Pieces of Heart

Discover the locations of all 24 Pieces of Heart in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. This guide details how to find each one in both the Light and Dark Worlds.

Link's Life Meter is measured in hearts. At the beginning of the game, Link starts with three hearts, but obtaining Heart Containers permanently adds another heart to the Life Meter. In addition to Heart Containers, though, Link can also find Pieces of Heart scattered throughout both the Light World and Dark World. Four Pieces of Heart equal a full Heart Container and add an extra heart to your Life Meter; there are a total of 24 Pieces of Heart in the game. This portion of the appendix will show you where to find them all.

But first, I'll make special note of the first Heart Container in the game. Once you escort Princess Zelda through the Hyrule Castle dungeon to the Sanctuary, don't forget to open the chest next to the Loyal Sage, as it holds a Heart Container! From then on, all remaining Heart Containers can be obtained by defeating the bosses in each of the succeeding dungeons (and as such don't need to be covered here).

Piece of Heart #1

One of the first Heart Pieces you can find is located in the Lost Woods. Look for a cluster of nine bushes, grouped together in three rows each. Underneath the central bush is a secret grotto. Fall into the hole to land inside a cave next to the Piece of Heart.

Piece of Heart #2

In the northwest corner of Kakariko Village, there's a well that you can drop into if you jump from the ledge above. When you land, open the chest inside this cave to obtain some Bombs. Then place a Bomb at the cracked wall just north of the chest, which will create an opening. Go inside, pick up the pots in your way, and open the chest at the end for the Heart Piece.

Piece of Heart #3

Also in Kakariko Village is a house in the northern part of town with a grassy roof. Go inside and then down the stairs to the basement. Place another Bomb by the cracked wall to blow it open. Then go through, and past the pots is another chest containing a Heart Piece.

Piece of Heart #4

Just south of Kakariko Village proper, if you go through the quarreling brothers' house, you'll reach the 15-Second Game. As the name suggests, you have 15 seconds to navigate this maze to the end--make sure to go south from the sign in order to hop over the fence. If you reach the goal in 15 seconds or less, you'll be rewarded with the Piece of Heart!

Piece of Heart #5

On the high ground just west of the Sanctuary is a rock pile. Dash into this pile of rocks with the Pegasus Boots to break the rocks apart and discover a secret grotto. Go inside and open the chest for another Heart Piece.

Piece of Heart #6

In the southern reaches of the Great Swamp is a building known as the Swamp Ruins. Go inside, then push the blocks aside so you can reach the door leading north. In the following room, avoid the Anti-Fairy and pull the lever on the east to open the sluice gate, allowing the water to flow throughout the rest of the building. Now when you go back outside, the water will be drained from the swamp, allowing you to pick up the Heart Piece you've just uncovered.

Piece of Heart #7

In the northeast corner of the Desert of Mystery is a cave where Sahasrahla's brother Agina dwells. The south wall of Agina's room is cracked, so set a Bomb there to blow open an entrance. On the other side is a chest containing another Piece of Heart.

Piece of Heart #8

As you're making your way through the Desert Palace, you'll eventually need to take the southwest exit back to the overworld. If you continue south from here along the bluff overlooking the rest of the desert, you'll soon come upon a Piece of Heart guarded by a Vulture.

Piece of Heart #9

Go to Zora's Waterfall in the northeastern part of Hyrule, and make your way all the way up to King Zora and purchase the Zora's Flippers for 500 Rupees. With the flippers, swim south down the first waterfall. Then go west until you're back on dry land. Continue all the way west to find a Piece of Heart waiting for you at the end.

Piece of Heart #10

When you reach the top of Death Mountain, you'll soon find Spectacle Rock. Drop off the edge just south of Spectacle Rock to land on a ledge in front of a cave entrance. Go inside and then go all the way north and up the stairs. On the second floor, you'll find a Piece of Heart in front of a Telepathy Tile.

Piece of Heart #11

Just east of Spectacle Rock on Death Mountain is a Magical Warp Tile that will take you to the Dark World. Once there, go back west to where the bully and his friend are running around. Use the Magic Mirror on this indentation to return to the Light World, this time on top of Spectacle Rock. Now you can pick up the Heart Piece up here!

Piece of Heart #12

After defeating Agahnim for the first time, you'll be drawn into the Dark World on top of the Pyramid of Power. Go down the first two set of steps you see, then hop off the ledge to the east. Follow the path around east and then north--at the end, you'll find a Piece of Heart.

Piece of Heart #13

In the northwestern portion of the Ice Lake (where Lake Hylia would be in the Light World) is a large circle of rocks, with a shallow part in the center and guarded by a Green Zirro. Stand in the shallow part and use the Magic Mirror to be transported to an island in the Light World on Lake Hylia, where you'll find the Heart Piece.

Piece of Heart #14

In the Dark World, look for a ring of flower bushes south of the Haunted Grove, in the southwest corner of the screen. Use the Magic Mirror in this area to warp to the Light World on top of a plateau you couldn't otherwise reach. Go inside the nearby cave and lift the pots out of your way in order to reach the Heart Piece.

Piece of Heart #15

This Heart Piece is a matter of luck. Go to the Treasure Field just south of the Village of Outcasts in the Dark World (i.e. where the 15-Second Game would be in the Light World). Pay 80 Rupees to play the Digging Game, and you'll be loaned a shovel and can keep any items you dig up within the 30-second time