Legend of Zelda : Twilight Princess

[KingGilder 0]

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: TWILIGHT PRINCESS

Howling Stone / Hidden Skill Guide by KingGilder

This guide, for the U.S. retail version of the Nintendo Wii game The Legend of

Zelda: Twilight Princess, provides information on how and where to obtain and

unlock the advanced Hidden Skills available in the game. As the Wii and GCN

ports of the game feature worlds which are "mirrored," and as the control

mechanics of the games are different, this guide will have limited value to

those playing the GCN port.

Please be advised that while this guide makes no direct references to the

game's storyline, there are, out of necessity, specific references to

different locations and items in the game. As well, this guide makes reference

only to those items needed to obtain or unlock a Hidden Skill - other

items/tasks may be required to gain access to that specific locale. Those

sensitive to such spoilerish material are warned.

Throughout the course of the game, Link, the game's hero, will have the

opportunity to learn up to seven additional Hidden Skills. These are unlocked

by first activating certain Howling Stones while in Wolf Form, then finding

the corresponding Golden Wolf while Link is in Human Form. The Golden Wolf is

summoned once the Howling Stone is activated, at which point Link is taken to

an alternate realm where a spiritual guide offers a tutorial on the new skill.

The skill learned is dependent only upon the number of skills you've learned

already - it does not matter in which order the Howling Stones are activated,

although it's worth noting that in some instances, the Howling Stone which

becomes available when a new area is unlocked often has some benefit in the

next dungeon in your quest. However, with that said, only one Hidden Skill is

mandatory, part of the game's main storyline. All others are optional, and can

be unlocked anytime the region becomes available for exploration.

Following is a listing of Hidden Skills in the order in which they are

learned, as well as a listing of Howling Stones/Golden Wolves in the order in

which they become available in the game.

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HIDDEN SKILLS

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General Note - Prompts for all Hidden Skills will be given where applicable,

once they have been learned.

HIDDEN SKILL NO. 1 - Ending Blow

- How To Execute - When an enemy is near death, and has been knocked to the

ground, move close and press A while the enemy is Z-targeted.

- Applicability - Any enemy which can not be defeated with a single set of

blows that knocks it down.

HIDDEN SKILL NO. 2 - Shield Bash

- How To Execute - When an enemy is in close range, Z-target and move the

Nunchuk controller forward rapidly. Note: flicking the controller downward

with the wrist rapidly, while an enemy is near and Z-targeted, also works well.

- Applicability - Ideal for stronger enemies who block standard attacks.

Effective against flying enemies, and as a way of sending projectile weapons

back at those who use them against Link.

HIDDEN SKILL NO. 3 - Back Slice

- How To Execute - While Z-targeting an enemy in close proximity, execute two

side-step jumps in quick succession to bring yourself behind the enemy, and

then execute a sword slash by using the Wii remote. When executed properly,

the move should be very familiar to those who used the "Parry" move in WW.

- Applicability - Ideal for enemies with strong front defenses.

HIDDEN SKILL NO. 4 - Helm Splitter

- How To Execute - After first completing a Shield Bash, press A

while the enemy is stunned to perform a leaping attack that strikes the

enemy's head.

- Applicability - Effective against more heavily armored enemies. Once

executed, it allows for a barrage of follow-up attacks at the enemy's rear.

The move itself is also reminiscent of "Parry" attacks from WW against some

larger, more heavily armored enemies.

HIDDEN SKILL NO. 5 - Mortal Draw

- How To Execute - Without Z-targeting, and with your sword sheathed, allow an

enemy to draw near. When prompted, press A.

- Applicability - The Mortal Draw is a powerful attack, capable of

killing many enemies with a single strike. However, timing is absolutely key.

As you aren't actively targeting the foe, and are unarmed while waiting to use

it, Link is exposed to attack if the the blow isn't properly timed.

HIDDEN SKILL NO. 6 - Jump Strike

- How To Execute - Essentially a charged Jump Attack, the Jump Strike

is executed by first Z-targeting an enemy, pressing and holding the A

button, and then releasing. Once complete, Link will jump forward and perform

two attacks, which will damage the targeted enemy and any others in close

proximity.

- Applicability - Most effective against a densely packed cluster of enemies.

Against foes with considerable range, the movement has limited value, as Link

is shieldless and exposed while charging the attack.

HIDDEN SKILL NO. 7 - Great Spin

- How To Execute - With Link's health 100% full, execute a standard Spin

Attack.

- Applicability - It's an excellent attack: faster and stronger than the

standard Spin Attack. However, because it is only available when your health

is completely full, the move may not be available often enough to be genuinely

useful.

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HOWLING STONE / GOLDEN WOLF LOCATIONS

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HOWLING STONE NO. 1 - N/A

GOLDEN WOLF NO. 1 - Part of the main storyline, the first Golden Wolf

is found in the Faron Woods, on the approach to the Forest Temple.

HOWLING STONE NO. 2 - Encountered the first time Link approaches Death

Mountain, while Eldin is still in Twilight, in a fairly rocky area with a

number of steam geysers. The Stone should be highly visible, and difficult to

miss.

GOLDEN WOLF NO. 2 - Ordon Spring, accessible once Link has returned to

human form after freeing Eldin of the Twilight.

HOWLING STONE NO. 3 - Located in the Zora's River areaof Lanayru, on a

small hill NE of Iza's cabin. The statue can be accessed once Zora's Domain

has been unfrozen and the river is flowing again.

GOLDEN WOLF NO. 3 - East of Hyrule Castle Town, on a platform.

Accessible once Link has returned to human form after freeing Lanayru of the

Twilight.

HOWLING STONE NO. 4 - Located in North Faron Woods, available during

the quest which takes place after the events which take place following

Lakebed Temple. The statue can be found just after Midna helps Wolf Link

traverse a series of smaller chasms.

GOLDEN WOLF NO. 4 - South of Hyrule Castle Town, in the NE section of

that area, accessible once Link returns to human form from the quest mentioned

above.

HOWLING STONE NO. 5 - In the Lake Hylia area, south of the Warp Point,

accessible by ladder at any time after Lakebed Temple is complete.

GOLDEN WOLF NO. 5 - NE section of Gerudo Desert (which becomes

available shortly after the quest mentioned above in No. 4 in the main

storyline) - a boar must be used to access the area.

HOWLING STONE NO. 6 - Located in the Snowpeak Area, roughly NW of the

area where Link begins the final approach to the Snowpeak Ruins. The area

becomes available once Link has completed the Arbiter's Grounds.

GOLDEN WOLF NO. 6 - Kakariko Village Graveyard, accessible once the

wolf has been summoned.

HOWLING STONE NO. 7 - Western area of the Hidden Village, accessed by

smashing through a house's window and going into the backyard.

GOLDEN WOLF NO. 7 - Northern Castle Town, in the approach to Hyrule

Castle, accessible once the wolf has been summoned.

[Prior 0]

This is classed as a spoiler, surely.