Southern Swamp
Southern Swamp is home to the Deku Scrubs and is ruled by a fierce Deku King who resides in the Deku Palace. When Link first enters Southern Swamp, the water is poisoned due to the curse of the Woodfall Temple, and Link must find a way to access the temple in order to restore the swamp.
Notable Locations
Magic Hags' Potion Shop
The sorceress sisters Koume and Kotake operate the Magic Hags' Potion Shop, which is located between the entrance to Southern Swamp and the Woods of Mystery. The shop itself is shaped like a giant kettle, painted red and suspended on a high platform above a small lake. Kotake generally serves customers in the shop while Koume gathers ingredients, such as mushrooms, in other areas of the swamp. During the three days that Link repeats in Termina, Koume is attacked by the Skull Kid and is immobilized in the Woods of Mystery. If Link encounters her, he can report her status to Kotake in return for a Red Potion, which he then can use to revitalize Koume. However, if Link does not rescue the hag before a certain time, Kotake will enter the woods on her broomstick in order to locate her missing sister, and Link will be unable to purchase potions from the shop.
Swamp Tourist Center
Once Koume is rescued by Link, she returns to operate the Swamp Boat Tour in the Swamp Tourist Center located near the entrance to Southern Swamp. Riding on the swamp boat, Link is able to pass the Bigoctos that block certain bottlenecks in the swamp, accessing the Deku Palace before acquiring the Bow and Arrow from Woodfall Temple. Once the curse has been lifted from Southern Swamp and the water is no longer poisoned, Koume opens a target-shooting minigame in which Link can win a Piece of Heart by hitting a target twenty or more times with arrows as Koume flies around the swamp, though Link will fail the minigame if he hits Koume more than five times. The Swamp Pictograph Contest also operates from the Swamp Boat Tour hut.
Woods of Mystery
The Wood of Mystery are located past the Magic Hags' Potion Shop in Southern Swamp. They consist of a number of rooms connected in a maze-like fashion; Link must follow a certain path or he will get lost and find himself back at the entrance to the woods. Koume is immobilized in one of the areas within the Woods of Mystery. To find her, Link can follow a monkey. If Koume is not rescued by a certain point in the game, Kotake sets out to find her, and Link can encounter Kotake in another area of the room, which is also the location of a mushroom that can be detected by the Mask of Scents.
Deku Palace
Deku Palace is situated deep within the Southern Swamp and is where the Deku monarch is established. The entire complex is heavily patrolled by Deku guards, and as such Link may only enter select areas, and even then only in his Deku Link form.
The Deku Palace consists of five main areas:
- A fortified outer wall surrounding a section of swamp;
- The left-hand-side palace gardens, which lead to a Piece of Heart;
- The right-hand-side palace gardens, which lead to a grotto housing the Bean Seller;
- The royal chambers, which house the Deku King, many other Deku Scrubs, a small prison, and a sacrificial pot of boiling water; and
- A secret labyrinth in which Link can follow the Deku Butler to acquire the Mask of Scents.
Initially, Link can only access the main areas of the Deku Palace by transforming into Deku Link, since the guards will not let a human pass. The gardens are guarded by patrolling Deku guards, and Link must avoid them in order to reach the Magic Bean Seller and Piece of Heart. It is easier to do this at night, since the range of vision of the Deku guards is then represented by a series of dots, and in fact the Piece of Heart can be obtained without hassle after defeating Odolwa in Woodfall Temple. To win the Pictograph contest, Link must submit a photo of the Deku King which he can only take as Deku Link - human Link will be forcefully thrown out of the palace if his presence is detected.
Woodfall
Woodfall is the area within the water-filled crater of an extinct volcano, and is home to the submerged Woodfall Temple, which Deku Link can enter by playing the Sonata of Awakening on the Deku Shrine platform. It also contains numerous enemies, several treasure chests (of which one holds a Piece of Heart), and a Great Fairy fountain.
Swamp Skulltula House
Located in one of the areas of Southern Swamp is the Swamp Skulltula House. Collect all thirty Skulltula Tokens here to receive the Mask of Truth.
Pieces of Heart
- In the left-hand-side gardens within Deku Palace, avoid the guards to find a Piece of Heart. If you find it difficult, try entering at night, during which the range of vision of the guards is represented by a series of dots. Alternatively, defeat Odolwa and clear Woodfall Temple to gain full access to the palace and the guards won't throw you out.
- On top of the Swamp Tourist Center is a Piece of Heart which can be accessed by presenting the Business Scrub with the Clock Town Title Deed and using the Deku Flower to reach the roof.
- Enter the Deku Palace Royal Chambers before clearing Woodfall Temple and, as Deku Link, snap a Pictograph of the Deku King. Present this in the Swamp Tourist Center to receive a Piece of Heart. A pictograph of Tingle will give you the same Piece of Heart.
- In Woodfall there is a gold-rimmed treasure chest on one of the platforms. Fly to it as Deku Link to find a Piece of Heart. This is easier once you have cleared Woodfall Temple as the water is no longer poisoned and there are no enemies present.
- After clearing Woodfall Temple, Koume opens up a minigame in which she flies around the swamp holding a target. Shoot the target twenty or more times without hitting Koume five times and you will receive a Piece of Heart.
Secrets
- Present a pictograph of Tingle to the Swamp Pictograph Contest. He will pay you one hundred rupees for the picture of his son.