Zelda franchise strategy guide/Items

In The Legend of Zelda series of video games, the protagonist Link uses a variety of weapons and items during his quests. These often recur between games, though some are exclusive to a small number of games in the series. Objects may have different appearances across games, but usually have the same purpose in the gameplay. Items and weapons found in a dungeon are typically essential to clearing that dungeon and defeating that dungeon's boss. There are also some items Link never gets to possess (but play an important role in the game), or that he doesn't obtain until the end sequence.

Swords
Link's primary weapon is a sword. Games usually begin with Link possessing or acquiring a weak sword, but more powerful swords may be obtained as the game progresses.

Biggoron's Sword
Biggoron's Sword

Four Sword
Four Sword

Kokiri Sword
Kokiri Sword

Magical Sword
Magical Sword

Master Sword
Master Sword

Wooden Sword
Wooden Sword

Boomerang
Boomerang

Bow and Arrow
The bow and arrow is a staple weapon of the Zelda series that Link uses to fight enemies or trigger switches from a distance. It is similar in nature to the Slingshot, although usually more powerful. It uses a depleting source of ammunition, the maximum capacity of which can be increased in some of the games. In the original The Legend of Zelda, the capacity problem is solved by making Link pay one Rupee for every arrow he fires, thus limiting his quiver to the size of his wallet.

2D Zelda games usually feature standard, nameless bows which only shoot in the four cardinal directions on the screen. In these games there are usually upgrades to the standard arrow, such as the Silver Arrow or Light Arrow. In Four Swords Adventures and The Minish Cap, the bow can be upgraded, allowing for quicker charging and shooting.

Bows and Arrows in the 3D Zelda games are more interactive tools than their 2D counterparts. When manually aiming a shot, the player's perspective changes to Link's point of view, and can be fired in almost any direction. In Ocarina of Time, the bow is named the Fairy Bow and is obtained by Link as an adult to be used in place of his childhood projectile weapon, the Fairy Slingshot. A bow known as the Hero's Bow has appeared in Majora's Mask, The Wind Waker, and Twilight Princess. In Majora's Mask, the bow is small enough that it can be used by a child while still being a powerful weapon, and in Twilight Princess, it is hinted that the Hero's Bow is the same as used by a hero of a prior Zelda game, although it is considerably larger than the bow in any other 3D Zelda games.

The Bow in most 3D Zelda games can use special elemental arrows along with the standard arrow for more powerful attacks and for puzzle-solving. Firing these types of elemental arrows expends an amount of "magic power", or magic points, and there usually is a delay between consecutive shots.

In Twilight Princess, the telescope-like Hawkeye can be combined with the bow to create a sniper's weapon, and Bombs can be combined with arrows to make Bomb Arrows, which are used to blow up distant targets. The latter feature is also an Easter egg in Link's Awakening, but is not needed to complete the game.

Link uses a bow and arrow in Soul Calibur II as a special move. The move has a variation that allows it to pierce enemy defenses. The Bow and Arrow is also Link's standard special move in Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Fire Arrows
The heads of Fire Arrows are set aflame, burning targets upon contact or melting ice. It is possible to create a makeshift Fire Arrow without using magic power by shooting a normal arrow through an existing flame. In Super Smash Bros. Melee, Young Link uses Fire Arrows as his B-Button attack.

Ice Arrows
Ice Arrows can render their target temporarily frozen and, in Majora's Mask, create ice platforms in water or encase enemies in blocks of ice on which Link can stand. They are sometimes also necessary to extinguish flames or freeze water streams. However, in Ocarina of Time, the Ice Arrows have little practical use besides attacking enemies. In The Wind Waker, Link can freeze the enemy and then break them with the Skull Hammer, Fire Arrows or by picking the frozen enemy up and throwing it. Also in The Wind Waker, Ice Arrows can be used to create temporary platforms on magma.

Light Arrows
First appearing in Ocarina of Time, the Light Arrows of legend can pierce pure evil and are possessed by few. They are useful and required to defeat Ganondorf on several occasions. The Light Arrows are similar in this respect to the Silver Arrows from previous Zelda games, but, unlike the Silver Arrows, the Light Arrows are used to penetrate Ganon's defenses, rather than to strike the killing blow. Link must also expend more magic than when firing other types of magic arrows, due to their power. The Light Arrows are typically the most damaging projectile weapon in any Zelda title in which they appear, especially in The Wind Waker, wherein they kill any enemy with one shot, no matter how strong they are. In Majora's Mask, they can also be used to affect light-sensitive objects. In The Wind Waker, Link gives the Light Arrows to Princess Zelda in the final fight against Ganon, so that she can bounce them off of Link's Mirror Shield to stun him, allowing Link to attack. Light Arrows are only used once in Twilight Princess, in the final battle, once again wielded by Princess Zelda. In this story, the Light Arrows are created by the Light Spirits whom Link tracks down and restores light to early on in the game to dispel the darkness that is beginning to cover Hyrule.

Light Arrows are also featured in The Minish Cap as an optional arrow upgrade, though they serve a somewhat different function.

Silver Arrows
The Silver Arrows are the only available means to defeat Ganon in The Legend of Zelda and A Link to the Past. In The Legend of Zelda, they are one of the two special items found in the final labyrinth. In A Link to the Past, they are a gift from the Great Fairy in the Dark World. The Silver Arrows can instantly destroy most enemies Link encounters, including bosses such as Helmasaur King.

