| Use | Currency for Carlov’s figurine machine in Hyrule Town |
|---|---|
| Sources | Bushes and rocks, enemy drops, treasure chests, Kinstone fusion chests (100 or 200 shells), and Stockwell’s shop |
| Stockwell’s price | 30 shells for 200 rupees (a higher price is reported for the European version) |
| Cap | 999 shells |
| Total needed | There is no fixed total; the more figurines you own, the more shells each new one costs |
| After the Carlov Medal | Shells stop appearing: Stockwell stops selling them and chests give rupees instead |
Mysterious Shells are a renewable item whose only use is buying drawings from Carlov’s figurine machine. You find them in chests, bushes, under rocks and from some enemies, and the biggest hauls come from the 100 and 200 shell chests that Kinstone fusions open. If you run short, Stockwell sells them for rupees.
What shells are for
Carlov’s Statue Shop in Hyrule Town swaps shells for a chance at a random new figurine. One shell is the minimum bet; each extra shell adds roughly one percentage point to your chance, and the chance drops as your collection grows, so you will bet far more shells for the last figurines than for the first. The full guide to the machine, odds and the complete list is on the figurines page.
Fusion chests with 100 or 200 shells
Kinstone fusions provide the biggest shell payouts, mostly 200 at a time. The partner can change once the story moves on, so use another Minish or townsperson if the usual one has gone.
| # | Fusion partner | Where the shells are | Shells |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A townsperson (early fusion) | Chest in the north-west of North Hyrule Field, an area you cannot reach at first | 200 |
| 2 | A townsperson (early fusion) | Chest in South Hyrule Field, east of Link’s house | 200 |
| 3 | David Jr., Lake Hylia | Chest in a tree in North Hyrule Field; light the torch switch to open it | 200 |
| 4 | David Jr., Lake Hylia (second fusion, needs the Flippers) | Chest on the Minish path in Mt. Crenel, towards Melari’s Mines | 200 |
| 5 | Forest Minish, south-west corner of the Eastern Hills (blue piece) | A beanstalk to the clouds: 200 shells, 200 rupees and a Piece of Heart | 200 |
| 6 | Forest Minish in a hole east of Lake Hylia (blue piece, Flippers needed) | A beanstalk at Lake Hylia: 200 shells, 200 rupees and a Piece of Heart (needs the Roc’s Cape) | 200 |
| 7 | Gina, graveyard (after the Royal Crypt) | A waterfall opens in Hyrule Town with a chest behind it | 200 |
| 8 | Gina, graveyard (after the Royal Crypt) | Chest in the Western Wood, after a tree goes up | 100 |
| 9 | Dampé, Royal Valley graveyard (blue piece) | A grave opens beside the graveyard | 100 |
One guide also lists a 100 shell reward from a fusion with Mama at Mama’s Cafe that comes with a Piece of Heart. Because partners and rewards differ a little between written guides, treat the table as a checklist and let the fusion’s cutscene tell you where the result appeared. The chests are listed by location on the Kinstone fusions page.
Treasure chests around Hyrule
Besides fusion chests, these ordinary chests hold shells. Amounts are rounded, and some require an item from later in the story.
Dungeons
Deepwood Shrine hides about 50 shells in total and the Fortress of Winds about 80, both found by following the walkthrough.
Overworld chests
The Eastern Hills have 20 shells in a cave behind a bombable wall, just under the stairs. In the north of the Castor Wilds a sand cave holds a chest with 50 shells, and another chest sits on the east side of the Wind Ruins. In the Western Wood, Percy’s house has a 100 shell chest once you light the two torches with the Flame Lantern. Hyrule Castle Garden has a 100 shell chest in the south-west and two 50 shell caches in narrow passages above the underground tunnels. A small water temple in Hyrule Town, entered while Minish-sized with the ice melted, holds another 100.
Veil Falls has several caches of 50 to 100 shells, including a 50 shell chest on a high ledge (some need the Flippers). Lake Hylia has two 50 shell chests in a sand cave in the north (the Roc’s Cape is needed). The Cloud Tops hold many chests, about 200 shells in all, and the Royal Valley hands out 200 once you have met the ghost in the Royal Crypt.
How to farm shells
From the field
Shells appear when you cut bushes and grass, lift rocks and kill enemies. Green Picolyte, bought from Beedle in the town square, temporarily raises the number of shells you find. Work through the bushes of the fields around Hyrule Town rather than a single patch.
Buying from Stockwell
Stockwell’s shop sells 30 shells for 200 rupees as soon as you can afford it. The quickest rupee source is the Mole Mitts trick: dig left of the door of Link’s house and a red rupee is always there, so go inside, come out and dig again. Each 200 rupees buys another 30 shells.
Shells after the Carlov Medal
When you finish all 136 figurines and receive the Carlov Medal it replaces Mysterious Shells in the item screen. Stockwell then stops selling them, and every chest that held shells gives rupees instead. Spend or save your shells before the last drawing if you want to farm with them for anything else.
