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OoT Triforce Model
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"Key" redirects here. For other uses, see Key (Disambiguation).

Small Keys,(ALttP | LA | OoT | MM | OoS | OoA | FS | TWW | FSA | TMC | TP | PH | ST | SS | ALBW | BotW)[1][2][3] also known simply as Keys,(TLoZ | TAoL | TFH | ZA | CoH)[1][4][5] are recurring Items in The Legend of Zelda series.

Location and uses[]

Small Keys are commonly found inside dungeons, with most being rewarded after completing a puzzle. In nearly all appearances, Small Keys can only be used in the dungeon where they are found.[6]

Mainline appearances[]

The Legend of Zelda[]

Small Keys can be purchased from Merchants for 100 Rupees and used in any dungeon in The Legend of Zelda, something that cannot be done in later appearances. Purchasing Small Keys is optional because every Locked Door has a corresponding Key within the same dungeon.

The Adventure of Link[]

Keys are single-use items that can open any door in any of the six palaces. Keys are found only in dungeons, and they are no longer sold by merchants.

A Link to the Past[]

A Link to the Past Manual Description
A Link to the Past logo
Keys and Doors
If rooms are divided by a locked door, you will need that door's key. There are two types of keys, small keys and big keys. Small keys can only be used once, but the big key can be used as many times as you like. (The keys on one dungeon cannot be used in another dungeon). On top of all this, there are dead-end doors and doors that can only be opened by switches.


Link's Awakening[]

Link's Awakening Manual Description
Link's Awakening logo
Nightmare Key and Small Keys
You will need the Nightmare Key to enter the Nightmare's lair. The Small Keys, which can be used only once, are used to open other locked doors in the dungeon.

The Compass can reveal the location of Small Keys in Link's Awakening, with a tone sounding upon entering a room containing a hidden Small Key.[7] In Link's Awakening for Nintendo Switch, an icon of the Compass also appears on-screen when this happens.

Ocarina of Time[]

  • 5 in the Forest Temple in the original (6 in Master Quest)
  • 8 in the Fire Temple in the original (5 in Master Quest)
  • 6 in the Water Temple in the original (2 in Master Quest; notice that the second locked door is only in the 3DS version of the mirrored form)
  • 3 in the Bottom of the Well in the original (2 in Master Quest)
  • 5 in the Shadow Temple in the original (6 in Master Quest)
  • 9 in the Gerudo Training Ground in the original (3 in Master Quest)
  • 5 in the Spirit Temple in the original (7 in Master Quest)
  • 2 in the Light Barrier section of Ganon's Castle in the original (3 in the Forest, Spirit, and Shadow Barrier sections in Master Quest)

Majora's Mask[]

In Majora's Mask, Small Keys appear in the following dungeons:

Oracle of Seasons / Oracle of Ages[]

Oracle of Seasons Manual Description
Oracle of Seasons logo
Keys and Boss Keys
You'll need the Boss Key to open the door to the boss's lair. Other keys found in the dungeon can be used only once to open a locked door or block.

The Compass can reveal the location of Small Keys in Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages, with a tone sounding upon entering a room containing a hidden Small Key.

Four Swords[]



The Wind Waker[]

Four Swords Adventures[]

Four Swords Adventures Manual Description
Four Swords Adventures logo
Small Key
Unlock doors.

Small Keys appear as objects that can be picked up, like Jars. The Links must carry the Small Keys to their keyholes, and will drop them if damaged. If a Small Key falls into a pit, quicksand, or water, it will reappear in its initial spot. Some enemies, such as Karat Crabs will attempt to take Small Keys from the Links, in which case they must be defeated, stunned, or avoided in order to progress.

The Minish Cap[]

The Minish Cap Manual Description
The Minish Cap logo
Small Key
You’ll need small keys to open locked doors in the dungeons. They disappear as you use them.

