Powder Kegs are items in Majora's Mask.[1] They are the most famous product of the Gorons and are much stronger than regular Bombs.[2]
Location and Uses
Goron Link carrying a Powder Keg at the Road to Goron Village in Majora's Mask
Link can only purchase and use Powder Kegs as Goron Link, and must first pass a certification test before he can purchase any.[3] To become certified, Goron Link must visit Medigoron in the Goron Powder Keg Shop, which is frozen over in the winter so the young Hero of Time must shoot a Fire Arrow or wait until spring to enter. He will give the hero a lit Powder Keg with a very long fuse, which he then must use to destroy the boulder blocking the entrance to the Goron Racetrack, before the Keg explodes.[4] If Link successfully completes this task, the Goron will give him a free Powder Keg, certifying him to buy and carry one Powder Keg at a time.[5]
After Link is certified to use Powder Kegs (even after returning to the dawn of the First Day), Goron Link can buy Powder Kegs at the Goron Powder Keg Shop and Clock Town's Bomb Shop,[6] but he can only carry one at a time.[7] A Powder Keg costs 100 Rupees, but is reduced to only 20 Rupees in Majora's Mask 3D at the Goron Powder Keg Shop,[8][9] and 50 Rupees at the Bomb Shop regardless of the game's version.
Powder Kegs possess devastating explosive power, and as such can be used to destroy obstacles that regular Bombs cannot. A Powder Keg can be used to open the way to the Goron Racetrack; destroy the boulder on Milk Road on the First or Second Day, clearing a way to Romani Ranch; or to blow a hole in the roof of the Ikana Castle, granting access to the throne room. A Powder Keg can also be used to complete the pot-breaking game at Zora Cape by destroying all the pots at once.[10] All general rocks can be destroyed with Powder Kegs except for the large gray rocks, which can only be lifted as in Ocarina of Time.
Once lit, a Powder Keg will explode when its fuse burns out. However, Link can make it explode immediately by shooting an Arrow at it.[11] Alternatively, an immediate explosion, like a well-timed Bomb or the Blast Mask, will suffice. Link himself must be careful not to be too close to the keg, as it has a rather large blast radius and inflicts damage.
Trivia
- In the Japanese release, the Powder Keg is called the Large Bomb.
- This item is based on the real-world powder keg that was commonly used to store and transport large qualities of gunpowder until the 1870s. Unsurprisingly, they are known to explode violently if exposed to heat or sparks.
- As Powder Kegs are indeed specifically designed for Goron use, if Link attempts to buy one as his Hylian, Deku, or Zora forms, he will not be able to, as Medigoron at the Goron Powder Keg Shop and the Powder Keg Seller at the Bomb Shop will state they are for their race and are also too heavy for him.[3]
- The Powder Keg is similar to the Super Bomb from A Link to the Past, in that both are large, powerful Bombs that are meant to destroy certain obstacles a normal Bomb could not and Link can only carry one at a time.
- The symbol on the front of the Powder Keg is a Goron head with crossbones, based on the common real-world symbol of death, likely to warn the danger of the item itself.
Nomenclature
 Names in Other Regions 
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Language | Name | Meaning | |
 |
Japanese | 大バクダン (Dai Bakudan) | Large Bomb |
 |
French | Baril de poudre (MM3D) | Barrel of powder |
 |
FrenchEU | Baril de Poudre (MM) | Barrel of Powder |
 |
German | Pulverfass | Powder Barrel |
 |
Italian | Barile esplosivo (MM3D) | |
 |
Spanish | Barril de pólvora (MM3D) | Barrel of powder |
 |
SpanishEU | Barril de Pólvora (MM) | Barrel of Powder |
References
- ↑ Encyclopedia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 134
- ↑ "I'm the Goron who sells the Powder Keg, the most famous product of the Gorons." — Medigoron (Majora's Mask)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "The rules say I can't sell Powder Kegs to anyone who isn't a Goron. Sorry." — Goron (Majora's Mask)
- ↑ "If you can destroy the boulder that blocks the entrance to the Goron Racetrack near here... using the Powder Keg I'm about to give you, then I'll approve you to carry them." — Goron (Majora's Mask)
- ↑ "It looks like you managed to succeed! Knowing your skills, I feel fine letting you handle Powder Kegs on your own. It was bad of me to put you through such a dangerous test. I want you to take this as my apology." — Goron (Majora's Mask)
- ↑ "Want a Powder Keg? Powder kegs explode with powerful blasts and are very dangerous... Until I have tested you to see if you can use them properly, I can't let you use any on your own." — Goron (Majora's Mask)
- ↑ "You can carry only one Powder Keg at a time. Once you've used it, come back." — Goron (Majora's Mask)
- ↑ "Will you a buy a Powder Keg for 100 Rupees?" — Goron (Majora's Mask)
- ↑ "Will you a buy a Powder Keg for 20 Rupees?" — Goron (Majora's Mask 3D)
- ↑ "Whoa! There are others besides Zoras who can do it..." — Zora (Majora's Mask)
- ↑ "Powder Kegs are very volatile, so you can carry only one at a time. If you shoot them with an arrow, they'll explode as soon as they're hit, so be careful." — Goron (Majora's Mask)