EASY DIFFICULTY   -   [JUMP TO HARD DIFFICULTY]   -   [JUMP TO VERY HARD DIFFICULTY]

Here is our complete walkthru for the 1983 arcade version of Dragon's Lair by Cinematronics, set at easy difficulty.
 - See the bonus video at the bottom!! - 

LEGEND

CORRECT MOVE R R R R 49 SCORE 251 379 495 915 CAUSES DEATH U D L N U D L N U D L N U D L N CAUSES BUZZ S S S S SEE COMMENT # 1 2 2 2 1. Move when the rope has swung near Dirk. (2 chances) 2. Move when Dirk nears the end of his swing. TOTAL SCORE: 2,089

CORRECT MOVE L L L L 49 SCORE 379 495 0 0 CAUSES DEATH U D N U D R N U D R N U D R N CAUSES BUZZ R S S S S SEE COMMENT # 1 (above) 2 (above) 2 (above) 2 (above) TOTAL SCORE:  923

CORRECT MOVE U 49 SCORE 379 CAUSES DEATH N CAUSES BUZZ D L R S TOTAL SCORE:  428

CORRECT MOVE R L R L L L 49 SCORE 495 495 495 495 1,326 495 CAUSES DEATH U L N U R N U L N U R N U R N U R N CAUSES BUZZ D S D S D S D S D S D S SEE COMMENT # 3 4         3. A diagonal Up/Right is also recognized and accepted as a correct move. 4. A diagonal Up/Left is also recognized and accepted as a correct move. TOTAL SCORE: 3,850

CORRECT MOVE L R L R R R 49 SCORE 915 915 495 495 1,939 495 CAUSES DEATH U R N U L N U R N U L N U L N U L N CAUSES BUZZ D S D S D S D S D S D S SEE COMMENT # 5 & 7 6 & 7 7 7 8 7 5. A diagonal Up/Left is also recognized and accepted as a correct move. 6. A diagonal Up/Right is also recognized and accepted as a correct move. 7. Move after the fire has appeared. 8. Move after Dirk has passed the pillar on his side and it is out of view. TOTAL SCORE: 5,303

CORRECT MOVE R 49 SCORE 379 CAUSES DEATH U D L N CAUSES BUZZ S TOTAL SCORE:  428

CORRECT MOVE U S U S L S 49 SCORE 495 915 495 915 495 495 CAUSES DEATH D L R S N U D L N D L R N U D R N D R N U D L R N CAUSES BUZZ   R S L U S   TOTAL SCORE: 3,859

CORRECT MOVE U S U S R S 49 SCORE 495 2,191 495 2,191 495 495 CAUSES DEATH D L R S N U D R N D L R N U D L N D L N D L R N CAUSES BUZZ   L S R U S U TOTAL SCORE: 6,411

CORRECT MOVE(S) L R L R U R U L U R U L R L R L U R 49 SCORE 379 379 379 379 495 495 495 495 251 251 251 251 495 CAUSES DEATH U R N U L N U R N U L N L N R N L N R N U L N U R N U L N U R N D L N CAUSES BUZZ D S D S D S D S D S D S D S D S D S D S D S D S S SEE COMMENT #         9 10 9 10 11 12 11 12   9. Move to the Right before Dirk reaches the light orange strip, or else if Dirk is within the strip, move Up. (Diagonal movement is not correct.) 10. Move to the Left before Dirk reaches the light orange strip, or else if Dirk is within the strip, move Up. (Diagonal movement is not correct.) 11. A diagonal Up/Right is also recognized and accepted as a correct move. 12. A diagonal Up/Left is also recognized and accepted as a correct move. TOTAL SCORE: 5,044

CORRECT MOVE L 49 SCORE 3,255 CAUSES DEATH U D R N CAUSES BUZZ S SEE COMMENT # 13 13. Move when Dirk is lined up with a catwalk. (3 chances) This scene appears twice in one complete game. TOTAL SCORE: 3,304

CORRECT MOVE(S) D R R 49 SCORE 251 251 CAUSES DEATH U L N U L N CAUSES BUZZ S D S TOTAL SCORE:  551

CORRECT MOVE D D D D D D U 49 SCORE 251 379 379 379 379 379 379 CAUSES DEATH U N U N U N U N U N U N N CAUSES BUZZ L R S L R S L R S L R S L R S L R S D L R S SEE COMMENT # 14 14 14 14 14 14 15 14. Move after a colored boulder has passed horizontally in front of Dirk. 15. Move when the gap in the floor appears. TOTAL SCORE: 2,574

CORRECT MOVE U U L 49 SCORE 915 1,326 2,191 CAUSES DEATH D L R N D L R N R CAUSES BUZZ S S U D S SEE COMMENT #   16 17 16. Move when the jagged doors are open. (3 chances) 17. Move when the geyser is at zero height. (3 chances) TOTAL SCORE: 4,481

CORRECT MOVE X L L R 49 SCORE   1,939 1,939 2,675 CAUSES DEATH   U R N U R N U D L N CAUSES BUZZ   D S D S S TOTAL SCORE: 6,602

