The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Guide | How to Break Rocks in Goron City

Here’s a guide on how to break rocks in Goron City in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Game Guide by Ragib Rawnak on Nov 07, 2026

When you first arrive in Goron City, large boulders block most side chambers, shops, and pathways. You cannot pick up the wild Bomb Flowers growing around the mountain with your bare hands, and standard attacks will not leave a scratch on the rocks.

To clear these barriers, you need to earn the Goron's Bracelet by cheering up the Goron patriarch, Darunia.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Meeting Darunia

Meeting Darunia

Head down to the lowest level of Goron City. At the north end, you will find a massive locked door with a royal crest mat placed right in front of it in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Stand directly on the Triforce carpet, take out your Fairy Ocarina, and play Zelda's Lullaby. The music proves your status as the royal messenger, opening the chamber door.

Walk inside to meet Darunia. He is furious and depressed because his people are starving, their food cavern is sealed off, and the King of Hyrule sent a mere child instead of royal aid. Talking to him gets you nowhere; you need to find a way to lift his spirits before he cooperates.

Unlocking the Shortcut to the Lost Woods

Exit Darunia's room and pull out a Deku Stick. Dip it into one of the burning braziers inside the chamber to catch fire. Before the stick burns out, use it to light the unlit torches stationed around the lower level and the giant rotating urn.

Run up the ramp to the layer above on the east side of the city. You will spot a tunnel sealed off by boulders, flanked by two Bomb Flowers in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Light your Deku Stick from a nearby torch and touch the flame to one of the Bomb Flowers. The plant will ignite, trigger a detonation, and shatter the boulders completely. This blasts open a direct shortcut into the Lost Woods.

Learning Saria's Song in the Sacred Forest Meadow

Step through the newly opened shortcut into the Lost Woods. To navigate through the maze, listen closely to the volume of the music playing from each log tunnel; always walk through the opening where the melody sounds the loudest. The correct navigation sequence from the Goron City shortcut is left, left, straight, left, and right.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Learning Saria's Song in the Sacred Forest Meadow

Emerging on the other side brings you to the Sacred Forest Meadow. Defeat the Wolfos guarding the entrance by blocking its strikes with your shield and slashing its exposed back when it turns around.

Work your way through the hedge maze past the Mad Scrubs until you reach the stone staircase at the far end. Here you will find your childhood friend Saria. Talk to her, and she will teach you Saria's Song in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Cheering Up Darunia to Get the Goron's Bracelet

Backtrack through the shortcut to return to Goron City, then head straight back down to Darunia's throne room. Pull out your Fairy Ocarina right in front of him and play Saria's Song.

The lively tune immediately snaps Darunia out of his bad mood, causing him to break out into an energetic dance. Once he calms down, he thanks you for the music and awards you the Goron's Bracelet.

Destroying Boulders with Bomb Flowers

The Goron's Bracelet grants you the physical strength required to pluck Bomb Flowers straight from their roots. Walk up to any wild Bomb Flower and press the action button to rip it out of the ground.

Keep in mind that plucking a Bomb Flower ignites its fuse instantly. Carry the active explosive over to any cracked boulder or sealed entrance and toss it against the rock face before the timer runs out in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

You can now use these plants to shatter the stone barriers inside Goron City, open up the city shops, and blast open the sealed entrance to Dodongo's Cavern on the trail outside.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Destroying Boulders with Bomb Flowers

FAQ

Q. Do Bomb Flowers grow back after you pick them?

A. Yes. Bomb Flowers respawn continuously in the exact same spot a few seconds after being picked or detonated, giving you unlimited attempts to destroy nearby boulders.

Q. Can I pick up Bomb Flowers without the Goron's Bracelet?

A. No. Link will simply tug on the stem and fail to lift the plant. You must learn Saria's Song and perform it for Darunia to receive the strength upgrade first.

Q. Can I blow up the boulders using regular Bombs instead?

A. You can use regular Bombs from a Bomb Bag if you already have them, but during your first visit to Goron City, you do not own a Bomb Bag yet. The Goron's Bracelet and the local Bomb Flowers are required to progress at this stage of the game.

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