Treasure charts and the Triforce hunt
Use the original GameCube chart system and organise sea travel efficiently.
Story and late-game spoilers.
Original GameCube release; HD sailing and Triforce-quest changes are outside this guide.
Items at a glance
Grappling Hook
Swings Link across gaps and pulls treasure from the sea floor; found in the Dragon Roost Cavern.
Sail
Lets the King of Red Lions travel the Great Sea; bought from Zunari on Windfall Island.
Wind Waker
A conductor’s baton that changes the wind’s direction and plays songs such as the Ballad of Gales.
Treasure Chart
Marks sunken treasure to salvage with the Grappling Hook.
Boomerang
Locks on to up to five targets in one throw; found in the Forbidden Woods.
Deku Leaf
Lets Link glide on the wind and blow gusts; a gift from the Great Deku Tree.
Hero’s Bow
Link’s bow from the Tower of the Gods, later upgraded with Fire, Ice and Light Arrows.
Bombs
Destroy boulders and cracked walls; the ship’s cannon also fires them.
Build a usable sea chart
Feed Fishmen All-Purpose Bait as you pass unmapped islands. A filled chart makes island silhouettes easier to identify. Combine nearby errands into one voyage: map an island, check its obvious cave or structure, then record any equipment barrier before moving on.
Open a chart before salvaging
A chart must be opened for its treasure information to be usable. Compare the island drawing with your sea chart, sail to the marked vicinity and use the Grappling Hook for salvage. Adjust the boat’s position rather than repeatedly lowering the crane from the same unsuccessful spot.
Budget for original Triforce Charts
The GameCube version uses eight Triforce Charts, each requiring Tingle’s deciphering service before its shard can be located. At 398 rupees per chart, the total is 3,184 rupees. Upgrade your wallet and save funds as you explore so the hunt does not stall on a small carrying limit.
Distinguish HD directions
The HD version replaces several chart steps with direct shard pickups. A guide that tells you to find a shard where your game awards a chart may be describing HD. Check edition labels before concluding that your inventory or quest is broken.
Keep salvage and island collections separate
Some treasures are found on land, others through charts, and some rewards require minigames or trading. Record the chart number and whether you have actually salvaged its chest. Owning a chart is not equivalent to collecting the associated treasure.