The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Side Quests & Optional Content Overview

Uncover all the optional content in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. This overview covers side quests that yield Heart Pieces and valuable equipment.

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Side Quests & Optional Content Overview

While the main quest of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time will lead you through an epic journey to save Hyrule, a wealth of optional content and side quests await the diligent adventurer. These diversions offer valuable rewards, from essential equipment upgrades to collectible Heart Pieces and even entirely new abilities. Engaging with these activities not only enriches your experience but also significantly strengthens Link for the challenges ahead.

Heart Pieces & Heart Containers

Collecting four Heart Pieces will grant Link an additional Heart Container, increasing his maximum health. There are a total of 36 Heart Pieces scattered across Hyrule, meaning you can gain an extra 9 Heart Containers beyond those obtained from boss battles. Many are found through mini-games, exploration, or completing small tasks for NPCs. Below is a comprehensive list of some of the more challenging or commonly missed Heart Pieces.

  • Lon Lon Ranch: As Young Link, enter the stable and move the crates in the back to reveal a crawlspace. Crawl through to find a hidden Heart Piece. This one requires no mini-game!
  • Kakariko Village:
    • Graveyard: As Young Link, pull back the grave marked with flowers to reveal a hole. Inside, play the Sun's Song to defeat the ReDeads and open a chest containing a Heart Piece.
    • Windmill: As Adult Link, after draining the well in Kakariko Village (by playing the Song of Storms for the man in the windmill as Young Link), enter the now-dry well. Navigate the bottom of the well to find a high ledge. Use your Hookshot to reach this ledge and claim the Heart Piece.
    • House under construction: As Adult Link, use the Hookshot to reach the roof of the house under construction (the one with the carpenter on top). There's a Heart Piece waiting there.
  • Hyrule Castle Town Market: As Young Link, play the Bombchu Bowling Alley game. While a Heart Piece is a possible prize, it is a random reward and not guaranteed for winning specific rounds. You may need to play multiple times and win several rounds before it appears as a prize. Persistence is key!
  • Gerudo Valley: As Young Link, after obtaining the Silver Scale from Zora's Domain, dive into the river from the bridge. Swim to the left side of the waterfall, where you'll find a small, hidden alcove underwater containing the Heart Piece.
  • Zora's River:
    • Waterfall Jump: As Young Link, near the entrance to Zora's Domain, look for a series of platforms leading up the waterfall. Use your Boomerang to hit the distant switch, then quickly jump across the platforms before the timer runs out to reach a Heart Piece.
    • Frogs' Song: As Young Link, stand on the log in Zora's River where five frogs are sitting. Play the Song of Storms, then the Song of Time, and finally the Sun's Song. Each song will cause a frog to grow, and after the third song, they will reward you with a Heart Piece.
  • Death Mountain Crater: As Adult Link, near the entrance to Goron City from Death Mountain Crater, look for a broken bridge. Use your Longshot to cross the gap to a platform with a Heart Piece.
  • Ice Cavern: As Adult Link, inside the Ice Cavern, navigate through the frozen pathways. There's a Heart Piece located on a high ledge in one of the main rooms, requiring careful platforming or a well-aimed Hookshot.
  • Lost Woods: As Young Link, enter the Lost Woods from Hyrule Field. Take the first path right, then the first path left. You'll find two Skull Kids. Play Saria's Song for them, and they will reward you with a Heart Piece.
  • Lake Hylia:
    • Fishing Pond: As Young Link or Adult Link, visit the Fishing Pond. Catch a fish weighing at least 10 pounds as Young Link, or 15 pounds as Adult Link, to earn a Heart Piece. This can be challenging and requires patience.
    • Lakeside Laboratory: As Adult Link, use the Iron Boots to sink to the bottom of the pool inside the Lakeside Laboratory. Roll into the crate at the bottom to reveal a Heart Piece.

Bottles

Bottles are invaluable items used to store potions, fairies, milk, or even fish. There are four bottles to find in total, and each one significantly expands your inventory management capabilities, making difficult dungeons and boss fights much more manageable.

