Mastering Combat

• You must master the combat system to progress far into the game. Learn the benefits of each type of attack. Tapping an enemy with the stylus causes Link to strike quickly and is useful for dispatching smaller enemies. Sweeping the stylus in the direction Link is facing causes him to stab in a forward direction, which can do significant damage to enemies attacking you head-on. Sweeping the stylus perpendicularly to Link causes him to swing his sword horizontally, which is good for taking on enemies who are bunched together. Lastly, sweeping the stylus in a circular direction around Link causes him to swing his sword in a circle, which makes short work of enemies who have you surrounded.
  
  

Exploring the World

• Exploration has always been a key element of Zelda games, and "Phantom Hourglass" is no exception. Explore every nook and cranny of every part of the game. Tap any and every suspicious-looking object with the stylus to examine it. Use bombs to blow open cracked walls and reveal hidden rooms. Break objects with your sword to reveal hidden items. Explore the seas with your ship to find hidden islands. The game is full of secrets and hidden areas, and the thorough gamer will be rewarded with important items or Heart Containers.
  
  

Using Your Items

• Equip secondary weapons or items to solve puzzles, reach new areas of the game or dispatch enemies. Generally, once you have acquired a new item, you will need to use it to solve puzzles and/or defeat new enemies soon thereafter. If you are stuck or lost in a certain part of the game, try to use your items to solve the problem; look for crawlspaces that may be accessible to Bombchus or poles you can hit with your grappling hook, for example. Make sure to visit areas from earlier in the game once you have acquired new items because you might be able to use them to reach previously unreachable areas.
  
  

Defeating the Bosses

• Boss battles in "Phantom Hourglass" can frustrate players because the battles require puzzle-solving skills more than brute strength. Every boss battle requires you to deduce the enemy's weak spot and attack it, usually with a secondary weapon; you cannot defeat any of the game's bosses by simply attacking them with your sword. Look for the weak spot in any boss you encounter. This will usually be a physical characteristic, such as a giant eye or a brightly colored body part. Try using your most recently acquired secondary item on the boss' weak spot. Against Blaz, for example, you must hit each of his body segments with your boomerang. You also might need to use an item to reach a strategically advantageous part of the room, from which you can more effectively attack the boss.