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Forest Temple
For boss and miniboss strategies, see the pages for Ook and Diababa.
──── Any%/All Dungeons ────
Back in Time in first room
Discovered by Chris is Awesome
By doing a jump attack to pass above the loading zone leading out of the dungeon, it is possible to reach beyond the edge of the wall and void out without landing on the loading zone. As a result, we can perform Back in Time (BiT) off this void right after saving in Forest Temple; from there, performing Back in Time Equipped (BiTE) and loading a valid save can be used to set Early Boss Fights (EBF) to get to Ook early.
It can be tricky to find the correct positioning for the jump attack at first, so it is recommended to start off by learning the position setup (video below). Once you are used to the position setup, you may find it easier to recognize visual cues on the wall for a setupless jump attack into the void. Voiding out is also possible with a sidehop, but this is not used commonly.
Position setup and item wheel buffer method
Setup by Skyreon
This video goes over a position setup for the out of bounds jump attack. It also goes over the item wheel buffer method, which is slightly slower and arguably more difficult than the save prompt buffer method in the next video shown below. The save prompt buffer method is recommended for almost all cases and can still be used in conjunction with the position setup shown in this video. The only case in which the item wheel buffer is faster than the save prompt buffer is in a route that loads an existing Forest Temple save for the express purpose of performing Back in Time and thus does not need to make another save in Forest Temple.
Save prompt buffer method
method by Simikins
Because BiT is a frame perfect trick, it is helpful to buffer it when possible. In most cases, performing BiT in Forest Temple is done to set EBF before reloading a Forest Temple save, so saving in Forest Temple before performing BiT is required. Thus, saving and then using the save prompt to buffer BiT as shown in the video below is optimal, as it requires no extra menuing. The positioning needed for the jump attack out of bounds is the same regardless of buffer method used, so refer to the video above for a position setup if needed.
FRAME DATA:
Unfortunately, if you pause on the incorrect frame, you cannot simply close the menu and attempt to open the item wheel to use as a backup buffer, as there's a large delay after closing the menu before you can pause again. This means backing up incorrect pause frames requires different reset timings.
FIRST CORRECT FRAME (Second possible pause frame of the jump attack, shown in the video above):
- Save
- Select Yes on the continue prompt, can mash as the reset timing is lenient
- Any time after pressing A to select Yes and before the screen fades completely black, reset by holding Start + X + B and releasing A (Start and X are held pre-emptively in this video). The reset will wait to start until after the save menu closes, making the window to reset here very large. The video shows reacting to Yes being selected from mashing A.
- It is also possible, and potentially easier, to reset with the console reset button. Again, any time after pressing A to select Yes on the continue prompt (but before the menu closes fully) press and release the console reset button. It won't reset until you release the button, so you can hold it early, press A, and release after.
SECOND CORRECT FRAME (Third possible pause frame of the jump attack, 1 frame after the pause shown in this video, sword at a 45 degree angle from the left):
- Save
- Hold the console reset button, and when the continue prompt appears (it has a small delay before it's usable, wait a bit until then) release the console reset button and press A on the same frame. The timing for this is surprisingly easy.
- If timed correctly you will hear the menu close but the sound will quickly fade out. If you release the console reset button before pressing A, you won't be able to select Yes to continue.
- Demonstration of using this frame
- Important to know that this console reset frame doesn't work on Dolphin due to reset times being different.
1st frame (Does not work)
2nd frame (Controller reset)
3rd frame (Console reset)
5th frame (Item wheel)
Forest BiT on Wii
A modified setup works for Wii. Go into the corner on the right, and then face until angled roughly as shown in the video (44700-45700). Target roll to bonk into the wall, then sidehop to the right twice, and pause during the sidehop. Save over a file and select 'Yes'. If you got a frame 1 sidehop, reset as the game fades back in. If you got a frame 2 sidehop, pull home menu after the game fades back in, then reset.
First Room Movement
First used by TPFox
Without a slingshot, boomerang, or bombs, the best way to get through the first room is by throwing a deku nut at one or both of the walltulas. The deku nuts tend to miss the walltulas if thrown from the wrong places, so, as shown in the video below, it is best to throw the first deku nut from the side of the vine wall while locked onto the far walltula, and to throw the second deku nut while Link is standing still on the long wooden plank on the ground.
With good RNG, it is possible to skip killing one or both of the walltulas, but the likelihood of being able to skip both is very low. This video goes over how to recognize opportunities to skip the second walltula.
