Sword & Shield Maze

The , also known as the Sword & Shield Dungeon, is the eighth and final dungeon in . It is also the only dungeon located in Subrosia.
==Entrance to the Maze==
The entrance to the Sword & Shield Maze is at the "mouth" of a human-looking volcano. Its eyes follow Link's movements. The dungeon is found in the northwestern corner of the Subrosian Volcanoes. This secluded section of Subrosia can only be accessed from a portal within the Temple Remains where the Temple of Seasons once stood. This dungeon is the only dungeon of the game where the Maku Tree cannot direct Link to the entrance. This is likely because the dungeon is not in Holodrum at all.
In a Linked Game, when Link enters the dungeon, Princess Zelda leaves her refuge to encourage the populace of Holodrum to prevent them from giving in to the destruction that now surrounds them, as the end of the game draws near. Zelda does so against the wishes of Impa, who wishes her to remain hidden.
==Themes and Navigation==
The theme of this dungeon centers around polar opposites: the first floor of the dungeon is ice-themed, while the basement is fire and lava-themed. Also, the first floor of the dungeon, when seen from above, resembles a shield while the first basement resembles a sword, hence the name of the dungeon. These opposites are further interlinked by the fact that, in and , defense is usually represented by the color blue (i.e., the Blue Ring), and offense is usually represented by the color red (i.e. the Red Ring). Fittingly, the mini-boss of the dungeon is Frypolar, a fire-and-ice enemy. The item obtained in the dungeon is the Level-2 Hyper Slingshot.
The are used extensively, required to manipulate magnetic balls and , as well as to pull to a far-away . The icy floors of the ice section of the dungeon cause Link to slip and slide, making navigation rather difficult. This problem can be solved using the Snowshoe Ring. At a certain point in the dungeon, Link finds magical Ice Crystals on the ice-themed floor. These must be thrown down to the fire floor in order to harden the lava, which allows Link to navigate further into the basement of the dungeon, which contains a in the as well as a large lake.
The boss of the dungeon is the fearful Medusa Head. Defeating the boss garners Link a Heart Container as well as the Changing Seasons, the final Essence of Nature.
===Minor Traps and Enemies===
File:OoS Anti-Fairies Sprite.png|Anti-Fairies
File:OoS Armos Red Sprite.png|Armos
File:OoS Ball and Chain Soldier Sprite.png|Ball and Chain Soldier
File:OoS Beamos Sprite.png|Beamos
File:OoS Blade Trap Green Sprite.png|Blade Trap
File:OoS Blade Trap Orange Sprite.png|Blade Trap
File:OoS Blue Wizzrobe Sprite.png|
File:OoS Sword Darknut Red Sprite.png|Darknut
File:OoS Sword Darknut Blue Sprite.png|Darknut
File:OoS Fire Keese Sprite.png|Fire Keese
File:OoS Flame Trap Sprite.png|Flame Trap
File:OoS Gel Sprite.png|Gel
File:OoS Blade Trap Big Orange Sprite.png|Giant Blade Trap
File:OoS Gibdo Sprite.png|Gibdo
File:OoS Hardhat Beetle Sprite.png|Hardhat Beetle
File:OoS Keese Sprite.png|Keese
File:OoS Magunesu North Sprite.png|Magunesu
File:OoS Mini-Moldorm Sprite.png|Mini-Moldorm
File:OoS Podoboo Sprite.png|Podoboo
File:OoS Pols Voice Sprite.png|Pols Voice
File:OoS Rolling Spike Trap Sprite.png|Rolling Spike Trap
File:OoS Spark Sprite.png|Spark
File:OoS Spiked Beetle Sprite.png|Spiked Beetle
File:OoS Spiked Thwomp Sprite.png|Spiked Thwomp
File:OoS Stalfos Blue Sprite.png|Stalfos
File:OoS Stalfos Red Sprite.png|Stalfos
File:OoS Sword Stalfos Sprite.png|Sword Stalfos
File:OoS Rope Sprite.png|Rope
File:OoS Wallmaster Sprite.png|Wallmaster
File:OoS Bubble Sprite.png|Whisp
File:OoS Wizzrobe Sprite.png|Wizzrobe
File:OoS Red Wizzrobe Sprite.png|
File:OoS Zol Green Sprite.png|Zol
File:OoS Zol Red Sprite.png|Zol
==Trivia==
*The American version of is the only version to name this dungeon a maze. In all other versions, it is simply called "Sword & Shield Dungeon".
**Additionally, the term "Sword & Shield Dungeon" also appears in the American version when one brings up the dungeon map, leading to the dungeon having inconsistent naming in the American version.
==Nomenclature==
==Gallery==
File:Sword and Shield Maze.png|Level 8 - Sword & Shield Maze
File:Sword and Shield Maze Map.png|Map of the dungeon
File:MagicalIceRoom.png|The room containing the Ice Crystals
File:SSM Fire Floor.png|Navigating the fire floor
File:SubrosiaPortal.png|The room atop the Temple Remains leading to the dungeon in Subrosia