The seven Hidden Skills expand Link’s swordplay from catching kicks to giant whirling attacks. The first Golden Wolf is waiting on the way to the Forest Temple. For the next six encounters, you howl at the corresponding howling stones and then, as a human, look for the wolf marker on the map.
Heulstein and training location are two separate stations. The techniques are taught in a fixed order; a stone visited later does not skip art. The Triforce Howl to open the path in the Sacred Grove is not one of these six training stones.
Game version: The route and screenshots follow the GameCube version. The normal mode of Twilight Princess HD has the same orientation; on Wii and in HD Hero Mode, left/right and east/west are swapped. HD deviations are at the affected step.
Hidden Skill 1 – Ending Blow
You will learn the Ending Blow automatically during your first stay in the Faron Woods. After Link returns to his human form and makes his way to the Forest Temple, the Golden Wolf waits outside the temple area. No howling stone is necessary for this first encounter.
The catch allows Link to immediately and permanently eliminate an opponent who is lying on the ground. Target the fallen enemy and carry out the action shown. Link jumps up and plunges his sword vertically into the enemy’s body. The technique becomes particularly valuable against opponents who can revive themselves or who have a large amount of health. The final fight against Ganondorf also ends with exactly this technique.
Hidden Skill 2 – Shield Attack
You will find the first regular howling stone on the way to Death Mountain. During the climb to the Goron area you will hear the characteristic sounds of the stone. Transform into Wolf-Link and howl along to the melody. It is the well-known song of healing from Majora’s Mask.
The Golden Wolf then appears at the source of Ordon. During the course of the plot, return to Ordon anyway when you go to see Mayor Bororo about the Gorons, and visit the source. The heroic spirit teaches you the Shield Attack.
With this technique, Link hits the opponent directly with his shield. The attack can open enemy defenses, throw certain projectiles back and is also the prerequisite for the later helmet splitter. Against strong blocking opponents, you should use the shield attack regularly instead of bluntly attacking their defense.
Hidden Skill 3 – Back Slice
The next Howling Stone is located at the upper reaches of the Zora River near Hena’s Fishing Pond. You reach it after liberating Lanayru Province. As Wolf-Link you play the melody of the Requiem of the Spirits from Ocarina of Time.
The Golden Wolf waits on an elevated ledge in the GameCube orientation west of Castle Town. Find the wolf marker on your map and approach it as a human. This location is mirrored on Wii or in HD hero mode.
The Back Slice is one of the most useful techniques in the entire game. While targeting an enemy, you roll sideways around them and then immediately perform an attack. Link jumps behind his opponent and hits his unprotected back. Lizalfos, Dinolfos and Schattengarden in particular can be easily avoided. With heavily armored knights, you can even hit the brackets of their armor with the all-round slash.
Hidden Skill 4 – Helm Splitter
On your later path through the northern Faron Woods to the Sacred Grove you will find the next Howling Stone. Replay the Prelude of Light as Wolf-Link. The Golden Wolf then appears at the southern gate of Castle Town.
The Helm Splitter builds directly on the shield attack. First perform a successful shield attack against the targeted opponent. Once their defenses are open, press the action shown and Link will jump over the enemy’s head. During the jump, he hits from above and then lands behind the opponent.
This combination is particularly effective against enemies with large shields and, together with the all-round slash, later forms one of the best ways to combat Shadow Guards and similar heavily armored enemies.
Hidden Skill 5 – Mortal Draw
The fifth Howling Stone is located at Lake Hylia on an elevated section of rock near the observation tower. Activate it as a Wolf Link. The Golden Wolf then appears in the Gerudo Desert, which is why we can easily integrate this technique into our 100% route through the desert.
Mortal Draw is a risky but extremely powerful technique. To do this, Link’s sword must be stuck in the shaft and you are not allowed to aim at the opponent. Approach an enemy until the corresponding action appears and draw your sword at the right moment. Link delivers a lightning-fast sword slash, often instantly defeating common enemies and dealing massive damage to even stronger enemies.
The technique is particularly suitable for opponents whose attack patterns you already know well. Since Link stands in front of the enemy without active targeting, a poorly timed attempt is significantly more dangerous than a normal sword combination.
Hidden Skill 6 – Jump Strike
On the way through the Snowpeak to the Snowpeak Ruins, the scent trail of the Reekfish branches off over a small ledge at one point. The sixth Howling Stone is located there. Activate it as a Wolf Link and the Golden Wolf will appear in the Kakariko Graveyard.
Return to Kakariko and enter the cemetery. The heroic spirit teaches Link the Jump Strike. For this technique, you keep the normal jump attack charged. After a short time, Link unleashes a significantly larger shockwave upon impact, which hits several opponents at the same time and knocks them back.
The technique is particularly useful against larger groups of enemies, Stalfos or enemies that surround Link. Since the charging phase takes some time, you should not start it directly in front of a fast opponent.
Hidden Skill 7 – Great Spin
You can find the last Howling Stone in the Hidden Village. It’s in the separate area behind the buildings near the chicken leader. After the howl, the Golden Wolf appears at the northern entrance to Castle Town or on the way towards Hyrule Castle.
The heroic spirit teaches Link the seventh and final Hidden Skill: the Great Spin. As long as Link’s health is completely filled, his normal spin attack is significantly strengthened. The blow has a greater range, causes significantly more damage and can hit entire groups of enemies at the same time.
The technology is extremely valuable, especially in the Cave of Ordeals, in the Palace of Twilight and in Hyrule Castle. You have now mastered all seven Hidden Skills.
Who is the heroic spirit?
Twilight Princess only partially explains the Hero Spirit’s identity in the actual game. He describes Link as his descendant and regrets that he was not able to fully pass on his own martial arts during his lifetime. Later official Zelda publications assign him to the link from Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask. What is particularly important for the actual gameplay is that his seven techniques represent the complete development of Link’s swordplay.
If you follow our 100% Walkthrough chronologically, the last technique will be completed before City in the Sky or at the latest in connection with the Hidden Village. This means you have all the Hidden Skills at your disposal for the game’s toughest challenges.