If both deku nuts are broken and both walltulas are still alive, climb on the vines to lure the lower one down near the ground, jump attack it as wolf, and then climb the vines without killing the upper walltula.
Early Gale Boomerang
Discovered by FIERCELINKMASTER
Please note there is a faster way to get the Boomerang by using Early Monkeys
Go to the area that would be your path back from Ook. Get on the edge of near the first rotating platform and cue Midna (and exit out of her text box) to switch the wind and have the bridge turn. As it is turning towards you, walk forward to clip into the bridge's railing. Cue Midna to turn the bridge again, jump forward and use a jumpslash to land on the second bridge. You should have a clear path to the area of land with the fifth monkey.
Note: Although standing at the left, right, or middle of the platform before the first rotating bridge will work for clipping, the timing for standing in the middle is the most forgiving.
For the second pair of rotating bridges, head to the edge of the first bridge, position yourself towards the right corner (GCN, or left on Wii) at a 45 degree angle and wait for the wind to turn. Just after the first railing of the bridge passes you, jump to clip into the second bridge. A well timed sidehop will also work for this.
Consistent setup
Because the time between wind cycles is fixed, using a setup can't cost time over not using a setup.
- Open the door near the left side (not precise)
- Target roll, then sidehop left three times
- Call Midna once the bridge has finished turning
- Hold target and press B to slash (can mash B from the Midna text; timing is not precise)
- At any point during the slash, begin holding up (if you hold up very early and get a stab instead of a neutral slash, the setup still works)
- If you have a shield, let go of target before Link begins walking forward. If you don't have a shield, it doesn't matter if you target for the walking part.
Faster boss key
Discovered by SexyZora19
Climb on to the ledge next to the stairs, and line yourself up with the the fencepole between you and the ledge past the fence. Roll forward, and continue holding forward. Link should roll off the pole and directly on to the ledge.
You can also LJA past the fence by targeting the vines above the platform.
Final bridge room movement comparison
Skip half of the Forest Temple (GCN only)
Discovered by Kazooie
Using the Gale Boomerang, LJA over to the monkey tree. Climb the left side of the tree using jump slashes, and then use another LJA to jump to the door. Please note there are various different ways to target to LJA to boss door
─────── 100% ───────
Deku Like Skip #1
Regardless of method used, getting swallowed by the Deku Like during the cutscene of the rock blowing up will make Link void out.
Quick bombling pickup
This is faster than picking up the bombling regardless of the Deku Like Skip method used. While running up the stairs, throw boomerang to the left of the bombling so that the boomerang collects the bombling on the way back to Link and reaches Link when it is around his chest height.
LJA method (GCN only)
Discovered by Venick
This is the fastest method. LJAing while the Deku Like is still stunned from the boomerang will prevent the voidout mentioned above, so avoid making the boomerang targets so high that you need to wait a long time to be able to LJA.
- Stand in the spot shown in the video
- Enter first person and pull boomerang very soon afterwards; too much delay between these inputs will make the bombling fall on Link's right instead of his left, where it will explode if the boomerang is thrown
- Target just above the rock
- LJA when the boomerang is above the ledge the rock is on
Boomerang toss method
Similar to the method above, throw the boomerang with the bombling then manually roll / jump across the gap immediately after. The Deku Like will be stunned by the boomerang, so Link will not get swallowed. This leaves Link slightly farther away from the wooden platform than the LJA method above, but jumping to the right side (GCN) can be helpful for setting up the jump attack timesaver.
Jump method
Discovered by Jiano
Jump off the ledge on the left side (GCN) angled slightly to the left. Link will be swallowed by the Deku Like if he doesn't jump from the right place or is angled too far right. This method is about 1s slower than the other two methods because it involves waiting out the bombling timer.
West room timesaver
Jump attacking onto the platform is 0.67s faster than climbing.
Heart Piece 1
[Video]
Log Diveroll
Kill the Deku Like guarding a Heart Piece
Method 1 - Pick up bombling with boomerang (fastest RTA)
The boomerang bombling and transform clips methods below are faster than this method in theory but are not recommended for RTA runs.
- Pull boomerang midair
- Throw the boomerang left of the bombling so it bounces off the stairs and picks up the bombling on the way back to Link
- Throw the bombling into the Deku Like
- Jump down before the cutscene begins
Method 2 - Refresh bombling timer with boomerang
- Roll to bombling and pick it up
- Run towards the Deku Like
- Near the far wall, throw the boomerang, then backwalk so that the boomerang picks up the bombling while returning
- Throw the bombling into the Deku Like
- Jump down before the cutscene begins
Comparison video of Method 1 v Method 2
Method 3 - Boomerang bombling
In 100% after exiting the room with the first heart piece you can use the boomerang with some clever targets to bring a bombling from the ledge to your right down to the bottom where you can then kill the deku like.
