With 11 different locations to visit, only one other round, Round 11, has as many locations as the sixth round. Knowing what's available at each location becomes a lot more important when choosing a path. Path j-k-i is a short path that will help you sustain your health, as well as give you an opportunity to collect two life extending mushrooms. Likewise, path a-b-c is a short path which offers plenty of potions, and exchanges one mushroom for a chance to collect a Shield. It may be a little more work, but path j-g-h-f offers you the chance to collect the Super Sword instead. You will save the second lady in Famicom version at the end of this stage.
Dragon's health: 100 Dragon's weak point: The head
Item: You should feel pretty familiar with this type of stage layout. Two exits present too opportunities for the Cave Shark to appear and chase after you. Unless your on a desperate hunt for potions, leave immediately.
Item: You've likely come to this dungeon to collect the shield. Avoid revealing the exit at the top of the dungeon, and you should have no problem finding it.
Item: This is your one opportunity to collect a life extending mushroom if you've taken the top path. Don't miss out on the Fireball Special scroll and the Potion as well.
In an unusual twist, this rather straightforward dungeon offers no significant special items. There are many of rewarding paths to choose from, so if possible, avoid visiting this location.
Item: This is another relatively simple dungeon, and you can find two vials of potion along with two vials of poison here. Make sure you wait and determine which prize you've been offered before jumping up in the air to collect it, or it could be a costly mistake.
Item: The Sceptre may seem like a big deal to find, but there is yet another opportunity to collect one from location h, so don't worry too much if you don't find it before revealing one of the two exits.
Item: You'll start out on the top level of this dungeon, and once you fall down one of the gaps, there's no way to return to the top. Find as many potions as you can, along with the Fireball Special scrool, before you reveal the exit, and proceed to location h.
Item: As previously mentioned, this location offers a rare opportunity to collect the Super Sword. However, you should remember that you can't hold the sword and the sceptre at the same time. The good news is that you don't need the Sceptre until you reach Round 8, and you'll have plenty of opportunities to collect the Sceptre again between now and then. You'll have to climb all the way to the top and perform the double jump to reach the room with the Super Sword.
Like location d, there are no special items of significance to be collected here, as you are forced to pass through every room guardians' chambers on your way to the exit. Unless you came from location k, location f is a better alternative.
Item: Three potions may seem like a wonderful prize to find in a dungeon, but considering you've only just begun the round, you shouldn't be in great need for these life restoring items. Focus on making your way from the top of the dungeon to one of the two exits found lower down.
Item: It's obvious to see why this location is the one to visit along the lowest path: two mushrooms to extend your life meter with. Remember that you can't extend your life beyond 255, but the closer you can get, the better. The potion and Fireball Special scroll aren't bad to find either.
Compared to the previous round, with it's 11 locations, you may be surprised when you look at the map to round 7 for the first time. With it's single location, you won't have to make any decisions about where to go. But don't get too confident… this will be one large dungeon, and the room guardians will be strong. Brace yourself and head on in.
Dragon's health: 120 Dragon's weak point: The neck
Item: As the only dungeon in the round, this is also your only opportunity to collect a wide variety of options. If you've collected the Super Sword from round 6, you can use this chance to collect a Shield as well and arm yourself for the dragon fight coming up. On the other hand, if equipping yourself for the fight is not a high priority, you can use this opportunity to collect both the Sceptre and the Crown so that you don't have to concern yourself with collecting them in the eighth round before rescuing Celia for the third time.
Round 8 of arcade version has a rather unique feature: All but one of the dungeons are identical. Even the only unique dungeon at location c is just an expanded version of the other five. If you don't have the Crown or the Sceptre and wish to, then your path of choice is a-c-f. If you have everything you need and want any easier time collecting a mushroom, try a-b-f instead. The path of d-e-f offers no mushroom at all, so it is not recommended.
Dragon's health: 120 Dragon's weak point: The body
Item: If you search this dungeon diligently enough, you can locate the Crown. Keep your eyes open for a Potion as well, but avoid the two vials of Posion at all costs.
Item: You should come to location b if you already have the Sceptre (or you would rather have the Super Sword, and don't care to collect a Sceptre) so that you will have easier time finding a life extending mushroom. The lack of Poison also makes it safe to jump up and collect whatever you are offered.
Item: Location c contains the largest dungeon in the round, so quite naturally, it has the largest number of items to offer. However, out of the 7 significant items, 3 of them are poison, so be very careful when jumping up to collect them. Be on the look out for the mushroom and the Sceptre before you make your way to one of the two exits in the lower left corner.
Item: Besides a Sceptre, this dungeon has nothing else to offer other than a vial of poison. However, the three vials of potion in location e beyond can make up for the lack of useful items here.
Item: Once you've visited location d, you've commited yourself to the lower path. Make the most of it by finding as many of the three potions as you can while you are here.
Item: No matter which path you chose, you will end up at location f just before you have to fight the dragon. This can be particularly challenging because there are absolutely no potions to collect and restore your health before the big fight. The chance at collecting a Fireball Special scroll may appear tantalizing, but your best bet is to find the exit quickly and get out before you lose a lot of health.