Slingshot
The Slingshot is Link's alternative weapon to the Bow and Arrow in many games. Usually, he gets the Slingshot first and later gets the more powerful Bow which can shoot the different kinds of arrows described above. It uses rocks and seeds as ammunition and stores them similarly to arrows in his inventory. In Ocarina of Time, the Fairy Slingshot serves as Young Link's projectile weapon (Adult Link uses the Fairy Bow). In Oracle of Seasons, it fires various Magical Seeds whose effects range from igniting enemies to creating whirlwinds; in Oracle of Ages it was replaced with the "Seed Shooter", a gun-like weapon which fired the aforementioned magical seeds with the added effect that the seeds could rebound if shot against walls. In Four Swords Adventures (and also in Oracle of Seasons), upgrades are also available for the slingshot. The level 2 version (dubbed the "Hyper Slingshot" in Seasons) was capable of charging up and releasing three rocks at the same time in three different directions. In Twilight Princess, Link must acquire a slingshot in order to proceed early in the game, but it has very slight offensive capability, a shorter range than is found in previous games, and is rendered virtually useless after he receives the Hero's Bow. The Slingshot does not appear in Phantom Hourglass, however, the mail man asks Link not to hit him by using one, which is a reference to Animal Crossing: Wild World.

Hookshot
The Hookshot is a form of grappling hook, except in the style of a gun rather than a rope.

First appearing in A Link to the Past, the Hookshot can pull Link across large distances by hooking onto certain surfaces, or pull objects across to him, depending on the relative weight of the two. It can also be used as a weapon to kill or stun far-off enemies, or as a simple projectile to activate switches.

In The Wind Waker, Link also obtains a normal Grappling Hook that wraps around certain outcroppings, giving him the ability to swing from them, and climb up and down the rope. This returns in Phantom Hourglass, albeit with the effects of the Hookshot, in addition to the rope being used to slingshot across gaps. The original Hookshot still appears in The Wind Waker as one of the final items in the game.

In Twilight Princess, a weapon called the Clawshot is used, where, instead of a hook, a device similar to the claw in a claw game is attached, enabling Link to latch onto different types of ceiling and wall surfaces. It also allows Link to hang from a ceiling surface and raise or lower himself from that point, and it can be used in conjunction with the Iron Boots where extra weight is required. Another Clawshot is found later in the game and the two are used in tandem to create the Double Clawshots, enabling movement without touching the ground by firing one while clinging to a surface with the other.

In Oracle of Ages a device similar to the Hookshot/Clawshot is found, this time known as the Switch Hook. Rather than pulling you towards things or vice-versa, the Switch Hook allows you to switch places with them instead, making for some very novel and creative puzzles. The Switch Hook is later upgraded to the Long Hook for use over longer distances.

In Phantom Hourglass it is used to attach to pegs and get Link through gaps. It can also be used to form a sort of slingshot by attaching it to two pegs.

Link uses the Hookshot in the Super Smash Bros. series to grapple his opponents, but it can also be used to reach the edge of a stage as a last-ditch recovery move; the Clawshot replaces the Hookshot in Link's Super Smash Bros. Brawl arsenal.

Shields
Shields assist Link in blocking attacks and reflecting projectiles. In some cases, Link's shield is important in solving puzzles. Shields, like weapons, come in many different variations. Link usually starts with a very basic wooden shield and then obtains at least one metal shield upgrade during the game. He also sometimes acquires a special shield known as the Mirror Shield. Link usually carries the shield on his back when he is not using it.

Wooden Shield
The Wooden Shield is a simple defensive item used in the beginning of some of Link's adventures. Although it takes on a variety of forms, each one is essentially an item used to deflect arrows and small projectiles. Most variations of this shield are vulnerable to fire, and so will require a new one to be purchased or found if it is burned. For this reason, the Wooden Shield is usually abandoned after a more durable upgrade is acquired.

Hero's Shield
The Hero's Shield is a smaller metal shield similar to the Hylian Shield of Ocarina of Time, but with a varied design, an owl motif replacing what is widely believed to be a phoenix, a variant of which is found on most of the standard shields since A Link to the Past. Link already owns this shield at the outset of Majora's Mask. It is identical to the Hylian Shield, and its smaller size allows young Link to wield it with his sword.

A shield with the same name, but a different design, is seen in The Wind Waker, set on the wall of Link's home. The crest on the shield is similar to that of the shield in Majora's Mask, but the shield itself is of a different shape and design. It reappears as the Small Shield in Four Swords and The Minish Cap, as both games use the same art style as The Wind Waker.

Hylian Shield
The Hylian Shield (Hylia Shield in the Japanese version) is a large, adult-sized metal shield, bearing the crest of Hyrule's Royal Family&mdash;a large red bird above which sits the Triforce. In Ocarina of Time, it can be purchased at the Bazaar in Hyrule Castle Market, or found in a tomb in Kakariko Graveyard. It is able to deflect most projectiles back at enemies, and can block most mêlée attacks. Link can use the Hylian Shield as a child, but only by strapping it on his back and crouching for protection. In Twilight Princess, it must be bought either at Malo Mart in Kakariko Village, or at Hyrule Castle Town from a Goron selling swordsman supplies later in the game. The shield possesses two qualities that have made it somewhat famous: its ability to withstand fire-based attacks, and the fact that it is the shield of choice for Hylian Knights. This latter quality is particularly well advertised at the Bazaar in Ocarina of Time.

