Life Gauge

The Life Gauge, also known as Life or Life Hearts in, Life Points in , Heart Containers in and , Life Energy in ,  and the , and the Heart Meter in  and , is a recurring element in. It is a meter that measures Link's current amount of health in Hearts.

Uses
The Life Gauge measures Link's current amount of health, represented in the form of Hearts (with the exception of, where Link's health is instead represented by square segments). Whenever Link takes damage, either by an enemy attack, a hazard, or by falling from a high altitude, Link will lose a certain amount of Hearts or part of a Heart equal to the damage taken. In earlier games, the Life Gauge's Hearts are in fractions of two. Starting from, Hearts are in fractions of four. When Link loses all of his Hearts, the game ends with a Game Over. Link's Life Gauge can be replenished by picking up recovery Hearts. The Gauge can also be replenished by drinking recovery Potions, using a Fairy, visiting a Great Fairy, or by resting while Sitting or Sleeping. In many games, Link can also instantly be revived and some or all of his Hearts restored provided he has a Bottled Fairy or a Potion with the effect.

In most multiplayer games, such as and, the Links each have their own Life Gauge. The Life Gauge is shared in single-player campaigns, as well as in, wherein the Links all share the damage taken.

In most games, but not all, Link's Life Gauge starts with three Hearts. The Life Gauge can usually be increased by obtaining Heart Containers, which add an additional Heart to the Life Gauge for every Heart Container acquired. In some games, Link can also temporarily increase his maximum health through the use of items or equipment. The maximum total of Hearts the Life Gauge can have varies by game.

Often it is also possible for Link to enhance his defense against enemy attacks, thereby taking less damage than normal. This may either take the form of wearing certain equipment, using items, or by receiving permanent upgrades.

The Legend of Zelda
Link's Life Gauge is known as Life or Life Hearts in. Link's Life can be extended to a total of 16 Hearts. When Link is full on Life Hearts, he can throw his Sword. Link can also permanently decrease his Life Hearts as well. In the Second Quest, Old Men encountered in certain Dungeons will request that Link either pay them an amount of Rupees or give up one of his Life Hearts in order to pass. If Link chooses the sacrifice a Heart, it can never be recovered.

Link can enhance his defense to enemy attacks by obtaining the Blue Ring and the Red Ring, which reduce damage taken by one quarter and one half respectively.

The Adventure of Link
In, Life Points are represented as a meter marked in square segments as opposed to Hearts. Link's Life Points start with 4 segments and can be extended to a total of 8 segments.

When Link is at full health, he can shoot Sword Beams from his Sword.

Whenever Link loses all of his Life Points, he loses an Extra Life and restarts at the entrance of the area he was last in. However, if Link loses all of his Lives and perishes, he will be forced from restart from the North Castle. The exception to this is if Link loses all his Lives while in the Great Palace, where he will restart from the Palace entrance instead.

Link can enhance his defense to enemy attacks by increasing his Life whenever he Levels up; this is separate from extending the meter, which can only be extended by collecting Heart Containers. Link's Life can be leveled up a total of eight times.

A Link to the Past
The Life Gauge, originally referred to as Heart Containers, can be extended to a total of 20 Hearts in.

When Link is at full health, he can shoot Sword Beams with the Master Sword, Tempered Sword, and Golden Sword.

Link can enhance his defense to enemy attacks by obtaining the Blue and Red Mail.

Link's Awakening
The Heart Meter, originally referred to as Heart Containers, can be extended to a total of 14 Hearts in.

When Link is at full health, he can shoot Sword Beams with the Level 2 Sword.

Link can temporarily enhance his defense to enemy attacks by picking up a Guardian Acorn, which reduces damage taken by half. In, Link can permanently enhance his defense by selecting the Blue Clothes after clearing the Color Dungeon, which holds the same effect as a Guardian Acorn.

Ocarina of Time
The Life Gauge, originally referred to as Life Energy, can be extended to a total of 20 Hearts in. This is the first Zelda game where Link can take a quarter of a Heart of damage.

In, playing Master Quest mode will make Link take twice as much damage.

Link can enhance his defense to enemy attacks by receiving an upgrade from the Great Fairy of Courage found in the Fountain near Ganon's Castle. The upgrade creates a white outline around the Hearts in Link's Life Gauge, signifying the enhancement.

Nayru's Love can be used to temporarily negate all damage taken.

