Heart Container

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This article is about the item that increases Link's health. For the health meter, see Life Gauge.

Heart Containers,(TLoZ | ALttP | LA | OoT | MM | OoS | OoA | FS | TWW | FSA | TMC | TP | PH | ST | SS | ALBW | BotW | TotK | HWAoC)[1][2][3][4][5][6][name references needed] also known as Bowls of Hearts,(TAoL)[1] Heart-Shaped Stones,(TMC)[7] Life Hearts,(TFoE | TWoG)[8][9] and Crystal Hearts,(ZA)[10] are recurring Items in The Legend of Zelda series. They increase Link's Life Gauge, which is represented by a set of Hearts, excluding The Adventure of Link, where his health is symbolized by a life bar. Collecting enough Pieces of Heart assembles a Heart Container and increases Link's maximum health.[1]

Location and Uses

As Link progresses through the games, he will require more and more health in order to survive the greater challenges. This additional health is acquired in the form of Heart Containers,[11] with each Heart Container adding one whole heart to the amount of hearts Link has, in addition to fully recovering his Life Gauge.[2][12] A Heart Container is awarded after every major boss in most games[12]. The maximum number of Heart Containers is typically 20 or 16; see below.

The Legend of Zelda

In The Legend of Zelda, only full Heart Containers are available, not Pieces of Heart. 8 Heart Containers are obtained from bosses, one each in Level 1 to Level 8. A single Heart Container can be found on Hyrule's eastern coast, requiring the Stepladder to collect. The remaining 4 Heart Containers are offered as gifts in caves, in locations that vary between the First and Second Quest. In these caves, Link is offered the choice of a Heart Container or a Red Potion; if Link takes the potion, the Heart Container is permanently lost.

In the Second Quest, it is possible to permanently lose a Heart Container in specific rooms, one in Level 4, and two in Level 7, where Link is required to pay either 1 Heart Container or 50 rupees.

The Adventure of Link

In The Adventure of Link, Link's life is represented by a gauge, which starts with 4 segments. 4 Bowls of Hearts are found throughout the game. Each permanently increases length of the life gauge by 1 segment, up to a maximum of 8, and fully refills the gauge.

A Link to the Past

In A Link to the Past, the first additional Heart Container can be found in the Sanctuary after the first visit to Hyrule Castle; this Heart Container uniquely fully restores Link's health.

An additional 10 Heart Containers are obtained by defeating the bosses of the first 3 Light World dungeons and the first 7 Dark World dungeons; unlike most games, boss Heart Containers are mandatory. Agahnim does not drop a Heart Container when fought in either Hyrule Castle or Ganon's Tower.

This game introduces Pieces of Heart, 4 of which are required to form a Heart Container. 6 Heart Containers are formed this way.

Link's Awakening

In Link's Awakening, 8 Heart Containers are obtained by defeating bosses, and 3 by collecting 4 Pieces of Heart each. As in A Link to the Past, boss Heart Containers are mandatory.

Starting in this game, collecting any Heart Container fully restores Link's health.

Ocarina of Time

In Ocarina of Time, 8 Heart Containers are obtained by defeating bosses, and 9 by collecting 4 Pieces of Heart each. Boss Heart Containers return to being optional, and remain so for the rest of the series.

Majora's Mask

In Majora's Mask, only 4 Heart Containers can be obtained by defeating bosses. 13 Heart Containers are formed by collecting 4 Pieces of Heart each, the most in the series.

Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons

In both Oracle games, Link starts with a variable number of Heart Containers: 3 in a new game, but 4 in a Linked Game or when using a Hero's Secret.

8 Heart Containers are obtained by defeating bosses, and 3 by collecting 4 Pieces of Heart each, for a total of 14 hearts without linking.

An additional full heart container can be obtained only in a Linked Game; combined with the 4th initial heart, this allows for Link to reach a total of 16 hearts.

The Wind Waker



In The Wind Waker, four Pieces of Heart will create a Heart Container for Link. Link will also be rewarded with a Heart Container after defeating a Boss. Link is able to obtain a total of 17 Heart Containers, which brings his Life Energy to 20 hearts.

Four Swords



Four Swords Adventures

Four Swords Adventures Manual Descriptionhide ▲
 
Heart Container
Increase your Heart Meter by one Heart.