A similar shield known as the Iron Shield is available in Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons.

Mirror Shield
The Mirror Shield is a shield made of highly polished metal. It has slightly differing designs in each game, but its main purpose is the reflection of light or magic projectiles.

The shield first appears in A Link to the Past as an upgrade that allows Link to block (but not deflect) lasers. It also appears in Link's Awakening and reflects lasers and fire, but does not damage enemies. In Ocarina of Time, it is used to solve a few puzzles and defeat the boss of the Spirit Temple, Twinrova. It also commonly does not deflect certain types of projectiles, like those of Octoroks, shattering them instead. In Majora's Mask, the shield bears an image of a screaming face that is reflected when exposed to light. In Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons, the Mirror Shield can be obtained through an optional side quest. The Mirror Shield is required in order to solve several puzzles in The Wind Waker; its design is similar to the Mirror Shield in Ocarina of Time, but with blue outlines and a different surface design. In The Minish Cap, when it is used to block a projectile, the shield reflects a damaging beam of light back at the enemy.

This shield is also available in Soul Calibur II where any normal damage (as in everything but being thrown) is dealt back to the attacker by a factor of one half, though the deflection may cause Link to lose his balance if attack is a strong one.

The crescent moon design of the Mirror Shield in Ocarina of Time was changed for the GameCube re-release. Other appearances of this design in the game (which resembles an Islamic symbol) were changed as well.

Tunics
A standard piece of equipment for Link in every Zelda game, the traditional green outfit is Link's default hero's clothing. Link's outfit has undergone color variations for many different reasons throughout the Zelda series. In addition to the original green, the first two traditional variations were red and blue. The colors are typically associated with specific clothing items, but their uses are numerous and varied, with little that remains constant between titles. The only generalization that can be made is that they often serve to protect Link from various harmful influences. Link sometimes sports some other garb at first, but the standard green tunic is always acquired a short way into the game (although in Breath of The Woild, you can get it only after completing every shrine). There have been many differently colored tunics, including green, red, blue, and purple.

Green Tunic
Known in Ocarina of Time as the Kokiri Tunic, or at other times simply as the Green Jerkin or the Hero's Clothes, the Green Tunic is Link's standard choice of clothing. The clothes do not have any particular use except to iconify the wearer as Hyrule's signature Hero. In Twilight Princess, Link wears a linen shirt, a chain mail shirt and pants underneath the tunic. Although some variation of the green tunic is worn in every game, upgrades are often available (and the color of each is different&mdash;see below), which either afford protection from certain elements or increase Link's defensive capabilities.

Special tunics and armor
In Ocarina of Time, the Goron Tunic is a dark red tunic that allows Link to go into areas with extremely high ambient temperatures. Supposedly made from Dodongo hides and Bomb Flower fibers, it is used primarily in the Fire Temple and Death Mountain Crater areas. In the course of the game, Link can secure the Tunic from Goron Link in Goron City, or he can buy it from the shop for 200 rupees.

The Zora Tunic is a blue tunic that allows Link to breathe underwater, and is supposedly made of fish gills. In Ocarina of Time, it can be obtained by thawing out either King Zora, who will give Link a free tunic, or the entrance to the shop in Zora's Domain, where Link can purchase it for 300 rupees. It is needed most in the Water Temple. Both the Goron Tunic and the Zora Tunic are too big for Child Link to wear.

In The Wind Waker, Link may obtain Magic Armor. Its use is similar to the magic ability "Nayru's Love" from Ocarina of Time, and it is implied and believed that it actually is that item. At the cost of Magic points, Link will become invincible while wearing it (or while his magic lasts).

In Twilight Princess, both the Zora Armor and Magic Armor change Link's appearance dramatically, instead of just changing the color of his clothes. The Zora Armor is obtained from the Zora Queen Rutela after Link helps her son, Prince Ralis. The suit gives Link the appearance of a Zora, as it appears to be made of Zora scales. Furthermore, it allows Link to breathe and swim freely underwater, but at the cost of increasing the damage incurred from fire and ice attacks tenfold.

The Magic Armor is also an obtainable item in Twilight Princess. It can be bought at the Castle Town extension of Malo Mart. It covers Link in golden armor and a red tunic with various designs. It uses Rupees instead of magic (most likely because there is no magic meter included in the game). It drains several Rupees per second and also consumes a certain number of Rupees when Link is hit, the number of which varies depending on the severity of the hit. If Link runs out of Rupees while wearing the Magic Armor, the armor turns gray, loses invunerablility, and becomes heavy, reducing Link's speed of movement similar to the Iron Boots.

Other tunics, armor and clothing
Link's clothing turns brown and red when he uses the Shield spell in The Adventure of Link, but the spell only grants him increased defense against enemy attacks.

In A Link to the Past, Link can obtain Blue Mail while treading the fifth dungeon in the Dark World, which turns his tunic blue and halves the damage received from enemies.

A more defensive red tunic can be acquired in A Link to the Past, known as Red Mail. This halves the damage that Link receives while wearing the Blue Mail, and allows him to take only one-quarter of the damage of his sundry green clothes. The Red Mail is obtained in Ganon's Tower.

In Link's Awakening DX, Link can undertake a side quest to obtain either a red or a blue tunic. The red tunic doubles Link's power, similar to a Piece of Power, and the blue tunic cuts the damage received by half, like the Guardian Acorn. Link can trade one tunic for the other by repeating the side quest, but cannot have both at once.

