Ocarina of Time: Where To Find The Hookshot
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A step-by-step guide to the Hookshot in Ocarina of Time: find Dampe's grave, win the Kakariko graveyard race and unlock the Forest Temple on Switch 2.
The Hookshot — the grappling tool that opens the way to the Forest Temple in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time — is hidden in Kakariko Village's graveyard and can only be obtained by Adult Link after a race against Dampe's ghost. This guide walks through the exact grave, the route through the tunnels, the mistakes that cost players the race, and the doors the item unlocks in the remake released on November 5, 2026 for Nintendo Switch 2, while also covering the classic Nintendo 64 version.
The question always appears at the same point in the adventure: after waking up as Adult Link and heading to Kakariko, the player is warned to stay out of the graveyard. The line sounds like horror atmosphere, but it is the most direct instruction the game gives about the next mandatory item. Players who obey the warning lose time; players who read it as a clue find the Hookshot in minutes.
The graveyard warning is the clue, not a threat
When Link arrives in Kakariko Village as an adult, he is welcomed as a hero and told the village offers safe shelter. The conversation changes when the graveyard comes up: residents say the place is haunted and that the ghost responsible is Dampe, the former gravekeeper, who supposedly died and still wanders the tombs. The game frames it as a warning, but Ocarina of Time's structure makes clear it is a progression hint.
The reason is simple: the Forest Temple, the first major dungeon of the adult era, requires the Hookshot to enter. Without the grappling tool, the path to the temple entrance is incomplete. The graveyard advice is therefore not an invitation to pointless danger — it is the script for the next key item, placed there so the player connects the villagers' warning to the tombstone that must be moved.
It is worth remembering that the Hookshot is not an optional extra. It is one of the most versatile tools in the game: it crosses chasms, reaches suspended chests, activates distant targets and solves puzzles in nearly every subsequent dungeon. The short race in the graveyard works as a disguised tutorial for the item that will stay with the player until the final confrontation.
Where to find Dampe's grave in Kakariko
The graveyard sits at the far end of the village, next to the windmill, and is lined with rows of tombstones. The correct grave is not the flashiest or the one in the center: it stands on the western edge, close to a tree, and has a detail that gives the route away — a visible hole beneath the stone's base.
Step by step to the grave
- Leave central Kakariko Village and head to the graveyard at the back of the village, beside the windmill.
- Turn to the western edge of the ground and find the tree next to a grave with a hole underneath.
- Approach and interact with the stone: the game identifies the grave as Dampe's.
- Pull the stone from behind, not from the front. The movement reveals the opening.
- Drop into the hole and get ready for the chase.
Common mistakes when finding the grave
The most frequent confusion happens because the graveyard has several interactive stones and not all of them react the same way. Pulling from the wrong side opens nothing, which leads many players to conclude the grave is somewhere else. Another distraction is the amount of scenery loot: pots, rupees and small secrets compete with the main objective and can push players to leave the area before finding the passage.
It also helps to read the environment carefully. The graveyard is accessible by day or night, but the hole under the stone is discreet and blends into the tree's shadow when visibility is poor. If interacting with a stone does not offer the option to pull it, the player is standing at the wrong grave.
The race against Dampe's ghost
Inside the grave, Link meets the gravekeeper's ghost. The conversation is short: Dampe proposes a speed contest through the underground corridors and makes clear he will not wait. From there, the game changes pace. The ghost floats ahead, throws lights along the path and vanishes around tight corners while the player crosses rooms full of rupees, webs and obstacles.
The temptation to detour for rupees is the main reason players lose. Dampe does not wait, and the gap grows fast whenever the player stops. The practical rule is simple: ignore everything shiny on the sides and keep focus on the ghost's silhouette and the lights it throws. Players who reach the finish line are rewarded with the Hookshot, taken from a chest.
"The Hookshot is a required tool to access the Forest Temple as Adult Link, but finding it can be a bit tricky."
How to keep the pace
- Run in a straight line whenever the corridor allows; short detours cost precious seconds.
- Do not stop for rupees, even when the value looks high. The race can be repeated, but the frustration of starting over is not worth it.
- Follow the lights Dampe throws: they point the right way at forks.
- Use the camera to keep the ghost centered and anticipate corners.
- If you lose sight of him, keep moving down the main corridor instead of turning back; the route is linear.
