Zelda: Skyward Sword - Skyview Temple dungeon: How to beat the Stalfos and get the Beetle explained

How to start Skyview Temple in Zelda: Skyward Sword

Upon entering Skyview Temple in Skyward Sword, you need to follow the staircase down, killing Keese and cutting spiderwebs as you go, until you reach a locked door.

Since you can't enter this door, you instead need to cut down the trees in front of the nearby vines and hit the Deku Baba atop the ledge with your Slingshot. Doing so will stun the Deku Baba, giving you enough time to climb the vines and kill the monster. If you don't stun the evil plant, it will knock you back to the ground.

Once the Deku Baba is dead, hit the red crystal with your sword to unlock the door below you.

Enter this new room and climb onto the platform, so you're standing opposite the eye. The easiest way to complete this puzzle is to target the eye and then move your sword about, until it becomes confused and falls to the ground.

The door beneath the eye will now open and, going through, you'll find yourself in a room containing three new doors.

Skyview Temple dungeon map location explained

Your next task in Skyward Sword is to find the dungeon map for Skyview Temple. First, however, you need to kill the Deku Babas hanging from the ceiling, the spiky balls on the floor and the nearby Green Bokoblin.

If you want to create a shortcut back to the dungeon's entrance, then look at the wall above the tunnel you entered the room by. This wall is covered in vines and, at the top, are a series of wooden boards which, when broken, will lead back to the entrance. Just make sure you kill the spiders infesting the vines first!

When you're ready, hit the crystal above the right-hand door with your Slingshot and enter the room below.

Here you need to drop down to the lower level where, along the left-hand wall, you'll find a small tunnel to crawl through. This leads to a hidden room containing another crystal to hit.

Water will now enter both this room and the previous one, so make your way back there.

Once you're in the main room, jump into the water and swim until you're beneath the walkway to the left-hand room. Here you'll find another crystal which, again, needs hitting with your sword, so you can enter the left-hand side room.

Kill the Green Bokoblin upon entering this new room and then head to the tree stump to the right of the Skulltula. Standing here, you'll be able to see two vines you can knock down with your Slingshot.

Jump onto the first vine and climb up it slightly, so you can safely swing Link onto the ledge on your right-hand side. There you'll find a crystal to hit which will cause water to enter this room as well.

Return to the tree stump and use the vines to cross to the other side of the room. Here you'll find a Quadro Baba waiting for you and, if you want, you can easily kill the two Skulltula by attacking their purple weakspot to make this room easier to navigate.

When you're ready, go up the stairs and through the door to find the chest containing the dungeon map.

Skyview Temple small key location explained

Your next task in Skyward Sword is to find a small key, so you can venture further into the Skyview Temple. First, jump down into the water below and head over the right-hand of the main room.

There you'll find a log floating in the water at such a height that you can reach the vines above it, which, when climbed, will take you to a new door. Make sure you take care of the little spider first!

You'll find yourself back in the right-hand side room, but at the end previously inaccessible to you.

Your first task here is to kill the Skulltula, which will, annoyingly, copy your movements to protect its weakspot; knock it onto its back with a spin attack, so you can murder it.

Once the Skulltula is dead, you need to place Link in the spot where both eyes will be open, then wave his sword about until both eyes fall to the floor. This will give you access to the chest containing the small key.

Return to the previous room and open the locked door to find yourself in a large chamber containing a ruined dome. You may want to kill the Keese, Green Bokoblin and Skulltras in this area to make it easier to navigate later.

To open the dome, you need to hit the crystal above the door with your Slingshot. If you're running low on ammo, cut down the bushes dotted about the room. It's also a good idea to drink a health potion before entering the dome, because it's Stalfos miniboss time!

How to defeat the Stalfos mini boss in Zelda: Skyward Sword

Inside the dome you'll face the first miniboss of Skyward Sword - the Stalfos of Skyview Temple.

To defeat the Stalfos, you need to aim your sword swings for the gaps it leaves open with it's twin blades.

If, for example, the Stalfos is holding it's swords vertically, you need to act with a vertical sword swing. It can hold it's swords in a perpendicular fashion and, when it does, this is your call to attack with a dialogue swing.

