- Not to be confused with the Ice Cave, a small but similarly important cave in A Link to the Past.
Template:Dungeons
The Ice Cavern is a mini-dungeon appearing in Ocarina of Time. This dungeon acts as a prerequisite to the Water Temple for the Iron Boots.
Entrance to the Cavern
It's a frozen cave behind Zora's Fountain, though that isn't its original condition until later in the game; after his seven year sleep, Link finds Zora's Domain frozen and the Zoras encased in ice. King Zora is encased in a mysterious Red Ice, as is the entrance to the Zora's Shop. Lord Jabu-Jabu is missing from the fountain and is replaced with a path of ice floes leading to a previously inaccessible cavern, the Ice Cavern.
With the Gerudo's Training Ground, the Ice Cavern is the smallest in the entire game: it only has one floor and, unique among all the other dungeons in the Zelda series, each rooms (with the exception of the individual mini-boss room) are connected by hallways instead of doors, giving the illusion of one extremely large room divided into rooms and hallways. It is ice-themed, and inside Link finds Blue Fire, an unnaturally occurring fire only found within the cavern and the Water Barrier in Ganon's Castle (although it can also be bought in the Medicine Shop for an exceptionally high price). Blue Fire melts Red Ice, and as such, Link uses Bottles to carry the fire and melt the Red Ice that is found throughout the cavern to unblock certain paths and rooms..
Link receives the Iron Boots in the Cavern after defeating a White Wolfos. Sheik appears to tell the young hero about the Zoras frozen beneath Zora's domain as well as telling Link he saved Princess Ruto, who headed to the Water Temple underneath Lake Hylia. Afterwards, Sheik teaches Link the Serenade of Water, the warping song of the Water Temple, before disappearing again.
Master Quest
In the Master Quest version of the game, this dungeon is actually easier. The spinning scythe is gone, and there are very few Freezards and Keese. Instead of the ice block puzzle, the Song of Time can be played to make a block appear, which gives access to the Blue Fire. Some switches need to be activated to make some platforms disappear. However, they are very well hidden. One switch is camouflaged between some diamonds, another is behind a stalactite and the last one's tip is protruding from the floor. Because there is Red Ice blocking several ways, the first time Blue Fire is seen is where the Piece of Heart originally was (it has been moved to the other room with Blue Fire). New features include boulders rolling in connecting rooms and two White Wolfos throughout the dungeon. The mini-boss is now a Stalfos.
Minor Enemies and Traps
- Boulder OOT.png
Boulders (Master Quest only)
- MM Freezard.png
- MM GoldSkulltula1.png
- MM IceKeese.png
- MM IceStalactite.png
- Stalfos OoT.png
Stalfos (Master Quest only)
- WhiteWolfosG Large.png
Theory
Ice Temple Theory
In early versions of Ocarina Of Time, the Water Temple was possibly originally an Ice Temple, citing evidence of an "Ice Medallion" mentioned in the game's code and the appearance of the Water Barrier rooms in Ganon's Castle. Some fans believe that after the temple was changed to a water theme in the final version of the game, concepts and parts of the old Ice Temple were instead placed in Zora's Fountain as the Ice Cavern and the temple's original theme music was reused as the Ice Cavern's theme. It is also possible that both the Ice Cavern and the Ice Temple were originally intended to be in the game as separate locations, similar to the Bottom of the Well and the Shadow Temple both being shadow-themed.
Snowpeak Theory
Some fans speculate that the Ice Cavern is a section of Snowpeak, which is seen in Twilight Princess. Snowpeak is located just next to Zora's Domain, which is where the Ice Cavern is.
Trivia
- The Ice Cave is a similar location that Link can enter earlier than he needs to and contains an item that is vital to the completion of the game, and may of provided inspiration for the Ice Cavern.
- In Twilight Princess, there is a cavern similar to the Ice Cavern, located in the northernmost portion of Hyrule Field; its puzzle feature is also similar: Link has to move blocks to make them slide through the frozen floor in order to press switches that open new doors, leading Link to a chest with a Piece of Heart.
- This dungeon is the first to include a Piece of Heart within. This practice would recur in later games, appearing in some mini-dungeons in Majora's Mask, in one case in The Wind Waker, more frequently in The Minish Cap, systematically (with two in every dungeon except the final dungeon) in Twilight Princess, and occasionally in Skyward Sword.
- This Mini-Dungeon is similar to and may have been inspiration for the Cavern on Ice Ring Isle from The Wind Waker as both are accessed by jumping across Ice floes, both center around ice, and both hold the Iron Boots. They both also have an easier way to get back to the entrance with the Iron Boots.
- The Ice Cavern is the only dungeon in Ocarina of Time that occupies a single floor.
