Block

Blocks are recurring objects in the Legend of Zelda series. They are small stone blocks that serve mostly as deterrents. Most blocks are immovable, but some can be pushed or pulled.

The Legend of Zelda
Blocks are found in all eight dungeons, usually arranged in patterns, with one of the blocks being movable. When moved, some blocks trigger Treasure Chests to appear or simply allow access to them. Others activate secret staircases leading to a dungeon's particular item.

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Blocks are found in all of the seven Palaces. They serve as obstacles that Link can only bypass by destroying them with his sword after having obtained the Handy Glove. The Downthrust and Upward Thrust skills can destroy blocks situated directly below or above Link, respectively.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Blocks are similar to those from The Legend of Zelda. They are found mostly in Underworld areas such as dungeons and grottos. They can be pushed or pulled, but may only be moved once, so after having moved a block, Link must re-enter the area in order to reset the positions of the blocks. Sometimes, moving a block activates a switch, with varied effects. In the Desert Block Maze, a Piece of Heart can be obtained by moving the correct blocks. A similar puzzle is found within the Swamp of Evil in the Dark World. The Cane of Somaria allows Link to create blocks by the power of magic. These can be be used to hold down switches. All blocks in this game act as Hookshot targets. There is also a larger version of the block that can be lifted using the Titan's Mitt.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and ''The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
Blocks are found frequently within dungeons, often as part of a certain puzzle. These blocks are much larger than in previous installments, being large, heavy cubes made of stone, gray or maroon. Despite their size, they can be moved quite easily by Link. Additionally, they may be moved indefinitely rather than just once. They are usually too tall for Link to successfully climbed, but when placed in small indentations in the floor, Link is able to climb on top of them to use them as platforms.

In both games, blocks have a symbol carved on their sides: in Ocarina of Time, they feature the Gerudo symbol (although the design of the symbol was changed between versions due to controversy) and in Majora's Mask, they sport a simplified illustration of Majora's Mask.

The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons
Blocks are found in all dungeons mainly serving as deterrents that impede Link's progress. Blocks figure frequently in the games' many puzzles. In Oracle of Ages the Cane of Somaria, found within the Crown Dungeon, allows Link to create blocks from thin air, in a similar fashion to the item of the same name from A Link to the Past. It can be used to divert certain enemies' path, and is needed to defeat Smog, the boss of the Crown Dungeon.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Blocks are found in both the Underworld and Overworld. They are similar in appearance and function to those from Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, only smaller and are not made use of as frequently. Blocks can be pushed and pulled using the R button and climbed using the A button. Blocks can be used to block Blade Traps.

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures
Blocks appear in various levels and in different sizes. Small blocks usually must be pushed in a specific direction to open a door or clear a path. Medium-sized blocks must be lifted by two Links, and large blocks must be pushed by all four Links at the same time. Small colored blocks must be pushed by the Link wearing a tunic that is the same color as the block.

Additionally, the Level 2 Fire Rod allows Link to create yellow blocks which can be destroyed by swinging the rod again. When the block is destroyed, fireballs shoot out in the four cardinal directions from the block. If the block is thrown into one of the floating question marks in the Ice Temple, it will expand into a floating platform.

The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
Blocks resemble gray squares with smooth edges. There are some oversized blocks which can only be moved if Link makes copies of himself using the Four Sword or White Sword. Some blocks can be pushed with just one copy, while others require up to three copies, plus Link's own force, to be moved. There are also some blocks that act as makeshift doors, requiring a Small Key to be removed.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
The blocks from Twilight Princess are grey with what seem to metallic braces at the corners. There is also a type of block only found in Arbiter's Grounds made from gold metal bars. They are used to solve certain puzzles and can be stood on, used to hold down ground switches. There is a cave on Northern Hyrule Field where there are a series of Ice Block puzzles which can be solved to obtain a Piece of Heart.

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass and The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
Blocks appear in Underworld locations such as dungeons and grottos. After Link approaches one, they can be either pushed or pulled by using the Nintendo DS's stylus. Due to the top-down perspective of the game, blocks can be used as platforms only by jumping from a point above them and appear very rarely in comparison to blocks in earlier installments. In Spirit Tracks, as in Twilight Princess, they can be slid across ice to solve puzzles.