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Desert Palace is a recurring Dungeon in The Legend of Zelda series.[1]

Overview[]

A Link to the Past[]

Entrance to the Palace[]

The palace is located in the south-west corner of Hyrule in the Desert of Mystery. Access is granted only by using the Book of Mudora to read the inscription on the stone that is placed on a small square with three statues surrounding it. The tablet instructs Link to wish for the way forward to open. Link raises his eyes upward and appears to cross himself before joining his hands in prayer. When he finishes, the statues revolve 180 degrees around the platform, opening a pathway to the Palace entrance.

Themes and Navigation[]

Many of this dungeon's rooms have sand floors, with enemies that hide inside quicksand which attack Link by firing projectiles at him. It is also the first time Beamos are found. Interestingly, most of the rooms are accessible at first, and some of them lead to alternate exits. The main treasure is the Power Glove, which allows Link to lift boulders. The boss is a group of three Lanmolas. After defeating them, Link receives a Heart Container and the Pendant of Power.

Around three-fourths of the way through the dungeon, Link must actually exit through one of the outer stone heads and use the Power Glove to venture toward the second floor, where the bosses are found a few rooms further. This feature of exiting a dungeon entirely in order to progress further is shared with the Skull Woods in the same game, the Spirit Temple in Ocarina of Time, and Mermaid's Cave in Oracle of Ages.

Minor Enemies[]

A Link Between Worlds[]

Entrance to the Palace[]

Despite being a Dungeon from which one of the Seven Sages is rescued, the Desert Palace rests in Hyrule, as opposed to the other six Dungeons found in Lorule. It is the only one of these Dungeons that cannot be accessed before the others, due to the Sand Rod being rented out to Osfala, who must first be rescued from the Thieves' Hideout. To access the Desert Palace, Link must go to a small, cavernous area between the Southern Ruins of Hyrule and the Desert of Mystery, then travel through a Fissure to Misery Mire. From there, other Fissures lead him back to the upper areas of the Desert, which can then be crossed using the Sand Rod, leading to the Dungeon's entrance.

Themes and Navigation[]

Many of the Desert Palace's rooms are filled with sand. The Sand Rod is required in order to create pathways for Link to cross, whether on foot or by Wall Merging. There are also numerous sand-based puzzles, like elevating a Beamos with the Sand Rod so its beams can hit Switches, filling a room with sand in order to reach otherwise inaccessible areas, and moving Gimos Statues to activate Floor Switches. In a later room, rolling Balls must be guided toward cracked and breakable blocks using the Sand Rod. The Dungeon contains the Titan's Mitt, which enables Link to lift large boulders that block certain doors and entrances.

The Sub-Bosses of the Desert Palace are a series of 32 Flying Tiles followed by a pair of Devalants, which become regular enemies later on in the Dungeon. There are two points in which Link must exit the Dungeon and enter another area to proceed; first to reach the second floor where the Sub-Bosses await, and again beyond the Big Key door, where a Fissure leads to the Boss's enclosure in Misery Mire. Once Link defeats Zaganaga, he will be rewarded with a Heart Container and the Painting of the Sage, Irene.

The Compass is in the northwestern first floor room in an easily accessible Treasure Chest. The Big Key is on a platform in the central eastern room on the second floor. It cannot be immediately accessed; Link must first raise the sand level in the room to the north, then return and use the Sand Rod to get to the Chest.

The Titan's Mitt is in the central northern room of the first floor. To access it, Link must pull a Lever on the west side of the room to raise the sand level. He must then press a Switch on the north platform of the room to open the wall around the chest. Then, using a combination of the Sand Rod and Wall Merging to get behind the torrent of sand, he can access the Mitt.

Minor Enemies[]

Trivia[]

  • In A Link to the Past, this is one of the few dungeons which Link is required to leave and re-enter in order to complete it.
  • In A Link to the Past, once Link reads the inscription in front of the Palace and the statues move, he cannot leave the dungeon through the main entrance. He must find an alternate exit if he wishes to leave.
  • The Spirit Temple in Ocarina of Time borrowed elements from this dungeon such as the dungeon setting, the multiple entrances and the dungeon treasure being the Silver Gauntlets, very similar items to the Power Gloves.
  • The Desert Temple from Four Swords Adventures is extremely similar to the Desert Palace, with almost identical architecture and enemies. Their names are the same in Japanese, so they are possibly intended to be the same location.
  • The Stone Tower Temple of Majora's Mask is strikingly similar to the Desert Palace concerning its architecture, desert location, and boss (Twinmold and Lanmola being nearly identical in physical appearance, surroundings, mannerisms, and weaknesses).

Nomenclature[]

TMC Forest Minish Artwork Names in other regions TMC Jabber Nut Sprite
LanguageNameMeaning
JapanJapanese砂漠の神殿 (Sabaku no Shinden) (ALttP | ALBW)[2][3]Desert Sanctuary/Temple
CanadaFrenchCAPalais du Désert (ALBW)[4]
FranceFrenchEUPalais du désert (ALBW)[5]
GermanyGermanWüstentempel (ALBW)[6]
ItalyItalianTempio del Deserto (ALBW)[7]
South KoreaKorean사막의 신전 (Samag-ui Sinjeon) (ALBW)[8]
SpainSpanishEUTemplo del Desierto (ALBW)[9]
Latin AmericaSpanishLATemplo del Desierto (ALBW)[10]
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. 147 (ALttP) & 159 (ALBW)
  2. A Link to the Past manual, pg. 2, 3 Nintendo Official Guidebook—The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Vol. 1, Shogakukan, pg. 3
  3. "砂漠の神殿で迷う
    オヌシの姿が見えるぞ
    " — Fortune-Teller (A Link Between Worlds)
  4. "Je te vois, perdu dans les couloirs du palais du Désert." — Fortune-Teller (A Link Between Worlds)
  5. "Je te vois, perdu dans les couloirs du palais du désert." — Fortune-Teller (A Link Between Worlds)
  6. "Ich seeehe... Ich seeehe... Du stehst ratlos im Wüstentempel. Du blickst durch die Hinweisbrille!" — Fortune-Teller (A Link Between Worlds)
  7. "Veeedo... veeedo... te smarrito nel Tempio del Deserto." — Fortune-Teller (A Link Between Worlds)
  8. "사막의 신전에서 헤매는
    자네의 모습이 보이네
    " — Fortune-Teller (A Link Between Worlds)
  9. "Me está llegaaando... Te veo vagando por el Templo del Desierto..." — Fortune-Teller (A Link Between Worlds)
  10. "Me está llegaaando... Te veo vagando por el Templo del Desierto..." — Fortune-Teller (A Link Between Worlds)
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 KingdomLink's Crossbow TrainingHyrule Warriors

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


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