Let’s be real, sailing the Great Sea in Phantom Hourglass throws some nasty stuff your way. Starting with just three hearts feels… fragile. If you want Link to withstand fierce boss attacks, navigate treacherous dungeons (especially those nerve-wracking return trips to the Temple of the Ocean King!), and generally feel like less of a glass cannon, you need more health! Thankfully, you can find 13 extra Heart Containers, bringing your grand total to a mighty 16 hearts. Seeing that full double row is seriously satisfying!
Now, seven of these health boosts are basically handed to you on a silver platter – defeat the main boss waiting at the end of each major temple, and *bam*, free Heart Container. Think of them as rewards for pushing the main story forward. But the other six? Oh, those require you to go off the beaten path, empty your wallet, prove your skills in surprisingly tough challenges, and maybe even wrestle a legendary fish into submission. Ready for the hunt? Let’s break down where to find every single one:
Reward for Dousing the Temple of Fire
- How to get it: Defeat Blaaz, Master of Fire.
- Details: Your journey for more health begins on the fiery Isle of Ember. After navigating the scorching hot puzzles and lava flows of the Temple of Fire, you’ll face off against Blaaz, a chaotic boss made of fire and rock. Extinguish his fiery rage (hint: watch your top screen map!), and your very first extra Heart Container is presented as a well-deserved reward. Feels good, right?
Beedle’s After-Hours Special
- How to get it: Fork over 1,500 Rupees to the *Masked* Beedle.
- Details: This isn’t your regular, cheerful Beedle! Keep a lookout for a distinctly different, slightly creepy ship flying Beedle’s flag but with a sinister masked figurehead. This is the Masked Beedle’s Shop Ship, and he only appears during very specific windows based on your Nintendo DS’s internal clock:
- Weekdays (Monday – Friday): Between 10:00 PM and 12:00 AM (Midnight). Yep, late-night shopping!
- Weekends (Saturday – Sunday): Between 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM (Noon). A brunch-time special!
He carries some rare items, but the prize is the Heart Container for a steep 1,500 Rupees. Start saving! If you just can’t wait or keep missing him, you *can* manipulate your DS system clock. Just set the time within his active hours, save your game *first* (just in case!), then reload and sail around likely spots (often near central islands). He should appear. It feels a bit cheap, but hey, a heart’s a heart!
The Angler’s Ultimate Trophy (Bannan Island)
- How to get it: Become a legendary fisherman by completing the entire Fishing side quest.
- Details: Okay, deep breaths. This Heart Container is arguably the most involved one to get. It requires you to fully commit to the life of an angler. Head to Bannan Island, find the Old Wayfarer in his hut, and prepare for a journey:
- Get the Gear: First, you need the Fishing Rod itself. You get this by playing matchmaker and reuniting the Old Wayfarer with the mermaid Joanne (who’s lounging near the entrance cave).
- Prove Your Skill (Part 1): With rod in hand, he’ll challenge you to catch three specific fish: a nimble Skippyjack, a common Toona, and a slightly rarer Loovar. Catch one of each (they’re usually found in different quadrants of the sea) and proudly present them to the Wayfarer.
- Upgrade Time: Impressed, he gifts you the Big Catch Lure. This lets you snag bigger, tougher fish.
- Prove Your Skill (Part 2): Now he wants proof you can handle the new lure. Go out and catch a powerful Rusty Swordfish. These put up more of a fight! Show your catch to the old man.
- The Legend: He’ll finally tell you about the ultimate prize, the fish of legends: Neptoona. This massive fish only appears in a specific, unmarked location (often hinted at by the Wayfarer, or found by looking for a suspicious jumping fish shadow far out at sea).
- The Final Catch: Hooking Neptoona is a serious battle of stamina and timing. Reel carefully, don’t let the line snap! Once you triumphantly land this behemoth, haul it back to the Old Wayfarer.
- The Reward: Utterly impressed by your legendary angling prowess, the Old Wayfarer bestows upon you the hard-earned Heart Container. You didn’t just get healthier; you conquered the sea! (Seriously, if you get stuck finding specific fish or battling Neptoona, don’t hesitate to consult a detailed Fishing Guide – this quest is a marathon!)
Earning Respect on the Traveler’s Ship
- How to get it: Beat the wandering hero Nyeve in escalating sparring matches, culminating in a tough final challenge.
- Details: Sail the seas, particularly the Northwest Quadrant, and keep an eye out for a lone, somewhat fancy-looking vessel – the Traveler’s Ship. Hop aboard and meet Nyeve, a self-proclaimed hero eager for a sparring partner. Get ready for a four-stage trial:
- Round 1 – The Apprentice: Nyeve basically stands there. Whack him with your sword a few times until he yields. He’ll dub you his “Apprentice to the Hero” and give you a treasure (usually Rupees or a ship part).
- Round 2 – Half a Hero: Leave the ship, sail away a bit, then return. He’s slightly more active now but still easy. Defeat him again for the title “Half a Hero” and another reward.
- Round 3 – Two Thirds a Hero: Same deal: leave, return, fight. He might block a little more now. Beat him down for the “Two Thirds a Hero” moniker and yet another prize.
- Round 4 – The Real Deal: Leave and return one last time. Okay, playtime’s over! Nyeve gets serious. He’ll actively attack you with quick sword strikes and maybe even spin attacks. Your goal: land 100 hits on him before he manages to hit you 3 times. This is tough! Stay mobile, use quick stylus taps/slashes, don’t get greedy with combos, and focus on dodging his attacks. If you succeed in this demanding duel, he’ll finally acknowledge your strength and hand over a well-earned Heart Container. You earned his respect!
