The greatest transport are the hidden Moon Gates. Passing through a Moon Gate when it is active will teleport your Party to another location. Access to many glens of the old knowledge are restricted by the Moon Gates. No creature of the Dark can ever break through the wards that protect them. The coming and going of the Moon Gates is somehow related to the twin Moons, Trammel and Felucca, that grace the sky. The success of your quest may well hinge on you solving the ancient mystery of the Moon Gates.
Understanding Moon Gates
At the top of the screen, the phases of the twin moons, Trammel and Felucca, are represented by numerals as follows:
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Moon | Crescent waxing | First Quarter | Gibbous waxing | Full Moon | Gibbous waning | Last Quarter | Crescent waning |
The phase of the left moon dictates the location where you may find a Moon Gate currently open and awaiting utilization by your party. The phase of the right moon dictates the destination that you will end up in when you pass through the Moon Gate. The right moon changes phases three times for every one phase change of the left moon. This means every Moon Gate will lead to three particular destinations. In a few select cases, it is possible for the phases of the moons to be identical (New Moon, Gibbous waxing, Full Moon, and Crescent waning). During those moments, stepping into a Moon Gate will not transport you anywhere.
Moongate Table
| Moongate | Moongate Location | Moon Phase | Destinations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | South-East of Montor East (Northwest corner of map, North of Moon) |
New Moon | (0), 1, 2 |
| 1 | Eastern Island, Dungeon of the Snake (Cave of Sol in the NES) |
Crescent Waxing | 3, 4, 5 |
| 2 | Locked in by mountains, center of the map | First Quarter | 6, 7, 0 |
| 3 | Just West of Montor West | Gibbous Waxing | 1, 2, (3) |
| 4 | Locked in by mountains, center of the map | Full Moon | (4), 5, 6 |
| 5 | Isle with Castle Exodus | Gibbous Waning | 7, 0, 1 |
| 6 | Devilguard access, East of Devilguard | Last Quarter | 2, 3, 4 |
| 7 | Eastern Island with Dungeon of Time (Cave of Moon in the NES) |
Crescent Waning | 5, 6, (7) |
Moongate travel
There are two Moongate locations that can be easily accessed from Sosaria mainland; they connect to the same two locations: the island of Dungeon of the Snake and the landlocked valley.
Two Moongate locations are in the same landlocked valley. Their work as a hub: there's nothing of interest in the vale, but it connects four different destinations.
The remaining locations are the four destinations of interest: the valley of Devil Guard, the island of the Dungeon of the Snake, the valley of the Dungeon of Time and an (actually useless) inlet on the island of Exodus Castle.
Trip to Devil Guard
- Outbound trip 1:
- Go to the Moongate South-East of Montor East (NW corner of the map); at the New Moon the gate appears; when the other moon is at first quarter (half moon), step into the Moongate to get to the landlocked valley.
- Soon, the same Moongate where you arrive will re-appear. Step into it at once to get to Devil Guard.
- Outbound trip 2:
- Go to the Moongate West of Montor West; at the gibbous waxing moon the gate appears; when the other moon is at first quarter (half moon), step into the Moongate to get to the landlocked valley.
- Soon, the other Moongate will appear (at full moon). Step into it when the other moon is at last quarter (half moon) to get to Devil Guard.
- Return trip:
- The Moongate appears at the last quarter (half moon). When the other moon is a gibbous waxing, step into the Moongate to get west of Montor West.
Trip to Dungeon of Time
"Cave of Moon" in the NES version.
- Outbound trip:
- Go to the Moongate South-East of Montor East (NW corner of the map); at the New Moon the gate appears; when the other moon is a quarter (half moon), step into the Moongate to get to the landlocked valley.
- Soon, the same Moongate where you arrive will re-appear. Wait for the other moon to be crescent waning, the csep into the Gate to get to the Dungeon of Time.
- Return trip 1:
- Step into the Moongate as soon as it appears at the crescent waning moon to get to the inlet of the Isle of Fire.
- From there, wait for the Moongate at the gibbous waning moon and step into it when the other moon is new (black). You'll emerge South-East of Montor East.
- Return trip 2:
- Step into the Moongate at the crescent waning moon when the second moon is last quarter to get to the valley of Devil Guard.
- The Moongate appears at the last quarter (half moon). When the other moon is a gibbous waxing, step into the Moongate to get west of Montor West.
Trip to Dungeon of the Snake
"Cave of Sol" in the NES version.
The island of the Dungeon of Snake can be accessed far more easily by ship.
- Outbound trip 1:
- At the Moongate South-East of Montor East, step into it as soon as the moons are different.
- Outbound trip 2:
- At the Moongate West of Montor West, step into it as soon as it appears.
- Return trip:
- Step into the Moongate as soon as it appears. You'll get back West of Montor West.
Trip to the Isle of Fire
The Isle of Fire is where Exodus Castle is located. The Moongate is located on an inlet from which you can see the Castle, but you cannot reach it. It is therefore unimportant to get here.
- Outbound trip:
- It usually happens if you miss the right Moongate configuration, when the second moon is in the gibbous waning phase:
- from the island of Dungeon Snake;
- from the South Moongate in the Landlocked valley;
- from the valley of Dungeon of Time.
- Return trip:
- The Moongate appears at the gibbous waning moon. Step into it as soon as the two moons are different, and get South-East of Montor East.