Song of the Hero walkthrough – Zelda: Skyward Sword HD guide (2024)

With The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD’s Master Sword in hand, it’s time to learn the Song of the Hero. This is going to take a lot of work and a lot of travel.

In this Skyward Sword HD Song of the Hero walkthrough, we’ll guide you through collecting all four parts of the song in the Thunderhead, Faron Woods, Eldin Volcano, and Lanayru Desert with tips on finding items, rupees, Goddess Cubes, and collectibles and completing every quest and side quest. We’ll start in the Sealed Grounds where we have to put away The Imprisoned again and activate the Time Gate. From there, we’ll head to Skyloft to learn the Spiral Charge flying technique and the Lumpy Pumpkin to collect an offering for the Great Spirit of the Skies Levias. We’ll give you tips on defeating the Occular Parasite Bilocyte to free Levias. From there, you’ll need to find the three dragons, and each one requires a lengthy task to meet. In Faron Woods, we’ll give you a map and screenshots to find all 17 Tadtones for the Water Dragon Faron. In Eldin Volcano, we’ll help you find all your stolen gear to meet the Fire Dragon Eldin. In Lanayru Desert (and Caves and Gorge), we’ll walk you through the steps of growing the Fruit from the Tree of Life.

Table of contents

• Sealed Grounds
• The Imprisoned (with arms)
• Temple of Hylia
• Skyloft
• Spiral Charge
• Lumpy Pumpkin
• Thunderhead
• Great Spirit of the Skies Levias boss fight
• Occular Parasite Bilocyte boss fight
• Phase 1
• Phase 2
• Sealed Grounds
• The Imprisoned (with arms and a tail)
• Phase 1
• Phase 2
• Phase 3
• Faron Woods
• Collect the Tadtones
• Water Dragon Faron
• Eldin Volcano
• Gust Bellows
• Clawshot
• Whip
• Slingshot
• Bomb Bag
• True Master Sword
• Adventure Pouch
• Fire Dragon Eldin
• Lanayru Desert
• Lanayru Caves
• Lanayru Gorge
• Fruit from the Tree of Life
• Sealed Grounds
• Lightning Dragon Lanayru
• Return to Levias

Sealed Grounds

Drop into Faron Woods at the Sealed Grounds, and head into the Sealed Temple. Speak with The Old One inside.

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Follow their instructions until everything starts shaking. Head outside and talk to Groose.

Drop down to the bottom of the Sealed Grounds.

The Imprisoned (with arms)

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You’ll face off against The Imprisoned again. The fight is basically the same as your first time against The Imprisoned, but with a couple twists: The Imprisoned has arms now and it blasts out energy with every stomp.

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You’ve got Groose on your side this time. Periodically, he’ll shout and you can bomb The Imprisoned with the Groosenator catapult. When he hits The Imprisoned, it’ll be stunned for for a few seconds, giving you extra time to deal damage.

Just like last time, your goal is to destroy the toes — four on each foot. Take out all the toes on one foot to slow it down.

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When The Imprisoned falls backward, you won’t be able to run past its arms. Instead, drop to a lower level and ride an air vent back up. Drive the spike into its head.

You’ll have to do this three times.

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Once it’s defeated, drop to the center of the Sealed Grounds and Skyward Strike the spike to finish the fight.

Head back to the Sealed Temple to speak with The Old One. Hit the Time Gate with a Skyward Strike, and watch the cutscene.

Temple of Hylia

Speak with Impa inside the Temple of Hylia.

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After a long cutscene with Zelda and a lot of explanation, speak with Impa again.

When you return to the present, you’ll have another conversation with The Old One and Groose.

Skyloft

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Fly back to Skyloft and land near the Knight Academy. Head inside on the second floor and speak with Gaepora in his office. He won’t have much information, but when you leave, he’ll point you to Instructor Owlan.

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Owlan’s office is the first door on the right when you leave Gaeopora’s office. Speak with him to learn more about Levias.

Spiral Charge

Before Owlan will send you to find Levias, you need to learn to use the Spiral Charge flying technique.

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Follow his instructions and hit 10 targets with a Spiral Charge. Take your time and aim carefully while you d(o this.

When you’re done, Owlan will send you to the Lumpy Pumpkin.

Lumpy Pumpkin

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Fly to Pumpkin Landing in the southeast corner of the sky. Speak to Pumm behind the counter inside.