Unlike most games, Heart Containers in Four Swords Adventures are not permanent, but reset every stage. All four Links share the same health total, starting each stage with 4 Heart Containers, only 3 of which are filled. Each stage contains an additional 2 to 4 more Heart Containers.

The Minish Cap

Link can have a total of 20 Heart Containers in The Minish Cap. He starts with three and can gain a total of 11 more through Pieces of Heart; four Pieces of Heart equal one Heart Container.

The remaining six are all obtained as full Heart Containers; Link gains one after defeating each of the five Bosses (Big Green Chuchu, Gleerok, Mazaal, Big Octorok, and the Gyorg Pair), and one is given to him by Librari. After Link acquires the Wind Element and infuses it into the White Sword, turning it into the Four Sword, the Royal Hyrule Library is closed, and Librari moves to a small Minish-sized House in the center of Lake Hylia. The House can only be accessed after Link Fuses Kinstone Pieces with a Forest Picori in the far eastern portion of Minish Village, opening a small crack near the Wind Crest at Lake Hylia. When Link enters this crack and goes through the tunnel, he emerges in front of Librari's House; speaking to Librari inside will net him the final full Heart Container.

Twilight Princess

In Twilight Princess, 8 Heart Containers can be obtained by defeating bosses, and 9 by collecting Pieces of Heart. Unusually, it takes 5 Pieces of Heart, not 4, to form a Heart Container.

Heart Containers can apparently form when people display deep affection for each other, as seen where Yeto and Yeta create Hearts and a Heart Container in their embrace. Twilight Princess also considers Pieces of Heart to be sources of love, as seen with Madame Fanadi when she asks Link what type of prediction he wants to see.

Phantom Hourglass

The DS games return to the pattern of The Legend of Zelda, offering only full Heart Containers. In Phantom Hourglass, 7 Heart Containers are obtained by defeating bosses, and 6 can be found elsewhere.



Spirit Tracks



Skyward Sword

In Skyward Sword, Link starts with 6 Heart Containers, instead of 3 as in most games.

6 Heart Containers are obtained by defeating bosses, and 6 by collecting 4 Pieces of Heart each, for a total of 18 permanent Heart Containers. 2 additional Heart Containers can be temporarily obtained by equipping Life Medals.

A Link Between Worlds

In A Link Between Worlds, 10 Heart Containers are obtained by defeating the bosses of the first 3 Hyrule dungeons and the first 7 Lorule dungeons. Yuga does not drop a Heart Container when fought in Hyrule Castle or Lorule Castle; however, he does drop one when fought in Eastern Palace. Unlike A Link to the Past, there is no Heart Container in the Sanctuary, and boss Heart Containers are not mandatory.

The remaining 7 Heart Containers are formed by collecting 4 Pieces of Heart each.

Breath of the Wild

In Breath of the Wild, Link receives a Heart Container after defeating each of the four bosses found in the Divine Beasts. Link can also earn Heart Containers by choosing them over a Stamina Vessel after trading in four Spirit Orbs to a Goddess Statue anywhere in Hyrule. Spirit Orbs are rewarded to Link at the end of every Ancient Shrine. Link can obtain up to 23 Heart Containers from Goddess Statues, allowing him to have a maximum of 30 hearts. If Link instead uses his Spirit Orbs to achieve three full Stamina Wheels from the Goddess Statue, he will only have enough Spirit Orbs left to obtain a total of 27 hearts. In The Champions' Ballad DLC pack, Link can obtain four extra Spirit Orbs that he can exchange for another Heart Container.

By visiting the Horned Statue in Hateno Village, Link can exchange his Heart Containers for Stamina Vessels and vice versa. This is achieved by selling either a Heart Container or a Stamina Vessel to the Horned Statue in exchange for 100 Rupees. The Horned Statue then allows Link can then buy one of either item at a higher price of 120 Rupees. This allows Link to change how he spent his Spirit Orbs at the total cost of 20 Rupees for each conversion.

Tears of the Kingdom



Heart Containers in Tears of the Kingdom work identically to their appearance in Breath of the Wild, where four Lights of Blessing substitute for the four Spirit Orbs in Breath of the Wild. The Horned Statue works the same way, but is now found underneath Lookout Landing in the Royal Hidden Passage.