Gallery
- Ice-Cavern-Map2.png
Ice Cavern map
- Ice Cavern222.jpg
Inside the Ice Cavern
Dungeons in The Legend of Zelda Series
Parapa Palace · Midoro Palace · Island Palace · Maze Island Palace
Palace on the Sea · Three-Eye Rock Palace · Great Palace
Light World
Sewer Passageway · Eastern Palace · Desert Palace · Tower of Hera · Hyrule Castle Tower
Dark World
Palace of Darkness · Swamp Palace · Skull Woods · Thieves' Town · Ice Palace · Misery Mire · Turtle Rock · Ganon's Tower
Palace of the Four Sword
Main Dungeons
Tail Cave · Bottle Grotto · Key Cavern · Angler's Tunnel · Catfish's Maw · Face Shrine · Eagle's Tower · Turtle Rock · Wind Fish's Egg
Mini-Dungeons
Moblin Cave · Kanalet Castle · Ancient Ruins
Optional Dungeons
Color Dungeon (LADX | LANS) · Chamber Dungeon (LANS)
Child Dungeons
Inside the Deku Tree · Dodongo's Cavern · Inside Jabu-Jabu's Belly
Adult Dungeons'
Forest Temple · Fire Temple · Water Temple · Shadow Temple · Spirit Temple · Ganon's Castle
Mini-Dungeons
Main Dungeons
Woodfall Temple · Snowhead Temple · Great Bay Temple · Stone Tower Temple
Mini-Dungeons
Swamp Spider House · Pirates' Fortress · Oceanside Spider House · Beneath the Well · Ancient Castle of Ikana
Moon Dungeons
Main Dungeons
Spirit's Grave · Wing Dungeon · Moonlit Grotto · Skull Dungeon · Crown Dungeon · Mermaid's Cave · Jabu-Jabu's Belly · Ancient Tomb · Black Tower (Turret) · Room of Rites(OoS | OoA)
Mini-Dungeons
Maku Road · Great Moblin's Keep · Ambi's Palace · Black Tower (Rescue Zelda) · Hero's Cave
Main Dungeons
Gnarled Root Dungeon · Snake's Remains · Poison Moth's Lair · Dancing Dragon Dungeon · Unicorn's Cave · Ancient Ruins · Explorer's Crypt · Sword & Shield Maze · Onox's Castle · Room of Rites(OoS | OoA)
Mini-Dungeons
Chambers of Insight · Sea of Trees · Talus Cave · Death Mountain · Vaati's Palace
Anniversary Edition
Main Dungeons
Forsaken Fortress · Dragon Roost Cavern · Forbidden Woods · Tower of the Gods
Earth Temple · Wind Temple · Ganon's Tower
Mini-Dungeons
Whereabouts of the Wind — Lake Hylia · Cave of No Return · Hyrule Castle
Eastern Hyrule — The Coast · Village of the Blue Maiden · Eastern Temple
Death Mountain — Death Mountain Foothills · The Mountain Path · Tower of Flames
Near the Fields — The Field · The Swamp · Infiltration of Hyrule Castle
The Dark World — Lost Woods · Kakariko Village · Temple of Darkness
Desert of Doubt — Desert of Doubt · Desert Temple · Pyramid
Frozen Hyrule — Frozen Hyrule · Temple of Ice · Tower of Winds
Realm of the Heavens — Realm of the Heavens · The Dark Cloud · Palace of Winds
Main Dungeons
Deepwood Shrine · Cave of Flames · Fortress of Winds · Temple of Droplets · Palace of Winds · Dark Hyrule Castle
Mini-Dungeons
Main Dungeons
Forest Temple · Goron Mines · Lakebed Temple · Arbiter's Grounds · Snowpeak Ruins
Temple of Time · City in the Sky · Palace of Twilight · Hyrule Castle
Mini-Dungeons
Lantern Caverns · Cave of Ordeals · Cave of Shadows (TPHD)
Dungeons
Temple of Fire · Temple of Wind · Temple of Courage · Ghost Ship · Goron Temple · Temple of Ice · Mutoh's Temple
Master Dungeon
Dungeons
Forest Temple · Snow Temple · Ocean Temple · Fire Temple · Sand Temple
Master Dungeon
Mini-Dungeon
Lost at Sea Station · Tunnel to the Tower · Take 'Em All On!
