Minish Cap 100% Route

Last Updated: 01/19/2015

Base Route credits to MBrules
Written by Kirbymastah
Route is designed for Japanese version

Things to question (listed by high to low priority):
?-Manipulate R3 kinstone in FoW vs. get R3 in chest in east minish woods. From my timing, they're within a second of each other. Someone else try timing it? It takes 13 seconds to detour for R3 in minish woods (ignoring the "got kinstone" cutscene)
?-The BL kinstone in mt crenel is slow... either find a faster BL before castor wilds, or delay the northern business scrub fusion to cleanup for faster BL options
?-Need to cut out the most time-consuming 2 RE 2 R> kinstones, as those are not necessary
?-Is there a better time to get digging joy butterfly?
?-Confirm which non-fickle fusers are also SHARED


KINSTONE GUIDELINE

Kinstone Count and symbol legend according to http://www.gamefaqs.com/gba/920670-the-legend-of-zelda-the-minish-cap/faqs/34507

GP = A green Kinstone piece. Shape is similar a P, with a rounded back.
G< = A green Kinstone piece. A semi circle, with a triangle shape cut out.
G[ = A green Kinstone piece. A semi circle, with a square shape cut out.
B6 = A blue Kinstone piece. Looks like half a Yin Yang symbol, or an odd 6.
BL = A blue Kinstone piece. Shape is similar to an L.
RE = A red Kinstone piece. Has 3 prongs, like an E has.
R> = A red Kinstone piece. Looks like a slice of pie. (>
R3 = A red Kinstone piece. Has two spikes pointing right, so the lines of cut is shaped like a 3, with triangular corners.

Total Required:
GP - 17
G< - 18
G[ - 16
B6 - 7
BL - 9
RE - 8
R> - 7
R3 - 8
TOTAL - 90

*above counts do not include story fusions, aka all yellow kinstones and hurdy gurdy's tutorial, which totals to 10 fusions

Shared Fusions are a list of fusions shared randomly among several fusers. So when one fuses with a shared fuser, the resulting fusion will be random from the list of shared fusions. Due to the randomness of this, it's important to get as many shared fusers as possible throughout the run. Fortunately, the mt crenel hermit will always do up to 5 shared fusions and is not fickle, so missing a few can be compensated by doing all of them with the hermit, as long as no more than 5 shared fusions are missed.

Fickle Fusers are characters that have a random chance to have a desire to fuse with you or not. All fickle fusers are (fortunately) also shared fusers so it is not necessary to hit every fickle fuser possible. The exception is the teacher Tina, she is the only fickle fuser that does not perform a shared fusion.

This does NOT mean all shared fusers are fickle fusers; some fusers that always want to fuse are also shared.

The route and kinstone counts assume you only obtain blue and red kinstones from chests, not from drops (but feel free to get them if they're there). The kinstone counts also assume you don't use any red/blues in shared fusions; keep in mind that all shared fusions are green except for 1 R> 1 B6 so always have at least 1 R> and 1 B6 in the notes here at all times.

As noted before, green kinstones are rarely obtained from chests, so there are several farming phases throughout the run. To kinstone farm, use a white picolyte, as this drastically increases the rate of kinstone drops, and start cutting grass. Planting bombs before using the white picolyte helps destroy more grass and increases odds of getting more kinstones, though this is only really applicable in Lon Lon Ranch. Green kinstones should ALWAYS be prioritized while farming since they are rarely obtained from chests.

It's best to have a countdown of how many green kinstone fusions are left in the entire game (starting with the "Total Required" list above), and count down each green kinstone type after each corresponding fusion. This lets you have a good guideline of how many of each green kinstone you need left, and adjust appropriately during each kinstone farming phase. At the first few farming phases, it's important to have a reasonably balanced distribution of green kinstone types.

