After a long journey filled with puzzles and dangers, players finally arrived at Mt. Crenel in The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. Of course, reaching Mt. Crenel is only the first step. The second Element is somewhere deep within the abandoned mines.
Aside from the fact that it is crawling with monsters, the old mines are filled with hazards like lava. While the second dungeon isn't particularly long, it does have its own set of unique challenges and puzzles that players must overcome that are more difficult than the first dungeon. Here is a detailed walkthrough of the second dungeon in The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, the Cave of Flames.
Exploring the Mines
Right at the entrance to the Cave of Flames, go through the door on the right. Inside this room is a new kind of enemy that looks similar to a Bob-omb from the Mario series. These monsters can easily be destroyed with just a simple swing of the sword, but be prepared to move back as they run around and explode a few seconds after being hit. The explosion can also take out other enemies and blow up walls that can be destroyed by bombs. Either use one of these enemies or plant a bomb near the north wall to open the way forward.
In the next room, players will encounter an odd enemy that has a spike covered shell. When it charges, block it with the shield to make it fall over on its back. While these enemies are on their back, they are vulnerable to damage. Once all the enemies have been killed, a large chest containing a compass will appear. From there, go left into the next room.
In the middle of this room is six green Rupees. One of them is a trap and is an enemy that is using a Rupee as a lure. Move back and kill it, and then go downstairs. Go left toward the stairs. There are a lot of mine cart tracks throughout this area that will be useful later. Follow these tracks to the right to reach a mine cart that can be used to go along the tracks.
How to Go Through the Small Doors
The mine cart will move surprisingly fast to the other side of the track. Upon arriving, go left and use a bomb to open a hole on the left wall. Kill all the enemies in this room to reveal a pedestal that can be used to shrink. This will allow players to use the small holes.
Be careful of enemies in the area, as they do double damage when players are small.
Follow the series of small doors to reach a smoke filled room. Along the way, players will see a Piece of Heart that they can't pick up yet. In the previously mentioned smoke filled room, use the pedestal to return to normal size.
Once back to normal size, use the Gust Jar or the sword to put out the fires in this room. Go back up the stairs to open the chest and get a map of the dungeon. Carefully go across the platforms floating on the lava. Move quickly when walking across the platforms as they do eventually collapse and sink into the lava. The platforms will eventually emerge from the lava after a few seconds.
Open the chest to get a Kinstone piece and then step on the switch nearby. Once the platforms are back, continue using them to progress. Make sure to use the Gust Jar to move the pots as trying to lift them normally will result in falling into the lava. Follow the path and go through the door on the lower left side of the wall.
Gliding Over Lava
Up ahead, players will need to use moving platforms to get across large bodies of lava. Once safer ground is within reach, make sure to get off as fast as possible to avoid taking damage in the lava. There will be a pill bug type of enemy that can be picked up and thrown into holes.
Throw one enemy into the hole next to a chest to get 50 Rupees. From there, use another pill bug enemy to go up the stairs to reach a gust of wind that can be used for gliding. Use the gust of wind to glide around the rocks in the lava to reach the other side that was otherwise inaccessible.
Go up toward the stairs to reach a gust of air. Jump and glide down toward the next gust of wind that is above the lava. Glide right and then up toward the other side of the lava. Head up the stairs and push the peg with the chest on it onto the switch to open the nearby door.
Push the block out of the way and then push the peg toward the hole. Make sure to open the chest after that, as it contains a small key. Go through the door and use the mine cart to reach a door that can be opened with the small key.
How to Switch the Track
With the new area opened, walk across the tracks and flip the switch. This will allow the mine cart to go to a new area. Get on the mine cart and then go through the left door and then go through the door to the north. In this next room, fall into the hole to avoid the moving traps. There is a mine cart that is currently upside down that cannot be used at the moment.
Carefully walk across the tracks and try to avoid getting hit by an enemy as they will knock players into the lava. On the other side of the tracks, look for a spot on the south wall that can be destroyed with a bomb. Go through the wall to reach the Piece of Heart that was seen earlier on in the dungeon.