Majora's Mask
The Life Energy meter can be extended to a total of 20 Hearts in.

Link can enhance his defense to enemy attacks by receiving an upgrade from the Great Fairy of Courage in the Great Bay Coast. The Great Fairy will enhance his defense after Link brings back her scattered Stray Fairies from the Great Bay Temple. Identically to Ocarina of Time, this upgrade creates a white outline around Link's Hearts to signify the enhancement.

Oracle Series
In a non-Linked Game of and, the Life Gauge, originally referred to as the Life Energy Meter, starts with 3 Hearts. In a Linked Game, it starts with 4 Hearts. The Life Gauge can be extended to a total of 14 Hearts in a non-Linked Game, a total of 15 Hearts in a Linked Game, and a maximum total of 16 Hearts in a Linked Game while exchanging Secrets.

When Link is at full health, he can shoot Sword Beams with the Noble Sword or Master Sword. While wearing the Light Ring L-1 or Light Ring L-2, Link can shoot Sword Beams up to two and three Hearts missing, respectively.

Link can enhance his defense to enemy attacks by wearing certain Magic Rings. Some Rings will reduce damage taken overall, while others will reduce or negate damage taken only from specific attacks or hazards. The Protection Ring ensures that all damage taken is always equal to one Heart. Conversely, the Cursed Ring increases damage to attacks.

Four Swords
In, the Links each have their own individual Life Gauge, and start with 6 Hearts each. In a single-player game in, the two Links each share a Life Gauge. The Life Gauge can be temporarily extended by collecting Heart Containers, however, this extension lasts only for the duration of the Stage.

When all four Links are at full health, the Stage enters Rupee Fever, where the value of Rupees are doubled for as long as the Links maintain their health. This occurrence does not happen in a single-player game. If the Master Sword is obtained, Link will shoot Sword Beams when he is at full health.

Whenever a Link loses all of his Hearts in his Life Gauge, a Rupee penalty is paid in order to revive the fallen Link. The cost will increase each time a Link is revived. If the Links do not have enough Rupees to revive the fallen Link, the Stage ends.

A Link can temporarily enhance his defense to enemy attacks by picking up Armor Seeds, which reduce damage taken by half. This effect lasts only for the duration of the Stage.

The Wind Waker
The Life Gauge can be extended to a total of 20 Hearts in.

In, enabling Hero Mode will make Link take double damage.

The Magic Armor can be used to temporarily negate all damage taken, at the cost of draining Link's Magic Meter, or his Rupees whenever he is struck in The Wind Waker HD.

Four Swords Adventures
In a single-player game of, the Links share a single Heart Meter and start with 4 Hearts. In a multiplayer game, the Links each have their own individual Heart Meter. The Heart Meter can be temporarily extended by collecting Heart Containers, however, this extension lasts only for the duration of the Stage.

Whenever a Link loses all of his Hearts in his Heart Meter, a Force Fairy is used to revive him. If the Links do not have any Force Fairies to revive a fallen Link, the Stage ends.

A Link can temporarily enhance his defense to enemy attacks by finding a Blue Bracelet, which reduces damage taken by half. This effect lasts only for the duration of the Stage.

The Minish Cap
The Life Gauge, originally referred to as the Heart Meter, can be extended to a total of 20 Hearts in.

Link can temporarily enhance his defense to enemy attacks by using the Blue or Green Charm.

Twilight Princess
The Life Gauge can be extended to a total of 20 Hearts in.

In, enabling Hero Mode will make Link take double damage.

In Twilight Princess HD, tapping certain amiibo will have an effect on Link's Life Gauge. Upon completing a section of the Cave of Shadows, the Wolf Link amiibo may be tapped to save a checkpoint of the amount of Hearts Link has preserved. The saved amount can then be used to restore Link's Life Gauge to that amount by scanning the amiibo while in the Cave of Shadows, and is also used to determine the number of Hearts Wolf Link will have when scanned into. Scanning Ganondorf's amiibo will make Link take twice as much damage, and will turn his Life Gauge blue to signify the change. Scanning the amiibo while in Hero Mode quadruples the damage taken.

The Magic Armor can be worn to negate all damage taken, at the cost of draining Link's Rupees. Conversely, wearing the Zora Armor increases damage to fire and ice-based attacks.

Phantom Hourglass
The Life Gauge can be extended to a total of 16 Hearts in.