In Ocarina of Time, the player can use the Game Shark to unlock black, white and yellow tunics that did not make it into the final product. This possibly explains the white alternative tunic color in the original Super Smash Bros..

In Four Swords and Four Swords Adventures, the fourth Link wears a purple tunic, which has no special use except simply to differentiate among the four copies of Link.

In Twilight Princess, before Link acquires the Hero's Clothes, he wears a simple Ordon Ranch outfit (which also doubles as sumo attire, sans the top). All Ordonians wear similar clothing.

In The Wind Waker, Link starts off wearing a blue crawfish-print shirt, orange shorts and sandals, but soon changes into his traditional green garb. However, during the second quest he wears his original outfit throughout the entire game.

In The Minish Cap, during the end of the game, Link can acquire special bottle-able Charms from the Oracles Din, Nayru, and Farore in Hyrule Town. Din's Charm turns Link's tunic Red and doubles his sword power for a short period of time, like a Piece of Power in Link's Awakening or the Red Ring from Oracle of Seasons. Nayru's Charm turns Link's tunic Blue and doubles his defenses for a short period of time, like a Guardian Acorn in Link's Awakening or the Blue Ring from Oracle of Ages. Farore's Charm turns Link's tunic Purple (despite the charm's green color), and increases both his sword power and his defenses by a small amount for a short period of time, like the Green Ring in the both Oracle games.

Hats
Hats are very rarely true items, as only one hat is a usable item, while the other three are storyline artifacts that are never truly "obtained". It is thought by some that the normal hat is where Link stores all of his items.

The Gnat Hat is a red cap that allows Link to shrink down to gnat-sized proportions. It bears a strong resemblance to the Wishing Cap that plays an important part in the plot of The Minish Cap.

Ezlo is a Minish who was transformed into a hat against his will by his apprentice, Vaati. As a hat, he has the same function as the Gnat Hat, but can only shrink Link at certain portals, instead of at will. Ezlo is also the creator of the Wishing Cap, which was used by Vaati to become an evil sorcerer, and later by Zelda to repair the damage Vaati inflicts on Hyrule during the events of The Minish Cap. Link starts off without his hat in this game, and it's revealed he seems to wear his hair in a small ponytail.

Footwear
In all Zelda installments, Link's standard Boots are generic and of little significance. As the list of Zelda games has grown, Link has had a chance to wear several pairs of special boots and flippers. In Ocarina of Time, the Kokiri Boots are Link's standard boots, have no special powers, and the only ones that he can wear as a child.

Winged Boots
The first magical boots that appear as an item are the Winged Boots in The Adventure of Link. These allow Link to walk over certain sections of water to reach the Palace on the Sea, among other things.

Iron Boots
The Iron Boots are heavy, ironclad boots that allow Link to sink quickly in water, among other weight-related uses, such as depressing switches. The Iron Boots are an item that can be equipped by Link in Ocarina of Time. They also appear in The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess. In Twilight Princess, they can be used on magnetized surfaces to walk along walls and ceilings, and, unlike in Ocarina of Time and The Wind Waker, Link cannot backflip while wearing the boots, rather performing a small hop backward. Interestingly, Link's sword, shield, bow and other metal based items are entirely unaffected by the magnetic field. Also, Link is only affected by their weight when he wears them on his feet, and not by simply carrying them on his person.

Pegasus Boots
The Pegasus Boots, or Pegasus Shoes, named after the mythological Pegasus, allow Link to sprint at high speeds. Link first obtains them in A Link to the Past. In Four Swords Adventures, Level 2 Pegasus Boots allow Link to run across holes in the ground, a function similar to that of the Hover Boots. In Battle Mode of Phantom Hourglass Pegasus Boots make Link faster for a period of time

Hover Boots
The Hover Boots allow Link to float for a few seconds after running off of a surface, effectively lengthening his jump. When used, Hover Boots greatly reduce traction when walking, making Link walk as if walking on ice, but also allow him to walk over quicksand with no negative effects, and the reduced traction has the side effect of increasing his speed when rolling repeatedly.

Flippers/Zora's Flippers
Flippers or Zora's Flippers are found only in the 2D games. They allow Link to swim and prevent him from drowning. Sometimes they are not strong enough for really deep water, in which case Link needs to find something more effective for treading the depths. Flippers are also an inseparable part of the Zora Armor in Twilight Princess.

Roc's Cape and Roc's Feather
The Roc's Feather allows Link to jump. Its upgrade is called the Roc's Cape. This is similar to Super Mario World, in which acquiring a feather gives Mario or Luigi a cape, enabling them to fly. In the Oracle games, it is actually a blue feather.

The Roc's Cape allows Link to jump in the 2D games. It allows maneuverability in the air: when using it while jumping, Link will glide a bit farther. The Roc's Cape is technically an upgrade of the Roc's Feather, which only allows Link to jump.

Magic Cape
The Magic Cape allows Link to become invisible and pass over spikes and other obstacles. It is a magic power consuming item.

Rings, bracelets and gloves
In almost every Zelda game, Link acquires at least once one of these items, which either allows him to lift heavy objects or increases his defensive capabilities.