It's a good idea to target the Stalfos throughout the battle, because it allows you to quickly backflip to safety whenever it plans an attack. You'll want to do this whenever the Stalfos rears backwards or crosses it's swords, because these are it's signs of attack.

You'll lose two hearts if the Stalfos hits you, so make sure you keep your distance.

How to use the Beetle in Skyview Temple in Zelda: Skyward Sword

After turning the Stalfos into dust, a chest containing the Beetle will appear.

The Beetle is a useful item in Skyward Sword and works in a similar fashion to the Hyoi Pears in Wind Waker; allowing you to explore high areas for hidden loot and cutting Skullutla webs.

For the Beetle's first outline, you need to send it through the hole in the dome and to the crystal you used to originally enter this area.

It's a good idea to spend some time getting used to the Beetle's controls, because this part of the dungeon is filled with little nooks which can only be reached by the Beetle. There are Rupees to find and, if you use the Beetle to hit the crystal at the top of the dome, you'll even find a Heart Piece.

When you're ready to move on, send the Beetle through one of the holes above the left-hand door to, of course, hit the crystal hidden within. While you're doing this, you'll also discover that the Beetle can be used to snip the spines of Deku Baba's.

Head through the newly opened door and along the corridor within until you reach another door to enter. Once inside, kill the Skulltula and then use the Beetle to break the web holding the crate to ceiling.

Next, climb the vines and push the crate down to the lower level. You now need to place the crate directly in front of the gate and stand atop it, ensuring all three eyes are open when you do.

With all three eyes on you, swing Link's sword about to destroy them, so you can collect the small key.

Now return to the previous room, but, alas, you can't reach the exit. Instead, send the Beetle back into the sky, so it can hit the crystal at the back of the room to flood this area.

Climb up onto the upper level of this room and destroy some of the Skulluta's web before killing it. All you have to do now is go through the crawlspace at the far end of the room to reach the entrance again.

Our Skyward Sword walkthrough will help you find every Heart Piece and Empty Bottle. We can also help you defeat Ghirahim, Scaldera, Moldarach, The Imprisoned, Koloktos, Tentalus, Bilocyte and Demise. You can also discover where to find Kukiel to unlock the Gratitude Crystals and a number of side quests, including the toilet paper quest, missing sister location and party wheel location.

Skyview Temple boss key location

To find the boss key for Skyview Temple in Skyward Sword, you first need to go to the right-hand side of the dome room and use the Beetle to kill the Deku Babas hanging from the ceiling. This will allow you to safely walk across the tightrope and open the door.

Try your best not to fall into the pit below, because there are two Quadro Babas waiting for you.

Inside this new room, you'll find a Staldra waiting for you. To defeat this hydra-like beast, you need to cut off all of its heads at the same time. This is achieved by matching the swing of Link's sword to the position the heads are in; if, for example, the heads are arranged horizontally, then you need to swing your sword horizontally.

When the Staldra is dead, you can progress to the next room.

In this final room, you need to first kill a Green Bokoblin and then use the Beetle to cut the web of a Skullutra, before performing a running jump across the gap.

You'll now find yourself close to both the boss key chest and final door of the Skyview Temple. Before moving forward, however, it's a good idea to use either the Beetle or the Slingshot to hit the crystal above the gate, so you can easily access the rest of the dungeon.

With that done, cross the tightrope, making sure to jostle the Green Bokoblins down into the depths.

On the other side of the pit, you can hit left to find a chest containing 20 Rupees and then climb the vines you'll find in the small right-hand tower.

At the top of this tower, cut the rope free and use it to swing over to the large trees. Walk across these branches until you find two sets of vines which can be unravelled by using the Beetle.

Now simply use the vines to swing across the gaps, so you can reach the chest containing the boss key.

You can leave this area by climbing up the vines, crossing the gap and jumping down past the gate. From there, it's back across the tightrope to the final door of the Skyview Temple.

Before heading into the boss fight, however, we recommend saving your game, ensuring Link's at full health and, if you need one, heading back to Skyloft for a potion or two. Once you're properly prepared and have placed the key correctly in the lock, it's time to face Ghirahim for the first time.

After defeating Ghirahim, return to Skyloft to open the way to Eldin Volcano and the Earth Temple. Upon placing the Ruby Tablet, you'll also be able to complete the 'Find Kukiel' side quest and unlock the Gratitude Crystals.