You’re standing in front of Richard’s Villa, and the guy has the nerve to ask you for five golden leaves. Honestly, it’s one of the first real "fetch quests" in Link’s Awakening that actually tests your patience. Whether you are playing the 1993 Game Boy classic, the DX color version, or the gorgeous 2019 remake on the Nintendo Switch, the hunt for the golden leaves remains a pivotal moment in the early game. You can't get into Key Cavern without that Slime Key. You can't get the Slime Key without Richard. And Richard won't do squat until his precious leaves are returned from the grounds of Canalet Castle.
It’s a bit of a trek.
Most players stumble into this quest after finishing Bottle Grotto. You’ve got the Power Bracelet, you’re feeling strong, and then you hit this wall of "go find my stuff." The castle is located in the northeast of Ukuku Prairie. It’s a gated fortress surrounded by a moat, and the front gate is locked tight. You’ve got to find a way in, and once you’re inside, you have to track down five specific enemies who are hoarding these shiny collectibles.
Getting Into Canalet Castle Without Losing Your Mind
If you try to walk through the front door, you’re going to be disappointed. The guards aren't letting anyone in. Instead, you need to head to the right side of the castle perimeter. There, you’ll find a Crow sitting on a tree and a small path leading to a Monkey. If you’ve been keeping up with your trading sequence—which you absolutely should be—you’ll have some Bananas.
Kiki the Monkey is hungry. Give him the fruit.
In exchange for the Bananas, Kiki and his monkey friends go into a construction frenzy, building a bridge that grants you access to the castle's side entrance. They also leave behind a Stick, which is essential for the next step of the trading game involving Tarin. Once the bridge is up, you head north, hop across some platforms, and find a hidden staircase under a bush. This leads you into the castle's subterranean tunnels.
Where the Golden Leaves Are Actually Hiding
The game doesn't give you a map for these. You just have to poke around.
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The first golden leaf is actually outside. On the right side of the castle grounds, you’ll see a Mad Bomber popping up from six different holes in the ground. It’s a classic "Whack-a-Mole" situation. You can’t just swing wildly; you need to time your strike for when he surfaces but before he chucks a bomb at your head. Hit him enough times, and the leaf is yours. It’s satisfying, though slightly annoying if your timing is off.
Right near there, you’ll see a Crow perched on a tree. This is the second leaf. This bird is stubborn. It won't move if you just walk past it. You have to pick up a nearby rock and hurl it at the tree. The Crow will freak out and dive-bomb you. Slay the bird, and the second leaf drops. Two down, three to go.
Going Inside the Fortress
Now you actually enter the castle building. The third leaf is held by a Knight on the first floor. You’ll enter a room with a few easy enemies, but once you clear them out, a heavily armored Darknut appears. This isn't a complex fight, but in the original Game Boy version, the limited screen real estate made these encounters feel a lot tighter than they do on the Switch. Block his attack, strike when his guard is down. Leaf number three.
The fourth leaf is a bit of a trick. On the upper floor, you’ll see two weird-looking circles on the wall that look like cracks or eyes. They are actually fake wall panels. Use a bomb on them. Out pops another set of armored guards. Defeat them, and the fourth leaf is yours. If you ran out of bombs, you’re going to have to backtrack to Mabe Village and buy more from the shop, which is a total buzzkill, so always keep a stash of ten or twenty on you.
The Final Showdown with the Morning Star Knight
The fifth and final golden leaf is held by the "mini-boss" of the castle, a Ball and Chain Trooper (sometimes called a Morning Star Knight). He’s hiding behind a locked door that you can only open by throwing a pot at it.
This fight is all about spacing.
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He swings that massive iron ball in a wide circle. If you get too close, you’re toast. If you stay too far away, you can’t hit him. The trick is to wait for him to throw the ball forward. When the chain is extended, jump or sidestep, then rush in for a few quick slashes before he pulls it back. It’s a rhythmic fight. Once he’s down, he drops the final leaf. You’re done. You can finally leave this place.
The Reward and the "Secret" Grave
Take the five leaves back to Richard. He’s so thrilled that he moves out of the way, allowing you to access the "Pothole Field" behind his villa. This place is a nightmare of hidden pitfalls. You’ll need to cut through the bushes carefully. Your goal is the stone statue at the far end.
Push the statue to reveal a secret staircase.
Underneath the field, you’ll find the Slime Key. This key opens the gate to Key Cavern, the third dungeon of the game. It’s a lot of work for a single key, but that’s the charm of Link’s Awakening. It forces you to explore the nooks and crannies of Koholint Island rather than just sprinting from dungeon to dungeon.
Why This Quest Matters for the Series
Looking back, the golden leaves quest is a perfect example of Nintendo’s design philosophy in the early 90s. It wasn't just about combat; it was about environmental puzzles and the "metroidvania" style of item gating. You needed the Bananas to get the Bridge. You needed the Bridge to get the Leaves. You needed the Leaves to get the Key.
It’s a chain of events that makes the world feel interconnected.
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Interestingly, the 2019 remake kept this quest almost exactly the same, which speaks to its quality. They didn't feel the need to "fix" it because it wasn't broken. They just made the Mad Bomber a little less frustrating to track and improved the telegraphing of the Morning Star Knight’s attacks.
If you are playing the original version on a Game Boy Color or an emulator, the difficulty feels a bit higher simply because you can’t see as much of the screen at once. The "Screen-flipping" mechanic of the original means that sometimes an enemy is waiting for you the second the screen transitions. In the remake, the scrolling is seamless, giving you more time to react.
Tips for a Faster Run
If you’re trying to breeze through this, here is the most efficient path.
Don't go to the castle until you have the Bananas from the trade quest. You get the Bananas by giving the Canned Food (from the Yoshi Doll trade) to the Alligator in Toronbo Shores. If you show up at the castle without the fruit, you’ve wasted a trip.
Also, make sure you have at least two bombs.
You can technically find more inside the castle if you're lucky with enemy drops, but it’s a gamble. The "bombable walls" for the fourth leaf are the biggest stumbling block for new players because they don't look like standard cracked walls. They look like decorative motifs. Just remember: if it looks suspicious, blow it up.
Actionable Steps for Your Playthrough
- Check your inventory: Ensure you have the Bananas before leaving Ukuku Prairie.
- Clear the perimeter first: Get the Bomber’s leaf and the Crow’s leaf before entering the building so you don't have to come back out.
- Watch the walls: In the room with the two sparks (the enemies that follow the walls), look for the two circular indentations and use your bombs there.
- Pothole Field Strategy: Once you get the Slime Key quest from Richard, don't just run through the bushes. Use your sword to clear a path and look for the ground's texture changes to avoid falling.
- The Trading Game: Don't stop at the Stick. Take that Stick to Tarin near the entrance of the Mysterious Woods to keep the sequence going. It eventually leads to the Boomerang, which is arguably the best weapon in the game.
The hunt for the golden leaves is more than just a chore; it’s the moment the game opens up and shows you how deep the secrets of Koholint really go. Once you have that Slime Key, the real adventure begins.
Next Steps for Players:
After securing the Slime Key, head directly south from Richard’s Villa to find the entrance to Key Cavern. This dungeon is heavy on "Small Key" management, so keep a mental map of which doors you’ve opened. If you find yourself short on keys, look for hidden enemies in the basement levels—defeating all enemies in a room is almost always the trigger for a key drop in this specific dungeon. If you haven't visited the Seashell Mansion yet, now is a great time to stop by, as you likely have enough shells to earn your first reward.