Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Dungeon Walkthroughs — II. Desert Palace

Immediately upon entering the dungeon you will be assaulted by four Leevers. Dispatch them hastily, as there is a Beamos at the top edge of the map that is just waiting for an opening. Head to the two pots to the Beamos’ left and pass them and go up. Go through the north directly ahead to the large room. In here you’ll find several pots with arrows underneath, which you’ll need to dispatch the various Cyclops statues. Take out the purple and green Leever that initially inhabit the room, and then dispatch the statues.

Then, light the two torches in the middle of the room, and step on the button under the pot directly north of said two torches. This will make a chest appear with the Dungeon Map inside. Grab the map and exit the room. Head west once back in the hallway til you read a corner with a door on the north and west walls. Dispatch the Leevers and the quicksand creature that inhabit this area, and go through the north door.

Here, quickly dash into the torch with the small key resting on it and grab your prize, and then exit before the Beamos can land a shot. Back in the hallway, head east all the way to the east wall where around the middle a locked door can be found. Go through there into the next room where a Beamos and some other minor creatures are to be found. Defeat the three enemies and grab the Compass from the chest. After the three enemies are slain, the door north opens, so proceed that way.

Bypass the cannon fire to the chest at the north end of the room. Inside rests the Big Key, so grab your prize and prepare for a bit of backtracking. Head back to that corner with the two doors from earlier, and this time go through the west door. In here, under the post at around the 10 o’clock position (give or take an hour) is a button. Step on it to open the door north (and yes, it goes without saying, avoid the Beamos). In the next room is the Big Chest, which inside you’ll find resting the Power Glove. Now, return to the corner and head south all the way until you find a door on the west wall. Go through there, and then through the south door in this room.

Back outside, first follow the cliff path south to find a Heart Piece, and then backtrack up to the north cliff-wall, where a door to the rest of the dungeon hides behind some stones. With the glove, you can pick up and toss those stones.

Inside, avoid the Beamos and push the southmost block in the right formation to the left to open the door north. Head through, and in the next room grab the small key under the bottom left-most pot. Then, prepare for a floating tile onslaught. Just find a nice corner and slash away until then stop coming at you. Or go through the door. Either or.

Nevertheless, once up the stairs that were behind the locked door, head south to the next room. Here, just head to the north end of the room to find the (of course) locked oro. Grab the small key for it from the line if pots you had to cross to get to the door. Beyond, you’ll find several pots hiding hearts and magic jars underneath and a red Cyclops at the end of the hall. Dispatch the Cyclops, and light the four torches with your Lantern to make the wall shift farter west and expose the Boss door. Proceed through.

BOSS: Lanmolas

Here’s the quickie strategy: stand next to where the sand shifts, and therefore where they will soon be popping out of the hole, and swipe away to hit them as they emerge. There are three Lanmolas in this room, and each takes four hits to defeat. When they pop out of their hole, they’ll shoot debris diagonally from the point of exit. Therefore, when lurking for their arrival, stand at a cardinal direction to the hole. As before, the last one will get tougher once it’s the only one left, but that only means it will shoot out more debris when coming out of the sand. No worries ultimately, just avoid them, and swipe vigorously, and before you know it, victory will be yours (along with the Pendant of Power).