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- Entering The Pirate Stronghold – Zelda: Skyward Sword HD
- Pirate Stronghold Walkthrough – Zelda: Skyward Sword HD
- Getting The Sandship Dowsing Ability – Zelda: Skyward Sword HD
We're continuing with our The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD complete walkthrough, and in this installment we're clearing through the Pirate Stronghold. You'll be visiting the Pirate Stronghold just after first clearing through Skipper's Retreat, and then the Shipyard, all located within the Lanayru Sand Sea.
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This is the final part of the Sand Sea you must tackle before moving on to the dungeon, the Sandship. In this guide we'll be walking you through everything you need to do in the Pirate Stronghold, and then lead you to the Sandship itself. Just read down below for everything you need to know.
Entering The Pirate Stronghold – Zelda: Skyward Sword HD
After leaving the Shipyard, the robot will lead you towards the Pirate Stronghold, the final place in the Lanayru Sand Sea we'll be exploring before making our way inside the dungeon. Once you arrive at the Pirate Strong, immediately head towards the right side of the exterior and you'll find a door inside on the lower area. There's a pedestal here that is perfect for a unique kind of timeshift stone.
Pirate Stronghold Walkthrough – Zelda: Skyward Sword HD
First, go through the only open door in the room, at the back on the right wall. There's a few simple enemy encounters here – just beat them and keep moving forward. In the next room you'll find a unique timeshift stone, in the shape of an orb – yes, a Timeshift Orb. You can pick up, throw, and roll this orb like a bomb, though it's a fair bit heavier. We need to move this stone back to the pedestal in the prior room, but as you carry it time will shift, closing old paths and opening new ones. Pick up the orb, and exit the room to the right side.
This corridor is linear and there are enemies, so I won't give you too much instruction, just be aware that the orb should get rid of barbed wire fences covering doorways. After defeating a totem guardian blocking a doorway you'll have a choice of two paths – the path leading to the chest only opens if it is not close to the orb. Through the other door we have a room with landscape that shifts along with the orb's proximity. Jump down on the floor and climb the ramp that does not lead to doorway. With the orb in range a landmass will appear. They always appear with platforms, and you should take each platform as it appears.
Next up is another electric fence, and a gated door. Place the orb away from the electric fence and run through, using the switch on the other side to open up the gate. The next room has another shifting landscape, but instead of hopping across it, you'll be on the floor navigating a maze. Luckily it's not too tough, and you should be able to get across by sticking to the left wall.
In the next room you'll find a switch and block puzzle in the back left corner – take the orb inside the small room with you, push the block onto the switch, and then take the orb and run back out. The next room looks complicated but it's not. You need to move the orb away from the electrified door again, and once again, run through to hit a switch and open an alternate gate. There will be guardian totems shooting at you as you attempt, so watch out. There will be another pair of hopping enemies for you to defeat as you approach the gate to leave – defeat them and you'll finally be back at the pedestal from the first room, allowing you to place to orb. This will open up the giant "mouth" of the Pirate Stronghold, revealing the insides.
Getting The Sandship Dowsing Ability – Zelda: Skyward Sword HD
Exit the room from the newly opened door, and take a look at the ship sails strewn across the bridge here. Fi will give you the ability to Dowse for the missing ship now. You can now sail out to sea and search for a strong Dowsing response – the ship moves slowly, so can't give you a fixed position. Once you find the Dowsing response, shoot at it with your cannon to disable the ship's invisibility. Finally you'll be able to raid the Sandship.