Failure is not permanent. The trial costs nothing but time and requires no special item, which reinforces its tutorial nature. The reward, however, is definitive: once obtained, the Hookshot stays in the inventory and is used in nearly every following area.
What the Hookshot unlocks
The tool extends Link's reach. By aiming at specific targets — wood, chests, posts and scarecrows — the player is pulled to the marked point, which opens shortcuts and solves vertical puzzles. The table below summarizes the most important uses right after the item is acquired.
| Situation | How the Hookshot helps |
|---|---|
| Forest Temple entrance | Crosses the gorge and reaches the temple platform. |
| Chests on high ledges | Pulls Link to edges and alcoves beyond a normal jump. |
| Scarecrows across Hyrule | Become anchor points once the Scarecrow's Song exists. |
| Switch puzzles | Reaches distant targets and triggers mechanisms in sequence. |
| Cave and dungeon crossings | Replaces missing bridges and shortens side routes. |
The item also has an important upgrade later on: the Longshot, obtained in the Water Temple, extends the chain's reach and becomes necessary in areas the standard Hookshot cannot cover. Mastering the aim in the graveyard is therefore an investment for the rest of the campaign.
Scarecrows and the Scarecrow's Song
Players who created the Scarecrow's Song while Link was a child can use the Hookshot on scarecrows across Hyrule. The system works like this: as a young hero, Link talks to Pierre, the scarecrow, and Bonooru, the bird beside him, and records an eight-note melody. Years later, as an adult, Link plays the same song to summon the scarecrow and use the hook as an anchor.
The feature is optional, but it yields heart pieces, rupees and shortcuts in side areas. For newcomers to the remake, it is worth composing the melody before advancing through the temples, because some secrets are unreachable without it. The logic matches every other Ocarina of Time song: what looks like a childhood detail becomes a tool in the adult era.
"Featuring reimagined visuals, a refreshed soundtrack and modernised gameplay, this classic quest has been remade for a whole new era."
The 2026 remake and the weight of the Hookshot
This guide matters because the Ocarina of Time remake arrived on Nintendo Switch 2 on November 5, 2026, putting a new generation in front of the same 1998 puzzles, now with rebuilt visuals, a re-recorded soundtrack and gameplay adjustments. The game sold more than 5.2 million copies in four days and became the fastest-selling release in the console's history, according to figures reported by the specialist press.
With such a large audience entering Hyrule for the first time, questions like the Hookshot's location climbed back to the top of searches. The graveyard sequence is a classic example of Ocarina of Time's design: an instruction delivered as a warning, a scenario that rewards curiosity and a short trial that teaches the use of an essential item. The remake preserves that structure while updating the presentation so the moment remains readable on large and small screens.
For console watchers, the remake's success ties directly into the pre-order crisis around the Zelda-themed Switch 2, which left thousands of players without the anniversary hardware. The heated demand also explains the rush for guides and solutions in the first weeks — and Kakariko's graveyard is one of the first bottlenecks the community faces.
After the Hookshot: next steps
With the grappling tool in hand, the road to the Forest Temple is open. Players can head to the temple entrance, tackle the first adult dungeon and continue the search for the spiritual stones. Before that, it is worth revisiting side areas around Kakariko to use the new item on chests and passages that were previously out of reach.
The editorial recommendation is straightforward: do not enter the temple without testing the Hookshot on nearby targets and checking the inventory. The item changes how the map is explored and will be required in nearly every challenge that follows. Readers who want to keep up with the franchise can follow the portal's games section, including coverage of the Zelda-themed Switch 2 pre-order cancellations and the details of Nintendo Switch Sports Resort.
The primary sources for this report are Nintendo's official game page and the guide published by TheGamer, which documents the graveyard route and the race against Dampe.
Hookshot FAQ
Is the Hookshot mandatory?
Yes. The item is required to access the Forest Temple and to complete several later puzzles. The campaign cannot be finished without it.
Do I need to be Adult Link to get the Hookshot?
Yes. The race against Dampe and the opening of the grave only become available after Link wakes up as an adult with access to Kakariko Village.
Can I lose the race and try again?
Yes. The trial can be repeated at no cost. The secret is not stopping for rupees and following the lights the ghost throws.
What happens if I do not create the Scarecrow's Song?
The Hookshot still works on regular targets, but scarecrows across Hyrule cannot be used as anchor points.
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