He’ll cook his pumpkin soup tribute, and Fi will call in Scrapper to help carry it. Your job is to carry it to the island with an everlasting rainbow inside the Thunderhead.

Thunderhead

The island you’re looking for is hard to miss. It’s off to your right when you enter the Thunderhead and has a bright rainbow over it.

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Drop onto the island, and Scrapper will unload the pumpkin soup.

Great Spirit of the Skies Levias boss fight

The Great Spirit of the Skies Levias will appear to claim the offering. He’s not happy, though. Hop off the island and onto your Loftwing.

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Your goal for this section is to chase Levias around and Spiral Charge through those eyeball tentacles sticking out of his body.

Destroy all four eyeballs, and then land on Levias’ head.

Occular Parasite Bilocyte boss fight

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Your real enemy will appear when you land, Occular Parasite Bilocyte.

Phase 1

Bilocyte will flair out a couple of neck frills and begin to spit green rocks at you.

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Your job is to knock the rocks into its left and right frills, and then into its central eye. Swing your sword from right to left to knock the projectile to the left. Swing from left to right to knock it to the right. A Shield Bash works to knock it directly back toward the center.

When it’s stunned, rush in and deal as much damage as you can.

Phase 2

After a couple times through the process, Bilocyte won’t bother with its neck frills. Instead, it will spit a rock and then duck to one side. You’ll need to react quickly to swing in the right direction to hit it.

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After a lot of hits, Bilocyte will fall.

When the parasite is defeated, Levias will be friendly again and explain that you’ll need to learn the Song of the Hero from the three dragons.

Sealed Grounds

We already know one dragon, so head to Faron Woods. When you (try to) land there, you won’t be able to reach most of the locations, though.

Land at the Sealed Grounds. Groose will come explain what’s going on. Guess what!

The Imprisoned (with arms and a tail)

You know the deal. This fight plays out a little differently, though.

Phase 1

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The fight starts out the same as the last two. You’re chasing The Imprisoned and aiming for the toes. Its got a tail this time, so you’ll need to be careful approaching from behind.

Use Groose to stun it as often as you can. You can also use your Bow to take out toes from a distance.

Phase 2

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Instead of getting back to its feet, The Imprisoned will start to float up into the air. Hit it with a bomb from the Groosenator.

It’ll fall to the bottom of the Sealed Grounds. Sprint down and drive the spike into its head.

Phase 3

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At this point, Groose will run into trouble. Use the air vents to climb back up to the top and speak with him.

Climb into the basket of the Groosenator and launch yourself onto The Imprisoned’s head. Drive the spike in with strikes from above.

When it falls this time, you’ll be able to Skyward Strike the seal and lock up the monster (again).

Climb back up to the Sealed Temple and head inside.

Faron Woods

Groose will help you get to where you’re going, so you don’t have to pick where you’re headed.

Graphic: Jeffrey Parkin | Sources: Nintendo via Polygon

When you land in the flooded Faron Woods, swim over and speak with Bucha. Swim to the base of the Great Tree and enter through the same tunnel you used earlier.

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Inside, surface to meet Faron.

Collect the Tadtones

Faron will split the melody you’re after into 17 sets of Tadtones.

To collect them, you’ll need to either touch them or Spin Attack near them to draw them in.

Graphic: Jeffrey Parkin | Sources: Nintendo via Polygon

You have to collect all of the notes in a set within a set amount of time. Mostly this just means Spin Attacking nearby, but sometimes you’ll have to follow chains of them around larger areas.

Use the images in the gallery above to help if you get stuck. The numbers correspond to the numbers on the map.

Water Dragon Faron

Once you’ve collected them all, head back into the Great Tree and speak to Faron to learn the first part of the Song of the Hero.

Eldin Volcano

Next, head for Eldin Volcano. Once again, you can’t choose where you land.

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When you wake up, you won’t have any of your stuff, and you’ll be in jail. Smash the pots and run around your cell until Plat shows up and returns your Mogma Mitts.

Burrow under the cell door. There’s only one path through the underground, so just crawl forward and emerge at the other end.

Gust Bellows

Graphic: Jeffrey Parkin | Sources: Nintendo via Polygon

Take the tunnel to your right. Follow it until you hit a new barricade. Drop off the ledge to the left and speak with Plats again.

Your goal is to navigate to the chests marked on your map without getting caught by the Bokoblins patrolling the area.

