Learn how to get through the Gerudo Fortress in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Includes an interactive map to help you navigate, info on where to find all the Carpenters, and how to reach the Spirit Temple by going through the Mirage Desert.
Use the Table of Contents, located in the left panel (top left button on the mobile menu) to navigate through this long guide more easily and quickly.
Going through Gerudo Valley
When you complete the Water Temple and the Bottom of the Well, you can venture west to Gerudo Valley. The bridge that goes across the valley is broken, so you’ll need to either unlock Epona and have her jump over it, or use the Longshot to cross.
Talk to the Master Craftsman outside the tent, and he’ll tell you that all of his workers decided to leave him to go be thieves. You’ll need to find them all in Gerudo Fortress, be sure to stock up on some arrows before going inside.
Gerudo Fortress
Gerudo Valley will be a bit tricky to navigate as there’s a large amount of Gerudo patrolling the area. If you get near any of them, they’ll throw you in a prison cell on the north side of the fortress.
The easiest way to get through this fortress is to purposefully get caught. Longshot onto the chain-link window cover and stand on top of the window sill to get a view of the area.
Map of Gerudo Fortress
Below is a map of Gerudo Fortress with the locations of the carpenters. You won’t be able to access anywhere else in the fortress until you’ve freed them all.
Freeing the Carpenters
There are four carpenters you’ll need to free: Shiro, Ichiro, Saburo, and Jiro. It’s easy to get lost but if you do well enough, you can make one continuous line through the fortress.
Use the Longshot or Bow on the patrolling guards to temporarily incapacitate them. Don’t linger around long as they’ll soon get back up and start patrolling again.
Shiro
Shiro is the first carpenter you can easily access. From the prison cell, jump down and go through the door to the left. You may need to shoot the guard in the area if she’s close.
When you find Shiro in his cell, talk to him and a Gerudo Thief will come out to fight you. Use the Master Sword and Shield over the Biggoron Sword as she has nasty attacks.
When you defeat the Gerudo Thief, she’ll drop a Small Key you can use to free Shiro. He will then run off back to the tent where the Master Craftsman is in Gerudo Valley.
Gerudo Thief
The Gerudo Thief’s attacks will hurt, at least 1 heart per swing. The Master Sword and Shield is preferable here so you can attack then block quickly.
When she raises one blade in the air while standing in one foot, she’s going to make two attacks. Block the first attack, thrust attack, then quickly block her second.
The thrust attack (Left Stick Forward + Y) is much faster than a swing, allowing you to quickly raise your shield before you get hit.
You can also side jump to the left then right to dodge her two attacks, this will make her lose sight of you. She’s vulnerable to the Bow, Biggoron Sword, Bombchus, the Megaton Hammer, and Deku Nuts.
If you’re intent on using the Biggoron Sword, use the Deku Nut from behind then thrust your Biggoron Sword onto her. You’re going to focus a lot on dodging with this method of combat.
One attack to watch out for is her Blade Storm. When she rears back and her blades have a yellow glint, get back as far as you can with your shield up.
If this hits, you’ll be knocked out and sent back to the prison cell. Walk backwards to have her miss, then use a Jump Attack after her Blade Storm.
You’ll be fighting her again after finding each carpenter. She gets one new attack later on where she holds her swords to the side, followed by a swing.
When she does this, step backward a little bit and thrust once or twice when she misses.
Saburo
After freeing Shiro, go south and you’ll be outside. Guards to your right, and a door to your left. Go through the door and ignore the voice coming from the grates below.
Immediately hide behind a wall as a Gerudo guard is upstairs. Wait for her to start walking to the right, then stun her from behind with an arrow. Take the first right down the hall to go back outside.
When you’re outside, go towards the stairs to your left and knock out the guard. Take the door to the left to find Saburo. Defeat the Gerudo Thief and set him free.
Ichiro
From Saburo’s cell, take the north door going outside. Go straight forward and down to the door ahead. This takes you straight to Ichiro’s cell.
Jiro
From Ichiro’s cell, go back out the way you came. Go up the ladder then enter the door to your left. This leads to a kitchen with two guards.
Either knock out both guards, or use the Longshot to get across the room unseen. Go through the door leading outside.
When you’re outside, go down the ladder to the right and through the door on your right. Immediately hide behind a narrow wall as a guard patrols nearby. Wait for her to go left, then knock her out to reach Jiro.
Gerudo Pass
When all carpenters are free, the captain will appear and ask for your help finding Nabooru at the Spirit Temple. She’ll give you the Gerudo Pass which allows you to walk around Gerudo Fortress freely.
You can then roam around to find any Gold Skulltulas that are hiding in the area, and partake in the Gerudo Proving Grounds and Horseback Archery.
Gerudo Proving Grounds
For 30 rupees, you can attempt to complete the Gerudo Proving Grounds. A valuable treasure awaits inside, but you’ll have to earn it.
Horseback Archery Mini Game
On the east side of the fortress is a large archery range. You can pay 30 rupees to play. As you ride Epona, you must hit the targets or pots to earn points. Get enough points and you can win a Piece of Heart and a Quiver Upgrade.
Mirage Desert
Go to the gate on the northwest corner of the fortress and talk to the Gerudo in blue and white on ground level. She’ll open up the gate, allowing you to enter the Mirage Desert.
The River of Sand
The first obstacle in your way is the River of Sand. Use the Longshot to hook onto the target or equip the Hover Boots from the Shadow Temple to cross.
Start by looking around for some flagpoles. You’ll be following these to navigate the first half of the desert.
It’s Coarse, Rough, Irritating, and it gets Everywhere
You’ll barely be able to see some flagpoles ahead due to the sandstorm. One wrong step and you’ll be sent back to the start. Follow the flagpoles going to the left.
A little past the first pole is a pit of sinking sand with a man on a magic carpet above it. Use the Hover Boots to reach him and he’ll sell you 10 Bombchus for 90 rupees. This is cheaper than the Bombchu Store that sells 10 for 140 rupees.
Continue following the flagpoles and eventually you’ll find a pair close together. Walk between them to find a small building. Going inside will lead you to a Gold Skulltula and a Business Scrub Seed if you light both of the torches.
The Phantom Guide
Go to the top of the building and use the Lenses of Truth to see a Poe. Follow them and ignore the Leevers that attack you. Under no circumstance should you lose vision of the guide as you can easily lose your way.
The Evil Desert Colossus
After successfully getting through the Haunted Wasteland, you’ll be at the Evil Desert Colossus. The welcoming committee consists of seemingly endless Leevers and a lot of Guay.
Nayru’s Love
Look to your right and you’ll see a pair of palm trees. Break open the wall to find a Great Fairy Fountain. She’ll ask for a 300 rupee offering and will give you Nayru’s Love in return.
At the cost of 4 magic power, Nayru’s Love will make you invincible to incoming damage for a little over 40 seconds.
Requiem of Spirit
Approaching the Desert Colossus will have Sheik appear, doing his usual monologuing. After said monologue, he’ll teach you the Requiem of Spirit.
A Link to the Past
There’s only one way to proceed, you must return to the Temple of Time and revert to Child Link. Play the Requiem of Spirit and return to the Desert Colossus as a child to begin the Spirit Temple.
