This article is about the item that increases Link's health. For the health meter, see Life Gauge.
Heart Containers,(TLoZThe Legend of Zelda | ALttPA Link to the Past | LALink's Awakening | OoTOcarina of Time | MMMajora's Mask | OoSOracle of Seasons | OoAOracle of Ages | FSFour Swords | TWWThe Wind Waker | FSAFour Swords Adventures | TMCThe Minish Cap | TPTwilight Princess | PHPhantom Hourglass | STSpirit Tracks | SSSkyward Sword | ALBWA Link Between Worlds | BotWBreath of the Wild | TotKTears of the Kingdom | AoCAge of Calamity)[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][name references needed] also known as Bowls of Hearts,(TAoLThe Adventure of Link)[1]Heart-Shaped Stones,(TMCThe Minish Cap)[8]Life Hearts,(TFoEThe Faces of Evil | TWoGThe Wand of Gamelon)[9][10] and Crystal Hearts,(ZAZelda's Adventure)[11] 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]
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,[12] with each Heart Container adding one whole heart to the amount of hearts Link has, in addition to fully recovering his Life Gauge.[3][13] A Heart Container is awarded after every major boss in most games[13]. The maximum number of Heart Containers is typically 20 or 16; see below.
The Legend of Zelda
Descriptionshide ▲
The Legend of Zelda instruction booklet
Heart container and heart
The heart container increases the number of LIFE hearts that Link has. A heart also turns a white heart back to a red heart. During the game, if Link defeats the enemy and rescues the fairy who's in their devilish hands, she'll turn all the white hearts red.
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
Descriptionshide ▲
The Adventure of Link instruction booklet
Heart Container
The LIFE point containers increase by one, and LIFE recovers. This means that total life power increases.
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
Descriptionshide ▲
A Link to the Past & Four Swords instruction booklet
Heart Containers and Pieces of Heart
Whenever you get a Heart Container, your life gauge increases by one heart. Collect four Pieces of Heart to form one Heart Container.
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 three Light WorldDungeons and the first seven Dark World Dungeons. Unlike most games, Heart Containers dropped by Bosses are mandatory, as Link remains locked in the arena until he picks up Container. 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.
Starting in this game, collecting any Heart Container fully restores Link's health.
Ocarina of Time
In Ocarina of Time, eight Heart Containers are obtained by defeating Bosses, and nine are obtained by collecting four 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 four 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: three in a new game, but four in a Linked Game or when using a Hero's Secret.
Eight Heart Containers are obtained by defeating Bosses, and three by collecting four Pieces of Heart each, and one can be obtained using a Linking Secret.
This means that an initial Oracle game with no usage of Secrets has a maximum of 14 hearts. With Linking, this game can reach a maximum of 15 hearts. All other Linked Games or Hero's Games following this file have a maximum of 16 hearts.
The Wind Waker
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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.
A Link to the Past & Four Swords instruction booklet
Heart Containers
When you find a Heart Container, your maximum number of hearts increases by one. An increase in hearts lasts for the duration of the next level only.
This section of the page is incomplete. You can help Zelda Wiki by expanding it.
Four Swords Adventures
Descriptionshide ▲
Four Swords Adventures instruction booklet
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 four Heart Containers, only three of which are filled. Each Stage contains an additional two to four more Heart Containers.
In Twilight Princess, eight Heart Containers can be obtained by defeating Bosses, and nine by collecting Pieces of Heart. Unusually, it takes five Pieces of Heart rather than four 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, seven Heart Containers are obtained by defeating Bosses, and six can be found elsewhere.
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Spirit Tracks
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Skyward Sword
In Skyward Sword, Link starts with six Heart Containers, instead of three as in most games.
6 Heart Containers are obtained by defeating bosses, and six by collecting four Pieces of Heart each, for a total of 18 permanent Heart Containers. Two additional Heart Containers can be temporarily obtained by equipping Life Medals.
