Chapter 05 · Child Link · Main dungeon
Jabu-Jabu’s Belly Walkthrough
To clear Jabu-Jabu’s Belly, carry Princess Ruto to the Boomerang room, use the Boomerang to cut down three parasitic tentacles, beat Big Octo, then curve a Boomerang throw into the last switch and defeat Barinade for Zora’s Sapphire.
Ruto is both your escort and your weight for floor switches, so most of the dungeon is about where you set her down. Once the third tentacle is gone, a new hole opens to the Big Octo arena and the upper platforms that lead to the boss. The dungeon order and key item are the same as on N64; the changes are mostly cosmetic and quality-of-life.
What changed in the remake
- Confirmed The dungeon’s tunnels are colour-coded so it is easier to tell which passage leads where.
- Single source Big Octo’s arena was redesigned: the spinning spikes are gone and Big Octo no longer turns around at random. One remake walkthrough still describes chasing it along an inner ring beside spikes, so treat this as unsettled.
- Confirmed The Boomerang can sit on one of the four new D-pad shortcut slots, so you can swap between it and the Slingshot without pausing.
- Confirmed Dungeon order and the key item are unchanged: Jabu-Jabu is still the third child dungeon and still awards the Boomerang.
Before you go
You arrive here after Dodongo’s Cavern. Getting inside takes a short chain of errands in Zora’s Domain: play Zelda’s Lullaby at the waterfall on Zora’s River, win the Silver Scale from the diving game, and use it to find Ruto’s Letter in a bottle at the bottom of Lake Hylia. Show the letter to King Zora so he shuffles aside, catch a small fish in an empty bottle (Zora’s Domain has them), and release it in front of Lord Jabu-Jabu in Zora’s Fountain. He swallows Link along with the fish.
Bring the Fairy Slingshot and a stock of Deku Nuts. Nuts stun the electric Bari jellyfish and pop the Shabom bubbles. If you still need a bottle, RPG Site’s remake walkthrough reports a new early one from the Castle Town Potion Shop owner; Talon’s Cucco game at Lon Lon Ranch is another option.
Step-by-step route
- In the first chamber, raise your shield to bounce the Octorok’s rocks back at it, then shoot the switch hanging from the ceiling with the Slingshot to open the way forward.
- Cross the next room by hugging the walls; stun any Bari with a Deku Nut rather than meeting it at sword range. Take the far door.
- In the room full of holes, talk to Ruto. She drops through a hole; follow her down and keep talking until she agrees to be carried.
- Carry Ruto to the water-switch room and set her on the near ledge. Step on the floor switch to raise the water. Optional: the vines here hold the dungeon’s first Gold Skulltula, and there is a fairy in a jar higher up.
- Pick Ruto up again, wait for the water to fall, and toss her onto the far ledge. Hit the switch again, swim across, collect her, clear the Shaboms, shoot the hanging switch and ride the lift back up.
- Back in the hole room, follow the right-hand wall to the far exit. In the forked corridor go right, stand on the floor switch while holding Ruto, and the door opens.
- Set Ruto down and kill every Stinger. The chest that appears holds the Boomerang. Assign it to a shortcut slot now; you will use it constantly.
- Leave Ruto on the blue pressure switch at the central junction and enter the side room alone. Lock on to the tentacle, stay close so it dips low, and hit its exposed section with the Boomerang. That room also gives the Dungeon Map.
- Clear the bubble room (first door on the left) with nuts or the Boomerang for the Compass, then deal with the second tentacle in the newly opened room and the third behind the middle door on the right.
- With all three tentacles gone, return to the hole room and drop through the second hole along the right wall. You land on a ledge with two more Gold Skulltulas; set Ruto down and grab both tokens with the Boomerang.
- Throw Ruto onto the central platform to trigger the Big Octo fight. After it falls, the platform carries you up.
- Use the Boomerang to freeze each flailing platform and cross while it is still. Ruto is no longer needed after this point. Put a wooden crate on the blue switch in the side hallway to keep that door open.
- In the vine room before the boss, take the fourth Gold Skulltula, climb to the tall platform, and from its left edge throw the Boomerang so it bends around the thin barrier into the switch. Go through the boss door.
How to beat Big Octo
Stun Big Octo with the Boomerang, wait for it to rotate, and stun it again once its back faces you. Hit the glowing spot on its rear with the sword. FinalBoss tells you to chase it around an inner ring close to spikes if it runs, while the games.gg boss guide says the remake removed the spinning spikes and its random turning. Either way, the stun-then-rear-hit rhythm works.
How to beat Barinade
Barinade fires electric beams from the start, so keep circling instead of standing still. First lock on to each of the three tentacles holding it to the ceiling and sever them with the Boomerang; aim for the pale sections. Once it is free, a ring of Bari spins around the body. Dodge them until their shield drops, then destroy them with the Boomerang.
With the jellyfish gone, Barinade starts charging around the room. Hit the body with the Boomerang to stun it, run in for a few sword slashes, and back off before it recovers. Repeat until it falls. Collect the Heart Container before stepping into the blue warp; Ruto then hands over Zora’s Sapphire.
Common stuck points
Ruto went flying: if you press the action button too far from a door while carrying her, Link throws her instead of opening it. Stand flush against the door.
The tentacle keeps retracting: you are too far away. Lock on and move closer so it lowers into range.
The last switch will not trigger: a straight throw hits the barrier. Stand at the left edge of the tall platform so the Boomerang’s arc carries it around.
The Gold Skulltula count: VGC and RPG Site place the first token on vines opposite the Dungeon Map chest, while FinalBoss describes it in the water-switch room. All three agree there are four and all can be taken on the first visit.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get into Jabu-Jabu’s Belly?
Show Ruto’s Letter to King Zora so he moves, then release a bottled fish in front of Jabu-Jabu at Zora’s Fountain while you are a child.
Where is the Boomerang in Jabu-Jabu’s Belly?
Through the right branch past the hole room. Stand on the floor switch while carrying Ruto, defeat the Stingers inside and the chest appears.
How many Gold Skulltulas are in Jabu-Jabu’s Belly?
Four, all collectable on your first visit. The Boomerang reaches the ones you cannot climb to.
Did the remake change Big Octo?
One remake guide says its arena lost the spinning spikes and it no longer turns randomly, but another walkthrough still mentions spikes. The basic strategy of stunning it and hitting its back is the same.
What do you do after Jabu-Jabu’s Belly?
With all three Spiritual Stones, head back to Hyrule Castle Town. Zelda’s escape at the drawbridge leads into the Temple of Time chapter.