aLttP - Palace of the Four Sword (Mirror Glitch) easy route

*The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Four Swords*
Gameboy Advance (2002)

The Palace of the Four Sword Speedrun (Mirror Glitch)

Speedrun Strategies
by 26pt2 on SDA and Twitch (aka twenty6pt2 on SRL or wazzumz on YouTube)

Important
-This is a run exclusive to the GBA version because Palace of the Four Sword does not exist in the original SNES version of a Link to the Past
-Normally, one would need to beat both A Link to the Past and Four Swords in order to gain access to the Palace of the Four Sword, which requires playing the game with another person
-The Mirror Glitch only works in the GBA version
-Set text speed to fast in the options
-Start a new game on a file that has completed A Link to the Past (see below for the quickest method using the Mirror Glitch) to avoid watching the Intro cutscene

Tricks you should know
-Wall Pumping
-Air Pumping
-Stair Wobbling
-Stairwell Lag Skip
-Poke spins
-Zelda text skip (before the Sanctuary)
-Quick jumping (dash right next to ledge)

-If you still need to learn the route, you may use the notes for noobies (http://pastebin.com/gZK3JJvx)

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General Notes
-Credit goes to Acmlm for running this version of the game in addition to the original versions and Greenalink for discovering the mirror glitched method to obtain items early and sharing those routes on YouTube
-This has to be the most insane category ever due to the sheer difficulty of attempting the run in one single segment and the low health of only 6 hearts, though optional items are obtained in the safe route to make the run more feasible
-The route is almost like the standard Agahnim no save and quit route but you only face one Light World boss (the Armos Knights) in order to obtain the Pegasus shoes
-Though the Master Sword is never obtained since you do not get the rest of the Pendants, the trigger is still activated as if it were once you obtain the Tempered Sword
-In the Dark World, there are quest items that are absolutely necessary for completing the Palace of the Four Swords
-The Palace of the Four Swords has NO hearts or fairies (except for a bat before the Blind fight)

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Mirror Glitch
-Equip the mirror
-Jump down a ledge and use the Mirror at the same time
-If performed correctly, Link will make the sound effect of jumping off the ledge but teleport back to the dungeon entrance
-While in the confused state, do NOT get hit by an enemy
-Clipping out of bounds involves dashing into a wall or object
-Any items of the dungeon where you clip out of bounds can be used in the dungeon you clip into (i.e. keys, Big Key)
-Do NOT die or game over while in another dungeon because you will warp back to the original dungeon where you glitched out of bounds
-This glitch does affect the save file
-The best area to practice this glitch is in Thieves' Town

The exact frame to use the Mirror in order to perform the glitch:
http://i.imgur.com/A9zWiDE.jpg

How to do the glitch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9Dzcl5PrX4

Obtaining the Triforce using the glitch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec1CV8llONA

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Breaking down the run
The run can be divided into 3 main segments: getting the mirror, getting the quest items required, and beating the Palace of the Four Sword

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Light World

Hyrule Castle
-Rescue Zelda
-Get the Heart Container

East Palace
-Big Key (get hurt on purpose to activate switch)
-Bow & Arrows
*only dungeon required in order to obtain the Pegasus shoes for dashing

Items
-Pegasus shoes
-Book of Mudora

Desert Palace
-Power Glove
-Proceed outside south-west exit (not the main entrance) as normal
-Get the heart piece (1 of 4)
-Fall off the ledge

Overworld
-Get the Mirror
-Get the heart piece near the Sanctuary (2 of 4)

East Palace
-Mirror Glitch to Tower of Hera
-Dash into left statue to clip out of bounds
-Dash left
-Head left 1 room
-Dash left
-Head left 1 room (light green wall)
-Dash up
-Head up 1 room (pitch black)
-Dash up
-Head up 1 room (reddish-brown wall)
-Dash up
-Head up 1 room (see Tower of Hera)
-Dash up => head up 2 rooms
-Face left and charge the sword for a spin attack (to see where Link is located)
-Walk up right to the east wall
-Fall back in bounds

Tower of Hera
-Get a Bomb (right stairs from main entrance => left skull on the bottom)
-Bomb jump to Moon Pearl (Big Key not required)
-Use the Mirror to warp back to East Palace