Heart Containers Summary

Game Initial Life Gauge Obtained from Bosses Found / Purchased Formed by Pieces of Heart Maximum Life Gauge
The Legend of Zelda 3 8 5 16
The Adventure of Link 4 4  8
A Link to the Past 3 10 1 6 20
Link's Awakening 3 8 3 14
Ocarina of Time 3 8 9 20
Majora's Mask 3 4 13 20
Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages 3  8 0  3 14 
Four Swords 6 2  or 8  8 
The Wind Waker 3 6 11 20
Four Swords Adventures 4 2 to 4  6 to 8 
The Minish Cap 3 5 1 11 20
Twilight Princess 3 8 9 20
Phantom Hourglass 3 7 6 16
Spirit Tracks 3 5 8 16
Skyward Sword 6 6 6 18 
A Link Between Worlds 3 10 7 20
Tri Force Heroes 9 9 
Breath of the Wild 3 4 23  30

Other Appearances

The Faces of Evil

 

Link begins with three Life Hearts in The Faces of Evil, gradually earning more as he completes tasks and defeats certain bosses. Life Hearts are obtained from the Fairies in Spearfish Falls, after defeating Goronu the first time, and from Kulvan's Daughter in Shipwreck Cliff.

The Wand of Gamelon

Zelda begins with three Life Hearts and earns more during her quest throughout The Wand of Gamelon. They are obtained from the Fairies in the Fairy Pool, after defeating the Iron Knuckle in Tykogi Tower, and after defeating Hektan in Dodomai Palace.

Zelda's Adventure

Zelda initially starts out with three Crystal Hearts in Zelda's Adventure, and earns more as she defeats the Shrine Keepers of Tolemac. Four Crystal Hearts can also be found hidden throughout the land.

Super Smash Bros.

See SmashWiki's article on Heart Container for more information.

Heart Containers are healing items in Super Smash Bros.. When picked up, they reduce all damage to 0%. While they are healing, Fighters cannot be damaged by opponents. These Heart Containers derive their appearance from the Heart Containers in Ocarina of Time.

Super Smash Bros. Melee

Heart Containers reappear as healing items in Super Smash Bros. Melee. Unlike their previous appearance in Super Smash Bros., Heart Containers only reduce 100% of damage to the Fighters who pick them up. Heart Containers also appear as Trophies. Like in Super Smash Bros., these Heart Containers derive their design from Ocarina of Time.

Trophy Information

# Trophy First Game / Move Description How to unlock
87  
Heart Container
The Legend of Zelda
07/87
Heart Containers drift toward the ground slowly and replenish 100 percentage points of health. In The Legend of Zelda, these items beefed up Link's life meter; in most cases, Link found them in the possession of bosses or hidden in secret areas. Heart Containers are often scattered across the land in several fragments. Play 100 VS Matches

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Heart Containers reappear in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, serving a similar role as their previous iteration in Super Smash Bros. Melee. However, unlike their previous appearance, Fighters can now be damaged while being healed by Heart Containers. A Heart Container Trophy also appears. Heart Containers now resemble those in Twilight Princess.

Trophy Information

# Trophy Significant Games Description How to unlock
190  
Heart Container
The Legend of Zelda

Twilight Princess
The best recovery item! Grab this and heal 100 percentage points of damage. It falls slowly, so it's best to grab it in midair. Damage recovery won't happen instantly, though, so try not to get launched while your damage is counting down. In the Legend of Zelda series, Heart Containers raise the player's maximum health. Bosses always have one in their possession. Random

Hyrule Warriors

Heart Containers are obtainable through Treasure Chests in Hyrule Warriors. When obtained, they add an additional Heart to a Warrior's health. They can also be obtained by completing the proper conditions in Adventure Mode Battles.

My Nintendo Picross: Twilight Princess

 

The eleventh puzzle in the Picross series and the fifth puzzle in the Mega Picross series depict a Heart Container.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U

Heart Containers reappear in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U with no functional change from their previous iteration. As before, a Heart Container Trophy is present. These Heart Containers now borrow their design from those in Skyward Sword.

Trophy Information

# Trophy Appears in Description How to unlock
   
192
194
    Oracle of Seasons/Oracle of Ages

Twilight Princess
An important item in the Legend of Zelda series, this item would appear when you beat a boss and increase your life by one when collected. In Smash Bros., grabbing this will heal 100 points of damage. Grab it as it gently floats to the ground! Random
Heart Container

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

 

Heart Containers reappear again in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, behaving identically to their previous appearance. Like in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, Heart Containers in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate share their design with those from Skyward Sword.

