After you make your way into the Mysterious Forest, the wise Owl will swoop down onto a tree nearby and talk to you through a cutscene. They will mention that the key that you’ll find in the Mysterious Forest is meant to open the entrance to Level 1 – Tail Cave, which is located just south of Mabe Village.
The Owl then flies off, leaving you to your adventures once more. It’s at this point that you can open up your map to take a look at the area.
Table Of Contents
The Map of the Mysterious Forest
From your position at the entrance, you’ll need to head a bit east and then go north towards the tree that’s in a clearing by itself. Here, you’ll meet your biggest obstacle in traversing these woods: a magical raccoon.
Meet the Raccoon
Despite seeming harmless, this raccoon will prevent you from going to the northern part of the Mysterious Forest, which is where you’ll find the Tail Key in a chest. To get by this pesky mammal, you’re going to need a special item. However, this special item cannot be found in the Mysterious Forest. You’ll need to pick up a vital ingredient (the Toadstool) for it in the western part of the Mysterious Forest before going to Koholint Prairie and seeking help there.
How to Find the Toadstool
You’ll need to use one of the hollow log caves in the Mysterious Forest to get to the area where the Toadstool can be found.
To find the entrance to the cave that will lead you to the northwestern part of the Mysterious Forest, head a bit south from the raccoon’s hangout spot and then go east through a small path that’s tricky to see on the map. Keep going east and you’ll see a signpost just outside a hollow log. If you go into the log, you’ll enter a cave full of cracked floor tiles, purple crystals, and a chest.
How to Get the Chest Surrounded by Purple Crystals
The Toadstool is not in this chest, nor are any other collectibles, however, the contents are pretty easy to get, so you might as well loot it while you’re here. You can break the purple crystals with your Sword. Proceed around the room in a clockwise fashion while clearing out the purple crystals. Just don’t stand on the cracked floor tiles too long, or you’ll break them and fall through.
After you get rid of the purple crystals, you’ll have an easy time getting the rock out of your way. From the right side, push the rock in front of the chest to the left. This will clear the way in front of the chest, allowing you to open it. Inside the chest is a Purple Rupee that is worth 50 Rupees. After you collect the treasure, proceed north through the corridor leading out of the room.
Note the Location of a Heart Piece
As you get into the other part of the cave, you’ll notice a Heart Piece behind some skulls and rocks. You can’t get this one quite yet, as you’ll need to have the Power Bracelet to move the heavy skulls. You’ll get the Power Bracelet after clearing Level 2 – Bottle Grotto, so, until then, mark the location of this Heart Piece on your map for later.
Afterward, go south to exit the cave and find yourself in the northwestern part of the Mysterious Forest.
Pick Up the Toadstool
The moment you exit the cave, you’ll see a conspicuous red mushroom growing beyond 3 shrubs. This is the Toadstool you’re after. Grab it and then backtrack through the cave you just exited. Your next task is to turn the Toadstool into Magic Powder, which will let you take advantage of the raccoon’s dust allergy and move them. To do this, you’ll need the help of the Witch who lives on Koholint Prairie.
Turn the Toadstool into Magic Powder
After you get back to the other side of the hollow log cave, go north until you see another hollow hog, though this one will be surrounded by rocks you can’t move yet. Note this location for later on your map, as it contains another Heart Piece, though, you’ll need the Hookshot to reach this one, which you won’t get until you tackle Level 5 – Catfish’s Maw.
From the currently blocked hollow log, go east until you are out of the woods.
You’ll now find yourself in the western part of Koholint Prairie. To the right, you’ll spot a Heart Piece just beyond some holes. To get it, you’ll need the Roc’s Feather that grants you the ability to jump. Mark this collectible on your map for later and follow the path southward.
At the end of the path, you’ll find an ominous structure. Fear not, however, as this is the Witch’s Hut. The witch within is friendly, so go inside to meet her.
After you talk to the witch, she’ll note that you have the Toadstool, which she refers to as the “Sleepy Toadstool.” When you give this fungus to her, she’ll give you some Magic Powder, which is a vital item for your adventures. As the game then mentions, you can equip the Magic Powder to one of your equipment slots (the X and Y buttons).
How to Get More Magic Powder if You Run Out
With your new item, you can now move the raccoon out of your way and more. You can give the Magic Powder a quick test by lighting the unlit torch in the witch’s home, but this is not necessary. If you ever run out of Magic Powder, you can harvest another Toadstool from the same spot in the Mysterious Forest and give it to the witch once more. Alternatively, you can also win some Magic Powder from Trendy Game in Mabe Village.
Now, with your new tool in hand, proceed back into the Mysterious Forest.
Get Rid of the Raccoon
When you get back to the clearing with the raccoon, equip and use the Magic Powder on them to trigger a cutscene. After the raccoon bounces around the place for a bit, they will turn back into their true form: Tarin. It turns out, this resident of Mabe Village ate a suspicious toadstool that turned them into a raccoon. Now that they’re relieved of their curse, Tarin will head back to Mabe Village.
Claim the Tail Key
Just north of where you rescued Tarin, you’ll find a chest surrounded by 3 shrubs. Open it to claim the Tail Key, which will let you into the first dungeon of the game: Level 1 – Tail Cave. However, before you leave the Mysterious Forest, you should look around for some more collectibles and useful areas.
All Collectibles and Important Locations in the Mysterious Forest
Thankfully, this forest isn’t quite as mysterious anymore, so you can explore as you please. Overall, there are 2 Heart Pieces, 3 Secret Seashells, and 1 Great Fairy location in the Mysterious Forest.
The Great Fairy Location
From the middle of the forest, close to the signpost outside the central log cave, you can go south and then east along a small path to reach an eastern clearing. In the north of this clearing will be a Great Fairy, who will fully heal you.
Where to Find the 2 Heart Pieces
As mentioned before, there is 1 Heart Piece within the cave in the northern part of the Mysterious Forest. However, you’ll need the Power Bracelet and the Hookshot to get it.
Also mentioned before, you can’t get the other Heart Piece in this area until later as well, though, you’ll just need the Power Bracelet to reach this one. When you have the Power Bracelet, head to the central log cave and move those skulls you saw earlier while you were on your way to get the Toadstool.
Where to Find the 3 Secret Seashells
For the first Secret Seashell, you’ll need to use the Shovel to dig into a patch of land surrounded by blue flowers. This patch of land is just south of the hollow log cave blocked by rocks in the north of the woods. Keep this trick in mind, because there are other Secret Seashells hidden in other parts of Koholint Island like this.
To get the second Secret Seashell, head to the northwest exit of the Mysterious Forest and dig by the westernmost trees to find it.
The last Secret Seashell found in the Mysterious Forest requires you to use the Power Bracelet. As such, you’ll have to come back later for this one. However, when you do, head to the southern part of the woods and move the rock blocking a small clearing. Deal with the red Gel enemies to loot the chest containing the Secret Seashell in peace.
When you’re done checking out the Mysterious Forest, it’s time to head south to the first dungeon in the game.
Travel South to Level 1 – Tail Cave
Head out of the southwestern exit of the Mysterious Forest to find yourself once more in Mabe Village. To reach the entrance of Level 1 – Tail Cave, travel out of the village’s southwestern exit and then head as east as possible. When you can’t go further east, loop around the line of trees and head back toward the west for a bit. Afterward, when you enter the clearing south of some holes, go further south and then east to find the entrance to the dungeon.
All that’s left to do now is to use the Tail Key to unlock the metal bars blocking your path. After that, it will be time to take on Level 1 – Tail Cave.