If you want to start being really optimized and take advantage of every extra kinstone you get from farming, toadswoot timed the best uses for these and listed them here: http://pastebin.com/PK0GX17e


REFERENCE LINKS:
Cucco Minigame Strats: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZoHm6R_r5k
Figurine Manipulation: http://pastebin.com/feBUF5a9
R3 Kinstone Manip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wv80MBy7sHI
Toadswoot's extra kinstone guide: http://pastebin.com/PK0GX17e

THE ROUTE

HP = Heart Piece Number

Numbers preceding 'r' and in parenthesis (like (100r)) is the minimum expected rupee count at that point in the route. In the majority of the route, after pegasus boots and before buying the final bomb bag upgrade, you have 30r of leeway to miss out on.

If there's a kinstone abbreviation in a certain line of the route, it's either the kinstone used in the fusion in that same line, or the kinstone obtained in that same line (should be obvious which one, from context)

IMPORTANT: After obtaining the wake-up shroom, and throughout the rest of the run, anytime you're in Hyrule Town, check any NPCs on the path you take to see if they wish to share. Use your best judgement on when to do this; best to do this more often earlier in the run to get as many shared fusions out of the way as possible.


INTRO
- Standard Intro
- Throw rock covering minish crack in NHF
- get HP1 outside deepwood shrine, before ezlo
- octorok battle
- Minish Village story sequence

COUNT: HP1, 0r

DEEPWOOD SHRINE
- After getting gust jar, go south for HP2
- activate blue portal
- After boss key, take blue portal to HP3
- Get heart container from boss

COUNT: HP3, 0r

STORY SEQUENCE
- back to gentari
- get BOMBS
- Minish Woods WIND CREST
- South Hyrule Field WIND CREST
- FUSE Hurdy Gurd (forced)
- Cucco Game (100r)
    Round 1: 2 gold = 100r (clean picolyte shop)
- buy WALLET (20r)
- learn spin attack
- exit town west
- BOTTLE from deku scrub in cave (0r)

COUNT: HP3, 0r

MT CRENEL
- Climb mt crenel as normal
- cliff red rupee (20r) after mineral water
- after whirlwind, take left path, bomb wall at end
- in cave, get HP4, 50r chest, B6 (70r)
- reveal floor crack and shrink stone
- plant, water, climb bean
- go right, cross bridge, bomb wall, BL in chest
- continue until grip ring (30r)
- on Crenel wall, lower-right corner, bomb bag upgrade (30 bombs), climb to top
- after bombing switch to make bridge, get red rupee in right pot (50r)
- second boulder puzzle, get B6 in chest in next room
- Melari Mines story sequence
- Mt Crenel WIND CREST

COUNT: HP4, 50r

CAVE OF FLAMES
- first lava room: get BL in chest
- first rollobite room: get rupee chest (100r)
- after crossing mine rail over lava, bomb wall and get HP5
- miniboss, CANE OF PACCI
- after 4 rollobite room, get B6 and G< in chests
- after alternating platforms, get G[ in chest
- in big lava room, get SE 100r chest (200r)
- get SW GP chest
- beat dungeon

COUNT: HP5, 200r
KINSTONES: 3 B6 2 BL

STORY SEQUENCE
- get white sword, go down mountain
- Hyrule Town WIND CREST
- Infuse sword, story sequence, moblin battle
- left of HT, down ladder, split, exit
- bomb cave north of cave exit, get RE
- go to western wood, Vaati haunting CS
- go back to house near SW corner of TH
- FUSE with percy (RE)
- read sign for Castor Wilds
- go east, push shortcut rock

COUNT: HP5, 200r
KINSTONES: 3 B6 2 BL 0 RE

BOOTS QUEST
- back to HCT
- Cucco Game (300r)
    Round 2: 2 gold + 1 white = 110r
- WHITE PICOLYTE (100r)
- shoe shop sequence
- mayor’s house, RE in basement, FUSE with mayor (RE)
- unlock lon lon ranch
- WALLET underground in lon lon ranch
- parachute to lake hylia
- witch's hut, buy WAKE UP SHROOM (40r)
- save, kinstone farm outside syrup's hut
- leave woods, leave lake, push rock shortcut
- go to HT
- Cucco Game thrice more (490r)
    Round 3. 2 normal + 2 gold = 120r
    Round 4. 5 normal + 2 gold = 150r
    Round 5. 3 normal + 3 gold = 180r
- WHITE PICOLYTE (290r)
- get PEGASUS BOOTS
- FUSE with postman (BL) and other on-path
- SwiftBlade, learn ROCK BREAKER and DASH ATTACK
- exit HT south, go west, back to swamp