Blue and Red Rings
In The Legend of Zelda, Link's tunic color changes to blue if he acquires the Blue Ring, which he can purchase for 250 Rupees. This tunic halves the damage Link takes while wearing the regular green tunic. Link can also obtain a Red Ring, which is located in Death Mountain and allows Link to take one-quarter of the damage he receives while wearing his signature green garb in a new red colored garb. The Blue and Red Rings also appear in Four Swords Adventures, where once again, the color of Link's tunic changes to correspond to the color of the ring. The Blue and Red Rings are replaced with the Blue Mail and Red Mail in the The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.

Rings also feature in the Oracle games, offering various power-ups, such as the ability to turn into a monster or to enhance certain abilities. The Blue Ring, unique to Ages, specifically halves the damage Link takes, similar to the Blue Tunic in The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX and both versions of the game's Guardian Acorn, and thus acts identical to the Blue Mail from The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and the original Blue Ring. The Red Ring, unique to to Seasons on the other hand, doubles Link's sword power, similar to the Red Tunic in Link's Awakening DX and both versions of the game's Piece of Power, and not like the original Red Ring or the Red Mail. There is also a Green Ring, occurring in both games, raises Link's sword power and defenses by an amount not quite as much as the other two rings. These rings are equatable to the Charms from The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, which references the Oracle game in several other ways.

Items for pushing and lifting
The Power Bracelet (or Power Bracelets) allow Link to pick up a myriad of things, including Dodongos, boulders, stones, pots, statues, sarcophagi and bushes, among other things. A variation of this, the Power Gloves, can be found in Oracle of Ages, which Link can use to lift objects too heavy for lifting with the Power Bracelet. In Ocarina of Time, Link is granted the Goron's Bracelet by Darunia. This item enables Link to pick up Bomb Flowers. Link later obtains the Silver Gauntlets and the more powerful Gold Gauntlets, both of which allow him to push and pick up (and throw!) heavy objects. In The Minish Cap, Link will find the Power Bracelets, which allow him to move normal sized objects while at his shrunken minish size, and the Grip Ring, which enables him to climb certain walls.

Magical crystals and medallions
In A Link to the Past and Ocarina of Time, Link can obtain magical charms which are used to cast spells, each of which has a considerable magic power cost. In A Link to the Past, these charms are medallions, their spells target the entire screen, affecting most non-boss monsters: Bombos, which incinerates foes, Ether, which freezes them, and Quake, which transforms monsters into a weaker form like Magic Powder. The Ether and Quake are also needed to open the entrance to specific dungeons. In The Ocarina of Time, these charms are crystals obtained from Great Faries, Din's Fire is used to perform an area fire attack, Farore's Wind is used for teleportation within dungeons, and Nayru's Love, which provides invulneribility while rapidly draining magic power.

Bombs
One of the most commonly used items throughout the Zelda series is Bombs. They are typically round in shape and are self-igniting. Link can use them to damage enemies, bust through walls and barriers and solve puzzles. If Link uses bombs at sea in The Wind Waker, they are shot out of a cannon that is a function of the King of Red Lions (Link's boat). In Twilight Princess, Link can purchase Water Bombs, which are identical in functionality to normal bombs except that they can be detonated underwater. They are used in solving some side-quest puzzles and in the Lakebed Temple. An upgrade of Bombs called Remote Bombs can be obtained in The Minish Cap by fusing Kinstones, which enable bombs to be detonated at will, instead of after a set period of time.

Bomb Flowers
Bomb Flowers appear in Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, Oracle of Ages, Oracle of Seasons, The Wind Waker, and Phantom Hourglass as a plant that can be found and picked by Link. In Ocarina of Time, the Gorons explain that they are a carefully cultivated crop. The bombs explode shortly after being picked, and regrow soon afterwards. These features lead to it functioning as a limited-capability Bomb. In Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons, Bomb Flowers are part of trading sequences, and cannot actually be used during game-play. In Twilight Princess, the spider-like Bomblings serve the same purpose as bomb flowers in the wild and can later be purchsed for use at will.

Bombchu
A Bombchu is a bomb in the shape of a mouse ("Chu" in Japanese). They are mechanical devices which run along floors and walls before exploding. They first appear as items in Ocarina of Time, and return in Majora's Mask. In Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages, Bombchus can home in on nearby monsters, and are obtained through password sidequests. In Phantom Hourglass, the player is able to use the stylus to draw out a detailed path of their choosing for the Bombchu.

They have also appeared as enemies in Majora's Mask and The Wind Waker - in Majora's Mask, they are frenzied-looking rat-monsters with explosive tails, while in The Wind Waker they are simply mice that hold bombs.

Super Bombs and Powder Kegs
In A Link to the Past Link can purchase a powerful bomb late in the game, called a Super Bomb, which he essentially drags around and will detonate if separated from him. It can be used as a regular bomb, but the only thing for which it is actually needed is to open a room in the Pyramid of Power where Link can upgrade his sword and arrows.

In Majora's Mask, Link can purchase massive Powder Kegs to destroy obstacles that will withstand the power of regular bombs. Due to their size and weight, Link can only carry one powder keg at a time and can only use them while in Goron form.

Rune Bombs
In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild the Sheikah slate can generate bombs from nothing, in either spherical or cubic forms.

Musical instruments
Various musical instruments are used throughout the Zelda series. Tunes played on these items may have a variety of effects, including damaging enemies, transporting Link, or revealing secrets.

Ocarina
Found in Link's Awakening, and later much more prominently in games like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Wind Waker
A conductors baton capable of directing the wind itself central to The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.