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Climb up on the ledge on the other side of the barricade. Hide, and wait for the patrolling Bokoblin to walk away from you. Follow them, and drop off the ledge to the left.

A little farther east, burrow underground. Head left, and then loop around counterclockwise. Use the Bomb Flowers to destroy the rocks until you can emerge.

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Follow the path east until you get a quick cutscene overview of your next steps. Drop off the ledge, and skirt around the lit up area to the left.

Burrow underground and defeat the Moldorm waiting for you. Emerge from the hole in the northwest corner.

Climb the ledges and open the chest for your Gust Bellows.

Clawshot

Graphic: Jeffrey Parkin | Sources: Nintendo via Polygon

Use the Gust Bellows to clear the lava next to you. Head east, and follow the path around the higher level.

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Use the barricades to dodge the Bokoblins as you work your way around clockwise.

At the end of the path, burrow underground. Defeat the Moldorm and emerge from the northeast corner.

Drop off the ledge and open the chest to retrieve your Clawshot.

Whip

Graphic: Jeffrey Parkin | Sources: Nintendo via Polygon

Look north, and use the line of Peahats to cross the lava. Clawshot to the vines and continue west.

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Drop from the ledge onto a lava raft, and enter the tunnel. There are several hearts and pots inside to (finally) get your health back up.

Back outside, ride a raft south. You’ll come to a low ledge on your right (west) to jump to. Hop over, and follow the path up.

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Climb onto the ledge, and follow the Bokoblin to the left — away from the chest for now. Duck behind the barriers on the left, and Clawshot over to the vines southwest of you. Climb up to the bridge.

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Turn right, and use a bomb to knock over the watchtower. Keep an eye out for the patrolling Bokoblin, and run down to the chest to reclaim your Whip.

Slingshot

Graphic: Jeffrey Parkin | Sources: Nintendo via Polygon

Run back to the bridge north of you.

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Whip through the gate to pull up a Peahat. Clawshot over the gate.

Take a right at the bird statue. Follow the path past a tunnel and grab a Bomb Flower.

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Run back, and toss the bomb into the tunnel to destroy the boulder inside. Use another bomb to destroy the second boulder, and jump into the updraft.

When you land, head north across the bridge and follow the tunnel around. Cross the tower-bridge you make a long time ago, and take a left (east) to follow the path down by the lava.

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Clawshot along the Peahats heading south. When you run out of Peahats, drop onto a stone raft. Hop off to the right by the Bomb Flowers.

You need to time this next part carefully. Pick up a Bomb Flower just as a raft gets to you. Hop onto it and toss the Bomb Flower at the tower. Hop off of the raft once you’re out of the light.

When the tower falls, go open the chest to reclaim your Slingshot.

Bomb Bag

Graphic: Jeffrey Parkin | Sources: Nintendo via Polygon

Clawshot north along the line of Peahats to return to the Bokoblin village just east of the Earth Temple entrance.

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Slingshot the first guard to stun them, and sprint past. Dodge the ChuChu and the second guard as you continue west. Climb onto the low ledge on your left just outside of the next watchtower’s light.

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Slingshot the guard at the top, and burrow into the ground just south of the tower.

Head left, up, and then right to use the Bomb Flower to destroy the rocks blocking the exit. Climb out.

Open the chest to retrieve your Bomb Bag. Dig in the ground to the right to uncover an air vent. Ride it up.

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Use the Bomb Flower there to refill your bag. Use one to knock over the tower.

True Master Sword

Graphic: Jeffrey Parkin | Sources: Nintendo via Polygon

Backtrack to the east and cross the tower-bridge heading north. You’re heading back to the room with the updraft where you landed. Continue south and speak with Plats.

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Bomb the boulders in the hot room, and continue up the path toward the Volcano Summit.

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Inside, walk forward and claim your sword.

Adventure Pouch

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Take a right into the next room. Ride a stone raft across to the stairs on the east side. There’s a Goddess Cube on your right, but it’ll take some careful timing to hit it.

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Climb the stairs, but don’t go through the doorway yet. Turn left (north), and hop to the ledge. Follow it west and take the first right.

Stab the water pod and carry it along the tunnel. Use the water pod to create a platform at the lava and hop across.

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Drop off the ledge and deal with the Bokoblins and Keese. Open the chest to collect your Adventure Pouch and the rest of your gear.

