I left behind in the castle when I fled..." — Prince Richard (Link's Awakening DX)
  3. "IN SOIL SLEEPS SECRETS, BENEATH YOUR SOLES..." — Owl Statue (Link's Awakening DX)
  4. "NEENER NEENER! You can't find me! NYAH NYAH!" — Slime Eye (Link's Awakening DX)
  5. Encyclopedia, Les Éditions Soleil, pg. 148
  6. Encyclopedia, Les Éditions Soleil, pg. 148
The Legend of ZeldaThe Adventure of LinkA Link to the PastLink's AwakeningOcarina of TimeMajora's MaskOracle of AgesOracle of SeasonsFour SwordsThe Wind WakerFour Swords AdventuresThe Minish CapTwilight PrincessPhantom HourglassSpirit TracksSkyward SwordA Link Between WorldsTri Force HeroesBreath of the WildTears of the KingdomEchoes of WisdomLink's Crossbow TrainingHyrule Warriors

Link's Awakening


Main Dungeons

Tail Cave · Bottle Grotto · Key Cavern · Angler's Tunnel · Catfish's Maw · Face Shrine · Eagle's Tower · Turtle Rock · Wind Fish's Egg Triforce piece

Mini-Dungeons

Moblin Cave · Kanalet Castle · Ancient Ruins

Optional Dungeons

Color Dungeon (LADX | LANS) · Chamber Dungeon (LANS)

Breath of the Wild


Main Dungeons

Divine Beast Vah Ruta  · Divine Beast Vah Rudania  · Divine Beast Vah Medoh  · Divine Beast Vah Naboris  · Hyrule Castle  · Final TrialTriforce piece (TCB)

Mini-Dungeons

Trial of the Sword (TMT ) · Yiga Clan Hideout

Ancient Shrines

Akh Va'quot · Bosh Kala · Chaas Qeta · Daag Chokah · Dagah Keek · Dah Kaso · Dah Hesho · Daka Tuss · Dako Tah · Daqa Koh ·
Daqo Chisay · Dila Maag · Dow Na'eh  · Dunba Taag · Gee Ha'rah · Gorae Torr · Ha Dahamar · Hawa Koth · Hia Miu · Hila Rao · Ishto Soh ·
Ja Baij · Jee Noh · Jitan Sa'mi · Joloo Nah · Ka'o Makagh · Kaam Ya'tak · Kah Mael Shrine · Kah Okeo Shrine · Kah Yah Shrine · Kam Urog Shrine · Katah Chuki · Katosa Aug  · Kay Noh · Kaya Wan · Kayra Mah · Ke'nai Shakah · Keeha Yoog · Keh Namut · Kema Kosassa ·
Kema Zoos · Keo Ruug · Ketoh Wawai · Korgu Chideh · Korsh O'hu · Kuh Takkar · Kuhn Sidajj · Lakna Rokee · Lanno Kooh · Maag Halan · Maag No'rah · Maka Rah · Mezza Lo · Mijah Rokee · Mirro Shaz · Misae Suma · Mo'a Keet · Mogg Latan · Monya Toma · Mozo Shenno ·
Muwo Jeem · Myahm Agana · Namika Ozz · Ne'ez Yohma · Noya Neha · Oman Au · Owa Daim · Pumaag Nitae · Qua Raym · Qaza Tokki · Qukah Nata · Raqa Zunzo · Ree Dahee · Rin Oyaa · Ritaag Zumo · Rok Uwog · Rona Kachta · Rota Ooh · Rucco Maag · Saas Ko'sah ·
Sah Dahaj · Sasa Kai · Sha Gehma · Sha Warvo · Shada Naw · Shae Katha · Shae Loya · Shae Mo'sah · Shai Utoh · Shai Yota · Shee Vaneer · Shee Venath · Sheem Dagoze · Sheh Rata · Sho Dantu · Shoda Sah · Shoqa Tatone · Shora Hah · Soh Kofi · Suma Sahma · Ta'loh Naeg ·
Tah Muhl · Tahno O'ah · Tawa Jinn · Tena Ko'sah · Tho Kayu · To Quomo · Toh Yahsa · Toto Sah · Tu Ka'loh · Tutsuwa Nima · Voo Lota ·
Wahgo Katta · Ya Naga · Yah Rin · Zalta Wa · Ze Kahso · Zuna Kai

Ancient Shrines (TCB)

Etsu Korima · Kamia Omuna · Kee Dafunia · Keive Tala · Kiah Toza · Kihiro Moh · Mah Eliya · Noe Rajee · Rinu Honika · Rohta Chigah · Ruvo Korbah · Sato Koda · Sharo Lun · Shira Gomar · Takama Shiri · Yowaka Ita


Echoes of Wisdom


Main Dungeons

Suthorn Ruins · Jabul Ruins · Gerudo Sanctum · Hyrule Castle · Eldin Temple · Faron Temple · Lanayru Temple · Null's Body

Mini-Dungeons

Eastern Temple · Cryptic Cavern · Wrecked Ship · Hidden Ruins · Ancient Ruins

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