CORRECT MOVE U S D U 49 SCORE 4,026 2,191 1,326 915 CAUSES DEATH L R N D L R N U L R N D L R N CAUSES BUZZ D S U S S SEE COMMENT # 18       18. Move immediately after the two socker boppers have crossed the center path together at the same time. (3 chances) (This is the official timing criteria as per the game software.) TOTAL SCORE: 8,507

CORRECT MOVE U S D U 49 SCORE 4,750 2,191 1,326 915 CAUSES DEATH L R N U D N U L R N D L R N CAUSES BUZZ D S L R S S SEE COMMENT # 18 (above)       TOTAL SCORE: 9,231

CORRECT MOVE(S) U L R R R R R U S S D S N S N D S N S N 49 SCORE 1,939 1,326 1,326 1,326 1,326 2,191 3,255 0 0 0 0 0 CAUSES DEATH D R N D L N D L N D L N D L N D L N N D N     L R   CAUSES BUZZ S U S U S U S U S U S D L R U L R U L R U D L R U U D L R SEE COMMENT #               19         19. Note that no further moves are required during this scene. TOTAL SCORE: 12,738

CORRECT MOVE S S L S S 49 SCORE 915 1,939 1,326 1,326 915 CAUSES DEATH U D L R N U L R N D R N N R N CAUSES BUZZ   D U S U D L R U D L SEE COMMENT #     20     20. Move after the anvil begins to rise off the floor. TOTAL SCORE: 6,470

CORRECT MOVE S S R S S 49 SCORE 1,326 2,191 1,326 1,326 915 CAUSES DEATH U D L R N U L R N D L N U D L R N L R N CAUSES BUZZ   D U S   U D SEE COMMENT # 21 21 20 (above) 22   21. Press the Sword button when the weapon crosses overtop the line of fire on the floor during the middle of its descent. 22. Press the Sword button when the camera shot begins to pan towards Dirk. TOTAL SCORE: 7,133

CORRECT MOVE R 49 SCORE 379 CAUSES DEATH U N CAUSES BUZZ D L S TOTAL SCORE:  428

CORRECT MOVE(S) S U R D R L U R 49 SCORE 49 379 495 915 1,326 1,939 CAUSES DEATH N N D L S N U L S N U D S N D L S N CAUSES BUZZ U D L R D L R S U   R   SEE COMMENT #         23   23. Move when the bench flashes. TOTAL SCORE: 5,152

CORRECT MOVE(S) S S S N U R 49 SCORE 495 2,675 49 1,939 CAUSES DEATH L N R N L N CAUSES BUZZ U D R U D L U D R D L S TOTAL SCORE: 5,207

CORRECT MOVE U S D S R 49 SCORE 2,191 3,255 3,255 2,191 1,326 CAUSES DEATH D L R N U D L R N U L R N U L N U L N CAUSES BUZZ S   S D R D S SEE COMMENT #     24     24. A diagonal Down/Right is also recognized and accepted as a correct move. TOTAL SCORE: 12,267

CORRECT MOVE(S) L S L N L 49 SCORE 495 1,939 915 1,326 CAUSES DEATH N N D R U R N CAUSES BUZZ U D R S U D L R U S D S SEE COMMENT #     25   25. A diagonal Up/Left is also recognized and accepted as a correct move. TOTAL SCORE: 4,724

CORRECT MOVE(S) S R U S U L N 49 SCORE 379 1,326 3,255 0 CAUSES DEATH U L R N U L S N D L N D S CAUSES BUZZ D D R R SEE COMMENT #   26 27   26. A diagonal Up/Right is also recognized and accepted as a correct move. 27. Move Up before the giddy goons appear at the top of the stairs. Otherwise, press the Sword button. TOTAL SCORE: 5,009

CORRECT MOVE(S) R U L D L L 49 SCORE 915 1,326 915 1,326 CAUSES DEATH L N D R N U R N U D R N CAUSES BUZZ U D S S S S SEE COMMENT #   28     28. Move when the second bolt appears from the ceiling. TOTAL SCORE: 4,531

CORRECT MOVE L U R U L U S R U 49 SCORE 1,326 1,939 2,191 2,675 3,255 3,551 4,026 5,000 4,750 CAUSES DEATH U D R N L R N U D L N D L R N U D R S N D L R N D L N D L N D L R N CAUSES BUZZ S D S S S   S U R U S S TOTAL SCORE: 28,762

CORRECT MOVE R U L U R U S L U 49 SCORE 1,939 2,191 2,675 3,255 3,551 4,026 4,026 5,000 4,750 CAUSES DEATH U L N L N U D R N D L R N U D L S N D L R N D R N D R N D L R N CAUSES BUZZ D S D R S S S   S U L U S S TOTAL SCORE: 31,462

CORRECT MOVE(S) U U L S R R 49 SCORE 915 915 2,675 915 3,551 CAUSES DEATH D R N D R N U L R N U D L N U D L N CAUSES BUZZ L S S D S S SEE COMMENT #   29   30   29. Left will only be accepted near the end of the time frame allotted for the move, and then the timing for all further moves in the scene will be shifted, requiring them to be performed late. (Diagonal Up/Left succeeds as Up does, without error.) 30. A diagonal Up/Right is also recognized and accepted as a correct move. TOTAL SCORE: 9,020