Canes and rods
Throughout the Zelda series, canes and rods are occasionally obtained and serve a variety of functions.

The Cane of Byrna, Cane of Somaria, and Cane of Pacci are identical in appearance aside from their color, which would seem to suggest they are of similar origin. The Cane of Byrna and Cane of Somaria debut in A Link to the Past, and each consumes magic power when used. The Cane of Byrna is blue and creates a ring of invincibility that circles Link. It cameos as a weapon in Soul Calibur II. The Cane of Somaria is red and creates a block which Link can carry and throw around, but unlike regular blocks, Link cannot pull himself to these using the Hookshot. If Link uses the Cane of Somaria a second time (while in the same room in which he creates a block), the block explodes, sending magic shooting in each of the cardinal directions. The Cane of Somaria also appears in Oracle of Ages, although it does not require magic to use. In The Minish Cap, Link finds the yellow Cane of Pacci, the primary use of which is to flip objects over.

The Ice Rod and Fire Rod appear in A Link to the Past. They shoot elemental blasts ice and fire, respectively, and are used in puzzle solving and to defeat or incapacitate certain enemies. They can also freeze and burn things. The Fire Rod also appears in Four Swords Adventures, where it serves the same purpose.

The Magic Rod appears in Link's Awakening, and produces an effect similar to that of the Fire Rod in A Link to the Past, as it is also able to light torches.

The Rod of Seasons appears in Oracle of Seasons, and can alter the season of the surrounding area if Link stands on a tree stump and swings it. Once Link finds the spirit of each season, he receives the power to change the current season to each respective season.

The Dominion Rod (コピーロッド Copy Rod) appears in Twilight Princess. It is a magical rod that can breathe life into statues, causing them to follow Link around until he relinquishes control. One type of statue&mdash;a knight wielding a giant hammer&mdash;can attack on Link's command, breaking gates that bar his way. These statues become a key element for puzzle-solving in the Temple of Time, and they also aid Link in the boss battle against Armogohma. Once Link leaves the Temple of Time, however, the Dominion Rod loses its power and turns the color of rust. It is later restored shortly after Shad reads an inscription from the Ancient Sky Book.

Candle, Lamp and Lantern
In The Legend of Zelda, the Blue Candle and Red Candle are used to light dark places and burn bushes/enemies. The Blue Candle can only be used once per room/area (Link has to exit and reenter the room/area to use the Blue candle a second time). The Red Candle, on the other hand, can be used perpetually.. A generic candle appears in The Adventure of Link, but is only for lighting dark areas. In A Link to the Past, the Magic Lamp or Lantern replaces the Candle. It is the first item Link can acquire in this game and uses magic power in the form of a Magic Meter that Link automatically gains when he acquires the Lantern. It gives a small amount of light in dark areas, and also lights torches, a function taken over by other items in games that feature no lantern. A Lantern known as the Flame Lantern appears in The Minish Cap. In addition to the aforementioned functions, the Flame Lantern can also melt ice. A regular Lantern reappears in Four Swords Adventures as the only item that can't be upgraded by a Great Fairy. Link is given a Lantern in Twilight Princess; its purpose is added to again, as it is used to light up darkened areas, set things aflame and drive away dangerous fog. Instead of magic, this Lantern uses Lantern Oil, and Link can store additional oil in bottles. Yellow Chu Jelly can also double as Lantern Oil if Link scoops it up with a bottle.

Fishing Rod
The Fishing Rod (sometimes called the Fishing Pole) is a tool which enables Link to fish. The Fishing Rod first appeared in Link's Awakening, where Link participated in a fishing mini-game. Link did not actually obtain the Fishing Rod, but was merely lent it by a fisherman. Link can also rent a Fishing Rod in Ocarina of Time and can obtain one of his own in Twilight Princess, along with the Fish Log, which keeps track of the fish Link has caught. In addition, like bottles from the Ocarina of Time, they can be used to distract Ganondorf to free him up for a few sword attacks. In Phantom Hourglass, Link can control a Fishing Pole using the stylus and take part in a sidequest for a new Heart Container

Shovel
The Shovel first appears in A Link to the Past as an item that allows Link to dig up soft ground, sometimes revealing an item or object. In Twilight Princess, Link's wolf form can dig without aid. In Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, Dampé will dig on command for Link. In The Wind Waker, giant pigs will dig if fed bait, usually uncovering Rupees (and one well-hidden Piece of Heart). In Four Swords Adventures, the level 2 shovel will alert the player to the presence of treasure by way of a beep that increases in intensity/frequency the closer Link gets to the buried item. In The Minish Cap, the Mole Mitts serve a similar purpose. If they are used while standing over grass, Rupees and other items can be found in the ground.

Hammers
Hammers are typically powerful, somewhat cartoon-sized weapons used primarily to destroy large rocks, inflict large amounts of damage, or smash things into the ground (such as certain types of switches). In the 3D games, hammers are usually too big for Link to hold with just one hand, preventing him from using his shield when holding it. The first hammer in the series appears in The Adventure of Link, where it allows Link to destroy boulders in his path on the overworld. In A Link to the Past, it is called the Magical Hammer and is used to pound obstacles, and can also be used as an offensive weapon. In Ocarina of Time, the hammer is the Megaton Hammer, and largely has the same function, but can send out a shockwave that damages or flips some ground borne enemies when it strikes the ground. The hammer is known as the Skull Hammer in The Wind Waker, where it can create enemy-stunning shockwaves when it strikes the ground, similar to the megaton hammer, but stuns a wider variety of enemies. In Four Swords Adventures, Link can slam the hammer to make the ground shake and reveal underground items. There is no hammer in Twilight Princess, but the Ball and Chain has a similar role. The Ball and Chain is an oversized morning star or flail and can be swung about Link's head as a damaging form of protection, and functions as a form of shield when carried. In Phantom Hourglass, a Magic Hammer is obtained in the Pyramid Temple that can strike from a distance.