  • Bottle 1 (Lon Lon Ranch): As Young Link, enter Lon Lon Ranch during the day and speak to Malon. Agree to play Talon's Super Cucco-finding game. You must find all 7 Cuccos hidden around the ranch within the time limit. Successfully completing the game will earn you a bottle filled with delicious Lon Lon Milk.
  • Bottle 2 (Zora's Domain / Lake Hylia): As Adult Link, travel to Lake Hylia. Dive to the bottom of the lake near the Lakeside Laboratory (you will need the Iron Boots for this). You'll find a Zora's Letter in a bottle. Take this letter to King Zora in Zora's Domain (who is frozen in red ice). Use Blue Fire (found in the Ice Cavern or bought from the Goron City shop) to unfreeze him. Present him with the letter, and he will reward you with an empty bottle.
  • Bottle 3 (Kakariko Village / Hyrule Field): As Adult Link, locate the Big Poe in Hyrule Field. Big Poes appear at night, often near specific landmarks like the entrance to Gerudo Valley or the bridge leading to Hyrule Castle Town Market. The most reliable method is to ride Epona and shoot them with arrows as they appear. Defeat a Big Poe and capture its spirit in an empty bottle. Bring the Big Poe to the Poe Collector in the guardhouse of Hyrule Castle Town Market (which becomes Kakariko Village's entrance as Adult Link). He will buy it for 50 Rupees and give you an empty bottle as a bonus for your first Big Poe.
  • Bottle 4 (Gerudo Fortress): As Adult Link, after obtaining the Gerudo's Membership Card and gaining free access to Gerudo Fortress, participate in the Horseback Archery mini-game. You need to score at least 1,000 points to earn an empty bottle. This requires good aim and timing while riding Epona.

The Biggoron's Sword Quest

This lengthy and rewarding trading sequence ultimately grants Link the most powerful non-Master Sword in the game: the Biggoron's Sword. It deals twice the damage of the Master Sword but requires both hands, preventing the use of a shield. This quest can only be completed as Adult Link.

  1. Pocket Egg: Speak to the Cucco Lady in Kakariko Village. She'll give you a Pocket Egg.
  2. Wake Talon: Wait for the Pocket Cucco to hatch into a Pocket Cucco. Take the Pocket Cucco to Lon Lon Ranch and use it to wake up Talon, who is sleeping in the house.
  3. Cojiro: Return the now-awake Pocket Cucco to the Cucco Lady. She'll give you Cojiro, a blue Cucco that won't crow.
  4. Lost Woods Carpenter: Take Cojiro to the Lost Woods. Find the sleeping carpenter (Fado's brother) near the entrance to the Sacred Forest Meadow. Use Cojiro to wake him up. He'll give you the Odd Mushroom.
  5. Kakariko Potion Shop: You have a very limited time (3 minutes) to take the Odd Mushroom to the old hag in the Kakariko Village Potion Shop (the one near the entrance to Death Mountain Trail). She'll brew the Odd Potion for you. If you fail, you must return to the carpenter for another mushroom.
  6. Lost Woods Carpenter (again): Return to the carpenter's location in the Lost Woods with the Odd Potion. He's gone, but a Kokiri girl will give you the Poacher's Saw.
  7. Gerudo Valley Carpenter: Take the Poacher's Saw to the head carpenter, Mutoh, in Gerudo Valley. He's near the broken bridge. He'll give you the Broken Goron's Sword.
  8. Death Mountain Trail: Take the Broken Goron's Sword to Biggoron at the summit of Death Mountain (near the entrance to Death Mountain Crater). He'll tell you his eyes are irritated and asks for eye drops.
  9. Zora's Domain: Head to Zora's Domain and talk to King Zora (after unfreezing him if you haven't already). He'll give you the Prescription for the eye drops.
  10. Lake Hylia Laboratory: Take the Prescription to the Lakeside Laboratory in Lake Hylia. The professor will give you the Eyeball Frog.
  11. Zora's Domain (again): You have a very limited time (3 minutes) to take the Eyeball Frog back to King Zora. He'll give you the World's Finest Eye Drops. This is a tight time limit, so use Warp Songs (Prelude of Light to Temple of Time, then Nocturne of Shadow to Kakariko Graveyard, then run to Zora's Domain) or Epona to move quickly.
  12. Death Mountain Trail (again): You have a very limited time (4 minutes) to take the World's Finest Eye Drops to Biggoron on Death Mountain. Again, use fast travel methods. He'll use them and give you the Claim Check.
  13. Wait: Play the Sun's Song six times (or wait six in-game days by repeatedly entering and exiting a building) for the sword to be finished.
  14. Biggoron's Sword: Return to Biggoron on Death Mountain and present the Claim Check to receive your magnificent Biggoron's Sword!

Masks (Happy Mask Shop)

As Young Link, after completing the Dodongo's Cavern and obtaining the Goron's Ruby, you can access the Happy Mask Shop in Hyrule Castle Town Market. This side quest involves renting and selling various masks to different NPCs, ultimately leading to the powerful Mask of Truth. This quest must be completed as Young Link.