COUNT: HP5, 290r
KINSTONES: 3 B6 1 BL 0 RE

CASTOR WILDS
- dash west to large clump of long grass
- GOLD KINSTONE #1 in cave basement
- exit cave, climb left vine, NE along bridge
- climb down vine, dash left to shrink stump
- gust jar across swamp path, get BOW
- gust jar back across, grow, go east
- northern left cave, FUSE with scrub (BL)
- SE along bridge, go past eyegore, other northern cave
- GOLD KINSTONE #2
- get BL in chest on way to GOLD KINSTONE #3
- CW WIND CREST
- gold kinstone fusions

COUNT: HP5, 290r
KINSTONES: 3 B6 1 BL 0 RE

WIND RUINS
- blow up starting cave, B6 in chest
- proceed until after 2nd armos. push shortcut boulder
- farm kinstones between two screens
- any% to FoW

COUNT: HP5, 290r
KINSTONES: 4 B6 1 BL 0 RE

FORTRESS OF WINDS
- right door, head up the stairs
- BL in chest, pull lever
- follow the path, lever behind armos, key drop
- reminish before jumping down after the key, minish path right
- grow, HP6, exit room, go back and get key
- go through middle room, up stairs
- roll clip left eyegore, open left door, follow path
- blow open wall between the 2 skulls
- get MOLE MITTS, get 100r chest (390r)
- S&Q
- In first room, get 50r digging right (440r)
- R3 on the way to BK skip (anti-faery is near the chest)
- BK skip
- defeat boss, grab HC, get OCARINA

COUNT: HP6, 440r
KINSTONES: 4 B6 2 BL 0 RE 1 R3

BOOK 1
- at FoW entrance, go west, shrink, center vine, get cave HP7
- S&Q
- warp to HT, buy picolyte (240r)
- warp to SHF, kinstone farm
- FUSE + talk with tingle (GP)
- warp to Lake Hylia
- TALK to house minish; FUSE (R3)
- warp to HT, get WATER
- dig into HT cave
    1 R> R3 RE each in chests
    100r chest in basement (340r)
- S&Q
- FUSE with kids (G[ BL) by chest game house
- FUSE with women by well if possible
- go to young couples house, FUSE if possible, douse fireplace
- minish, climb right chimney
- FUSE with scratcher (G<, but shared), push book down
- go back, grow
- Cucco minigame (500r capped)
        Round 6: 3 white + 3 gold = 180r
- get BOOK1
- go back to couples house, FUSE if possible
- minish and FUSE with dog (GP, but shared)
- as minish, go to inn rear HP8
- S&Q

COUNT: HP8, 500r
KINSTONE: 4 B6 1 BL 1 RE 1 R3 1 R>

BOOK 2
- library, FUSE with floor 1 old man if possible
- FUSE with floor 2 old man (GP, double check this)
- minish, fuse with first minish if possible, TALK to him
- grow, TALK to librarian twice
- FUSE anyone on way to simon simulation
- FUSE with zill next to simons  (G[)
- simon simulations HP9 (490r)
- FUSE with zill again (GP)
- FUSE anyone on way to cafe
- in cafe, FUSE with mama (G<)
- IMPORTANT: HAVE AT LEAST 1 GP 2 G[ 1 G< FROM HERE UNTIL WALLET UPGRADE; don't do shared fusions that break these minimums
- FUSE anyone else in cafe
- push bookshelf, shrink, go into upper minish hole
- FUSE with town minish if possible
- east to stockwells via minish path, fall, get BOTTLE
- minish, go up, ocarina glitch, knock down book2 and fall
- talk to ground-level minish, leave house
- FUSE and talk with dog (SHARED)
- carpenters house, FUSE if possible
- leave, get WATER, go to dr. lefts house
- douse fireplace, get BOOK2
- carpenters house, FUSE with all if possible
- minish, dr left, climb chimney
- follow path to POWER BRACELETS
- S&Q

