The Hookshot is under Kakariko Graveyard in the Ocarina of Time remake, at the end of a race through a maze against the ghost of Dampé the gravekeeper. As adult Link, move the tombstone with a shovel on it in the left row of graves, drop into the hole, and keep pace with Dampé to the end to claim it.
It should be your first stop as an adult, since the first temple cannot be entered without it. Below is when you can get it, the right grave, how the race works, the way out, and what the Hookshot opens next.
When You Can Get It
The Hookshot comes right after you first become adult Link. Pull the Master Sword in the Temple of Time, and when you wake up seven years later the story tells you to head to Kakariko Village. Our 1998 Master Sword guide covers the sword itself.
You also need the Song of Time, but you have it already, since it is what opens the way to the sword. There is nothing else to prepare. This is an adult Link trip, so a visit as young Link gets you nothing.
How to Find the Right Grave
- Go to Kakariko Village, then up to the graveyard. Follow the signposted path. Our 1998 Kakariko Village guide has the layout.
- Look along the left row of graves. The one you want has a shovel on the tombstone and flowers in front of it. It is near the withered tree and the patch of soft soil where a Magic Bean goes.
- Move the stone. Shift it out of the way and a hole appears.
- Drop down the hole. The ghost of Dampé is waiting below, and he challenges you to a race. Accept.
Do not confuse this with Dampé’s Grave-Diggin’ Tour. That is a separate game for young Link at night, at 10 rupees a dig, and it is on our rupee guide.
How to Win Dampé’s Race
You follow Dampé through the maze, and your only job is to keep up with him. The remake makes that easier than it was in 1998:
- Hold the roll button. Link keeps running with no stamina meter to watch. Our sprint guide covers it.
- Use the jump button. X hops gaps and ledges on command, rather than relying on automatic jumps. Our jump guide has the other moves.
- Keep the camera on him. Our camera settings guide helps if you keep losing sight of him around corners.
Reach the end and the Hookshot is yours.
How to Get Out
The way out is sealed by blue blocks. Press left on the D-pad to bring out your ocarina, then play the Song of Time (A, L, R, A, L, R on the Normal layout) to clear them.
You come out on the upper level of the Kakariko windmill, and that is the moment to do two more things:
- Grab the Heart Piece. It is on a ledge opposite you, so just hop over.
- Learn the Song of Storms. Talk to the Music Man twice. Our Song of Storms guide has the notes.
How to Use the Hookshot
Hold R to open the quick-select bar, pick the Hookshot, and let go. It now sits on ZR. Press ZR to use it, aim with the stick, and fire at a target to be pulled across. If you would rather not aim by tilting the controller, our motion aiming guide shows the setting, and the quick swap guide explains the bar.
What the Hookshot Opens Next
| Place | What it does there |
|---|---|
| Forest Temple | Reaches the target on the ledge above the entrance, which is the way in |
| Death Mountain Crater | Gets you over the bridge, on the way to the Fire Temple |
| Kakariko Village | Reaches the rooftop Heart Piece from the Potion Shop’s back exit |
| Lake Hylia | Hits the switch above the door to the Water Temple |
| Dampé’s race, second run | Finish in under a minute for another Heart Piece |
| Gold Skulltulas | Defeats them from range and pulls the token to you |
| Skulltulas and Bubbles | Clears them from a distance |
The first of those is your next step. Threads of Time tracks it as the “Forest Temple Mysteries” quest, and our Threads of Time guide explains how the log works. Our 1998 Forest Temple guide has the route to the door through the Lost Woods.
The Hookshot also pairs with the Scarecrow’s Song, which summons a target in certain spots, and our Heart Piece guide lists the pieces that need the two together. There is a longer-reaching upgrade later in the game, so keep an eye out for targets it cannot quite reach yet. Our 1998 item list has every tool in the game, and every remake guide is on our Zelda hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Hookshot in the Ocarina of Time remake? Under Kakariko Graveyard, at the end of a race against the ghost of Dampé. Enter through the grave with a shovel on the tombstone in the left row.
Which grave do you open for the Hookshot? The one in the left row with a shovel on the tombstone and flowers in front, near the withered tree and the soft soil.
Can young Link get the Hookshot? No. The grave is an adult Link trip, right after you pull the Master Sword.
Do you need the Hookshot for the Forest Temple? Yes. The target on the ledge above the entrance is the way into the dungeon.
How do you get out after Dampé’s race? Play the Song of Time on the blue blocks. The exit comes out on the upper level of the Kakariko windmill.
Is there a reward for racing Dampé again? Yes. Finish a second run in under a minute for a Heart Piece.