  1. Keaton Mask: Rent the Keaton Mask from the shop owner for 10 Rupees. Sell it to the guard at the entrance to Death Mountain Trail for 15 Rupees, making a 5 Rupee profit.
  2. Skull Mask: Return to the shop, pay off your debt, and rent the Skull Mask. Sell it to the Skull Kid in the Lost Woods (the one who teaches you Saria's Song) for 10 Rupees.
  3. Spooky Mask: Return to the shop, pay off your debt, and rent the Spooky Mask. Sell it to the boy in the Kakariko Village Graveyard during the day for 10 Rupees. He's looking for a scary mask.
  4. Bunny Hood: Return to the shop, pay off your debt, and rent the Bunny Hood. Sell it to the Running Man in Hyrule Field (he runs laps around the field) for a whopping 500 Rupees. This is a significant early-game money maker!
  5. Mask of Truth: After selling the Bunny Hood, the Happy Mask Shop owner will allow you to borrow the Mask of Truth for free. This mask allows you to understand the thoughts of Gossip Stones, revealing hints and lore.

Epona the Horse

Obtaining Epona, Link's trusty steed, early as Adult Link is highly recommended for faster travel across Hyrule Field and access to certain areas. You'll need to have learned Epona's Song as Young Link.

  1. Learn Epona's Song: As Young Link, visit Lon Lon Ranch and talk to Malon. Play the Ocarina for her, and she will teach you Epona's Song. This is a crucial step that cannot be skipped.
  2. Return to Lon Lon Ranch (Adult Link): As Adult Link, visit Lon Lon Ranch. Ingo has taken over and is much less friendly, now working for Ganondorf.
  3. Horseback Riding: Pay Ingo 10 Rupees to ride a horse. While riding, play Epona's Song. Epona will come to you. Ride her around until the time runs out.
  4. Challenge Ingo: Talk to Ingo again and challenge him to a race for 50 Rupees. Win the race by effectively using Epona's carrots (boosts).
  5. Second Race: Ingo will challenge you again, this time for Epona herself! Win this second race. Ingo, enraged, will lock the gate, trapping you and Epona inside.
  6. Escape: Ride Epona towards any of the fences surrounding the ranch. With enough speed (use a carrot boost just before the fence), Epona can jump over the fence, freeing you both and making her yours permanently!

Gerudo Training Ground

Located within the Gerudo Fortress, this optional dungeon is accessible as Adult Link after obtaining the Gerudo's Membership Card. It's a series of challenging rooms that test your mastery of various items and combat skills. Completing it rewards you with the Ice Arrows.

  • Access: You need the Gerudo's Membership Card to enter. This is obtained by rescuing the four carpenters from the Gerudo Fortress.
  • Keys: Many rooms require you to find small keys to progress. Be thorough in your exploration and combat. There are 9 small keys in total, but you only need 7 to reach the final prize.
  • Required Items: You'll need a wide array of items, including the Hookshot/Longshot, Bow and Arrows, Bombs/Bombchus, Lens of Truth, Megaton Hammer, and potentially the Hover Boots for certain shortcuts.
  • Room Challenges:
    • Eye Switch Room: Shoot the eye switch above the door with an arrow.
    • Torch Room: Light all torches with Din's Fire or Fire Arrows.
    • Silver Rupee Rooms: Collect all 5 Silver Rupees in a room, often requiring specific items like the Hookshot, Iron Boots, or Hover Boots.
    • Invisible Maze: Use the Lens of Truth to navigate an invisible maze.
    • Timed Block Puzzle: Use the Song of Time to move blocks and reach a key.
    • Stalfos Gauntlet: Defeat multiple Stalfos in a timed battle.
  • Rewards: Successfully navigating all the trials and reaching the final chest will grant you the powerful Ice Arrows.

Gold Skulltulas

There are 100 Gold Skulltulas hidden throughout Hyrule. Each one drops a Gold Skulltula Token. Collecting these tokens and bringing them to the House of Skulltula in Kakariko Village will break a curse, freeing the family members and earning you valuable rewards. The rewards are cumulative, meaning you receive them as you hit each token milestone.

  • 10 Tokens: Adult Wallet (holds 200 Rupees)
  • 20 Tokens: Stone of Agony (causes your controller to rumble when near secrets, very useful!)
  • 30 Tokens: Giant's Wallet (holds 500 Rupees)
  • 40 Tokens: Bombchus (x10)
  • 50 Tokens: Heart Piece
  • 100 Tokens: Unlimited Rupees from the now-human child, allowing you to fill your wallet whenever you speak to him.

Many Skulltulas are only accessible as Young Link or Adult Link, or require specific items like the Hookshot, Boomerang, or Scarecrow's Song. Keep an eye (and ear) out for their distinctive rustling sound and the golden glint of their bodies! Some are hidden behind breakable walls, under rocks, or on high ledges, requiring keen observation and the right tools.