Deku Nuts
Deku Nuts are large seeds harvested from the Great Deku Tree and obtained from certain enemies when defeated. They explode with an overpowering flash, which can blind and stun some enemies. In Ocarina of Time, Sheik and Impa use them to blind Link, allowing them to disappear. They appear as items in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Hawkeye
The Hawkeye is a hawk-head shaped mask that is used in conjunction with the Hero's Bow in Twilight Princess. It works as a scope, enabling Link to pick off enemies from long range. It is bought from Malo Mart at a price of 100 rupees.

Containers
Among the items that can be obtained by Link are Containers that allow him to carry other things, such as projectiles, small objects, and even life-restoring fairies.

Bottles
Bottles are an essential part to many of Link's quests. These containers are used and often required to carry various things.

Due to their usefulness, they are highly sought after. In most games in which they are featured, Link can obtain up to four bottles. The only exceptions thus far is Majora's Mask, in which there are six, and Phantom Hourglass, in which Link always has two. In Ocarina of Time, bottles are said to be made of crystal glass. Amusingly, a bottle can be used to knock back Ganondorf's magic spells in Ocarina of Time, Phantom Ganon's attacks in The Wind Waker and Ocarina of Time, and Ganon's Puppet Zelda's attacks in Twilight Princess. This is perhaps a throwback to A Link to the Past in which Link could use the Bug-Catching Net to deflect Agahnim's magic.

Recurring bottle items include green potions, which fully restore magic points, red potions, which fully restore hearts, blue potions, which fully restore both, fairies, which restore a number of hearts and can revive Link, and milk, which restores a small number of hearts, but can be used twice, making it more useful early on, before a large number of heart containers are obtained.

Wallet
In most Zelda games, Link uses a Wallet to contain his Rupees. Certain weapons, items, and equipment exceed Link's Rupee-carrying capacity in price, necessitating a Wallet upgrade. In these games, the Wallet can be upgraded through side quests. The highest wallet capacity so far in Zelda history is in Phantom Hourglass, in which Link can carry up to 9,999 Rupees without needing to obtain a wallet at any point in the game; the lowest capacity is in Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, where Link can only hold up to 99 Rupees before obtaining upgrades.

Bomb Bags
In several games, Link can obtain one or more Bomb Bags to carry various explosive devices. They are made from leather and Dodongo stomachs, among other materials, and vary in their capacities of the number and type of bombs that they can carry. See above for more information.

Quiver
Link holds arrows for his bow in the Quiver. In most games, a larger Quiver can be obtained.

Dungeon items
The following items are found only in dungeons and generally are used only in the dungeons in which they are found in the order in which they are usually obtained:

Dungeon Map
The Dungeon Map shows Link the entire dungeon in which it was found. It also shows which rooms he has already visited, and where he currently is.

Compass
In dungeons, the Compass allows Link to locate chests (which are sometimes invisible until Link opens them) and the dungeon's boss. In most games, the compass can also be used to tell which direction Link is facing, and from which entrance Link entered the room. In Link's Awakening, Oracle of Seasons, and Oracle of Ages, the Compass makes a sound when Link enters a room containing a key.

Small Key
Small Keys are usually found throughout dungeons, not necessarily before or after the map, compass, or Big Key. Each Small Key can open only one door. In The Legend of Zelda, not all keys found in a dungeon are necessary to complete it. This is true of a lot of games in the series, but in the original, unused keys can be used in other dungeons, and extra keys can be bought at shops. They can also be used that way in The Adventure of Link. However, Link cannot buy extra keys in that game, sometimes making it impossible to complete until he obtains Fairy Magic (in fairy form, Link can fly through a door's keyhole) or the Master Key. In all subsequent Zelda games, Small Keys can only be used in the dungeon in which they are found, and frequently, all keys must be found to complete each dungeon. The Master Key appears only in the NES Zelda games, it functions as a reusable Small Key.

Big Key and Boss Key
The Big Key originated in A Link to the Past, where it unlocks specific doors with large keyholes and large treasure boxes holding one-of-a-kind items. It returns in most later games in the series, but only unlocks the door to the boss lair. In some games, it is referred to as the Boss Key; in Link's Awakening, it is referred to as the Nightmare Key; and still, in Twilight Princess, the key to the boss's room in Snowpeak Ruins is called the Bedroom Key. In 3D games, Big Keys are usually found in ornately decorated Treasure Chests. In Phantom Hourglass it is impossible to use any weapons whilst holding the Big Key. It is carried above Link's head (slightly imparing his movement) and can be dropped or thrown if there is a need for combat.

Visibility items
The Cross in The Adventure of Link is used to see the normally invisible purple Moas. Like the Magnifying Glass, the Cross is always active and does not consume magic power.

The Magnifying Glass in Link's Awakening is obtained through a trading side-quest. It allows Link to see creatures and read books that he could not before.

In Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, the Lens of Truth is used to see invisible creatures and objects and see through illusionary walls. It can be switched on and off, and, while active, slowly drains magic power.

The Hawkeye is a hawk-head shaped mask in Twilight Princess. It works as a scope, enabling Link to pick off enemies from long range. It can be used in conjunction with the Hero's Bow to create an effect similar to a sniper. It is bought from Malo Mart at a price of 100 rupees.

Masks
There are a number of masks in Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask. Some serve no to little purpose, while others can change Link's shape, speed and size. Masks are a very important part of Majora's Mask.

Heart Container
Heart Containers are obtainable items which increase Link's maximum health meter. While it is possible to lose health (measured by an on-screen display of heart images, each of which are usually divided into quarters), it is not possible to lose a Heart Container (i.e. the maximum health) once it has been earned. The only exception is in the second quest of The Legend of Zelda, where it is possible to give up a Heart Container in order to proceed through certain dungeons.

Heart Containers can be obtained in one of two ways:
 * As full Heart Containers (generally after beating a boss) which gives Link additional HP by adding one heart to his life meter.
 * As smaller containers, found at certain locations in the game or as a reward for completing a minigame or side quest. The games refer to these items as Pieces of Heart.

In The Legend of Zelda, The Adventure of Link and Phantom Hourglass, only full Heart Containers exist. Pieces of Heart were introduced in A Link to the Past.

Most Zelda games have a limit of twenty Heart Containers, but require the player (as Link) to complete all the tasks required to get all possible Heart Containers and Pieces of Heart.

Heart Containers also appear in the Super Smash Bros. series as healing items. In Super Smash Bros. a player using a Heart Container will shed all of their damage. In all modes of Super Smash Bros. Melee except "All-Star", the container will drop the user's current damage percentage by 100%. They also appear in a few other games including UPIXO In Action: Mission in Snowdriftland and Star Tropics, serving the same purpose that they do in Zelda games.

Piece of Heart
Pieces of Heart have been prominently featured throughout the Zelda series since A Link to the Past. Their purpose is to construct another heart container when Link collects a certain number. In most games thus far, the number of Pieces required for another Container Heart is four; however, in Twilight Princess, five are necessary to add to the count of heart containers that Link can earn. Phantom Hourglass returns to the original collection process&mdash;the entire piece of heart system is discarded, and only entire Heart Containers can be found.

On the subscreens in each game, the player can view the number of pieces that have been collected in progressing toward the next Heart Container.

Certain side-quests enable Link to obtain more than one piece of heart, but not more than one piece at a time. Occasional exceptions are shown, where Link is give two pieces in succession by visiting a particular character or completing another task in between, and in Majora's Mask, Link can use the all night mask to gain two pieces from the same character by listening to her stories. In The Wind Waker, pieces of heart can also be found by lowering the grappling hook at locations marked on various treasure charts.

Gossip Stone
Gossip Stones are mysterious, gray stones, first introduced in Ocarina of Time. The stones were created by the Sheikah, and hold small bits of "secret" information. These small pieces of gossip, usually taken from an overheard conversation, are only discovered when the Mask of Truth is worn. The stones return with the same form and function in Majora's Mask. If Link places a bomb next to or uses the Blast Mask in front of a Gossip Stone, it will flash blue and then red, and then launch into space, eventually returning to their original spot. Gossip Stones can be flattened with the Megaton Hammer, or turned into a tall, skinny form with Din's Fire. If Link hits the stone with a sword, it briefly shakes, making a laughing noise similar to that of a Poe, and tells Link the time. If a stone is hit when it is blue or red after having been caught in a bomb explosion, it will stay that color and not launch. All item effects on the stones are temporary; the stone will re-appear in its normal form after a short time. In Ocarina of Time, if a non-transporting ocarina song is played at a Gossip Stone, a fairy will appear.

In The Wind Waker, Gossip Stones are small, rare pendants that can be used to communicate at a distance. These advanced Gossip Stones were created by Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule. Such pendants are used by Tetra and The King of Red Lions to communicate with Link.

In Twilight Princess, there are Howling Stones, which, while somewhat similar in appearance to Gossip Stones, have a hole in their center through which Link can hear a tune being carried on the wind. In his wolf form, Link is able to howl the melody of these songs, which causes a golden wolf to appear elsewhere in Hyrule. When Link finds the wolf in human form, he is transported to a special area where he can learn up to seven Hidden Skills from a former Hylian Knight. There is another version of the Howling Stones in Twilight Princess, which, instead of a circular hole, bears the shape of the Triforce on the stone.

Gossip Stones return in Phantom Hourglass. Most offer hints when struck with a sword, however, in most dungeons, there is a gossip stone on almost every floor, which reveals how many treasure chests are on the current floor, and offers to reveal their locations for 20 Rupees.

Elements
The Elements are the "crystalline manifestations" of the four elements of earth, fire, water, and wind. In The Minish Cap, the Elements are required to forge the Four Sword. As each Element, empowers the Four Sword, it allows Link to create an additional doppelganger. In Four Swords and Four Swords Adventures, Link's clones are each colored after one of the elements. The Three Keys needed to enter the final level in Four Swords are patterned after the Elements, and the four "Royal Jewels" needed to enter the final world in Four Swords Adventures appear identical to the Elements, and are placed on pillars around the Four Sword Sanctuary exactly as they are in The Minish Cap.