East Palace
-Mirror Glitch to Thieves' Town
-Stay on right side of the room
-Head up 1 room
-Head right 1 room
-Dash right => 2 rooms => in Thieves' Town but need to fall back in bounds
-Dash down 1 room
-Dash down 1 room
-Dash down to southern wall
-Fall back in bounds near the stairs and main entrance
*Do NOT pick up the Big Key in Thieves' Town until you exit the dungeon and re-enter because you need the Big Key in order to get the Hammer, Titan's Mitt, Hookshot, and Cane of Somaria

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Dark World

Thieves' Town
-Head up the south stairs
-Exit normally and re-enter
-Mirror Glitch to Dark Palace
-Dash right into the wall to clip out of bounds
-Fall back in bounds at the chest up-right from where you clipped out of bounds to get the Big Key
-Use the Mirror to warp back to entrance
-Mirror Glitch to Dark Palace
-Dash into left wall to clip out of bounds
-Stay on left side of the room
-Dash up 1 room
-Dash up 1 room
-Dash up 1 room
-Dash up => 2 rooms (see Ganon's Tower)
-Dash up => 2 rooms (you can see Link in the pit)
-Align Link with the door (Link should be in the middle of 2 skulls)
-Up 1 room
-Dash up => 2 rooms
-Dash up => 2 rooms
-Dash up => in the Palace but need to fall back in bounds
-Dash up => 2 rooms
-Dash up (should climb the stairs) and head into the next room (back in bounds!)
-Exit south

Dark Palace
*Pick up skulls on the right side (2 bombs, only if performing the bomb jump to Hammer)
-Pick up skulls on left side (hearts)
-Hit the crystal switch (red => blue)
-Use Boomerang to hit the crystal switch (blue => red)
-Get a key
-Bomb jump to Hammer if possible and you are able to consistently do it (Big Key not required)
-If unable to bomb jump, collect rupees and a key
-IMPORTANT: Get a key in the chest in the bottom-right corner of the room to the left of the Hammer (for Swamp Palace)
-Use Mirror to warp back to Thieves' Town entrance

Thieves' Town
-Pick up the key under the top-right skull in the top of the room (after Big Key door)
-Pick up the top-left skull for a heart
-Pick up the skull (room with moving spikes) for a key and toss it at the crystal switch (red => blue)
-Make sure you stand on the red blocks when you activate the switch in order to trigger invincibility frames
-Titan's Mitt
-Use the Mirror to warp back to entrance
-Exit

Upgrades
-300 rupees (2 houses east of Gargoyle statue but be wary of the thief)
-Tempered sword
-Shovel
-Flute
-Get the heart piece by warping to the Light World (3 of 4)
-Return to the Dark World
-300 rupees (use a Bomb to open cracked wall in the 2nd building to the west)
-Head up to the Gargoyle statue
-Use the Mirror to warp back to the Light World
-Use the Flute to free the bird
-Get the 1st bottle from the salesman
-Get the 2nd bottle from the building
-Bug Catching Net
-Return to the Dark World
-Chest containing 3rd bottle
-Use the Mirror to warp back to the Light World
-Walk down towards Desert Palace for ex-thief to open the chest with the 3rd bottle
-Use the Flute to fly to the 3rd drop-off point
-Return to the Dark World

Thieves' Town
-Mirror Glitch to East Palace
-Dash left into the wall to clip out of bounds
-Say on left side of the room
-Dash up 1 room
-Dash up 1 room
-Dash up 1 room
-Head left 1 room
-Dash left => 2 rooms
-Head down 1 room
-Dash down towards the bottom of the room (cancel the dash near the statue)
-Walk left => fall back in bounds

East Palace
-Exit

Overworld (confused state)
-Use the Flute to fly to the 2nd drop-off point
-Zora's Flippers
-Get the heart piece (4 of 4)
-Head to the Wishing Waterfall and enter
-Toss in the tempered sword (press left 2 times)
-Golden Sword
-Exit
-Use the Flute to fly to the 6th drop-off point
-Use the warp to the real Light World (due to the confused state)
-Use the Flute to fly to the 4th drop-off point
-Get the 4th bottle under the bridge
-Use the Flute to fly to the 5th drop-off point
-Enter the cave
-Catch 4 fairies
-Exit the cave
-Use the Flute to fly to the 3rd drop-off point
-Return to the Dark World