The remaining seven Heart Containers are formed by collecting four 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 Downloadable Content 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
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↑Can be temporarily extended to 20 with Life Medals
↑Can be temporarily modified with various Outfits. The Jack of Hearts and Lady's Ensemble each increase the Life Gauge by one Heart. The Bear Minimum decreases it by one unless that Link has obtained 30 or more Hero Points, in which case it instead increases it by two. The Queen of Hearts increases it by three. If each of the three Links wear the Queen of Hearts outfit, they receive a total bonus of nine, maxing out the meter at 18 Hearts. If all three instead wear an unpowered Bear Minimum, they will lower their Life Gauge to only six Hearts. The "Fewer Heart Containers!" Drablands Challenge removes 5 Hearts from the Life Gauge, setting the maximum and minimum possible values during those challenges to 13 and one, respectively.
The following section is not part of the Zelda canon and should not be taken as such.
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 Clora in Shipwreck Cliff.
The following section is not part of the Zelda canon and should not be taken as such.
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.
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.
The following section is not part of the Zelda canon and should not be taken as such.
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.
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.
The following section is not part of the Zelda canon and should not be taken as such.
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.
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.
RandomCan be obtained via Coin Launcher, in certain rounds of All-Star Mode, or during Subspace Emissary mode
The following section is not part of the Zelda canon and should not be taken as such.
Heart Containers appear in Sonic Lost World in the Zelda-themed Downloadable Content pack, The Legend of Zelda Zone, where they represent Sonic's health. Sonic starts with three Hearts, and he can collect three additional Heart Containers from Treasure Chests. Taking damage causes Sonic to lose a full Heart. At the end of the Zone, Sonic's remaining Hearts are added to his total score.
The following section is not part of the Zelda canon and should not be taken as such.
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.
The following section is not part of the Zelda canon and should not be taken as such.
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.
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!
RandomCan be obtained in Classic Mode, in All-Star Mode, in Trophy Rush, in Smash Run (3DS exclusive), in Smash Tour (Wii U exclusive), in Crazy Orders (Wii U exclusive) or purchased from the Trophy Shop
The following section is not part of the Zelda canon and should not be taken as such.
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.[14]
In Pikmin 4, the Hearty ContainerTreasure is a reference to Heart Containers. Furthering this connection, Olimar's notes associate it with granting additional health.[15]
Nomenclature
Names in Other Regions
Language
Names
Meanings
Japanese
イノチノウツワ (Inochi no Utsuwa)(TLoZThe Legend of Zelda)[16]
ハートの水筒 (Hāto no Suitō)(TLoZThe Legend of Zelda)[17]
ハートのうつわ (Hāto no Utsuwa)(TAoLThe Adventure of Link | TMCThe Minish Cap | EoWEchoes of Wisdom)[18][19]
ハートの器 (Hāto no Utsuwa)(ALttPA Link to the Past | OoTOcarina of Time | MMMajora's Mask | PHPhantom Hourglass | ALBWA Link Between Worlds)[20][21][22][23][24]
Heart ContainerEditor warning: Conflicting meanings in data
Same as English.Editor warning: Conflicting meanings in data
Same as English.