In addition to Link's Life Gauge, the S.S. Linebeck also has its own Life Gauge to measure its endurance and stability. Its Life Gauge is represented in Green Hearts. These Hearts will deplete whenever the ship is attacked or crashes into an obstacle. When the Life Gauge is fully depleted, the ship is destroyed, resulting in a Game Over. The ship's Life Gauge can be replenished by finding Green Hearts in the overworld, either by defeating enemies or destroying objects, or can be fully replenished by disembarking at an island. Initially, the default ship starts with four Hearts, and can be increased by assembling matching Ship Parts.

In the Goron Temple, Link shares his Life Gauge with Gongoron.

Link can enhance his defense to enemy attacks if he is accompanied by Neri and has given her Wisdom Gems.

Spirit Tracks
The Life Gauge can be extended to a total of 16 Hearts in.

Identically to the S.S. Linebeck in Phantom Hourglass, the Spirit Train also has its own Life Gauge represented in Green Hearts. Its Hearts will deplete whenever the train is attacked or crashes. The Train becomes destroyed if its Life Gauge is fully depleted. It can be replenished by finding Green Hearts in the overworld or fully recovered by disembarking at a station. The default train starts with four Hearts, and can be increased by assembling matching Train Cars.

Link can shoot Sword Beams while at full health if he has obtained the Swordsman's Scroll and the Lokomo Sword.

Skyward Sword
The Life Gauge starts with 6 Hearts in SS undefined. The Life Gauge can be extended to 18 Hearts by collecting Heart Containers and all Pieces of Hearts. It can also be extended by an additional Heart by wearing Life Medals, which altogether can extend the Life Gauge to a maximum 20 Hearts.

Playing in Hero Mode will make Link take double damage.

Link can temporarily enhance his defense to enemy attacks by drinking a Guardian Potion. Drinking a Guardian Potion + will temporarily negate all damage taken for three minutes.

A Link Between Worlds
The Life Gauge can be extended to a total of 20 Hearts in.

Playing in Hero Mode will make Link take double damage.

When Link is at full health, he can shoot Sword Beams with the Master Sword and its upgraded forms.

Drinking a Yellow Potion will temporarily negate all damage taken.

Tri Force Heroes
In, the Links (as well as Doppels in a single-player game) all share a single Life Gauge and start with 8 Hearts. The Life Gauge can be extended whenever the Links wear the Jack of Hearts Outfit (which extends the Life Gauge by one Heart), the Queen of Hearts Outfit (which extends by three Hearts), or the Lady's Ensemble (which extends by one Heart). After acquiring 30 Hero Points, wearing the Bear Minimum extends the Life Gauge by two Hearts.

When Link is at full health, he can shoot Sword Beams if he is wearing the Sword Suit, the Sword Master Suit, or the Fierce Deity Armor. The Fierce Deity Armor can still shoot Sword Beams even without full health if a Spin Attack is charged.

Whenever the Life Gauge is fully depleted, a Fairy is used to revive the Links and the Level's Stage is restarted. If the Links do not have any more Fairies to revive themselves, the Level ends.

Wearing the Serpent's Toga and standing still will negate all damage taken. Conversely, wearing the Bear Minimum or Cursed Tights will increase damage taken.

Breath of the Wild
In, the Life Gauge can be temporarily extended by consuming certain Foods that grant Link yellow temporary Hearts. These Hearts are lost when Link takes damage and cannot be recovered. The Life Gauge starts with 3 Hearts and can be extended to a total of 30.

Damage numbers are shown numerically in Breath of the Wild. Each number of damage deals a quarter of a Heart to Link. For example, an attack with a power of 4 will damage Link by one full Heart. However, Link can increase his defense by wearing Armor. Doing so subtracts the attack's strength value by Link's total defense value. But no matter his defense, Link takes at least a quarter of a Heart of damage from any attack.

Wolf Link, when scanned into Breath of the Wild with the Wolf Link amiibo, has his own Life Gauge. The amount of Hearts in his Life Gauge can be increased by scanning the amiibo in after completing a section of the Cave of Shadows, which saves a checkpoint of Link's number of preserved Hearts that determine Wolf Link's health in Breath of the Wild. When all of Wolf Link's Hearts are depleted, he will vanish and cannot be scanned into the game until the following real-world day.