Thieves' Town
-Mirror Glitch to Swamp Palace
-Dash left into the wall to clip out of bounds
-Stay on left side of the room
-Dash up 1 room
-Dash up 1 room
-Dash up 1 room
-Dash up => 2 rooms
-Dash up => 2 rooms
-Head left 1 room (see Palace of the Four Sword => music fades out)
-Dash left 1 room (pitch black but see Link)
-Dash left 1 room
-Dash left 1 room (see Tower of Hera)
-Dash left => 2 rooms
-Dash left 1 room (see Desert Palace)
-Dash up => 2 rooms
-Dash up 1 room (see Thieves' Town)
-Head right 1 room
-Walk right => fall back in bounds

Swamp Palace
-Hookshot (Big Key not required)
-Use the Mirror to warp back to Thieves' Town entrance

Thieves' Town
-Mirror glitch to Misery Mire
-Dash right into the wall to clip out of bounds
-Dash right 1 room
-Dash to the right side of the room (do NOT head right 1 room)
-Dash up 1 room
-Dash up 1 room
-Dash up 1 room
-Head right 1 room
-Dash right => 2 rooms (see Mothula)
-Dash right => 2 rooms (see Ice Palace)
-Dash right => 2 rooms
-Dash right => 2 rooms (see Castle Tower)
-Dash right => 2 rooms => in Misery Mire but you need to fall back in bounds
-Dash right
-Dash right
-Head down 1 room
-Dash down to fall back in bounds

Misery Mire
-Cane of Somaria (Big Key not required)
-Use the Mirror to warp back to Thieves' Town Entrance
*Due to the confused state, there are no eyes along the wall that shoot lasers nor do the tiles fall

Thieves' Town
-Mirror Glitch to Ganon's Tower
-Dash right into the wall to clip out of bounds
-Dash right 1 room
-Dash to the right side of the room (do NOT head right 1 room)
-Dash up 1 room
-Dash up 1 room
-Dash up 1 room
-Dash up => 2 rooms
-Dash up 1 room
-Dash up => 2 rooms
-Dash up => 2 rooms
-Dash up => 2 rooms (see fairies)
-Dash up => 2 rooms
-Dash up 1 room
-Dash up 1 room
-Dash up => 2 rooms (see Armos Knights)
-Dash up => 2 rooms
-Walk left and fall up to clip back in bounds

Ganon's Tower
-Dash to left side of the room
-Dash up to the stairs on the left
-Head left 1 room
-Use the hammer to pound the moles on the right and left
-Push the block to the right
-Head left 1 room
-Use the hookshot to make your way to the bottom of the room
-Slash the crystal switch (red => blue)
-Use the Boomerang to hit the crystal switch (blue => red) after walking over the blue tiles
-Head down 1 room
-Use the Cane of Somaria to plant a block next to the crystal switch
-Pick up the skull pot in the bottom-right corner for a key
-Use the Cane of Somaria to hit the crystal switch (red => blue)
-Head right 1 room
-Walk onto the middle blue tile
-Use the hookshot to hit the crystal switch (blue => red)
-Enter the warp on the right
-Walk down and towards the middle of the room
-Push the block to the left
-Use the hookshot to reach the chest for a key
-Head down 1 room
-Enter the right warp
-Enter the 2nd warp (on the left)
-Enter the bottom-left warp
-Walk down a bit
-Dash right (should not fall in the holes)
-Walk up
-Dash left into the wall to skip over the warp
-Head right 1 room
-Make your way to the top-left door
-Head up 1 room
-Red Mail (Big Key not required)
-Use the Mirror to warp back to Thieves' Town Entrance

Thieves' Town
-Mirror Glitch to Palace of the Four Sword
-Dash right into the wall to clip out of bounds
-Dash right 1 room
-Dash to the right side of the room (do NOT head right 1 room)
-Dash up 1 room
-Dash up 1 room
-Dash to the top (just before the next room)
-Head right 1 room
-Dash right 1 room
-Head left 1 room (to know where Link is located)
-Face down and charge up for a spin attack (to see where Link is located)
-Head down the north stairs to clip in-bounds
-Head up the north stairs
-Head up 1 room

