Face Shrine Dungeon Walkthrough - The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening Guide - IGN (2024)

Welcome to The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening Switch Version Walkthrough! This page, Face Shrine Dungeon Walkthrough, includes tips, instructions, and strategy on how to complete the Face Shrine. Follow along with this guide to do everything you need to do.

In Face Shrine You'll Earn:

• Level 2 Power Bracelet
• Coral Triangle

Where to Find Face Shrine

From the Ancient Ruins, Link went north, through the maze of heavy stones, back to where he previously found the Fairy Fountain.

See the map below for the stairway location that leads to Face Shrine.

From there, he jumped in the water, and swam to the small island with two Armos statues. He defeated the one on the left, then descended the stairs it revealed.

Once underground, Link avoided the fish there, and then came upon a large cavern. For a moment, he considered making the jump... but thought better of it, and used the Hookshot on the rock on the other side instead. To his surprised, the Hookshot dug into the stone and pulled Link across.

When Link ascended, he used the Face Key in the key hole on the right, causing the Face Shrine Dungeon to emerge.

Face Shrine Left Side - 50 Rupees

When Link entered, he immediately had to choose which way to go. Trusting his gut, he went left.

In the next room, he encountered new, wizard-like enemies: Wizzrobes. Link quickly found his sword did nothing against them, so he hit them twice with the Boomerang!

Tip: How to Kill Wizzrobes - You can use the Bow to shoot a Wizzrobe twice to kill it. Alternatively, hit it twice with the Boomerang! You can also stun it with the Hookshot and then leave a bomb beside it.

Defeating them opened up the door in the northeast of the room. On the other side, Link happily opened the chest there, and gained 50 rupees! He couldn't lift the golden elephant statue just yet, so he turned around and continued through the door to the left.

In this room, three Wizzrobes attacked Link. Boomerang in hand, he could reach them regardless if they were behind obstacles or not. Link made quick work of them, causing a chest to appear that contained the Face Shrine Dungeon Map!

Face Shrine - Level 2 Power Bracelet

Link followed the path until he entered a room with a blue switch. After defeating the enemies, he took the path to the right... but Link stopped on the orange tile. From there, he threw the Boomerang at the switch, activating it. From the raised tile, he jumped down to the room ahead.

Immediately on his right, a cracked wall caught Link's eye. He blew it up with a bomb, and as he expected, it revealed another room. This room was dark, but Link was still able to easily make out the green slime enemies here. After defeating them, a secret stairwell was revealed in the top right.

The underground passageway was filled with enemies and huge, floating green slimes. He simply ignored them and made his way to the other side.

Up the stairs, Link saw that his hunch was right - the blue blocks were lowered, allowing him to continue! He defeated the enemies here, and went through the door that opened.

Link ran up to the treasure chest on the left and opened it, gaining the Level 2 Power Bracelet!

Now, he'd be able to lift even the huge elephant statues inside the dungeon. But before he moved on, Link equipped a bottle and broke the jar to his right. A fairy was inside - which he captured for later.

Silver Rupee

When Link went north, he found himself back in the room with the crystal and four switches. Now able to lift the elephants, he picked the one up here and threw it at the door on the right, breaking it. Inside, Link opened the treasure chest to find a Silver Rupee worth 100 Rupees!

Face Shrine Dungeon Map

A little richer, Link went back into the switch room. He hit the switch so he could again stand on a tile, but this time he stood on the tile in the top left. From there, he threw his Boomerang, causing the orange tiles to raise, and continued north.

The door on the left was locked, so Link looked around for a solution. After breaking a few jars, he found a switch in the top left corner. This opened the door, which he went through.

Stone Beak

In the next room, Link bypassed the enemies and made a right. The only thing in here was a lone treasure chest containing the Stone Beak! With the new prize, Link returned to the left.

Face Shrine Compass

Link grabbed a pot and threw it at the door leading north, and went through the new opening. Seeing that the way was open, Link made a right.

If the path to the right is blocked, go back to the Map room and hit the switch there with your Boomerang to lower the blue blocks.

Inside the chest, he found the Compass!

Small Key 1

Link climbed the short staircase and hit the crystal switch, turning it blue. He then followed the path to the right.

Eventually, Link emerged in a room with orange tiles everywhere. The enemies here would have given him trouble, but with the Boomerang, they were no match. The flaming skull, an anti-fairy, even produced a Fairy when defeated!

Once they all went down, a Small Key fell.

Silver Rupee and Secret Seashell

Link went back to the previous room, and then went north. He broke the next northward door with a pot as well, then went through to find another chest. He collected his prize, a Silver Rupee, then ascended the stairs. Oddly, Link found himself outside next to a chest! Inside was a Secret Seashell.

Back in the next room, Link had to find a way out. He threw the Horse-shaped chess pieces around (Knights!) but could not get them to go into the spaces obviously meant for them.

Tip: The black piece always goes right, and the white one always goes left.

See where to stand in the image above!

He pondered for a moment, and then recalled that Knight chess pieces travel in an L shape! He stood on the outer edge of the second block from the peice, and one south, and threw the piece. It landed perfectly!

