The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Guide | How to Improve Darunia's Mood

When you reach the bottom level of Goron City, you will find the throne room sealed shut. Stand on the rug with the royal crest outside the door and play Zelda's Lullaby on your Ocarina to open the entrance.

Step inside to meet Darunia, the leader of the Gorons. He is furious because monsters have overrun Dodongo's Cavern, cutting off his tribe's food supply and access to Bomb Flowers.

Talking to him gets you nowhere right now. To make him cooperate, you need to lift his spirits with music that reminds him of nature. Here is the exact path you need to take to turn his bad mood around in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Step #1: Open the Lost Woods Shortcut

Look around Darunia's Room and you will see two burning torches. Take out a Deku Stick and run it through the flame to light it up. Quickly run out of the room and use the burning stick to light the four unlit torches placed around the giant urn on the ground floor.

Lighting all four torches gets the giant jar spinning and gives you a steady flame source on the lower level.

Light another Deku Stick from these torches and sprint up the ramp to the next floor above. Look along the wall for a cluster of Bomb Flowers resting against a section of cracked brown rock in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Touch your fiery stick to the plants to ignite them. Step back so you do not take damage from the blast. The explosion blows a massive hole in the wall, revealing a direct tunnel leading into the Lost Woods.

Step #2: Navigate Through the Lost Woods

Step through the tunnel to enter the misty forest maze. Your goal is to reach the Sacred Grove at the deep end of the woods.

You can find the right way by listening to the background music at every opening: the correct path plays the tune loudly, while wrong turns go dead quiet and warp you right back to Kokiri Forest.

From the Goron City shortcut entrance, take the left path. In the next clearing with the pond, turn left again. Head straight through the four-way crossroads. When you reach an area with a large boulder, take the left exit.

At the next area with another solitary rock, turn right. You will arrive at the entrance of the Sacred Grove in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Step #3: Clear the Sacred Grove

Before you can explore the grove, a Wolfos drops down to block the path. Keep your Hylian Shield raised to deflect its frontal strikes.

Watch for it to jump forward with a two-swipe claw attack. Backflip away from the swings to make the beast overreach and expose its tail. Leap forward with a jump attack to hit the scar on its back. Repeat this counterattack until it falls, and the gate behind it will lift.

Move through the hedge maze while dealing with the Mad Scrubs stationed at the corners. These enemies shoot triplets of Deku Nuts your way.

Raise your shield to bounce the third projectile back into them, then slash them as they run out of their bushes. Follow the winding path through the square corridor and up the stone steps.

Step #4: Learn Saria's Song

At the very top of the temple ruins, you will find your childhood friend Saria sitting on a tree stump. Speak with her, and she will teach you a forest melody to help you keep in touch throughout your quest.

Play the notes on your Ocarina to master Saria's Song. This upbeat tune lets you telepathically call Saria for gameplay hints from anywhere in Hyrule, and its lively beat happens to be the exact music Darunia loves most in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Step #5: Dance for Darunia to Claim the Goron Bracelet

Retrace your steps back through the Lost Woods and return to Goron City through your blown-open shortcut. Drop down to the bottom tier and step back into Darunia's Room.

Pull out your Ocarina right in front of the chieftain and play Saria's Song. The melody catches him completely off guard, sending him into an energetic dance across the room.

Once he finishes his dance, his foul mood disappears completely. He thanks you for bringing joy back to his heart and agrees to give you the Goron's Ruby if you clear out the beasts inside Dodongo's Cavern. 

To make sure you have the muscle to get the job done, Darunia hands over the Goron Bracelet, an item that grants Link the physical strength to pluck and throw wild Bomb Flowers in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

FAQ

Q. What happens if you run out of Deku Sticks while opening the shortcut?

A. If you burn through your supply, smash the clay jars resting on the floor outside Darunia's Room or purchase a fresh bundle from the Kokiri Shop in Kokiri Forest.

Q. Can you cheer up Darunia by playing other songs on the Ocarina?

A. No, playing tunes like Zelda's Lullaby or the Sun's Song inside the throne room will only draw annoyed comments from Darunia. Only Saria's Song triggers his dance sequence.

Q. Where should you go immediately after getting the Goron Bracelet?

A. Head back out to the Death Mountain Trail outside the city gates. Walk up to the Goron standing next to the lone Bomb Flower near the edge of the cliff, pick up the plant, and toss it down over the railing to blow open the boulder sealing Dodongo's Cavern.

Also, check our The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake Review and other guides below:

• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Guide | How to Beat King Dodongo
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Guide | How to Beat Barinade
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Guide | How to Find All Cucco in Kakariko Village