A newly documented glitch in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time gives Link an unexpected way to destroy boulders: striking one and immediately using a bottle of water or bugs can make the rock explode.
The discovery is another reminder that classic games still contain technical surprises for players willing to investigate every animation and timing window. For more gaming and industry stories, visit the RETROCADE Arcade Blog.
How the boulder glitch works
The trick depends on using an attack at the precise moment its animation finishes, then making Link release a bottle. The sequence appears to overwrite the game’s damage flags, changing how it identifies the incoming damage and allowing an otherwise harmless item to destroy the boulder.
A technical explanation has been added to Zelda Speedruns. The same underlying behaviour can turn attacks from weapons such as Link’s sword or slingshot into surprisingly versatile tools.
The technique also works in Majora’s Mask
The discovery is not limited to Ocarina of Time. It can also be reproduced in The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, where it creates several useful sequence-breaking possibilities.
- Link can reach the Goron Racetrack and access the Milk Ranch without collecting powder kegs.
- In Deku Scrub form, the bubble attack can take the place of a sword strike in the setup.
- A Deku bubble combined with bugs, or a spin attack combined with spring water, can be used as part of the boulder-destroying method.
A demonstration of the Majora’s Mask applications was posted on pic.twitter.com/8B2BshiZZv on October 11, 2026.
The documented examples show how the glitch can combine Deku Scrub bubbles, bugs, spin attacks and spring water to destroy rocks in Majora’s Mask.
More than a shortcut around rocks
Players have already applied the same damage-flag manipulation to much larger challenges. It can help defeat Volvagia without the Megaton Hammer, enter Ikana Castle without the Mirror Shield and, most dramatically, defeat Ganondorf without using Light Arrows.
Those applications could have a meaningful effect on established speedrunning routes. Runners will need to determine how consistently the inputs can be performed and whether the time saved outweighs the effort required to set them up.
Which versions support the glitch?
The technique appears to function in the Virtual Console versions of both games, so players may be able to test it on Switch. It does not appear to work in either Nintendo 3DS remake. There is also no indication that it will function in the forthcoming Switch 2 remake of Ocarina of Time.
For readers interested in the hardware side of classic gaming, RETROCADE’s arcade videos explore the games and machines that keep retro play in the spotlight. Those considering a dedicated setup can also compare options in the Arcade Machine Buying Guide.
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