With everything pretty much complete on the left side of the map, or so it seemed, Link played Manbo's Mambo to return to the entrance.

East Face Shrine: Secret Medicine

The room on the right of the entrance was easily cleared by dashing through with the Pegasus Boots, making sure no statues would inhibit his dash by going at the right time.

Further west, Link found his pathway locked... and the floor came alive! The tiles lifted off the floor and hurled themselves at Link, but Link slashed at them with his sword. They broke on contact, and when Link had destroyed them all, the door opened.

In the next room, instead of using his single Small Key to open the door to the north, he lifted an Elephant statue and broke the door on the right. Four Wizzrobes bombarded Link as soon as he went through the door, so he quickly equipped his Boomerang. One by one he took them out, hitting them each twice in quick succession.

Defeating them all caused the doors to open again. Enticed by the treasure chest on the ledge, Link went through the door leading south.

Tip: If the Blue Tiles are up in this room, you'll need to backtrack to the room with the crystal and the Shy Guy in the west side of the dungeon to lower them. Make sure the crystal is orange when you leave.

Link knew the chest was right around the corner. He defeated the enemies here, then climbed the only stairs he had access to, bravely jumping off to a raised orange tile below using the Roc's Feather.

Now on the other side, he climbed the stairs to the raised pathway and made his way to the treasure chest. Inside, he found Secret Medicine.

Note: Secret Medicine will automatically activate if you fall in battle, reviving Link! You can only hold one at a time.

Face Shrine: Small Key 2

Prize in hand, Link returned and jumped off the ledge to the door, going back the way he came.

Ignoring the Wizzrobes this time around, Link headed north, and followed the watery path to find a chest with the second small key! Now that he had explored this path, he returned to the room with the locked door.

Mini Boss: Smasher

Link used one of his Small Keys to open the next door leading to the north. Here, he encountered two red slimes (zol!), which he defeated by wildly slashing at them. He then broke the pots, collected the bombs from inside, and blew up the cracked wall on the north side.

A large enemy with a huge, heavy ball awaited Link on the other side. It immediately tried to smash Link with the orb, which Link skillfully dodged. Curious, Link tried to lift the ball--which he could! As soon as Link hoisted the heavy ball into the air, the Smasher turned tail in fear. Link forcefully spiked the ball into Smasher, harming him.

Link found this was the only way to harm the monster, so he repeated this process until he defeated it.

Smasher Tips:

• Get to the ball as soon as possible once he throws it.
• Stay as far away as possible - the farther Smasher throws the ball, the longer it will take him to reach it.

Face Shrine: Small Key 3

Proud of his triumph, Link continued north. He saw nothing of interest in the next room at first, so he kept going... and found himself in another part of the dungeon. Link studied the Face Shrine map as he explored, and he determined he was just hopelessly lost. Confused, he returned to the previous room that lead him to here, and looked around a little more carefully.

Link lifted up the elephant statue on the left, revealing a hidden staircase!Excited to explore someplace new, Link descended the staircase.

The Roc's Feather made it easy for Link to jump from ladder to ladder to the left.

When he ascended, Link was again assaulted by flying tiles. He stood his ground and destroyed them all -- causing the third small key to appear.

Gold Rupee

Link then unlocked the block in the northeast of the room, defeating the Sparks beyond with his Boomerang. With no where else to go, he destroyed the door with the Elephant statue and proceeded.

He saw some familiar chess pieces in the next hallway. Knowing they moved two spaces forward and one to the side, he threw the black piece to the left from two spaces away and one space down, and then did the same to the white one, opening the pathway. Link easily bypassed the falling, angry blocks here by using his Pegasus Boots.

Hopping, rabbit-earred enemies awaited Link in the next room. Link had previously defeated them with pots, and possibly some arrows, but their huge ears gave Link a better idea. He pulled out his Ocarina and played the Ballad of the Wind Fish - which immediately destroyed them!

After consulting the dungeon map, Link decided to continue north.

Link, without even having to think, picked up the white Knight piece and stood right in front of the door with it before throwing. The black piece proved a little trickier. He hit the crystal with his Boomerang so the orange tile at the top of the stairs was down. Then, he picked up the black chest piece, and threw it down from the top of the stairs, on the orange tile. That made it land in the right spot!

Knowing he had secured a way out, Link opened the chest - obtaining a huge Gold Rupee worth 300 rupees!

Tip: Pick up bombs before continuing!

Mini Boss: Dodongo Snakes

With heavier wallet, Link returned to the previous room, and went south through the unexplored door.

Link was immediately locked in with two familiar faces: Dodongo Snakes! He quickly pulled out his Bombs and readied his Bottles, too, knowing that defeating these would release Fairies.

Like before, he placed Bombs in front of each Snake's path, forcing them to eat them, until they died. Path unblocked, Link continued to the left.

Face Shrine: Nightmare Key

At the opening ahead, Link used his trusty hookshot to get across the gap.

Tip: Don't Destroy the Pots! You need at least one pot to open the Chest, so don't destroy them all! You'll have to jump down and come all the way back to this area.