Main Dungeons
Skyview Temple · Earth Temple · Lanayru Mining Facility · Ancient Cistern · Sandship · Fire Sanctuary · Sky Keep
Mini-Dungeons
Hyrule
Eastern Palace · Tower of Hera · House of Gales · Inside Hyrule Castle
Desert Palace
Lorule
Ice Ruins · Swamp Palace · Thieves' Hideout · Dark Palace
Skull Woods · Turtle Rock · Lorule Castle
Woodlands — Deku Forest · Buzz Blob Cave · Moblin Base · Forest Temple
Riverside — Secret Fortress · Abyss of Agony · Cove of Transition · Water Temple
Volcano — Blazing Trail · Hinox Mine · Den of Flames · Fire Temple
Ice Cavern — Frozen Plateau · Snowball Ravine · Silver Shrine · Ice Temple
Fortress — Sealed Gateway · Bomb Storage · Training Ground · The Lady's Lair
The Dunes — Infinity Dunes · Stone Corridors · Gibdo Mausoleum · Desert Temple
The Ruins — Illusory Mansion · Palace Noir · Lone Labyrinth · Grim Temple
Sky Realm — Floating Garden · Deception Castle · Dragon Citadel · Sky Temple
Forest Zone · Flooded Zone · Scorching Zone · Frozen Zone · Fortified Zone · Desert Zone · Shadow Zone · Baneful Zone
Main Dungeons
Divine Beast Vah Ruta · Divine Beast Vah Rudania · Divine Beast Vah Medoh · Divine Beast Vah Naboris · Hyrule Castle · Final Trial (TCB)
Mini-Dungeons
Trial of the Sword (TMT ) · Yiga Clan Hideout
Ancient Shrines
Akh Va'quot ·
Bosh Kala ·
Chaas Qeta ·
Daag Chokah ·
Dagah Keek ·
Dah Kaso ·
Dah Hesho ·
Daka Tuss ·
Dako Tah ·
Daqa Koh ·
Daqo Chisay ·
Dila Maag ·
Dow Na'eh ·
Dunba Taag ·
Gee Ha'rah ·
Gorae Torr ·
Ha Dahamar ·
Hawa Koth ·
Hia Miu ·
Hila Rao ·
Ishto Soh ·
Ja Baij ·
Jee Noh ·
Jitan Sa'mi ·
Joloo Nah ·
Ka'o Makagh ·
Kaam Ya'tak ·
Kah Mael Shrine ·
Kah Okeo Shrine ·
Kah Yah Shrine ·
Kam Urog Shrine ·
Katah Chuki ·
Katosa Aug ·
Kay Noh ·
Kaya Wan ·
Kayra Mah ·
Ke'nai Shakah ·
Keeha Yoog ·
Keh Namut ·
Kema Kosassa ·
Kema Zoos ·
Keo Ruug ·
Ketoh Wawai ·
Korgu Chideh ·
Korsh O'hu ·
Kuh Takkar ·
Kuhn Sidajj ·
Lakna Rokee ·
Lanno Kooh ·
Maag Halan ·
Maag No'rah ·
Maka Rah ·
Mezza Lo ·
Mijah Rokee ·
Mirro Shaz ·
Misae Suma ·
Mo'a Keet ·
Mogg Latan ·
Monya Toma ·
Mozo Shenno ·
Muwo Jeem ·
Myahm Agana ·
Namika Ozz ·
Ne'ez Yohma ·
Noya Neha ·
Oman Au ·
Owa Daim ·
Pumaag Nitae ·
Qua Raym ·
Qaza Tokki ·
Qukah Nata ·
Raqa Zunzo ·
Ree Dahee ·
Rin Oyaa ·
Ritaag Zumo ·
Rok Uwog ·
Rona Kachta ·
Rota Ooh ·
Rucco Maag ·
Saas Ko'sah ·
Sah Dahaj ·
Sasa Kai ·
Sha Gehma ·
Sha Warvo ·
Shada Naw ·
Shae Katha ·
Shae Loya ·
Shae Mo'sah ·
Shai Utoh ·
Shai Yota ·
Shee Vaneer ·
Shee Venath ·
Sheem Dagoze ·
Sheh Rata ·
Sho Dantu ·
Shoda Sah ·
Shoqa Tatone ·
Shora Hah ·
Soh Kofi ·
Suma Sahma ·
Ta'loh Naeg ·
Tah Muhl ·
Tahno O'ah ·
Tawa Jinn ·
Tena Ko'sah ·
Tho Kayu ·
To Quomo ·
Toh Yahsa ·
Toto Sah ·
Tu Ka'loh ·
Tutsuwa Nima ·
Voo Lota ·
Wahgo Katta ·
Ya Naga ·
Yah Rin ·
Zalta Wa ·
Ze Kahso ·
Zuna Kai
Ancient Shrines (TCB)
Etsu Korima · Kamia Omuna · Kee Dafunia · Keive Tala · Kiah Toza · Kihiro Moh · Mah Eliya · Noe Rajee · Rinu Honika · Rohta Chigah · Ruvo Korbah · Sato Koda · Sharo Lun · Shira Gomar · Takama Shiri · Yowaka Ita
Main Dungeons
Wind Temple · Fire Temple · Water Temple · Lightning Temple · Hyrule Castle · Spirit Temple · Gloom's Lair
Level 1 — Ordon Target Practice · Gerudo Stalfos: Defender · Arbiter's Grounds: Ranger
Level 2 — Goron Target Practice · Zora River: Defender · Skull Shooting
Level 3 — Kakariko Target Practice · Fruit Balloons · The Great Bridge: Defender
Level 4 — Zora River Target Practice · Hyrule Castle: Defender · Skulltula Forest: Ranger
Level 5 — Oocca Target Practice · Gerudo Moldorm: Defender · The Shootout
Level 6 — Ordon Target Practice 2 · Bridge of Eldin: Defender · Snowpeak Ruins: Ranger
Level 7 — Underground Target Practice · City in the Sky: Defender · Temple of Time: Ranger
Level 8 — Horseback Target Practice · Snowpeak Ruins: Defender · Darknut Battle
Finale — Ranch Target Practice · Sacred Grove: Defender · Fossil Stallord Battle