Fire Dragon Eldin

Graphic: Jeffrey Parkin | Sources: Nintendo via Polygon

Climb up the ledges to the southwest and bomb the boulder blocking the path. Slide down the ramp and head back into the room to the east.

Ride a raft to the stairs again. Go through the tunnel.

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Walk forward and cut the rope to the drawbridge with your sword. Use the Beetle to cut the other two rope. Cross the drawbridge.

The Fire Dragon Eldin will appear and teach you the second part of the Song of the Hero.

Lanayru Desert

Graphic: Jeffrey Parkin | Sources: Nintendo via Polygon

Head to the sky and fly over to Lanayru Desert. Drop into the Lanayru Mine Entry bird statue — the very first bird statue you found here.

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Clawshot up to the target and speak with Golo.

Follow the path north, and Clawshot along the gorge toward Lanayru Caves.

Lanayru Caves

Inside Lanayru Caves, roll a bomb into the tunnel leading south.

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Crawl through. There’s a Gossip Stone along the left wall. Continue through the tunnel to the south.

Lanayru Gorge

Graphic: Jeffrey Parkin | Sources: Nintendo via Polygon

Save at the Lanayru Gorge bird statue on your right. Use your Beetle to pick up a bomb from the nearby cactus, and use it to bomb the rocks on the pillar to the west.

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Hop across and read the plaque by the locked door.

Follow the path south. Stand next to the boulder at the end and look southeast.

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The Small Key is below you on a stone pillar. Fly the Beetle down to retrieve it.

Graphic: Jeffrey Parkin | Sources: Nintendo via Polygon

Run back up and use the key. Follow the path and Clawshot along the next gorge.

Hit the Timeshift Stone in the mine cart to activate it. Talk to the robot nearby to start the mine cart moving, and follow it.

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Stand on the switch to the left of the door to open it and continue south.

Deal with the enemies as you go and just keep following the cart.

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When you hit a wall, Clawshot up to the vines above you to find the next switch.

When you enter the long gorge in the south, use the platforms and vines that appear along the walls to continue escorting the cart.

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Crawl along the vines along the southern wall and dodge the air vents. A little farther east, you’ll need to Clawshot across a series of stalactites and stalagmites.

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Just keep following along with the cart.

Clear the enemies as you enter the tunnel in the southeast corner of the map.

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When you hit the gate, use your Whip to throw the switch. Keep your Whip handy and use it to swing across the gaps.

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At the end of the northward leg, wait for the cart to pass the electricity gate. Sprint back along the sinksand and loop around to the switch. Pull it to continue.

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The next room is full of enemies and pretty chaotic. Ignore the enemies as best you can and use the mine cart for cover. You’ll be able to avoid most of the enemies this way. You’ll need to deal with several Beamos, though. Once the cart reaches the door on the west side, use your Whip to pull the switch.

For the westward (and, thankfully, final) leg, follow the bridge that appears. When the cart gets stopped, use the Beetle to bomb the boulder.

Fruit from the Tree of Life

When the mine cart arrives at the end of the track, Lightning Dragon Lanayru will awaken. But he won’t sing yet.

Graphic: Jeffrey Parkin | Sources: Nintendo via Polygon

Head northeast and follow the path there. Use the Gust Bellows to clear the way. Sprint across the sinksand and climb up to the (dead) Tree of Life.

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Gust Bellows the sand pile nearby to find a Timeshift Stone. Hit it. Before anything else, drop off to the southeast to find a Goddess Cube.

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Climb back onto the ledge and dig up the Life Tree Seedling.

Follow the path back to the west and use the Beetle to hit the Timeshift Stone in the mine cart. Use the bird statue to head to the sky.

Sealed Grounds

Fly over to Faron Woods and drop into the Sealed Grounds. Head inside the Sealed Temple.

Over on the west side, speak to Groose. This is where the Seedling goes, but not when.

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Step through the Time Gate. Plant the Life Tree Seedling in the room to the west, and then return to the present.

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Roll into the now fully grown tree to collect the Life Tree Fruit.

Lightning Dragon Lanayru

Fly back to Lanayru Desert. Drop in at the new Lanayru Gorge bird statue.

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Deliver the Life Tree Fruit to Lanayru. He’ll teach you the third part of the Song of the Hero.

Return to Levias

Fly over to the Thunderhead and land on Levias’ head. He’ll teach you the fourth and final part of the Song of the Hero.

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After a quick musical number, you’re ready to return to Skyloft and claim the Triforce.