Link can enhance his defense to enemy attacks by equipping Armor. Each piece of Armor increases Link's resilience to damage by a certain amount.

Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland
In, no named for Tingle appears. Instead, Tingle's health is measured in the Rupees he has collected, which in addition are also used in the exchange of items and services. Whenever Tingle engages with an enemy, he will gradually lose Rupees by a varying amount for as long as the battle lasts. Tingle can also lose Rupees if he gets hurt through other means, such as by falling into water.

Bodyguards have their own, known as Hearts. Like stats, each Bodyguard has a different total of Hearts. Bodyguards will gradually lose their health as they engage with enemies and take damage. When a Bodyguard's health is fully depleted, they will leave Tingle's side. Their health can be restored by providing them with Power-Up Potions or by using Rupees.

The Faces of Evil
The Life Heart meter can be extended to a total of 6 Hearts in.

When Link loses all of his Life Hearts, he will lose a life and a Continue screen with a counter will be displayed, allowing him the option of restarting at the entrance of the last area he was in. However, if Link perishes a total of three times, he will be returned to the world map and be forced to start over the Stage.

The Wand of Gamelon
The Life Heart meter can be extended to a total of 6 Hearts in.

Identically to The Faces of Evil, a Continue screen with a counter will appear when all of Zelda's Life Hearts are depleted. If, however, Zelda perishes a total of three times, she will be returned to the world map and be forced to start over the Stage.

Zelda's Adventure
The Life Meter can be extended to a total of 14 Hearts in.

Whenever the Life Meter is fully depleted, Zelda must restart from either the Vision Henge if she is outside, or at the beginning of a Shrine if she perishes while inside one.

Hyrule Warriors Series
In, each playable Warrior possess their own Health gauge. At Level 1, Warriors begin with 10 Hearts, however, Warriors unlocked at higher Levels may start with more than 10 Hearts. Their Health can be extended by collecting Heart Containers and Pieces of Heart hidden in Scenarios, but can also gradually be increased as the character Levels up. Warriors who do not have any Heart Containers or Pieces of Heart to find can only extend their Health through gaining Levels.

The Health gauge for each warrior can be extended to a maximum of 60 Hearts. The maximum can only be reached after updating to Version 1.6.0, which increased the maximum Level to 255 in both Hyrule Warriors and. However, without purchasing any DLC Packs, only Medli will be able to reach the maximum in Hyrule Warriors. In Hyrule Warriors Legends, no Warriors can extend their Health gauge to the maximum without purchasing a DLC Pack. Any Character obtained as part of a DLC Pack will be able to extend their Health gauge to 60 Hearts without purchasing any additional DLC Packs.

Allied and opposing characters alike also carry their own visible Health gauge, displayed as a colored gauge above their heads that matches the color of their Force. Their Health totals can also be found in the Battlefield Info menu. Allied characters whose Health are low can be recovered by touching the Rescue Area circle that forms around them.

If Link uses the Master Sword at full Health, all of his Combo Attacks will shoot Sword Beams.

Warriors will take increased damage when using Weapons with the Special Skills Regen and Sturdy Feet.

During "All attacks are devastating!" Battles or Battles following the "Don't Get Hit!" Master Quest or Great Sea Rule in Adventure Mode, the player Warrior will take devastating damage if hit. This will reduce the Warrior's Health to one Quarter-Heart unless they already had one Quarter-Heart, in which case the Health gauge will fully deplete. In Hyrule Warriors Legends, Companion Fairies with the Glass Cannon Rental Skill can also cause all damage a Warrior takes to become devastating.

The player Warrior's Health gauge cannot fully deplete unless they take damage when they have a Quarter-Heart of Health. If the player Warrior takes enough damage that their Health gauge should fully deplete, they will instead be reduced to a Quarter-Heart. Whenever the player Warrior's Health is fully depleted, they collapse. In Hyrule Warriors, the Battle is lost but in Hyrule Warriors Legends'', if the Warrior is battling with a Companion Fairy with the Hard Worker Rental Skill, the Skill will automatically be used and revive the Warrior with 28 and a quarter Hearts. If the Warrior's Health gauge fully depletes again or the Warrior didn't battle with a Companion Fairy with the Hard Worker Rental Skill, the Battle is lost. Depending on a Battle's circumstances, allied characters who lose all of their Health may either retreat from the battlefield without dire consequence, or may also cause the Battle to result in a defeat.