Twenty-four.
That’s the number. It’s a lot for a game that only gives you three days to save the world from a moon that looks like it’s had way too much caffeine. Honestly, collecting all masks in Majora’s Mask is the real game. The dungeons are fine, sure, but the masks are the soul of Termina. They are grief, joy, and weirdness wrapped in wood and magic.
If you’re trying to track down every single one, you’re basically signing up to be Termina’s most overworked therapist. You aren't just hitting switches; you're fixing broken marriages and healing the souls of the dead. It’s heavy stuff for a Zelda game.
The Transformation Trio: More Than Just Stat Boosts
Most people remember the big ones. The Deku, Goron, and Zora masks. These aren't just power-ups; they are identities. When Link puts on the Goron Mask, he isn't just getting stronger; he’s literally wearing the spirit of Darmani, a fallen hero who died trying to save his people. It’s kind of morbid when you think about it.
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The Deku Mask is your starting point, forced upon you by Skull Kid. It’s arguably the weakest, but that bubble blast is iconic. Then you’ve got the Zora Mask, which belonged to Mikau. Swimming in the original N64 version felt like being a literal torpedo, though the 3DS remake slowed things down a bit, which still annoys some purists.
The thing about these transformations is how they change the world’s perspective of you. Walk into a bar as a Deku Scrub and people treat you like a child. Walk in as a Zora and you’re a rockstar. That’s the level of detail Nintendo threw into this.
The Anju and Kafei Quest: The Greatest Sidequest Ever Made?
You can’t talk about all masks in Majora’s Mask without mentioning the Couple’s Mask. To get it, you have to complete a three-day ordeal that is genuinely heartbreaking. You’re tracking a missing fiancé, Kafei, who was cursed by Skull Kid.
It’s complicated. You have to be at the right place at the exact right second.
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- Talk to Anju on Day 1.
- Meet her in the kitchen at midnight.
- Deliver a letter.
- Spy on a pawn shop owner.
- Head to Ikana Canyon.
- Hide in a closet while a thief tries to sell a stolen mask.
If you mess up one single interaction, the whole timeline is ruined and you have to play the Song of Time to start all over. It’s brutal. But when you finally see Anju and Kafei reunite as the moon is literally falling on their heads? It’s worth it. The Couple’s Mask you get at the end doesn't even do much—it just stops a riot and makes people feel calm—but the journey is the point.
The Weird Ones You Probably Missed
Some masks are just... strange. Take the Kamaro Mask. You find a ghost dancing on a mushroom rock in Termina Field at night. You heal his soul, and suddenly you can do a creepy, rhythmic dance that makes two sisters in Clock Town lose their minds with joy. It’s absurd.
Then there’s the Don Gero Mask. You have to feed a starving Goron a rock sirloin. Once you have it, you have to find frogs hidden across the entire world—in laundries, under lily pads, and inside bosses—to conduct a choir. It’s a lot of legwork for a Heart Piece.
The Utility Players
- Bunny Hood: If you play this game without the Bunny Hood, you’re a masochist. It makes Link run faster and jump further. It’s basically mandatory.
- Blast Mask: It’s a bomb you wear on your face. Pro tip: hold your shield up when you detonate it so you don't take damage.
- Stone Mask: This is the ultimate "leave me alone" tool. Most enemies literally can't see you. In the original, you find the soldier in a circle of stones near Ikana; in the 3DS version, he’s in the Pirates’ Fortress.
- Garo’s Mask: Essential for entering Ikana Canyon. It summons the spirits of ancient ninjas who want to duel you.
The Truth About the Fierce Deity Mask
Everything leads to this. If you manage to collect all 23 other masks, you can trade them to the kids on the Moon for the Fierce Deity Mask.
This thing is a game-breaker.
Link turns into a towering, silver-haired god who shoots sword beams. It makes the final boss fight with Majora look like a joke. Some fans argue it takes the challenge out of the ending, but honestly, after the stress of the Anju/Kafei quest and the horror of the Great Bay Temple, you’ve earned the right to be an unstoppable god for ten minutes.
Interestingly, there’s a lot of lore speculation here. Is the Fierce Deity actually a "bad" spirit? The mask’s description implies its powers might be as dark as Majora’s. It’s a cool bit of ambiguity that Nintendo never fully explained.
Why We Still Care Decades Later
Majora’s Mask is a game about loss. Every mask is a memory of someone Link helped—or someone he couldn't save. When you look at your inventory screen and see it filled up, it’s a record of your impact on a doomed world.
Collectibles in modern games often feel like busywork. Fetch 100 feathers. Find 50 hidden packages. In Termina, every mask has a name and a story. The Gibdo Mask lets you talk to the undead. The Captain’s Hat lets you command a graveyard of skeletons. They aren't just icons; they are keys to the world’s lore.
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If you’re going for a 100% run, pay attention to the Bomber’s Notebook. It’s your best friend. It tracks schedules and hints at where people will be. Without it, you’re just guessing in the dark.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Playthrough
If you're jumping back into Termina to grab every mask, keep these specific strategies in mind to save time and sanity.
- Get the Bunny Hood immediately. On Day 1 or 2, go to the Romani Ranch, enter the Cucco shack, and use the Bremen Mask (found in the laundry pool at night) to march the baby chicks into a line. They’ll turn into roosters, and Grog will give you the hood. Your travel time will cut in half.
- Double the Song of Time. Play the Song of Time backward ($v, A, >, v, A, >$) to slow down the flow of time. It gives you more "real-time" minutes to finish the longer quests like the Kafei arc.
- Combine your errands. You can get the Great Fairy Mask on Day 1 within five minutes of becoming human. Use it whenever you're in a dungeon to snag Stray Fairies effortlessly.
- The Room Key trick. In the Anju quest, make sure you talk to her at the desk before the postman arrives on Day 1 to get the Knife Chamber room key. It gives you access to a chest and a place to wait out the clock safely.
- Don't forget the All-Night Mask. You need the Giant’s Wallet for this one because it costs 500 Rupees at the Curiosity Shop on the Final Night. You can only buy it if you saved the old lady from the thief on Day 1.
The beauty of collecting all masks in Majora’s Mask is that the game doesn't actually require most of them to beat the story. You do it because you want to see the world made whole, even if only for a moment before the clock resets.