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Palace of the Four Sword

Mothula (top-left stairs)
-Use the Hookshot trick to avoid taking damage from projectiles if necessary
-Keep your distance due to the random movement patterns of the Mothulas (speed and direction)
-Slash sword beams while at full health
-Be wary of hitting the decoy Mothula => bees BUT bees will fly to the real Mothula after attacking you
-Avoid killing both decoys or the real Mothula will spawn more
-It is possible to kill the decoys by doing so quickly, leaving the real Mothula remaining
-Dash attack or slash the real Mothula (8 times)
-Use sword beam at full health to draw Mothula away from a corner (counts as 1/4 of a slash from the golden sword)
-Spin attack when you can
-Mothula should die within 24 hits

Helmasaur King (right)
-Lure the red squid to the bottom-left where tiles will fall
-Kill the enemies
-Head up 1 room
-Lift the skull in the bottom-left corner
-Toss the skull to activate the crystal switch (red => blue)
-Use the Cane of Somaria to place a block (not on the conveyor belt)
-Push the blocks in the bottom-right corner
-Walk past the blue blocks
-Use the Cane of Somaria to hit the crystal switch (blue => red)
-Use the Hammer to destroy the face mask (17 times)
-Kill the mini Helmasaurs using Arrows
-Use a spin attack (once), then slash (7 times)
-Use the Hammer again to destroy the regenerated face mask (17 times)
-Use Arrows to attack the eye (3 times)

Arrghus (left)
-Use the Lamp to light the torch
-Swim up to dodge the cannonballs
-Dive ONCE to avoid the rolling spikes (Be patient and wait for the spiked roller to head upwards, then dive underneath it)
-Head up 1 room
-Use the Hookshot from the left or top side of Arrghus ONLY (to avoid pulling enemies in too close or Link will get hurt even while standing still)
-Be wary of electrocuting enemies (wait until the enemy is no longer shocking)
-Slash electrocuting enemies (2 times each)
-When Arrghus is alone, head to the bottom-left corner
-Charge up the sword
-Move slightly
-Spin attack when Arrghus falls back on-screen (repeat cycle of charging up sword 7 more times)
-Be wary of the bubbles that pop up when Arrghus jumps off-screen

Blind the Thief (top-right stairs)
-Bumpers in the next area are in the bottom-left corner of the first (top) room and in the top-right corner of the second (bottom) room
-Path in the dark room is as follows…
-Right
-Down
-Left
-Down
-Left
-Down
-Right
-Up
-Head right 1 room
-Use Arrows to destroy the skull next to the block and the skull on the right
-Use the Cane of Somaria to place a block and throw it onto the switch
-Dash into the block
-Head up 1 room
-Use the hookshot to clear the gap
-Head up and dash into the block
-Head up 1 room
-Slash Blind’s body until heads appear (3 times for 1st phase, 2 times for 2nd phase, 1 time for 3rd phase)
-Slash the heads into the body (once per head)
-Repeat (2 heads for next phase, then 3 heads for final phase)
-Dodge the lasers

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Links

Green
-Stay near
-Slash with sword so that Green Link performs a dash attack
-Follow Green Link
-Slash Green Link from behind (8 times)

Orange (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mxgoB49mc8)
-Stay near the top-right tile where Orange Link spawns
-Corner Orange Link (if possible)
-If needed, use the following strategies...
-Slash with sword so that Orange Link performs a dash attack
-Follow Orange Link
-Slash Orange Link from behind (8 times)
-Be wary of the spin attack if you move to far away

Blue
-Stay near
-Slash with sword so that Blue Link performs a dash attack
-Follow Blue Link
-Slash Blue Link from behind (8 times)
-Be wary of the jump attack

Purple
-Stay near
-Slash with sword so that Purple Link dashes forward and shoots a fire arrow from the sword
-Slash Purple Link from the side (16 times)
-Be wary of the jump attack (quicker than the Blue Link) and fire arrows (shot from the sword)

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The End
-Enjoy the credits!