This side quest becomes available after Link completes the Forbidden Woods dungeon and participates in the Korok Ceremony in the Forest Haven. During the ceremony, the Great Deku Tree tasks his Koroks with spreading his seeds across the Great Sea to grow new patches of forest.
Overview
The Koroks fly to various islands, planting saplings. However, these young trees require special water to thrive initially. Without it, they quickly wither. Link’s mission is to help these saplings by watering them with life-giving Forest Water obtained from the Forest Haven.
The Challenge: Forest Water and the Time Limit
- Obtaining Forest Water: Link must visit the main chamber within the Great Deku Tree in the Forest Haven. Stepping into the Forest Water spring allows Link to collect it in an Empty Bottle.
- The Time Limit: Forest Water possesses magical properties that fade over time.
- In the original GameCube version of The Wind Waker, the Forest Water retains its power for only 20 minutes.
- In The Wind Waker HD for Wii U, this time limit is extended to 30 minutes, making the quest significantly easier.
- Failure Condition: If the time limit expires before Link has watered all eight trees, the Forest Water reverts to normal Water. Crucially, all previously watered trees will instantly wither again, forcing Link to return to the Forest Haven, collect more Forest Water, and start the entire sequence over from the beginning.
Prerequisites and Recommendations
- Empty Bottle: Required to hold the Forest Water. You only need one bottle for this quest.
- Ballad of Gales: Learned from Cyclos, this warp song is essential for completing the quest within the time limit. Sailing manually between all locations would take far too long.
- Swift Sail (The Wind Waker HD only): While not strictly required due to the extended time limit, the Swift Sail makes sailing between warp points and islands much faster and removes the need to manually change wind direction constantly. It can be won at the Windfall Island Auction House at night.
- Know the Locations: While Link can speak to the Great Deku Tree after obtaining the Forest Water to have the eight locations marked on his Sea Chart, it’s helpful to know the general layout and the specific spot of the tree on each island beforehand.
The Reward
Successfully watering all eight Withered Trees before the Forest Water expires yields a valuable reward: a Piece of Heart. The Piece of Heart will appear directly above the final tree Link waters.
Strategy and Suggested Route
Efficiency is key. Using the Ballad of Gales to warp between major sea sectors drastically cuts down travel time. The following is an efficient route that can be completed within the time limit in both versions of the game, though other routes are possible. Remember to set your wind direction appropriately before sailing short distances from warp points.
Cliff Plateau Isles (Sector F7):
Travel: From Forest Haven (F6), sail east.
Location: Enter the cave on the smaller island. Navigate the interior (use the Deku Leaf to cross gaps, carefully walk past thorns, defeat the Boko Baba and use the Baba Bud to reach higher levels). Find the withered tree near the exit high up on the main island plateau. Water it and return to your boat. (Note: This is the most time-consuming island; doing it first is often recommended).
Shark Island (Sector F5)
Travel: Warp to Southern Fairy Island (F4) and sail west.
Location: The tree is easily visible on the shark-fin-shaped island. Run up, water it, and quickly return to the boat.
Greatfish Isle (Sector E4)
Travel: Warp directly to Greatfish Isle (E4).
Location: Follow the spiraling path up the island remnants. The tree is near the top by one of the Koroks. Water it
(Optional: While here, you can glide west to find another Piece of Heart hidden near the northern cliffs).
Needle Rock Isle (Sector D5)
Travel: From Greatfish Isle (E4), sail southwest.
Location: The tree is located on the small patch of land next to the tall, needle-like rock spire. Water it and leave.
Private Oasis (Sector E5)
Travel: Warp to the Tower of the Gods (E4) and sail south.
Location: The tree is located near the Cabana on the formerly luxurious island. Easy to spot.
Eastern Fairy Island (Sector E3)
Travel: Warp back to the Tower of the Gods (E4) and sail north.
Location: The tree is on the small island housing the Fairy Fountain. Quickly water it.
Mother and Child Isles (Sector B2)
Travel: Warp to Tingle Island (C3) and sail northwest.
Location: The tree is on the ‘Child’ isle (the smaller one you can enter) near the travelling Goron merchant.
Star Island (Sector B1)
Travel: From Mother and Child Isles (B2), sail north.
Location: The final tree is located on this star-shaped island. Water it.
Tips for Success
- Plan Ahead: Familiarize yourself with the route and the tree locations on each island before collecting the Forest Water.
- Use the Ballad of Gales: Warp immediately after watering a tree if the next location is far away.
- Manage the Wind: Set the wind direction using the Wind Waker before you start sailing short distances from warp points. In the HD version, use the Swift Sail for maximum speed and automatic wind alignment.
- Avoid Distractions: Don’t get sidetracked fighting enemies or collecting treasure unless it’s directly in your path. Focus solely on reaching and watering the trees.
- HD Advantage: Players of The Wind Waker HD have a much more forgiving time limit (30 mins) and the Swift Sail, making this quest considerably less stressful.