Heart Container

Heart Container

Games	The Legend of Zelda The Adventure of Link A Link to the Past Link's Awakening Ocarina of Time Majora's Mask Oracle of Seasons Oracle of Ages Four Swords The Wind Waker Four Swords Adventures The Minish Cap Twilight Princess Phantom Hourglass Spirit Tracks Skyward Sword A Link Between Worlds
Related	Piece of Heart

Heart Containers are collectible items that increase Link's maximum number of hearts by one. Heart Containers have been appearing since The Legend of Zelda and have since appeared in every title. They are most commonly found after defeating a dungeon's boss, but can also be found scattered around the landscape, usually in hidden locations. Occasionally, they can be obtained by completing difficult side quests.

Pieces of Heart

Main article: Piece of Heart

If Link can collect four Pieces of Heart (five in Twilight Princess), he creates a full Heart Container. Pieces of Hearts can be found by completing side quests, getting good scores in mini-games, or searching various dungeons and overworld areas.

Appearances

The Legend of Zelda

In the first game, Link's maximum health can reach 16 hearts. Link begins with 3 and earns a Heart Container with every dungeon boss defeated. There are 8 dungeon bosses giving Link a maximum of 11 hearts. The remaining 5 can be found across the land of Hyrule in caves. Inside these caves, the Old Man offers Link either a Heart Container or a Water of Life. It is not recommended to take the Life Potion instead of the Heart Container, because Link can purchase an unlimited amount at the Potion Shop, but the Heart Container is gone forever if not chosen.

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

The second game is unique in the series as Link's health is represented by bars rather than by hearts. Link begins the game with 4 bars. Additional bars can be added by locating Heart Containers concealed within hidden locations across Hyrule. There are 4 Heart Containers in the game reaching a maximum of 8 bars. Link can also decrease the amount of damage he receives by increasing his Life level. Using the Shield Spell halves all damage taken, though only temporarily.

A Link to the Past

The third game returns to the traditional heart meter, but this time, Link can have a maximum of 20 hearts, 11 of which are obtained by defeating dungeon bosses. This is also the first game to introduce heart pieces. A Piece of Heart can normally be found in hidden locations or by completing side quests. If 4 heart pieces are collected, it forms a new Heart Container. There are 24 heart pieces scattered throughout the game contributing 6 Heart Containers.

Link's Awakening

In the fourth game, Link can obtain a maximum of 14 hearts. 8 are obtained by defeating dungeon bosses. The remaining 3 are obtained by collecting the 12 heart pieces scattered across Koholint Island.

Ocarina of Time

In Ocarina of Time, Link can obtain a maximum of 20 hearts. 8 are obtained by defeating dungeon bosses. The remaining 9 are obtained by collecting the 36 heart pieces scattered across Hyrule.

Majora's Mask

Majora's Mask also features a maximum of 20 hearts. Beginning with 3 Heart Containers, 4 are obtained by defeating dungeon bosses. The remaining 13 are obtained by collecting the 52 heart pieces scattered across Termina.

Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages

In both games, Link can obtain a maximum of 14 hearts. 8 are obtained by defeating dungeon bosses. The remaining 3 are obtained by collecting the 12 heart pieces scattered across Holodrum and Labrynna.

The Wind Waker

The Wind Waker features a maximum of 20 hearts. 6 are obtained by defeating dungeon bosses. The remaining 11 are obtained by collecting the 44 heart pieces scattered across the Great Sea.

The Minish Cap

The Minish Cap features a maximum of 20 hearts. 5 are obtained by defeating dungeon bosses. 1 is obtained by fusing a Kinstone with a Minish in Lake Hylia. The remaining 11 are obtained by collecting the 44 heart pieces scattered across Hyrule.

Twilight Princess

The thirteenth game in the series features a maximum of 20 hearts. 8 are obtained by defeating dungeon bosses. Unlike previous games, Twilight Princess requires 5 heart pieces to form a new Heart Container. The remaining 9 are obtained by collecting the 45 heart pieces scattered across the land.

Phantom Hourglass

The first DS game of the series features a maximum of 16 hearts. 7 are obtained by defeating dungeon bosses. There are no heart pieces in Phantom Hourglass, but only full Heart Containers. The remaining 6 are found scattered across the sea.

Spirit Tracks

The second DS game of the series also features a maximum of 16 hearts. 5 are obtained by defeating dungeon bosses. Like its predecessor, there are no heart pieces in Spirit Tracks, but only full Heart Containers. The remaining 8 are found scattered across New Hyrule.

Skyward Sword

The sixteenth game in the series features a maximum of 20 hearts. Unlike the previous games, Link starts with six hearts instead of three. 6 are obtained by defeating dungeon bosses. 6 are obtained by collecting the 24 heart pieces scattered across the land and sky. Skyward Sword is also unique because 2 of the Heart Containers are obtained through Life Medals. There are 2 Life Medals in the game. When Link carries them in his Adventure Pouch, he is granted an additional Heart Container. If the medals are removed, then a Heart Container will be lost.

A Link Between Worlds

There is a maximum of 20 hearts in A Link Between Worlds. 10 of these are obtained from dungeon bosses, and the remaining 7 are formed by collecting the 28 Heart Pieces scattered across Hyrule and Lorule.

Breath of the Wild

In Breath of the Wild, Heart Containers can be obtained by returning four Spirit Orbs to a Goddess Statue. They can also be obtained by defeating each of the four Divine Beasts.

Gallery

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  Heart Container Official Artwork from The Legend of Zelda

• Heart-Container (1).png

  Heart Container Artwork from Million Publications Strategy Guide for The Legend of Zelda

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  Heart Container Sprite from The Legend of Zelda

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  Heart Container Artwork from The Adventure of Link

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  Heart Container Sprite from A Link to the Past

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  Heart Container Artwork from A Link to the Past

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  Heart Container Artwork from The Wind Waker

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  Heart Container from Twilight Princess

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  Heart Container from Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages

References

1. ↑ "TAKE ANY ONE YOU WANT" — Old Man, The Legend of Zelda.
2. ↑ "BUY MEDICINE BEFORE YOU GO" — Old Woman, The Legend of Zelda.