Scattered throughout Koholint are 26 Secret Seashells. Your main goal is to collect at least 20 of them. Once you hit that magic number, head over to the Seashell Mansion (east of Kanalet Castle). Step onto the pedestal inside, and the spirit within will grant you the legendary L-2 Sword! This upgraded blade deals double damage and, when Link is at full health, fires powerful sword beams – a massive help for the rest of your adventure.
Important Notes for GB/DX Players:
- Total Shells: There are 26 shells, but you only need 20 for the sword.
- Reward: The only major reward is the L-2 Sword at 20 shells. There’s no extra prize for getting all 26.
- Disappearing Shells: Once you obtain the L-2 Sword, any remaining uncollected shells will either disappear or be replaced with Rupees in chests.
- Missable Shells: A couple of shells from the Seashell Mansion itself require visiting with exactly 5 or 10 shells. Another requires the Flying Rooster, who is only available for a portion of the game. Don’t worry too much if you miss these, as there are more than 20 available!
Ready to begin the hunt? Here are the locations of all 26 Secret Seashells:
Mabe Village – Bush Patch
Requires: Sword
Location: East side of Mabe Village, just north of the Trendy Game shop.
How-To: Cut down the bushes in the square patch of grass here. One of them hides a seashell.
Mabe Village – Doghouse Dig
Requires: Shovel (Buy for 200 Rupees at the shop)
Location: Inside CiaoCiao’s doghouse (the small house next to Madam MeowMeow’s).
How-To: Enter the doghouse and use the Shovel to dig in the lower-right corner.
Tail Cave – Bomb Wall Chest
Requires: Bombs
Location: Inside Level 1, Tail Cave.
How-To: In the long room with Spark enemies (before the Nightmare Key), bomb the cracked section of the west (left) wall. Enter the hidden room and open the chest.
Mysterious Forest – Chest Behind Rock
Requires: Power Bracelet (from Bottle Grotto)
Location: West part of the Mysterious Forest.
How-To: Find the treasure chest blocked by a single large rock. Lift the rock with the Power Bracelet and claim the shell from the chest.
Koholint Prairie – Dig Spot South of Witch
Requires: Shovel, Power Bracelet
Location: Area south of the Witch’s Hut.
How-To: Go south from the Witch’s Hut (lift the rock blocking the stairs down). In this lower area, find the single bush, cut it down, and dig in its spot with the Shovel.
Seashell Mansion – 5 Shell Reward
Requires: Exactly 5 Secret Seashells collected
Location: Seashell Mansion (east of Kanalet Castle).
How-To: Enter the mansion when your collected seashell total is exactly 5. Step on the pedestal to receive a bonus seashell. (MISSABLE if you enter with more than 5).
Ukuku Prairie – Bushes East of Mansion
Requires: Sword
Location: Ukuku Prairie, immediately east of the Seashell Mansion entrance.
How-To: Cut down the bushes growing just to the right (east) of the mansion building itself. One hides a Secret Seashell.
Ukuku Prairie – Under Rock SW of Mansion
Requires: Power Bracelet
Location: Ukuku Prairie, in the open area southwest of the Seashell Mansion where Moblins roam.
How-To: Lift the single, isolated rock in this area to uncover a seashell.
Richard’s Villa Tunnel – Chest
Requires: Access to Richard’s Villa tunnel (part of the main quest to reach Key Cavern)
Location: Inside the underground passage beneath Richard’s Villa.
How-To: While navigating the tunnel, you’ll find a chest containing this seashell.
Ukuku Prairie – Ledge Dig Spot
Requires: Shovel, access via Richard’s Villa tunnel
Location: On the high ledge you emerge onto after exiting Richard’s tunnel, near an Owl Statue.
How-To: Use the Shovel to dig in the spot just southwest of the Owl Statue.
Ukuku Prairie – Dash Tree
Requires: Pegasus Boots (from Key Cavern)
Location: The lone tree next to the Telephone Booth in western Ukuku Prairie (south of Mabe Village exit).
How-To: Dash into the tree using the Pegasus Boots, and a seashell will fall out.
Seashell Mansion – 10 Shell Reward
Requires: Exactly 10 Secret Seashells collected
Location: Seashell Mansion.
How-To: Enter the mansion when your collected seashell total is exactly 10. Step on the pedestal for another bonus shell. (MISSABLE if you enter with more than 10).
Martha’s Bay – Bush Corner
Requires: Sword
Location: South-central part of Martha’s Bay, near the Telephone Booth.
How-To: Find the lone bush tucked into the corner just east of the Telephone Booth and cut it down.
Toronbo Shores – Dash Tree near Tail Cave
Requires: Pegasus Boots
Location: The lone tree standing just left of the Tail Cave entrance.