Cadence of Hyrule



Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity

As a result for completing the "The Lonely Goddess" Quest, the Warriors will receive a Heart Container, which permanently increases their maximum Hearts by three.[13]

Trivia

Nomenclature

  Names in Other Regions  
LanguageNamesMeanings
Japanese
  • ハートの水筒 (Hāto no Suitō) (TLoZ)[35]
  • イノチノウツワ (Inochi no Utsuwa) (TLoZ)[32]
  • ハートのうつわ (Hāto no Utsuwa) (TAoL | TMC)[33][34]
  • ハートの器 (Hāto no Utsuwa) (ALttP | OoT | ALBW)[29][30][31]
  • ハートのうつわ器 (TotK)
  • Heart Canteen
  • Life Container
  • Same as English.
  • Heart Vessel
  •  
ChineseTR
心之容器 (Xīn zhī róngqì) (TotK) 
ChineseSI
  • 心之容器 (Xīn zhī róngqì) (TLoZ | TAoL | ALttP | LA | LADX | LANS | OoT | OoT3D | MM | MM3D | OoS | FS | TWW | FSA | TMC | TP | TPHD | ST | SS | ALBW | TotK | CoH)[46][47][48]
  • 命之容器 (Mìng zhī róngqì) (TLoZ)[46]
  • Same as English.
  • Life Container
Dutch
  • Hart-container (TLoZ)[38]
  • Extra hartje (BotW)[39]
  • Heart container
  • Extra Heart
FrenchCA
Réceptacle de cœur (ST | ALBW | TotK)[49][50] 
FrenchEU
  • Coffret de coeur (TLoZ)[38]
  • Réceptacle de cœur (ST | ALBW | TotK)[36][37]
  • Heart box
  •  
German
  •  
  • Same as English.
Italian
  • Heart-carrier
  • Hearts-carrier
Korean
  • 생명의 그릇 (Saengmyeong-ui Geuleus) (ALBW)[45]
  • 생명의 그릇 (TotK)
  •  
  •  
Russian
Капсулу сердца (Kapsulu serdtsa) (BotW)Heart capsule
SpanishLA
Contenedor de corazón (ST | ALBW)[40][41] 
SpanishEU
Contenedor de corazón (ST | ALBW | TotK)[51] 
This table was generated using translation pages.
To request an addition, please contact a staff member with a reference.

