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A Hyrule adventure atlasThe Legend of Zelda: A Link to the PastGUIDES

A Link to the Past Bottles, Magic & Upgrades

All four Bottles, the half-magic upgrade, Bomb and arrow capacity, and every sword, shield, mail, glove and boomerang upgrade, with how to get each.

Bottles

UpgradeWhereHowNeed
Bottle #1 – Kakariko merchantKakariko Village street merchantBuy it from the merchant standing in Kakariko Village for 100 Rupees.Nothing extra
Bottle #2 – Kakariko innBack room of the Kakariko Village innOpen the chest in the room at the back of the inn.Nothing extra
Bottle #3 – Man under the bridgeUnder the stone bridge near Lake Hylia, east of Link’s HouseSwim under the bridge and talk to the man camping there; he hands over a Bottle.Zora’s Flippers
Bottle #4 – Purple chestDark World Smithery ruins, opened by the middle-aged man near the Desert of MysteryAfter reuniting the swordsmiths, pick up the locked chest at the Dark World Smithery ruins and carry it back with the Magic Mirror. Bring it to the middle-aged man near the desert entrance and he unlocks it, revealing a Bottle.Moon Pearl Titan’s Mitt Magic Mirror

Magic

UpgradeWhereHowNeed
Half Magic (Mad Batter)Underground altar in the hole beside the Smithery near KakarikoPound the stake blocking the hole (or mirror in from the Dark World), drop down and sprinkle Magic Powder on the altar. The Mad Batter “curses” Link so every magic item costs half as much.Magic Hammer Magic Powder

Capacity

UpgradeWhereHowNeed
Bomb capacity (10 → 50)Pond of Happiness, island cave in Lake HyliaLink starts able to carry 10 Bombs. Each time 100 Rupees have been thrown into the pond, Venus offers an upgrade: six raises of 5 take it to 40, then a final raise of 10 reaches 50 (700 Rupees in all).Zora’s Flippers
Arrow capacity (30 → 70)Pond of Happiness, island cave in Lake HyliaLink starts able to carry 30 arrows. Each 100 Rupees thrown in earns an upgrade: six raises of 5 take it to 60, then a final raise of 10 reaches 70 (700 Rupees in all). Once both are maxed, Venus returns further Rupees.Zora’s Flippers

Swords

UpgradeWhereHowNeed
Fighter’s SwordSecret passage into Hyrule CastleLink’s dying uncle hands over his sword and shield at the start of the game.Nothing extra
Master SwordPedestal in the Lost WoodsWith all three Pendants of Virtue, pull the sword from its pedestal deep in the Lost Woods.Pendants of Virtue
Tempered SwordSmithery south-east of Kakariko VillageFree the missing smith (a frog in the Dark World south of the Village of Outcasts, ringed by dark boulders) and bring him back with the Magic Mirror. The reunited smiths temper the Master Sword; leave it with them, step away and return to collect it.Master Sword Moon Pearl Titan’s Mitt Magic Mirror
Golden SwordCursed Fairy’s pond inside the Pyramid of PowerBlow open the Pyramid’s cracked wall with a Super Bomb, then throw the Tempered Sword into the fairy’s pond to get it back as the Golden Sword.Tempered Sword Super Bomb

Shields

UpgradeWhereHowNeed
Fighter’s ShieldSecret passage into Hyrule CastleComes with the Fighter’s Sword from Link’s uncle. It can be eaten by Pikits; replacements are sold in shops.Nothing extra
Fire ShieldWaterfall of Wishing (or the Dark World shield shop)Throw the Fighter’s Shield into the pond behind the Waterfall of Wishing and answer the fairy honestly, or buy one for 500 Rupees in the Dark World shield shop.Zora’s Flippers
Mirror ShieldTurtle RockOpen the big chest in Turtle Rock. It cannot be stolen by Pikits.Quake Medallion Cane of Somaria

Armour

UpgradeWhereHowNeed
Green ClothesStarting outfitLink’s plain green tunic, worn from the start with no extra defence.Nothing extra
Blue MailIce PalaceOpen the big chest in the Ice Palace to cut the damage Link takes.Zora’s Flippers Titan’s Mitt Moon Pearl
Red MailGanon’s TowerOpen the big chest in Ganon’s Tower for the best protection in the game.Crystals

Gloves

UpgradeWhereHowNeed
Power GloveDesert PalaceBig chest in the Desert Palace; lifts light-grey rocks, including those barring the way up Death Mountain.Book of Mudora
Titan’s MittThieves’ TownBig chest in Thieves’ Town; replaces the Power Glove and lifts the heavy dark boulders.Moon Pearl

Boomerangs

UpgradeWhereHowNeed
BoomerangHyrule CastleChest in the castle’s dungeon during the rescue of Zelda.Nothing extra
Magical BoomerangWaterfall of WishingSwim into the Waterfall of Wishing, throw the Boomerang into the fairy’s pond and admit you dropped it; she gives back the faster, longer-range red Magical Boomerang.Boomerang Zora’s Flippers

Other

UpgradeWhereHowNeed
Flute step 1 – Shovel and FluteHaunted Grove (Dark World, then Light World)Talk to the Flute Boy in the Dark World’s Haunted Grove to receive the Shovel, then dig in the flower patch of the Light World Haunted Grove to unearth his Flute.Moon Pearl
Flute step 2 – Freeing the birdWeathervane in the centre of Kakariko VillagePlay the Flute in front of the Kakariko weathervane; the bird inside breaks free and will now fly Link to eight Light World spots whenever the Flute is played.Flute
Mushroom → Magic PowderLost Woods, then the Magic Shop near Zora’s RiverPick up the Mushroom in the Lost Woods and give it to the witch outside the Magic Shop. Leave, come back, and collect the Magic Powder inside.Mushroom
Super BombDark World Bomb Shop (where Link’s House stands in the Light World)Once the Ice Palace and Misery Mire crystals are won, the shop sells one Super Bomb at a time for 100 Rupees. Walk it to the Pyramid of Power’s cracked wall to open the Cursed Fairy’s chamber.Moon Pearl
Silver ArrowsCursed Fairy’s pond inside the Pyramid of PowerAfter the Super Bomb opens her chamber, the Cursed Fairy grants the Silver Arrows needed to finish Ganon.Bow Super Bomb
Zora’s FlippersKing Zora at Zora’s WaterfallPay King Zora 500 Rupees for the Flippers, which unlock swimming and whirlpool warps.Nothing extra
Pegasus BootsSahasrahla’s hideout near the Eastern PalaceReturn to Sahasrahla with the Pendant of Courage and he hands over the Pegasus Boots.Pendant of Courage

FAQ

Where are all four Bottles in A Link to the Past?

Kakariko merchant, Kakariko inn, Man under the bridge, Purple chest.

How do you get half magic?

Pound the stake blocking the hole (or mirror in from the Dark World), drop down and sprinkle Magic Powder on the altar. The Mad Batter “curses” Link so every magic item costs half as much.

How do you upgrade the sword?

Fighter’s Sword from your uncle, the Master Sword in the Lost Woods, the Tempered Sword from the reunited smiths, and the Golden Sword from the fairy in the Pyramid of Power.

Sources & picture credits

Guide text is original retrogameindex writing, checked against Zeldapedia. Screenshots, sprites and artwork © Nintendo; local copies archived from Zeldapedia file pages (listed on the image gallery).