How-To: Dash into the tree.
Ukuku Prairie – Under Giant Skull
Requires: Bombs, Shovel
Location: East Ukuku Prairie, east of the Mabe Village exit.
How-To: You’ll find a giant skull blocking a path. Blow it up with a Bomb, then use the Shovel to dig in the center spot where the skull was.
Mysterious Forest – Flower Circle Dig
Requires: Shovel
Location: Near the center of the Mysterious Forest.
How-To: Find the distinct patch of 8 blue flowers arranged in a rough circle. Dig in the empty center spot.
Mysterious Forest – NW Corner Dig
Requires: Shovel
Location: Far northwest corner of the Mysterious Forest.
How-To: Dig along the western edge, near the trees in the upper-left corner of the forest map.
Ukuku Prairie – Grass Square Dig
Requires: Shovel
Location: West Ukuku Prairie, on the elevated area left of the Key Cavern entrance stairs.
How-To: Find the patch of grass surrounding a clear square of dirt. Dig in the center of that dirt square.
Yarna Desert – Lift Rock
Requires: Power Bracelet
Location: Eastern edge of Yarna Desert.
How-To: Go to the far eastern boundary of this desert screen. You’ll find some liftable rocks near the cliff wall. Lift the correct rock here to uncover the Secret Seashell.
Ghost House – Under Pot
Requires: Completed the Pink Ghost’s questline
Location: Inside the Abandoned House at Martha’s Bay (where the Ghost lived).
How-To: After taking the Ghost back to its grave, return to the house. Lift the pot in the bottom-right corner. (The shell only appears after the quest is done).
Martha’s Bay – Island Bush
Requires: Flippers (from Angler’s Tunnel)
Location: Small island west of the House by the Bay.
How-To: Swim over to the small island and cut down the single bush.
Ukuku Prairie (Key Cavern Lake) – Island Bush
Requires: Flippers
Location: Small island in the water just north of the Key Cavern entrance.
How-To: Swim to the island. Cut the bush from the north side – if you hit it from the south, the shell might bounce into the water, forcing you to leave the screen and return.
Martha’s Bay – Owl Statue Dig
Requires: Shovel, access to the area south of Animal Village
Location: Area south of Animal Village, across the bridge, near an Owl Statue.
How-To: Cross the wooden bridge south from Animal Village, then go up one screen. Dig in the spot just to the left of the Owl Statue.
Southern Face Shrine – Under Armos
Requires: Ability to enter Southern Face Shrine area
Location: Outside the Southern Face Shrine dungeon entrance (north of Animal Village).
How-To: Approach the lower-right Armos statue near the shrine entrance. Touch it or defeat it to make it move, revealing stairs. Go down the stairs into a watery cave and find the shell.
Kanalet Castle – Rooster Cave
Requires: Power Bracelet, Ocarina (with Manbo’s Mambo learned), Flying Rooster
Location: West side of Kanalet Castle, across the pits.
How-To: Once you have the Flying Rooster following you (after reviving him in Mabe Village), go to Kanalet Castle. Stand near the western gate and fly west over the row of pits using the Rooster. Enter the stairs here, and open the chest inside. (MISSABLE – the Rooster leaves after you complete Level 7, Eagle’s Tower).
Tal Tal Heights – Under Rock
Requires: Power Bracelet, Flippers (to access area)
Location: East of the Hen House (where Cuccos are kept) on Tal Tal Heights.
How-To: Lift the rock in the corner just east of the Hen House entrance.
Tal Tal Heights – Cave Chest
Requires: Flippers, Bombs
Location: Inside the cave east of the Hen House (same cave system as Seashell #24).
How-To: Navigate through the watery cave and bomb the wall on the north side. A chest containing the seashell is found near the cave’s exit.
Eagle’s Tower – Hinox Pit Fall
Requires: Progress within Level 7, Eagle’s Tower
Location: Inside Eagle’s Tower, during the Hinox miniboss fight.
How-To: During the battle with the red Hinox on 2F, fall or get thrown into one of the pits on the far left side of the room. You’ll land on a walkway on 1F. Walk north along this ledge to find a chest with the shell.
The Reward
Seashell Mansion & The L-2 Sword
Once you’ve collected 20 Secret Seashells, make your way to the Seashell Mansion located in Ukuku Prairie, east of Kanalet Castle. Inside, step onto the central pedestal. If you have 20 or more shells, the spirit within will bestow upon you the L-2 Sword!
This blade is twice as strong as your original sword and fires powerful energy beams when Link is at full health. It’s a fantastic upgrade that makes the rest of the journey significantly easier.