- Stand next to the torch shown in the video
- Target in the middle of the door
- Target the root in the celling
- Jump down to the deku like and wait for the bombling to come to you
Note: Don't stand too close to the wall or the bombling might blow up on the wall
You can also boomerang the bombling from the ground floor as a backup.
Method 4 - Pot drop
An alternative method which only loses 1-3s depending on how fast you aim with the boomerang is to distract the Deku Like with a pot. Note that this is slower than the boomerang stun method of getting behind the Deku Like used in the transform clips method below, but it is also much easier.
- Pickup pot and jump into the corner towards the Heart Piece
- As you jump over the edge press B to pull your sword and drop the pot below you into the Deku Like
- Continue holding forward to bonk into the wall and consistently get into the HP room
- Exit by throwing the handy bombling into the Deku Like after collecting the HP
Method 5 - Transform clips (fastest)
Discovered by bewildebeest
This method requires two frame perfect inputs, so it is not recommended for RTA use. It is around 3s faster than the boomerang bombling pickup method above.
- Stun the Deku Like with the boomerang while jumping or backflipping behind it; the boomerang must be thrown shortly before Link reaches the Deku Like
- Open the chest
- Transform to wolf in the corner shown and dash forward on the first possible frame after the transformation
- When it's possible to call Midna again, turn around as shown and transform back to human so that Link stands up near the middle of the Deku Like, then roll towards the ramp on the first possible frame after the transformation
Note that the demonstration in this video is done with the turbo cheat active so that A can be held instead of pressed frame perfectly.
───── Wii/Glitchless ─────
Killing skulltulas
Discovered by Jiano
The fastest way to kill the giant skulltulas varies depending on whether you have the Master Sword or not. With it, a single spin attack should suffice. Without it, simply add in a jumpslash before the spin attack. Note that if the spin attack does not hit twice, the skulltula will survive.
Skip the hanging skulltula
Discovered by TPFox
Roll to the side of the skulltula. You can normally grab the ledge and pull yourself up, but you can add a jumpslash at the end to save time.
Rescue 2nd monkey
(Pillar – Vid required)
Deku Like Skip #1
(Glitchless version here, or link to the main trick?)
Rescue 3rd monkey
Knock down chest with key, light the torches
[Video]
Leaving Ook’s room
Boomerang the propeller above the door three times, moving closer to the door each time. Targeting the propeller for the final throw will prevent the boomerang from returning to Link’s hand, thus skipping the put-away animation at the door.
Midna text skip after 5th monkey
If you stand near the bridge before throwing the boomerang at the cage, you will be outside the Midna text trigger. Avoiding the text here means a trigger will be present at the 6th and 7th monkeys however, so to skip the text completely those triggers must also be avoided.
Monkey chain room
Boomerang the bridges and the spiders. LJA to Bokoblin. Allow the gale to stun him upon returning to skip killing him.
[Video]
Deku Like Skip #2
Jump into the water and grab the platform the deku like is on to pull yourself up. Now when Link pulls himself up onto it, he will experience a few frames after his "climbing onto the platform" animation where he stands up completely before falling back into the water. The first visual frame that you see Link stand up, hold the control stick towards the small key chest and press A to jump to the platform.
The front left corner of the deku like platform (the lightest one nearest the chest) will give you the best position relative to the chest and the longest jump. It's also a good idea to flick the direction and press A at the same time once control is gained, rather than holding the direction the whole time, as this makes the frame window more lenient (5f flicking vs. 2f holding). If you press A multiple times for the jump instead of only once, release the control stick to neutral before the jump lands to avoid rolling past or into the chest after hitting the platform.
Alternative methods
While a rolljump is recommended, it is also possible to skip the Deku Like with a sidehop from the small ledge, or a backflip.
[Video]
Skip climbing vines to rescue 6th monkey
Discovered by LogitechSDAZ
After the boulder at the top of the vines is destroyed, bring the bombling over to you. Set it down, the aim at the roof of the area with the boomerang, then lock (with the same throw) just above the area containing the monkey. Release the boomerang, and the bombling should hit the wall and just barely blow up the rock.
Skip rotating bridges in monkey tree room (going back)
Drop down the first set of vines, and draw your sword. Jump towards the first bridge, adding in a jumpslash to make the jump.