Small Keys are found within dungeons in The Minish Cap. Some are found in Treasure Chests, while others simply drop from the ceiling after completing a puzzle or defeating enemies Three Small Keys are acquired in unique ways: one Small Key in the Temple of Droplets has been frozen into a Key-sicle and must be thawed out by Light Beams, the first Small Key in the Royal Crypt is being visibly held by a Gibdo, and the first Small Key in Dark Hyrule Castle is given to Link after he breaks the Sorcerer's Curse on King Daltus with the Four Sword.

Small Keys are used to open Locked Doors and Locked Blocks in dungeons; when a Small Key is used on a Locked Door, it is removed from Link's inventory. He can hold multiple Small Keys, but they can only be used in the Dungeon in which they are obtained. The number of Small Keys in each Dungeon are as follows:

Twilight Princess[]

Phantom Hourglass[]



Spirit Tracks[]



Skyward Sword[]

A Link Between Worlds[]



Tri Force Heroes[]

Small Keys appear as objects that can be picked up, like Pots. The Links must carry the Small Keys to their keyholes, and will drop them if damaged. If a Small Key falls into a pit, quicksand, or water, it will reappear in its initial spot. Some enemies, such as Key Bandit Poe will attempt to take Small Keys from the Links, in which case they must be defeated, stunned, or avoided in order to progress.

Breath of the Wild[]

Small Keys appear exclusively in Ancient Shrine in Breath of the Wild. They are made from ancient Sheikah technology and glow with an orange light. While normal objects made from Sheikah technology are composed of non-magnetic materials, Small Keys are made from a metal that can be manipulated with Magnesis.

Spinoff appearances[]

The Legend of Zelda Game Watch[]



The Faces of Evil[]



The Wand of Gamelon[]



Zelda's Adventure[]

ZA Key Sprite

Only two Keys appear in Zelda's Adventure, a lot less than in The Legend of Zelda series, despite the Inventory using a double-digit counter for Keys. Both Keys are found in the Shrine of Illusion, and like other The Legend of Zelda games, they are single-use items used for unlocking a Locked Door. The first Key appears in the red curtain room after Zelda defeats the Vire, and it unlocks the door in the Pasquinade taunt room. The second Key appears in the first room with Molluskas after Zelda defeats each one.

BS The Legend of Zelda[]



Ancient Stone Tablets[]



Crossover appearances[]

My Nintendo Picross: Twilight Princess[]

MNPTP Small Key Sprite

The fourteenth puzzle in the Picross series and the sixth puzzle in the Mega Picross series depict a Small Key.

Cadence of Hyrule[]



Nomenclature[]

TMC Forest Minish Artwork Names in other regions TMC Jabber Nut Sprite
LanguageNameMeaning
JapanJapaneseキー () (TLoZ)[8]
小さなカギ (Chiisana Kagi) (ALttP | OoT)[9][10]
小さなカギ (Chiisana Kagi) (ALttP | OoT)[11][12]
小さな鍵 (Chīsana Kagi) (ALBW)[13]
Same as English.
Same as English.
Same as English.
NetherlandsDutchSleutel (TLoZ)[14]Key
CanadaFrenchCAPetite clé (ST | ALBW)[15]Small key
FranceFrenchEUClef (TLoZ)[16]
Petite clé (OoT3D | ST | ALBW)[17][18][19]
Petite clé (OoT3D | ST | ALBW)[20][21][22]
Petite clé (OoT3D | ST | ALBW)[23][24][25]
Key
Small key
Small key
GermanyGermanKleinen Schlüssel (LA | ALBW)[26][27]
Kleiner Schlüssel (LANS)
Small Key
ItalyItalianPiccola chiave (LANS | ALBW)[28]Small key
South KoreaKorean작은 열쇠 (Jag-eun Yeolsoe) (ALBW)[29]
SpainSpanishEULlave pequeña (LANS | ALBW)[30]
Latin AmericaSpanishLALlave pequeña (ALBW)[31]
This table was generated using translation pages.
To request an addition, please contact a staff member with a reference.