How to Get the Cane of Pacci
After claiming the Piece of Heart, go back through the hole in the wall. Go north and then jump off of the ledge. Upon entering this new room, players will get ambushed by a group of eight metal Chuchus. These Chuchus will turn into spiky balls as they move closer. Set a bomb near some of the Chuchus and move back to avoid getting hit. Kill any Chuchus that are stunned to avoid getting overwhelmed.
Once all the Chuchus are dead, a chest will appear in the middle of the room. This chest contains a new item called the Cane of Pacci. With this magical cane, players will be able to progress further through the dungeon.
How to Get the Big Key
The Cane of Pacci will allow players to lift objects, especially ones that are upside down. Go through the door on the left. There will be two platforms that allow players to go across the lava, but one is unusable as it is upside down. Use the Cane of Pacci to flip it around and then move across to the other side.
Follow the path to reach the unusable mine cart. Thankfully, the Cane of Pacci can flip the mine cart back up. Get on the mine cart to reach a chest that contains a small key. Go back to the room with the two platforms and use the small key to open the locked door that leads to the next floor of the dungeon.
In this next area, use the pedestal to shrink. While there is a switch that can be used to change the track, don't use it yet. While small, carefully navigate toward the hole on the left wall while dodging the moving traps. Since players are small, these traps will do significantly more damage.
On the other side of the hole, navigate through the maze of blocks to reach another pedestal. When back to normal size, the traps in this room will activate and move when players are close enough. Use the alcoves to avoid taking damage and move toward the upside down mine cart. Flip it right side up with the Cane of Pacci and ride it. Use the switch to change the track and then get back onto the mine cart.
The Cane of Pacci can also be used on the pill bug enemies. Pick them up and throw them into the four holes to reach the peg with the switch on it. Pull the peg toward the nearby hole and then hit the switch once it can be reached. With the pillars out of the way, go up the stairs and head north. Jump down and use the Cane of Pacci on the holes to launch up toward the two chests in this area. Both of these chests contain Kinstone Pieces.
When ready, go right to enter an area filled with lava. There will be moving platforms that allow players to progress, but they will need to time when they get on and off as the platforms eventually collapse into the lava. Stop at the area with a switch. Step on it to activate a teleporter that leads back to the entrance of the dungeon.
With the teleporter active, return to the moving platforms and go down this time. Periodically, players will have to use the Cane of Pacci to flip over an upside down platform. Timing can be tricky here, and it is easy to flip a platform too late and have nowhere to go but into the lava. While these puzzles aren't as difficult as others in the series, players will need to be mindful of when they use the Cane of Pacci. Keep following the platforms and use the Cane of Pacci as needed.
Follow the path and use the Cane of Pacci to jump into the gust of wind above the hole. From there, glide north toward the ledge with the torches and go right. Jump into the gust of wind and move toward the ledge on the left. Use any gust of wind to keep gliding and moving across the lake of lava.
Eventually, go north toward the middle platform where a large chest that contains the Big Key. Jump down and use the moving platform to reach the door that leads to the boss of this dungeon.
How to Beat the Boss
Use the Big Key to open the door and go into the next room. Before jumping into the hole that leads to the boss, pick up and throw the nearby pots to find a fairy. If possible, put the fairy into the empty bottle. If players have a fairy in a bottle, it will restore them to full health if they die.
When ready, jump down to fight the boss. The boss will spit fire at players. If players get hit, they will take damage and automatically run in the direction they are facing. If facing the boss, players will end up in the lava and take even more damage. In order to damage the boss, use the Cane of Pacci to flip the armor off of its back to stun it. Once the boss is stunned, run up its head and neck toward the weak point on its back. Rapidly attack it with the sword and then get off once the boss begins to sink into the lava.
Rocks will fall from the ceiling and the pool of lava in the center of the room will begin to overflow. Move toward the edge of the arena and use either the sword or the Gust Jar to put out any nearby fires. The boss will then emerge from the lava. Once again, look for an opening and use the Cane of Pacci to stun the boss and then damage it. Repeat this process and the boss will eventually die. Claim the Fire Element and the Heart Container. With that, only two more elements remain before the Piccori Blade can be reforged.
Part 5 of this walkthrough is coming soon.
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap is available now on Game Boy Advance, Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, and the Wii U Virtual Console.