COUNT: HP9, 490r
KINSTONE: 4 B6 1 BL 1 RE 1 R3 1 R>

BOOK 3
- WHITE PICOLYTE (290r)
- FUSE with well ladies if possible (cut this out? not really necessary)
- Go to Lon Lon
- Go south to Eastern Hills
- get last WALLET upgrade
- FUSE with farmers (BL + G[)
- FUSE with wall (B6), slash red rupee (310r)
- go to syrups house, kinstone farm
- dig cave, BL from chest, FUSE with wall (BL), take ladder
- push book3 down bookshelf
- S&Q
- get BOOK3
- warp to HT
- WHITE PICOLYTE (110r)
- library, RETURN BOOKS, FUSE with old men if possible
- FUSE with first library minish if not done, and if possible
- FUSE with minish elder (GP), then talk to him
- get ZORA FLIPPERS
- S&Q

COUNT: HP9, 110r
KINSTONE: 3 B6 0 BL 1 RE 1 R3 1 R>

SIDEQUESTS 2
- FUSE with wind tribe man in NW house (R3)
- go to tribly
- get R> in river dig cave
- dig other cave, get BL + B6 + FUSE wall (B6)
- ladder, FUSE with knuckle (G[) and minish (G<)
- warp to Lake Hylia
- go to Lon Lon
- kinstone farm (2nd to last farming phase!)
- dash into tree, minish
- minish path, get HP10, grow
- go in cave next to stump
- open 50r chest in cave (160r)
- FUSE with Ankle (G<)
- warp to Lake Hylia
- get underwater pond HP11
- feed fifi, FUSE with fifi (GP)
- FUSE with david jr (GP)
- enter ToD

COUNT: HP11, 160r
KINSTONE: 3 B6 1 BL 1 RE 0 R3 2 R>

TEMPLE OF DROPLETS
- any% route
      50r chest in lilypad maze (210r)
      get BL chest after first element melt
      B I G O C T O

COUNT: HP11, 210r
KINSTONE: 3 B6 2 BL 1 RE 0 R3 2 R>

MORE SIDEQUESTS
- warp to HT, go north
- MAGICAL BOOMERANG (get all but SE chest for RE R3 R>)
- 3 sword
- warp to HT
- FUSE with din (RE)
- FUSE with zill south of inn (G<)
- WHITE PICOLYTE + on-path FUSIONS (10r)
- talk to gorman
- warp to SHF, save
- kinstone farm in SHF (last farm)
- HP12 in SE tree
- FUSEx2 blacksmith (R> GP)
- FUSE minish in SW house (R>)
- HP13 in water minish cave
- S&Q
- sky warp (any%)
- open all mansion chests, also suck ghost
    floor 1: G[ G<
    floor 2: GP
    floor 3: BL B6 R3
    floor 4: RE R>
- enter PoW

COUNT: HP13, 10r
KINSTONE: 4 B6 3 BL 2 RE 2 R3 2 R>

PALACE OF WINDS
- any% route
- 100r from two spikeball enemies (110r)
- at room entered via stairs, with 2 skulls to your left+right...
        go left and north, get HP14
- wind element + heart container

