Three Heart Challenge

The Three Heart Challenge is a challenge where the player completes a Zelda game without gaining a Heart Container or a Piece of Heart throughout the entire game, keeping the three heart health bar that most Zelda games start out with in the beginning of a game, hence the name of the challenge. It is possible to perform this challenge in most of the Zelda titles except for a few. In other titles such as or SS undefined, the game starts out with more than three health bars or hearts, but is still possible to perform the challenge, as the point of the challenge is to not increase Link's maximum life bar. Most challenges would want to increase the challenge of the game by adding restrictions, such as no fairies or magic potions.

Restrictions and Variations
This challenge cannot be done in and  without the use of a cheat device. These games require that Link must collect a Heart Container after defeating a major boss in order to progress further in the game. This is because in Link's Awakening, the boss room doors won't open until Link collects the Heart Container and in A Link to the Past, the Pendants of Courage, Power, Wisdom and the Crystals will only appear after collecting a Heart Container after the boss's defeat. In there are two Heart Containers that would seem mandatory to collect, specifically the ones obtained after completing the Tower of Hera and the House of Gales. However, if the player waits just a few seconds after the appearances of the Heart Containers, the Pendants of Power and Wisdom respectively will be granted to Link without requiring any other action.

There are also Low% Three Heart Challenges, in which the player tries to only get necessary items and avoids optional items in addition to avoiding Heart Containers, an example being in which the Silver Arrows are required to complete the game, whereas an item such as the Book of Magic is not.

Games in which the Three Heart Challenge can be done

 * (game starts out with four life bar panels, and leveling up Life is optional)
 * (one Piece of Heart must be acquired in order to complete the game; however, the player does not have to complete a Heart Container)
 * SS undefined (technically a Six Heart Challenge as the game begins with this many hearts)
 * (one Piece of Heart must be acquired in order to complete the game; however, the player does not have to complete a Heart Container)
 * SS undefined (technically a Six Heart Challenge as the game begins with this many hearts)
 * (one Piece of Heart must be acquired in order to complete the game; however, the player does not have to complete a Heart Container)
 * SS undefined (technically a Six Heart Challenge as the game begins with this many hearts)
 * SS undefined (technically a Six Heart Challenge as the game begins with this many hearts)
 * SS undefined (technically a Six Heart Challenge as the game begins with this many hearts)
 * SS undefined (technically a Six Heart Challenge as the game begins with this many hearts)
 * SS undefined (technically a Six Heart Challenge as the game begins with this many hearts)
 * SS undefined (technically a Six Heart Challenge as the game begins with this many hearts)