Heart Container Locations
While Pieces of Heart are essential for gradually increasing your maximum health, full Heart Containers offer an immediate and significant boost. These are typically rewarded for defeating dungeon bosses, but a select few can be found in the overworld or earned through specific challenges. Collecting all of them is crucial for surviving the later, more difficult encounters in Hyrule.
Dungeon Boss Rewards
Each time you conquer a major dungeon and defeat its boss, you will be rewarded with a full Heart Container. These are unmissable and automatically added to your health meter upon victory. There are a total of nine such Heart Containers:
- Deku Tree: Defeat Queen Gohma.
- Dodongo's Cavern: Defeat King Dodongo.
- Jabu-Jabu's Belly: Defeat Barinade.
- Forest Temple: Defeat Phantom Ganon.
- Fire Temple: Defeat Volvagia.
- Water Temple: Defeat Morpha.
- Shadow Temple: Defeat Bongo Bongo.
- Spirit Temple: Defeat Twinrova.
- Ganon's Castle: Defeat Ganondorf (this is the final Heart Container before the ultimate battle).
Overworld and Challenge Heart Containers
Beyond the dungeons, a few precious Heart Containers are hidden or earned through specific tasks. These often require certain items or abilities, so you may need to revisit areas as you progress through the game.
Gerudo Valley Archery Range
Location: Gerudo Valley (Adult Link)
Requirements: Epona, Fairy Bow
Steps:
- As Adult Link, ride Epona to the Gerudo Valley.
- Locate the Gerudo Archery Range, which is accessible after you've rescued the carpenters and gained access to the Gerudo Fortress.
- Speak to the Gerudo guard at the entrance to begin the archery challenge.
- You must score at least 1,500 points in the challenge. Ride Epona and use your Fairy Bow to shoot targets. Aim for the center of the bullseye for maximum points. Shooting the pots on the ground also grants points.
- Upon achieving a score of 1,500 or higher, you will be awarded a Heart Container.
Lake Hylia Fishing Pond
Location: Lake Hylia (Adult Link)
Requirements: Fishing Rod (obtained as Young Link at the Fishing Pond), sufficient Rupees (20 for fishing as Adult Link)
Steps:
- As Adult Link, travel to Lake Hylia and enter the Fishing Pond building.
- Pay the 20 Rupee fee to rent a Fishing Rod.
- Your goal is to catch the largest fish in the pond, which is typically found in the deeper areas.
- Cast your line into the deeper water, often near the log or the weeds.
- When you feel a strong tug, reel in the fish carefully. Avoid pulling too hard or too fast, as this can break your line.
- Once you catch the Hylian Loach (the largest fish), take it to the owner.
- If it's the largest fish you've caught, the owner will reward you with a Heart Container.
Death Mountain Crater (Crater Summit)
Location: Death Mountain Crater (Adult Link)
Requirements: Goron Tunic, Megaton Hammer
Steps:
- As Adult Link, equip the Goron Tunic to withstand the heat of Death Mountain Crater.
- Enter Death Mountain Crater from the Goron City entrance.
- Navigate through the crater until you reach the area with the broken bridge.
- Use the Hookshot to cross the gap.
- Continue along the path until you reach the summit area where you fought Volvagia.
- Look for a small, elevated platform with a single rock on it.
- Use the Megaton Hammer to smash this rock.
- A Heart Container will be revealed underneath.