ChineseTRTraditional
心之容器 (Xīn zhī róngqì)(TotKTears of the Kingdom | EoWEchoes of Wisdom)
ChineseSISimplified
心之容器 (Xīn zhī róngqì)(TLoZThe Legend of Zelda | TAoLThe Adventure of Link | ALttPA Link to the Past | LALink's Awakening | LADXLink's Awakening DX | LANSLink's Awakening (Nintendo Switch) | OoTOcarina of Time | OoT3DOcarina of Time 3D | MMMajora's Mask | MM3DMajora's Mask 3D | OoSOracle of Seasons | FSFour Swords | TWWThe Wind Waker | FSAFour Swords Adventures | TMCThe Minish Cap | TPTwilight Princess | TPHDTwilight Princess HD | STSpirit Tracks | SSSkyward Sword | ALBWA Link Between Worlds | TotKTears of the Kingdom | EoWEchoes of Wisdom | CoHCadence of Hyrule)[27][27][27][27][27][27][27][27][27][27][27][27][27][27][27][27][27][27][27][28]
命之容器 (Mìng zhī róngqì)(TLoZThe Legend of Zelda)[27]
Same as English.Editor warning: Conflicting meanings in data
Réceptacle de cœur(OoT3DOcarina of Time 3D | TPTwilight Princess | PHPhantom Hourglass | STSpirit Tracks | ALBWA Link Between Worlds | TotKTears of the Kingdom | EoWEchoes of Wisdom | CoHCadence of Hyrule)[31][32][33][34][35][36]
Réceptacle de cœur(TPTwilight Princess | PHPhantom Hourglass | STSpirit Tracks | ALBWA Link Between Worlds | TotKTears of the Kingdom | EoWEchoes of Wisdom | CoHCadence of Hyrule)[38][39][40][41][42]
German
Herzcontainer(TPTwilight Princess | PHPhantom Hourglass | STSpirit Tracks | ALBWA Link Between Worlds | TotKTears of the Kingdom | EoWEchoes of Wisdom | HWDEHyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition | CoHCadence of Hyrule)[43][44][45][46][47][48]
Same as English.
Italian
Portacuori(TLoZThe Legend of Zelda | TAoLThe Adventure of Link | ALttPA Link to the Past | LALink's Awakening | LADXLink's Awakening DX | OoTOcarina of Time | OoT3DOcarina of Time 3D | OoSOracle of Seasons | OoAOracle of Ages | FSFour Swords | TWWThe Wind Waker | FSAFour Swords Adventures)[49][50][51][52][52][53][52][54][55][52][56][57]
Portacuore(TLoZThe Legend of Zelda | MM3DMajora's Mask 3D | TPTwilight Princess | PHPhantom Hourglass | STSpirit Tracks | ALBWA Link Between Worlds | TotKTears of the Kingdom | EoWEchoes of Wisdom | CoHCadence of Hyrule)[58][59][60][61][62][63][64]
Hearts-carrierEditor warning: Conflicting meanings in data
Heart-carrier
Korean
생명의 그릇 (Saengmyeong-ui Geuleus)(PHPhantom Hourglass | ALBWA Link Between Worlds | EoWEchoes of Wisdom)[65][66]
생명의 그릇(TotKTears of the Kingdom)
PortugueseBRBrazilian
Porta-coração(EoWEchoes of Wisdom)
Russian
Капсулу сердца (Kapsulu serdtsa)(BotWBreath of the Wild)
Капсула сердца (Kapsulu serdtsa)(EoWEchoes of Wisdom)
Heart capsule
SpanishLALatin American
Contenedor de corazón(TPTwilight Princess | STSpirit Tracks | ALBWA Link Between Worlds | EoWEchoes of Wisdom | CoHCadence of Hyrule)[67][68][69][70]
Contenedor de corazón(TPTwilight Princess | PHPhantom Hourglass | STSpirit Tracks | ALBWA Link Between Worlds | TotKTears of the Kingdom | EoWEchoes of Wisdom | CoHCadence of Hyrule)[72][73][68][74][75]
↑ 1.01.11.2Encyclopedia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 127 (TLoZThe Legend of Zelda | TAoLThe Adventure of Link | ALttPA Link to the Past | LALink's Awakening | OoTOcarina of Time | MMMajora's Mask | OoSOracle of Seasons | OoAOracle of Ages | FSFour Swords | TWWThe Wind Waker | FSAFour Swords Adventures | TMCThe Minish Cap | TPTwilight Princess | PHPhantom Hourglass | STSpirit Tracks | SSSkyward Sword | ALBWA Link Between Worlds)