Calming the Temple of Wind
- How to get it: Defeat Cyclok, Stirrer of Winds.
- Details: After navigating the gusty challenges, propeller platforms, and wind puzzles of the Temple of Wind on the Isle of Gust, you’ll face Cyclok. This tornado-slinging boss requires clever use of bombs and your boomerang. Ground the windy menace permanently, and another automatic Heart Container is yours.
Finding Courage Against Fear
- How to get it: Defeat Crayk, Bane of Courage.
- Details: Molida Island holds the Temple of Courage, a place designed to test your nerve. Its guardian, Crayk, is a giant hermit crab that turns invisible and shoots projectiles from its many eyes! Track it using your top screen map and strike its vulnerable back when it reappears. Overcome this fearsome, sneaky boss, and claim your Heart Container reward.
Molida Island’s Sharpshooter Prize
- How to get it: Achieve a score of 2,000 points or more at Romanos’ Shooting Range on Molida Island.
- Details: Once you’ve cleared the Temple of Courage and proven your bravery, visit Romanos (the guy who acted scared earlier) near the island’s entrance. He’s opened up a Shooting Range! Using your newly acquired Bow, you need to rack up over 2,000 points. This is trickier than it sounds. The key is accuracy and speed: hitting targets consecutively without missing builds a score multiplier, which is essential. Aim carefully but shoot quickly! Later in the round, friendly islander targets will pop up – **DO NOT SHOOT THEM!** Hitting them incurs a hefty point penalty. It might take a few attempts to get the rhythm down, but nail that high score, and Romanos will reward your eagle eye with a Heart Container.
Surviving the Ghost Ship’s Game
- How to get it: Defeat the possessed Cubus Sisters.
- Details: The Ghost Ship is one of the most atmospheric locations, filled with puzzles and phantoms. Its guardians are the Cubus Sisters, initially seeming like damsels in distress before revealing their possessed state. You’ll engage them in a deadly game of energy volley, much like classic Zelda bosses (think Phantom Ganon). Win this supernatural tennis match, and a Heart Container materializes as your reward for exorcising the vessel.
Cooperating to Beat the Goron Temple Guardian
- How to get it: Defeat Dongorongo, Armored Lizard.
- Details: Deep within the Goron Temple on Goron Island, after mastering puzzles involving teamwork with a young Goron named Gongoron, you face the massive, two-part boss Dongorongo. You’ll need to coordinate attacks, switching between Link and Gongoron (rolling into the beast’s belly) to expose its weak point. Take down this armored behemoth, and the standard boss-drop Heart Container is yours.
The Shopkeeper’s Ultimate Reward
- How to get it: Buy it for a whopping 2,000 Rupees, but ONLY after purchasing other specific upgrades first.
- Details: This Heart Container is a true test of your wealth accumulation! First, you need to invest in yourself. Visit any of the main item shops (on Mercay Island, Molida Island, or Goron Island) and purchase both the Bombchu Bag upgrade AND the Quiver upgrade (allowing you to carry more arrows). These are expensive on their own. Only *after* you’ve bought both of these upgrades will the shopkeepers offer their ultimate prize: a Heart Container. But it doesn’t come cheap – you’ll need to cough up another 2,000 Rupees! It’s one of the most expensive items in the game, but essential for maxing your health. Start hoarding those gems and treasures! Once the prerequisites are met, it should be available in any of those three shops.
Breaking the Ice in the Temple of Ice
- How to get it: Defeat Gleeok, Two-Headed Dragon.
- Details: Brave the frigid winds and slippery floors of the Temple of Ice. The final challenge here is Gleeok, a classic two-headed dragon boss who breathes fire and ice. You’ll need clever use of the Grappling Hook to stun its heads by stretching ropes between pillars and snapping them against the beast. Defeat both heads of this frosty menace to claim another Heart Container.
Conquering the Maze Island Challenge
- How to get it: Successfully complete the “Expert” difficulty level on Maze Island.
- Details: Once you’ve obtained the Sea Chart for the Northeastern Quadrant, you can finally reach Maze Island. This place is exactly what it sounds like – a series of timed maze challenges where you need to hit crystal switches in the correct order before time runs out. There are Beginner and Normal levels, but the Heart Container is locked behind the final, brutally difficult “Expert” level. This one requires precise movement, quick thinking, and often, memorization of the optimal path. Don’t feel bad if you get stuck here; it’s genuinely tough! Looking up a map or video guide specifically for the Maze Island Expert solution is highly recommended and will save you a lot of frustration. Triumph over this timed trial, and the chest containing the Heart Container will finally be accessible.
Toppling the Titan in Mutoh’s Temple
- How to get it: Defeat Eox, Ancient Stone Soldier.
- Details: Your final story-related Heart Container comes from the very last main dungeon, Mutoh’s Temple on the Isle of Ruins. Guarding the temple’s secrets is Eox, a colossal ancient automaton made of stone. You’ll need to use the giant Hammer obtained within the temple to smash its weak points (marked pegs) layer by layer, eventually exposing its core. Bring down this ancient giant, complete the temple, and claim the last automatic Heart Container.
Phew! That’s every single Heart Container accounted for. Track them all down, fill up that health bar to a glorious 16 hearts, and show the World of the Ocean King that you’re an unstoppable force! Good luck, Captain!