CORRECT MOVE R L U L R L R S 49 SCORE 1,939 1,939 2,191 1,939 1,939 1,939 4,026 2,191 CAUSES DEATH N N N N N N N U N CAUSES BUZZ U D L S U D R S D L R S U D R S U D L S U D R S U D L S D L R SEE COMMENT # 31 31 31 31 31 31 31   31. Note that there are no inputs that cause death, and that the first 7 moves of this scene can be played by blindly rotating the joystick in circles. TOTAL SCORE: 18,152

CORRECT MOVE L R U R L R L S 49 SCORE 2,191 2,191 2,675 2,191 2,191 2,191 4,750 2,675 CAUSES DEATH U D R N U D L N D L R N U D L N U D R N U D L N U D R N U N CAUSES BUZZ S S S S S S S D L R TOTAL SCORE: 21,104

CORRECT MOVE(S) S L U L S X 49 SCORE 1,326 2,191 1,326 3,551 49 CAUSES DEATH R N R N D R N L N   CAUSES BUZZ U D L U D S S U D R   TOTAL SCORE: 8,492

CORRECT MOVE(S) R U R R R 49 SCORE 1,326 3,255 2,675 1,939 CAUSES DEATH U D L N D L N U D L N D L N CAUSES BUZZ S S S U S TOTAL SCORE: 9,244

CORRECT MOVE D U L 49 SCORE 1,939 2,675 1,939 CAUSES DEATH L R N D L N U D R N CAUSES BUZZ U S R S S SEE COMMENT #   32   32. Move when the fire directly ahead has subsided. TOTAL SCORE: 6,602

CORRECT MOVE(S) S U N U U R U U U U U R X 49 SCORE 1,326 1,326 2,191 2,675 1,326 1,326 1,326 1,326 1,326   CAUSES DEATH U D L R N D L R S D L R S N D L S N D L R S N D L R S N D L R N D L R S N D L S N   CAUSES BUZZ             S       SEE COMMENT #   33 34       34 & 35   36   33. Move Up after Dirk has sheathed his sword (or don't move at all). 34. A diagonal Up/Left is also recognized and accepted as a correct move. 35. Move when the ground flashes. 36. A diagonal Up/Right is not correct in this instance and will cause a buzz. TOTAL SCORE: 14,197

CORRECT MOVES L R 49 SCORE 3,255 CAUSES DEATH U D N CAUSES BUZZ S SEE COMMENT # 37 37. Move when Dirk is lined up with a catwalk. (3 chances to move Left, then 3 chances to move Right, then 3 more chances to move Left) BONUS SCORE:  49 points for not jumping at the first 3 stops. Another 1,939 points for also not jumping at the middle 3 stops. TOTAL SCORE AVAILABLE: 5,292

CORRECT MOVES L R 49 SCORE 3,255 CAUSES DEATH U D N CAUSES BUZZ S SEE COMMENT # 38 38. Move when Dirk is lined up with a catwalk. (3 chances to move Right, then 3 chances to move Left, then 3 more chances to move Right) BONUS SCORE:  124 points for not jumping at the first 3 stops. Another 2,191 points for also not jumping at the middle 3 stops. TOTAL SCORE AVAILABLE: 5,619

CORRECT MOVE(S) L L L D L X D L X R U R R S S U L X S 49 SCORE 1,326 1,939 1,326 2,191   2,191   3,255 2,191 3,551 4,026 4,750   5,000 CAUSES DEATH N U R S N N S N   U R S N   D L N N N U D L R N R N   N CAUSES BUZZ U D R S D U D R S U R       U S D L S U D L   D S   U D L R SEE COMMENT #               39             39. If you move Down, the software will fail to search for the death scene, and the laserdisc will continue playing from where it is for the duration of the proper death scene. Normal operation will then resume with the content that should follow the death scene. TOTAL SCORE: 31,795

MAXIMUM SCORES (easy difficulty)

These scores are obtained by allowing both 9-level elevator floors to drop 7 or more levels.
The 3-life and 5-life scores are obtained by losing all lives but one at the last sword move of the game.

However, these maximum scores can still be exceeded As Explained Here

 — See the bonus video below for a score of 999,999! —

quick reference

hard difficulty Total possible score using 1 life  326,248 Total possible score using 3 lives 390,750 Total possible score using 5 lives 455,252

very hard difficulty Theoretical maximum score using 1 life  377,011 Theoretical maximum score using 3 lives 441,513 Theoretical maximum score using 5 lives 506,015

ALL SCENES RANKED BY TOTAL SCORE (easy difficulty)

BONUS VIDEO! - THE ULTIMATE SCORE - 999,999

Using unlimited lives, the game can be manipulated into ending with an exact score of 999,999.
This video explains how to do it, even on a public game without access to the DIP switch setting for unlimited lives.
(At one million points, the 6-digit score display rolls back to zero.)

HARD DIFFICULTY
VERY HARD DIFFICULTY

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