COUNT: HP14, 110r
KINSTONE: 4 B6 3 BL 2 RE 2 R3 2 R>

ROYAL VALLEY

- warp to HT
- inn, FUSE with din, then talk
- FUSE with everyone in the inn
    din (TALK after) (RE)
    farore (R>)
    nayru (R3)
    any shared fusions in inn
- Cucco Game, HP15 (630r)
    Round 7: 5 white + 2 gold = 150r (R3)
    Round 8: 4 white + 4 gold = 240r (R>)
    Round 9: 2 white = 20r (bell HP16) (RE)
    Round 10: 1 white + 2 gold = 110r
- RED CHARM from din
- BOMB BAG from Stockwells (30r)
- learn DOWN THRUST from Swiftblade
- NHF, take cave, go to graveyard
- upgrade QUIVER (L R R L R R)
- lost woods (up left left up right up)
- FUSE with dampe (B6), get GRAVEYARD KEY
- FUSE with dampe (G<), open gate
- FUSE with specter (B6)
- JOY BUTTERFLY (swimming)
- northwest grave HP17
- FUSE with specter (BL, is this not shared?)
- FUSEx2 with gina (G< G<) (she also has shared)
- ROYAL KINSTONE sub-dungeon

COUNT: HP17, 30r
KINSTONE: 2 B6 2 BL 2 RE 2 R3 2 R>

DARK HYRULE CASTLE

- warp to HT
- FOUR SWORD
- any% route until exiting DHC

HYRULE CASTLE GARDEN CLEANUP

- Fountain HP18
- Bushes in SE corner, go down ladder
- HP19, FUSE then learn SWORD BEAM Grimblade (RE)
- FUSE with minish crack in NE (G[)
- S&Q
- NHF, FUSE with minish crack in east side (GP)
- Lon Lon, Veil Falls
- learn FAST SPLIT GAUGE from Splitblade
- HP20 in plain sight

COUNT: HP20, 30r
KINSTONE: 2 B6 2 BL 1 RE 2 R3 2 R>

MINISH WOODS CLEANUP

- Warp to Castor Wilds
- dive in water on east side for RE R3 R>
- JOY BUTTERFLY (digging)
- Warp to Minish Woods
- FUSE with gentari (RE)
- get lake-area HP21
- FUSEx2 with minish in house (RE R3). He may do a shared fusion first so make sure you do RE and R3 fusions.
- S&Q
- FUSE with bomb minish, get REMOTE BOMBS (R3)
- go in left cave, get RE + HP22
- S&Q

COUNT: HP22, 30r
KINSTONE: 2 B6 2 BL 1 RE 1 R3 3 R>

MT CRENEL CLEANUP

- Warp to Mt Crenel
- fuse with exposed crack minish (G[) + get R>
- S&Q
- go inside the mines and FUSE:
    minish by exit (G<)
    melari (R>)
    minish inside SE room (G<)
    minish outside eastern room (G[)
    NW-ern mining minish (GP)
- leave via exit, grow back
- go to Grayblade
- get HP23, FUSE (R3), learn ROLL ATTACK, get 2 50r chests (130r)
- Leave, take bottom-left ladder
- left, down one level, bomb wall between jagged rocks, HP24
- go to giant wall
- beanstalk HP25, get 8 red rupees (290r)
- FUSE repeatedly with mt crenel hermit until stops
- All shared fusions should be done now!
- go inside dig cave, HP26, FUSE wall (BL)
- S&Q

COUNT: HP26, 290r
KINSTONE: 2 B6 1 BL 1 RE 0 R3 3 R>

WIND RUINS CLEANUP

- Warp to Castor Wilds
- Go to wind ruins
- JOY BUTTERFLY (arrow shooting)
- FUSE with crack minish (RE), get RE in chest
- get 200 shells in chest in next screen
- beanstalk, get QUIVER
- get BOMB BAG by FoW entrance

COUNT: HP26, 290r
KINSTONE: 2 B6 1 BL 1 RE 0 R3 3 R>

LAKE HYLIA CLEANUP

- Warp to Lake Hylia
- FUSE with minish inside house if forgotten
- fall down minish crack
- get HC from librari (FUSE if forgot in library)
- swim to lake hylia east minish crack
- FUSE with minish in the crack (BL)
- grow by mayor's house
- HP27 to the left
- in tree, get HP28, FUSE, learn PERIL BEAM with Waveblade (R>)
- FUSE with david jr (G[) - this is your 2nd fusion with him. he'll want to fuse after you get the magic boomerang
- get island HP29
- north dig cave, go SW, get R3 and B6 on the way
- FUSE with wall (B6)
- go back to cave entrance, dig left
- HP30 outside the cave
- in cave, go up, get BL
- dig all the way back, take ladder to right
- follow the path to the beanstalk
- HP31 + 200r chest (490r)
- S&Q