Link eagerly approached the chest ahead, but to his surprise, it did not open. He consulted the Owl statue here, which luckily clued him in. Link threw a jar at the chest, causing it to open. Link snatched the Nightmare Key and left, determined to face the dungeon's master.

Get to the Nightmare Door

Link played Manbo's Mambo to return to the beginning of the dungeon, and from there, took the portal back to the Smasher's room. He then headed north, down the stairs, and back into the room with the flying tiles. He had yet to explore the room to the south of here, so he knew this must be where he should go.

In the next room, a purple orb pulled him toward a pit. Frantic, Link ran around the room, unable to defeat the gravitational force. In doing so, he disturbed four green slime, and as they were pulled into the abyss, they were defeated. This opened up the door to the right, which Link happily took.

Using the Roc's Feather and the Boomerang, Link made quick work of the Wizzrobe in the next room. He completely ignored the Beamos shooting lasers at him, and instead simply pushed the block on the right off the ledge to continue. He was finally at the nightmare's door!

Tip: Light the Torches: Light the torches here with Magic Powder to find a fairy! Kill the Sparks with aBoomerang for a chance for a fairy, too.

Face Shrine Boss: Facade

In the final room, Link found a literal face, on the floor. He supposes that's why this place is called Face Shrine!

Unable to stab or shoot the floor, Link immediately thought to bomb it! He avoided getting too close to Facade the face, as that harmed himself, so he simply left bombs next to it.

Frustratingly, flying tiles picked up Link's bombs with it, so he protected his explosives by attacking the tiles before they got to them. Once the tiles were used up, jars took their place. But Link persevered, planting his bombs on the floor next to Facade and breaking any inanimate object that dared interrupt them.

Eventually, the floor began to give way to pits, but Link was ready for that, too. He jumped over the potholes, and blew Facade up until he admitted defeat.

Link picked up the new Heart Container and moved on.

Get the Coral Triangle

Link obtained the next instrument of the sirens, the Coral Triangle, and was again met with a vision: head to the mountains...

He also learned another disturbing fact from Facade: everything would disappear if he woke the Wind Fish!

Continue to Fly Like a Bird to Eagle's Tower Walkthrough

1993 Face Shrine Dungeon Walkthrough

Head left and up while ignoring the enemies for now. Go up the path and to the left and beat the mask enemy. The next room has a switch underneath the pot in the top left corner which opens the door to the left. Head back down the left side and place a bomb next to the orb switch while getting back behind the floor barrier in order to access the left door.

Shoot arrows at the ghosts that appear to make a chest appear that has a dungeon map. Head up and the door in the next room only opens if you throw a vase at it. The room to the right has the owl beak while going up and to the right gets you the compass. Go up the stairs along the path until you get to the end and kill the ghosts in order to get the key to drop.

Head back to the room right before the one where you got the dungeon map. Place a bomb on the right wall where the tile path ends to reveal a door. Go around the room and kill all of the green blobs to reveal a staircase. Head down and watch out for the sparks bouncing around and jump across to the other side. If you are blocked by the barriers, head back and hit the orb switch. If not, kill the worm and the ghosts that appear.

The chest in the next room has a stronger power bracelet to replace your old one. Move the elephant statue and get through the door. You can throw the elephant statue at the door in order to open it and get the rupees inside. Head to the right of the main entrance and past the hover tile room. Equip the shield while standing in a corner and block the tiles that come flying at you. When they are all gone, go through the door and unlock the next one. Kill the blobs and then blow up the wall at the top to discover a hole in the wall.

The miniboss is only going to throw his giant ball at you. The only way to beat him is to get the ball before he throws it and throw it back at him. Hitting him 4 times will kill him.

Lift up the elephant statue in the next room to reveal the staircase and head through to the other side. Get the shield and stay in the corner while guarding yourself and you'll get the key when they are all gone. Go up and throw the elephant against the door to open it. Open the next door by throwing the horse heads until they stand upright and go through the staircase.

Charge past the Thwumps with the boots and go up. Kill the rabbits (possible to do by playing Marin's song) and head up. Go through the room and head up. Throw the horse heads and hit the orb while you are on top of the barrier and get the chest for the rupees. Head back down and you'll have to face two Dodongo snakes again. Just remember to throw 3 bombs into their mouths. Head left and jump down into the water and go up. Then get the key from the chest and backtrack to where you jumped off of. Hookshot across and unlock the block and move up to get the Nightmare's Key.

Use Mambo's mambo to get back to the entrance and then use the warp point. Use the stairs under the statue and head down once you reach the other side. Watch out for the gravity vacuum that sucks in everything, including enemies. The blobs show up so they will get sucked in and die by falling. Get the wizrobe by just knocking into the holes and watch out for the green lazer. Then move the block and go to the next room. If you want to refill your health, sprinkle magic powder on the unlit torches and fairies will come out. Now for the boss.

Boss: Facade

So this guy is just a giant face in the ground,. He'll throw tiles at you and when that runs out he will open up holes in the ground. Wait for his face to show up and then drop a bomb on it. After enough bombs he will be defeated and then you can get the heart container and the instrument in the next room.