It is also possible, but very precise, to make this jump without a jumpslash.
Rescue 7th monkey without falling down
Bombling in boomerang method
Discovered by Chimpas
This is the fastest method. Burn only the right web [Wii], and align Link as shown in the videos below; the positioning required to lock onto the bombling is a little picky on Wii and fairly precise on Gamecube. After you lock on and throw the boomerang, quickly roll over to the hole where you would normally fall down and stand on the west side of it. The boomerang should bring the bombling back and hit the cage on its way through, destroying it.
On Gamecube, as you cannot roll as quickly after throwing the boomerang, target one or two extra times so it takes longer to return and gives you time to get to the other web.
Alternatively, target only the bombling, then sidehop before releasing the boomerang.
Bombling drop
Discovered by Paraxade
This method is slower than the bombling in boomerang method but still skips the Midna text. Open up the holes on the left and right, and then line Link up the same way as in the bombling in boomerang method above. Lock on, and the boomerang should bring up a bombling. Drop it down the other hole, it will blow up the cage.
Traditional Method
Burn the right web [GCN] and drop down with a jump attack autospin to break the cage. After the cutscene, jump to the vines and climb back up.
[Video]
Note that if you’ve skipped Midna text up to this point, there will be a Midna textbox after the cutscene.
Skip climbing vines to rescue 8th monkey
As you enter the room, there is a tile worm just in front of you to your left. Get onto the tileworm from the left side so that it boosts Link up onto the upper platform. Jump across the gap so that Link grabs the ledge around the white splotch or a bit rightward of it (not precise), then press A to drop and get a pop up because Link's grab put him inside the wall collision. To make this jump without falling, make sure Link is in a good speed roll when he jumps, and try to make the jump roughly perpendicular to the platforms.
Next, roll right next to the hanging deku baba, pull out the boomerang, target both fans, throw, and roll away. Try to jump back to the tile worm area before the cutscene begins, but be careful not to roll away as fast as possible, as this can undo the second boomerang target. Now the monkey should be free and Link should be just a few rolls away from the door.
Quick roll to skip a swing
Discovered by Paraxade
Rolling before the cutscene where the monkeys form your swing across allows you to get close enough to get across the very first time they come back to your side. If you miss the roll, you must wait for them to do an additional swing. The window for this is two frames.
────── IL Strats ──────
Free first monkey with bomb arrows
[Video]
Boss key without boomerang
Displacement clip method (diagonal slash setup, faster)
This displacement clip uses the standard diagonal slash setup. Use the east gate on the way to the boss key and the west gate on the way back out to make the clips work consistently. See notes on displacement clip setups.
Displacement clip method (rollstab setup, slower)
This method is much easier than the moon boots method below. See notes on displacement clip setups.
- Align roughly 45 degrees, then sidehop left (Wii) into the corner (x = 9270.0000 to 9270.0127). Aim in first person until roughly near due south, then do a few turnarounds until due north
- Backflip and roll (z = 7373.8550)
- Abridged target neutral slash (hold ess to end the animation early) (z = 7312.6343)
- Abridged stab (ess forward) (z = 7287.3604)
- Equip Iron Boots, then abridged stab (z = 7276.6860)
- Jump attack with the Iron Boots on (z = 7035.9600)
- Let the animation finish, then unequip boots and ESS backflip (z = 7371.9600)
- Rollstab towards the gate (don't need to wait)
Getting out of the boss key enclosure can be done with the standard setup. Before doing the setup, be sure to move into a spot in which neither the chest nor the torch will be in your way.
Moon boots method
Discovered by pokemongenius
This method is much harder than the displacement clip method. Using a very precise Jumpstrike moonboots bomb boost it is possible to get onto the propellor towers, and in an individual level speedrun context obtain the Big Key without needing the boomerang.
Stand in the corner of the raised plank, at approximately a 45 degree angle, and place a bomb.
Move onto the raised plank, put on iron boots, and charge jumpstrike
After the sixth bomb flash, release jumpstrike. (There is a three frame window for releasing jumpstrike. This video demonstrates the middle frame, where the bomb is black after the sixth flash. The frames on either side of this also work, where the bomb is a pale pink. Note however that this video buffers the release of jumpstrike with the item wheel to see the correct frame, so unbuffered you would have to release the A button slightly earlier to account for input delay).
Force unequip iron boots for moonboots on the frame shown. This moonboots is frame perfect, as you need the maximum jumpstrike height.