COUNT: HP31, 490r
KINSTONE: 2 B6 1 BL 1 RE 1 R3 2 R>

E HYRULE FIELD CLEANUP

- warp to MW
- get B6 in left chest
- go to eastern hills
- jump across gap
- FUSE with house minish (B6)
- go up beanstalk, HP32, 200r chest (690r)
- go up 1 screen, get BOTTLE3, enter minish woods
- get HP33 and 200r chest (890r)
- FUSEx2 (maybe x3?) with scrub in tree (G< GP)
- Get R3 in chest on east woods
- go back to EH
- get BOTTLE4 from goron cave
- FUSE right goron (R3) and left (B6)

COUNT: HP33, 890r
KINSTONE: 1 B6 1 BL 1 RE 1 R3 2 R>

CASTOR WILDS CLEANUP

- warp to castor wilds
- push tomb, get HP34, learn GREAT SPIN from Swiftblade I
- go to treestump, minish, south lilypad
- HP35 in southeast water cave
- S&Q
- go to NE corner (use rock shortcut near center-top)
- learn FAST SPIN ATTACK from Scarblade
- get HP36 in adjacent cave
- S&Q


COUNT: HP36, 890r
KINSTONE: 1 B6 1 BL 1 RE 1 R3 2 R>

HYRULE TOWN CLEANUP

- warp to HT
- go to school
- FUSE with Tina (only fickle but not shared fuser -_-) (GP)
- go outside as minish and get HP35 + all chests (R3 R> R> RE)
- S&Q
- WHITE PICOLYTE just in case, if desirable (690r)
- buy BOMB BAG from stockwells (90r) (no need for rupees now)
- FUSE with Bremor (NW carpenter) (R3)
- go to NHF
- NHF waterfall Greatblade (FAST GREAT SPIN)
- HP38 in adjacent cave
- climb cave ladder, leave, go back to DHC
- any% route, beat the game
- 50 rupees from each ball & chain if need more picolyte
- use the red charm against vaati form 1

COUNT: HP38
KINSTONE: 1 B6 1 BL 2 RE 1 R3 4 R>

VEIL FALLS
- Go to Veil Falls via NHF, directly
- Get both HP39 (plain sight) and HP40 (dig cave)
- go to the top of the mountain (VEIL FALLS WIND CREST)
- give shield to biggoron

COUNT: HP40

CLOUD TOPS

- enter cloud tops, FUSE with two wind tribers (G[ R> is this shared?)
- Cloud Tops Route: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcwUvBY5KRk
- Cloud Tops WIND CREST then enter mansion
    floor 2: fuse with woman, get LIGHT ARROWS (GP)
    floor 3: fuse with woman (G[)
    floor 4: fuse with leader, talk with her (G<)
    floor 3: fuse with same woman (G[)
    floor 4: fuse with leader again (G[). talk to stair blocker, go up
- leave mansion via top

COUNT: HP40
KINSTONE: 1 B6 1 BL 2 RE 1 R3 3 R>

ENDGAME
- warp to SHF, dash to Western Woods
- get HP41 in tree, FUSE with southwest minish (BL)
- S&Q
- FUSE tingle (R3), talk to him TWICE, get TINGLE STATUE
- Enter HT from south
- fountain HT HP42
- S&Q

COUNT: HP41
KINSTONE: 1 B6 0 BL 2 RE 0 R3 3 R>

RIP FUN
- FIGURINES AHHHH - Carlov medal ( http://pastebin.com/feBUF5a9 )
- talk to cafe man
- figurines HP43
- S&Q
- warp to veil falls
- jump down left, get HP44 from waterfall cave
- warp to cloud tops, climb down
- MIRROR SHIELD
- FRICKIN GG