↑ 3.03.1You got a Heart Container! Your life has increased by one and is also now fully replenished! — Game Screen (Skyward Sword HD)
↑Heart Container Your life force has been strengthened, increasing your maximum number of hearts by one. — Game Screen (Breath of the Wild)
↑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)
↑Pieces of Heart Collect four Pieces of Heart to gain a new Heart Container, increasing your maximum health! — Inventory (Cadence of Hyrule)
↑Heart Container An invaluable item to an adventurer, this will increase each character's maximum hearts. — Game Screen (Age of Calamity)
↑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)
↑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)
↑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)
↑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)
↑Vous obtenez un réceptacle de cœur ! Votre maximum d'énergie augmente d'un cœur ! Votre énergie est restaurée ! — N/A (Ocarina of Time 3D)
↑Vous obtenez un réceptacle de cœur! Votre énergie vitale augmente d'un cœur et vous retrouvez toutes vos forces! — N/A (Twilight Princess, European French version)
↑Vous obtenez un réceptacle de cœur! Vous gagnez 1 cœur supplémentaire! Votre jauge d'énergie vitale est remplie! — N/A (Phantom Hourglass, European French version)
↑Vous obtenez un réceptacle de cœur! Vous gagnez un cœur supplémentaire! — N/A (Spirit Tracks)
↑Fragments de cœur Trouvez-en 4 pour obtenir un nouveau réceptacle de cœur et gagner en vitalité. — Gear (A Link Between Worlds)
↑Vous obtenez un réceptacle de cœur! Votre énergie vitale augmente d'un cœur et vous retrouvez toutes vos forces! — N/A (Twilight Princess, Canadian French version)
↑Vous obtenez un réceptacle de cœur! Vous gagnez 1 cœur supplémentaire! Votre jauge d'énergie vitale est à cette heure remplie! — N/A (Phantom Hourglass, Canadian French version)
↑Vous avez obtenu un réceptacle de cœur! — N/A (Spirit Tracks)
↑Quart de cœur Trouvez-en 4 pour obtenir un nouveau réceptacle de cœur et gagner en vitalité! — Gear (A Link Between Worlds)
↑Herzcontainer erhalten! Die Zahl deiner Herzen steigt um eins. Außerdem wird deine Gesundheit wiederhergestellt. — N/A (Twilight Princess, German version)
↑Du hast einen Herzcontainer erhalten! Du bekommst ein Energieherz dazu. Außerdem wird deine Energie aufgefüllt! — N/A (Phantom Hourglass, German version)
↑Du hast einen Herzcontainer erhalten! — N/A (Spirit Tracks)
↑Hai ottenuto un portacuore! — N/A (Majora's Mask 3D, Italian version)
↑Hai ottenuto un Portacuore! La tua energia vitale è stata ripristinata completamente ed è aumentata di un'unità! — N/A (Twilight Princess, Italian version)
↑Hai ottenuto un Portacuore! La tua energia vitale è stata ripristinata del tutto ed è aumentata di un'unità! — N/A (Phantom Hourglass, Italian version)
↑¡Has obtenido un contenedor de corazón! ¡Tu vitalidad aumenta 1 corazón y la recuperas por completo! — N/A (Twilight Princess, Latin American Spanish version)
↑¡Conseguiste un Contenedor de Corazón! Tu salud se recuperó por completo y se aumentó un corazón. — N/A (Phantom Hourglass, Latin American Spanish version)
↑¡Has obtenido un contenedor de corazón! ¡Tu vitalidad aumenta 1 corazón y la recuperas por completo! — N/A (Twilight Princess, European Spanish version)
↑¡Has conseguido un contenedor de corazón! Tu salud se ha recuperado por completo y ha aumentado un corazón. — N/A (Phantom Hourglass, European Spanish version)
↑Piezas de corazón Recoge 4 para conseguir otro contenedor de corazón y recibir un corazón más. — Gear (A Link Between Worlds)