Gallery[]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Encyclopedia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 138(TLoZ | TAoL | ALttP | LA | OoT | MM | OoS | OoA | FS | TWW | FSA | TMC | TP | PH | ST | SS | ALBW)
  2. "You got a Small Key! This key will open a locked door. YOu can only use it in this area." — N/A (Skyward Sword HD)
  3. "Small Key
    A key that can unlock doors inside shrines.
    " — Inventory (Breath of the Wild)
  4. Zelda's Adventure manual, pg. 4
  5. "Key" — N/A (Cadence of Hyrule)
  6. "You found a Small Key! This key will open a locked door. You can use it only in this dungeon." — N/A (Ocarina of Time)
  7. "You've got the Compass! Now, you can see where the chests and Nightmare are hidden! This Compass has a new feature--a tone will tell you if a key is hidden in a room when you enter!" — N/A (Link's Awakening DX)
  8. The Legend of Zelda manual, pg. 21 Encyclopedia, TOKYOPOP, pg. 124 (TLoZ)
  9. Nintendo Official Guidebook—The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Vol. 1 (Shogakukan 1) pg. 29 Nintendo Official Guidebook—The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords (Shogakukan) pg. 13
  10. Nintendo Official Guidebook—The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Shogakukan) pg. 150
  11. Nintendo Official Guidebook—The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Vol. 1 (Shogakukan 1) pg. 29 Nintendo Official Guidebook—The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords (Shogakukan) pg. 13
  12. Nintendo Official Guidebook—The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Shogakukan) pg. 150
  13. "「小さな鍵」を手に入れた!
    鍵のかかった扉を開くことができる!
    " — N/A (A Link Between Worlds)
  14. The Legend of Zelda manual, pg. 22
  15. "Vous avez obtenu une petite clé! Elle ouvre une porte verrouillée." — N/A (A Link Between Worlds)
  16. The Legend of Zelda manual, pg. 22
  17. "Vous trouvez une petite clé ! Cette clé permet d'ouvrir une des portes verrouillées de ce donjon." — N/A (Ocarina of Time 3D)
  18. "Vous avez obtenu une petite clé! Elle permet de déverrouiller une porte." — N/A (Spirit Tracks)
  19. "Vous avez obtenu une petite clé ! Elle ouvre une porte verrouillée." — N/A (A Link Between Worlds)
  20. "Vous trouvez une petite clé ! Cette clé permet d'ouvrir une des portes verrouillées de ce donjon." — N/A (Ocarina of Time 3D)
  21. "Vous avez obtenu une petite clé! Elle permet de déverrouiller une porte." — N/A (Spirit Tracks)
  22. "Vous avez obtenu une petite clé ! Elle ouvre une porte verrouillée." — N/A (A Link Between Worlds)
  23. "Vous trouvez une petite clé ! Cette clé permet d'ouvrir une des portes verrouillées de ce donjon." — N/A (Ocarina of Time 3D)
  24. "Vous avez obtenu une petite clé! Elle permet de déverrouiller une porte." — N/A (Spirit Tracks)
  25. "Vous avez obtenu une petite clé ! Elle ouvre une porte verrouillée." — N/A (A Link Between Worlds)
  26. "Mit dem Kleinen Schlüssel läßt sich FAST jedes Schloß öffnen." — N/A (Link's Awakening, German version)
  27. "Du hast einen Kleinen Schlüssel erhalten. Damit kannst du eine verschlossene Tür öffnen!" — N/A (A Link Between Worlds)
  28. "Hai ottenuto una piccola chiave! Serve per aprire una porta chiusa... a chiave!" — N/A (A Link Between Worlds)
  29. "「작은 열쇠」를 획득했다!
    열쇠로 잠긴 문을 열 수 있다!
    " — N/A (A Link Between Worlds)
  30. "¡Has conseguido una llave pequeña! Esta llave abrirá una puerta cerrada." — N/A (A Link Between Worlds)
  31. "¡Has obtenido una llave pequeña! Abrirá una puerta cerrada." — N/A (A Link Between Worlds)
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