Gallery

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Encyclopedia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 127 (TLoZ | TAoL | ALttP | LA | OoT | MM | OoS | OoA | FS | TWW | FSA | TMC | TP | PH | ST | SS | ALBW)
  2. 2.0 2.1 "You got a Heart Container! Your life has increased by one and is also now fully replenished!" — Game Screen (Skyward Sword HD)
  3. "Heart Container
    Your life force has been strengthened, increasing your maximum number of hearts by one.
    " — Game Screen (Breath of the Wild)
  4. "Heart Container
    A rare item that restores some of the life force you lost to the gloom, increasing your maximum number of hearts by one.
    " — Game Screen (Tears of the Kingdom)
  5. "Pieces of Heart
    Collect four Pieces of Heart to gain a new Heart Container, increasing your maximum health!
    " — Inventory (Cadence of Hyrule)
  6. "Heart Container
    An invaluable item to an adventurer, this will increase each character's maximum hearts.
    " — Game Screen (Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity)
  7. "First we have...this lovely heart-shaped stone!" — Pina (The Minish Cap)
  8. "Your health is measured in Life Hearts. The number of Life Hearts you currently have is shown in the upper left corner of the screen when you are walking around the island. Although you begin the game with only three hearts, there are ways to get more." (The Faces of Evil manual, pg. 7)
  9. "Your health is measured in Life Hearts. The number of Life Hearts you currently have is shown in the upper left corner of the screen when you are walking around the island. Although you begin the game with only three hearts, there are ways to get more." (The Wand of Gamelon manual, pg. 8)
  10. "Also, a legend tells of four red crystal hearts hidden somewhere in the land of Tolemac. Each time Zelda finds and grabs one, her Life Meter increases by one heart." (Zelda's Adventure manual, pg. 3)
  11. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass—Prima Official Game Guide, Prima Games, pg. 8
  12. 12.0 12.1 The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker—Prima's Official Strategy Guide, Prima Games, pg. 15
  13. "Reward
    Increased Hearts for All Characters: 3
    " — Map (Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity)
  14. "In my line of work, encountering tough situations and feeling like your life is in danger is all a part of the job. But something about this cookie makes me feel like I have the strength to make it through. Like I have an extra heart if my first one runs out." — Olimar (Pikmin 4)
  15. L'arte di una leggenda, Magazzini Salani, pg. 383
  16. "Hai ottenuto un portacuore!" — N/A (Majora's Mask 3D, Italian localization)
  17. "Hai ottenuto un Portacuore!" — N/A (Spirit Tracks)
  18. "Frammenti di cuore
    Con 4 avrai un portacuore in più e il numero massimo di cuori aumenterà di uno!
    " — Gear (A Link Between Worlds)
  19. "Portacuore" — Inventory (Cadence of Hyrule, Italian localization)
  20. Enciclopedia di Hyrule, Magazzini Salani, pg. 123
  21. The Adventure of Link manual, Virtual Console version, Italian localization, pg. 5
  22. "Hai trovato un Portacuori!" — N/A (A Link to the Past, Italian localization)
  23. Enciclopedia di Hyrule, Magazzini Salani, pg. 127
  24. "Hai ottenuto un portacuori!" — N/A (Ocarina of Time 3D, Italian localization)
  25. "Ecco un Portacuori!" — N/A (Oracle of Seasons, Italian localization)
  26. "Ecco un Portacuori!" — N/A (Oracle of Ages, Italian localization)
  27. "Hai ottenuto un Portacuori!" — N/A (The Wind Waker, Italian localization)
  28. "Hai ottenuto un Portacuori!" — N/A (Four Swords Adventures, Italian localization)
  29. A Link to the Past manual, pg. 33 Nintendo Official Guidebook: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Vol. 1, Shogakukan, pg. 30
  30. Nintendo Official Guidebook—The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Shogakukan, pg. 151
  31. "ハートのかけら
    4つ集めるとハートの器になって
    ハートの最大値が1つ増える
    " — Gear (A Link Between Worlds)
  32. Hyrule Encyclopedia, Ambit Ltd., pg. 129 (TLoZ)
  33. The Adventure of Link manual, pg. 48
  34. "ハートのうつわとハートのかけら" (The Minish Cap manual, Japanese localization, pg. 21)
  35. The Legend of Zelda manual, pg. 21
  36. "Vous obtenez un réceptacle de cœur! Vous gagnez un cœur supplémentaire!" — N/A (Spirit Tracks)
  37. "Fragments de cœur
    Trouvez-en 4 pour obtenir un nouveau réceptacle de cœur et gagner en vitalité.
    " — Gear (A Link Between Worlds)
  38. 38.0 38.1 The Legend of Zelda manual, pg. 22
  39. "Je wilt een van je extra hartjes voor 100 rupees aan me verkopen, ja?" — Horned Statue (Breath of the Wild)
  40. "¡Has conseguido un contenedor de corazón!" — N/A (Spirit Tracks)
  41. "Pieza de corazón
    Recoge 4 para obtener otro contenedor de corazón y recibir un corazón más.
    " — Gear (A Link Between Worlds)
  42. "Herzteil
    Sammele vier, um einen Herzcontainer zu erhalten.
    " — Gear (A Link Between Worlds)
  43. "Herzcontainer:
    Erweitert deine Energieleiste um ein Herz und füllt sie vollständig auf.
    " — Tutorial (Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition)
  44. "Du hast einen Herzcontainer erhalten!" — N/A (Spirit Tracks)
  45. "하트 조각
    4개 모으면 생명의 그릇이 되어
    하트의 최대치가 1개 늘어난다
    " — Gear (A Link Between Worlds)
  46. 46.0 46.1 塞尔达传说:百科全书, New Star Press, pg. 139
  47. Encyclopedia, New Star Press, pg. 139
  48. "心之容器" — N/A (Cadence of Hyrule, Simplified Chinese localization)
  49. "Vous avez obtenu un réceptacle de cœur!" — N/A (Spirit Tracks)
  50. "Quart de cœur
    Trouvez-en 4 pour obtenir un nouveau réceptacle de cœur et gagner en vitalité!
    " — Gear (A Link Between Worlds)
  51. "Piezas de corazón
    Recoge 4 para conseguir otro contenedor de corazón y recibir un corazón más.
    " — Gear (A Link Between Worlds)