| Swords | Wooden Sword (from the Old Man at the start), White Sword (5 hearts), Magical Sword (12 hearts) |
|---|---|
| Rings | Blue Ring (250 rupees in a hidden shop), Red Ring (Level 9) |
| Where most items come from | Levels 1 to 9, the shops in caves across the overworld, and the Old Woman who sells potions |
| Prices | Arrows 80, Bombs 4 for 20, Magical Shield 90, 130 or 160, Blue Candle 60, Key 80 or 100, Bait 60 or 100, Blue Ring 250, Red Potion 68, Blue Potion 40 |
The NES game never shows item names on screen, so the names here are the standard ones used across the series. Most items are dungeon rewards. The Magical Shield, Arrows, Bombs, Blue Candle, Keys and the Blue Ring are sold in hidden shops, and potions are sold by the Old Woman once you show her the Letter. The shops page has every stock list and price, and each walkthrough chapter gives the route to the items it holds.
Table of Contents
Swords and shields
Wooden Sword
What it does: Your first weapon.
Where you get it: The Old Man in the cave on the start screen gives it to you for free.
White Sword
What it does: Double the damage of the Wooden Sword.
Where you get it: The cave at K1 in the north, just above the waterfall screen. The Old Man there gives it to you once you have at least 5 hearts.
Magical Sword
What it does: Four times the damage of the Wooden Sword.
Where you get it: Under a movable tombstone on the right-hand side of the cemetery screen B3. You need at least 12 hearts.
Small Shield
What it does: Blocks simple projectiles coming from the front. Link starts with it.
Where you get it: You have it from the start.
Magical Shield
What it does: Reflects more attacks than the small shield. It does not stop Ganon’s fireballs.
Where you get it: Bought in shops for 90, 130 or 160 rupees.
Ranged weapons and bombs
Magical Boomerang
What it does: Flies farther than the Boomerang.
Where you get it: Level 2, in the blue Goriya room.
Bomb
What it does: Damages enemies and opens cracked walls. Each pick-up is a set of four.
Where you get it: Dropped by enemies, or bought four for 20 rupees in shops.
Bow
What it does: Fires arrows. It is useless without them.
Where you get it: Level 1, in the Eagle dungeon.
Arrow
What it does: Ammunition for the Bow. Each shot costs one rupee.
Where you get it: Bought in a shop for 80 rupees.
Silver Arrow
What it does: The arrow needed to defeat Ganon.
Where you get it: Level 9, Death Mountain.
Candles and tools
Blue Candle
What it does: Burns bushes and enemies. It can be used only once per screen.
Where you get it: Bought in a shop for 60 rupees.
Red Candle
What it does: Same flame as the Blue Candle, with no limit per screen.
Where you get it: Level 7, the Demon dungeon.
Recorder
What it does: Reveals hidden staircases on the overworld when played, and summons a whirlwind that takes you to the entrance of a dungeon you have beaten.
Where you get it: Level 5, the Lizard dungeon.
Bait (Monster Bait)
What it does: Lures hungry enemies, such as Goriya, so they stop to eat and can be attacked.
Where you get it: Bought in hidden shops for 60 or 100 rupees.
Raft
What it does: Carries Link across water from a dock.
Where you get it: Level 3, the Manji dungeon.
Stepladder
What it does: Crosses one-tile gaps and narrow water.
Where you get it: Level 4, the Snake dungeon.
Power Bracelet
What it does: Lets Link push the large rocks and gravestones that hide passages.
Where you get it: A hidden spot on the overworld, found by touching the right-most Armos of the top row in the Armos field.
Dungeon items
Magical Rod
What it does: Fires a magic beam. With the Book of Magic, the beam becomes fire.
Where you get it: Level 6, the Dragon dungeon.
Book of Magic
What it does: Turns the Magical Rod’s beam into fire that lights dark rooms.
Where you get it: Level 8, the Lion dungeon.
Magical Key
What it does: Opens any locked door without being used up.
Where you get it: Level 8, the Lion dungeon.
Blue Ring
What it does: Cuts damage taken in half.
Where you get it: A hidden shop under an Armos in the top row of the map, for 250 rupees.
Red Ring
What it does: Cuts damage taken to a quarter.
Where you get it: Level 9, Death Mountain.
Compass
What it does: Marks the boss room and the Triforce piece on the dungeon map.
Where you get it: Found in each dungeon, Levels 1 to 9.
Dungeon Map
What it does: Shows the layout of the dungeon as you explore it.
Where you get it: Found in each dungeon, Levels 1 to 9.
Small Key
What it does: Opens one locked door, then is used up.
Where you get it: Dropped by enemies and found in rooms of each dungeon.
Potions and the Letter
Letter
What it does: Shown to the Old Woman so she will sell you potions.
Where you get it: Given by an Old Man early in the first quest. The walkthrough chapter The Gathering covers the route.
Red Potion
What it does: Fully restores your health.
Where you get it: Bought from the Old Woman for 68 rupees after you show her the Letter.
Blue Potion
What it does: Refills your life once and is then used up. It costs less than the Red Potion, which refills your life and then turns into a Blue Potion.
Where you get it: Bought from the Old Woman for 40 rupees after you show her the Letter.
Heart Containers and Triforce pieces
Heart Container
What it does: Adds one full heart to your maximum health.
Where you get it: Dropped by the eight dungeon bosses, plus five hidden ones. You start with three hearts, and 16 is the maximum.
Triforce Fragment
What it does: One of the eight pieces of the Triforce of Wisdom needed to enter Ganon’s lair.
Where you get it: Each of the first eight dungeon bosses guards one piece.
Your bomb capacity starts at 8 and can grow to 12 and then 16 with two upgrades, each costing 100 rupees from a hidden old man.
