Ocarina of Time Remake Gerudo Proving Grounds: Keys and Ice Arrow

Complete the Gerudo Fortress rescue to gain access, then tackle this optional course, the Gerudo Proving Grounds (the Gerudo Training Ground of the N64 original), after the Spirit Temple. Its main prize is the Ice Arrow. The route below collects eight keys before spending seven in the final corridor.

What should you bring?

You can collect the tunics and Longshot along the main walkthrough. Bring at least 30 rupees, then speak to the attendant beside the wooden gate in the fortress and accept the challenge. You can leave at any time and resume from the furthest point you reached, but each entry costs another 30 rupees.

How do you reach the first two keys?

1. Cross the entrance hall and climb toward the doorway under the carved face. Enter the sand arena.
2. Defeat the Stalfos. Keep your shield up, wait for an opening and attack one opponent at a time.
3. Open the chest that appears after the fight: key 1. Leave through the newly accessible door behind it.
4. Follow the sloped corridors while avoiding rolling boulders. Use the Longshot targets on the walls and overhead to cross the gaps and reach the next door.

5. Clear the Wolfos room, including the larger dark enemy. Din’s Fire can help when the pack crowds together, but keep enough magic for later utility.
6. Take the optional chest (a blue rupee), then push the large emblem-covered block into its recess. Walk through the newly exposed passage; this is not an ordinary door to open.
7. Shoot the diamond switch above the barred doorway. Continue into the plant-filled halls.
8. Defeat the snapping plants with bombs or sword attacks. The first chest replenishes bombs; the next chamber contains a Business Scrub Seed. Clear the remaining plant to open the way onward.
9. At the raised alcove, smash the breakable stone pieces with the Megaton Hammer and open the chest for key 2. Continue toward the lava rooms.

How do the lava eye and scarecrow work?

10. Equip the Goron Tunic. At the ledge with the straw, play your Scarecrow Song to call the scarecrow on the far side.
11. Aim ordinary arrows at the red eye of the central rock creature. Keep hitting the eye until it collapses and the surrounding lava drains.

12. Step onto the exposed grate and collect key 3.
13. Longshot to the scarecrow, go through the door on its ledge and open the chest in the cage-lined passage for key 4. Continue through the next door.

If the scarecrow does not appear, check that you completed its song setup as both child and adult at Lake Hylia. Playing a different tune will not create the anchor.

How do you clear the hammer-and-eye room?

14. Break the stacked stone objects with the hammer to clear the walls behind them.
15. Shoot the eye switches on the walls with the Bow. Deal with the flying fire enemies so they do not interrupt your aim.
16. Once the flames around the central chest are gone, open it for key 5. The separate chest against the wall contains arrows.

17. Take key 5 before leaving by the ordinary door into the broad lava chamber.

How do you cross the lava and collect the next two keys?

18. This chamber holds silver rupees. Use the Longshot targets to reach the separate rock ledges and look for them on the islands and high points.
19. Play the Song of Time beside the plinth with its emblem to create blue blocks over the lava.
20. Step on the floor switch to put out the flame on the small isolated platform. Cross the blue blocks and drop down to that platform for its silver rupee.
21. Strike the rusted switch on the ledge with the Megaton Hammer, collect the remaining silver rupees with the Longshot targets, then take the door to the pool room.
22. Enter the pool room and equip the Zora Tunic. Play the Song of Time to remove the block covering the water.

23. Dive into the exposed pool and recover the underwater key. Return to the surface with key 6, then change back to the Goron Tunic before crossing the lava again.
24. Use the blue blocks to reach the other high door. Follow the corridor and open the chest for key 7. Nearby cage chests provide Bombchus and arrows.

The Goron Tunic protects against ambient heat; it does not make falling into lava harmless. Refill health on a safe platform if the crossings have worn you down.

Where is the eighth key and how is the prize unlocked?

25. Enter the arena surrounded by fire. Defeat the Lizalfos, using your shield and attacking after their swings.
26. Open the chest that appears in the center for key 8. Check your counter before leaving for the final locks.
27. Follow the corridor to the chained doors. Spend one small key per door, continuing through the connected cage rooms. Rupee and arrow chests along the way are optional supplies.
28. After opening seven chained doors, reach the large chest and collect the Ice Arrow. The route leaves one unused key.

29. Backtrack through the now-open cages to the entrance area. A room with a sign near the exit has one more small chest; climb the stairs to leave the course. The attendant outside acknowledges your success.

Where should you look for a missing key?

With the Ice Arrow collected, return to optional equipment upgrades or continue toward Ganondorf’s Castle.