Once on the post, navigate along the wooden towers and down to the big key. Pulling a bomb makes it easier to run smoothly to the chest without bonking from an autoroll, but can also assist in escaping the area with a death warp.
Originally found with backslice moonboots: here
pokemongenius' jumpstrike video: here
Bridge Turn Skip
Using extremely precise bomb boosts, one with moonboots and one with a jumpslash, it's possible to skip turning the bridge, and progress without the use of the gale boomerang, thus skipping its requirement for the Any% IL.
Jumpslash Bomb Boost
Discovered by chrisisawesome
Killing either Bokoblin at the start removes the cutscene trigger when first landing on the bridge, and a single arrow shot on the left [GCN] Bokoblin is enough to lure it off the bridge.
First, get onto the bridge.
The fence on the right side is lower than the left, so a jumpstrike alone is enough to get on top. Mash B for a jumpslash as you land, as if you slip off after landing a jumpslash will put you right back onto the fence. The simply roll along the very wide fence collision and jump onto the bridge
Second, the jumpslash bomb boost
Pull a bomb as soon as you land on the bridge
Run to the left side at the very edge of the bridge, and aim at the corner of the plank (the surviving Bokoblin won't chase you)
After the 5th bomb flash, run off from the very corner, and while holding target press B to both drop the bomb behind you and jumpslash
There are multiple working jump and jumpslash frames for this boost, but the frame you need to drop the bomb and jumpslash to successfully boost depends on when you jump. The range for jumping, and jumpslash frames, gets smaller the worse the angle of your jump is towards the plank where you aim to land.
With a good angle:
- Jumping 24 frames before the bomb explodes has a 2 frame jumpslash window, with a B input on frame 9 or 10 of the jump
- Jumping 23 frames before the bomb explodes has a 2 frame jumpslash window, with a B input on frame 9 or 10 of the jump
- Jumping 22 frames before the bomb explodes has a 3 frame jumpslash window, with a B input on frame 8, 9, or 10 of the jump
- Jumping 21 frames before the bomb explodes has a 3 frame jumpslash window, with a B input on frame 7, 8, or 9 of the jump
- Jumping 19-20 frames before the bomb explodes has a 1-2 frame jumpslash window, with a B input on frame 6 or 7 of the jump
Jump frames outside of this range may be possible with perfect angle/position and a frame perfect jumpslash.
The boosts shown in the demonstration video below are a 22f jump with an 8th frame jumpslash in full sequence, then short clips of a 24f jump with a 10th frame jumpslash, and a 19f jump with a 7th frame jumpslash, to demonstrate the outer ranges of the trick.
Original discovery video by chrisisawesome: here
The bomb boost is also possible on the right side of the bridge, however it's more awkward due to Link holding the bomb on his left: video
Jumpstrike Moonboots Bomb Boost
Discovered by Jeez
First, jumpstrike moonboots onto the fence.
This has two working moonboots frames. The first frame (shown in the first clip below) is extremely lenient on position and angle due to the extreme height you get from this moonboots frame.
Second frame can also work (shown in the second clip) however requires much more precision in position and angle, as the height gain isn't as significant.
Mash B for a jumpslash as you land, as if you slip off after landing a jumpslash will put you right back onto the fence.
Second, the jumpstrike moonboots bomb boost.
- Staying in line with the fence, place a bomb at the back of the bridge, allowing it to push you back while placing it. Staying in line with the fence is important, as the beams at the edge of the platform you aim to land on extend slightly further than the rest of the platform, making this possible.
- Put on iron boots, backhop for positioning, then charge jumpstrike.
- One the 6th bomb flash, release jumpstrike, and force unequip boots for moonboots.
The jumpstrike release is frame perfect, and unfortunately the exact bomb frame to release is very difficult to distinguish from neighbouring frames, as it's around the brightest part of the bomb flash. Note that in both clips I buffer the release with the item wheel, so unbuffered would require releasing jumpstrike a few frames earlier than the bomb frame shown when paused, to account for the input delay.
The moonboots is also frame perfect, on the first moonboots jumpstrike frame, as this is the only frame that gives height to completely clear the sides of the bridge.
If all is done correctly, you'll be boosted forward and barely land on the wooden beam. A frame too early or late and you'll get a bomb boost forward but not land on the beam. Earlier or later and you can avoid being hit by the bomb completely.
──── Unused/TAS/Misc. ────
Faster Monkey Skip using clawshot
With early Clawshot, you can clawshot to the vines before the boss door to skip the monkeys
