The Legend of Zelda series is renowned for its wide range of unique and interesting items, tools, and weapons, and Skyward Sword HD continues this rich tradition in glorious fashion. As players make their way through the game, they'll find plenty of new items to help them on their journey; many of which can only be found in Skyward Sword.
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Like several of the Zelda titles that preceded it, Skyward Sword HD also allows players to upgrade many of their tools and weapons to increase their range, ammo capacity, or strength in battle. Some of these upgrades come as part of the main story, but the rest will need to be carried out at the Scrap Shop in Skyloft's Bazaar and require players to collect certain components as well as paying a nominal Rupee fee.
Players will obtain the Goddess Sword right at the beginning of the game. As well as serving as a link between Link and his companion Fi, the sword also allows the young hero to summon god-like powers in the form of Skyward Strikes. Not only can these special attacks defeat enemies, but they can also be used to interact with special items like crests and Goddess Cubes.
To upgrade the Goddess Sword to its Longsword form, players will need to imbue their blade with Farore's Flame by reaching the end of the Ancient Cistern dungeon. In its new form, the sword is able to dish out twice as much damage and also has a slightly longer reach.
After absorbing Naryu's flame aboard the Sandship, Link's sword will be transformed into the Goddess White Sword. After the transformation, the blade's dowsing abilities will be greatly improved, allowing players to hunt down treasure and other items far more easily than before.
To obtain the Master Sword, players will need to complete the Fire Sanctuary dungeon and obtain the last of the three Sacred Flames, Din's Flame. The blade once again receives a damage increase, now dealing four times as much damage as the original Goddess Sword did.
Not long after obtaining the Master Sword, players will need to head through the Gate of Time to meet up with Zelda. Before Link leaves, she'll bless his sword for him, which leads to it becoming the True Master Sword. In this form, it is able to charge Skyward Strikes noticeably faster, has a greater range, and, perhaps most importantly, is able to damage the game's final boss, Demise.
Wooden Shields can be purchased from Rupin at the Gear Shop in Skyloft's Bazaar for the bargain price of 50 Rupees. Players can also get one from Instructor Owlan if they speak to him before their first visit down to the surface, although this can be easy to miss. Sadly, the shields break incredibly easily and will be instantly destroyed if Link falls into lava. As with all breakable shields though, they can be repaired by Gondo for a small fee by visiting the scrap shop at the Bazaar.
As well as repairing shields, Gondo is also able to upgrade them. For 30 Rupees, he will upgrade Link's Wooden Shield into a Banded one, though the young hero will also need to provide two Amber Relics, a Monster Claw, and a Jelly Blob. In its new form, the shield is slightly more durable than before, although will still burn up instantly if ever it catches fire.
The Braced Shield is the most durable form of the Wooden Shield and can only be obtained by upgrading a Banded Shield. To do so, players will need to pay Gondo 50 Rupees and provide him with three Amber Relics, two Monsters claws, two Tumbleweeds, and an Ornamental Skull.
Iron Shields can be purchased from the Gear Shop at the Skyloft Bazaar for 100 Rupees once Link has made his way through Skyview Temple. They're a little better than regular Wooden Shields due to their ability to withstand fire, but can still be destroyed if damaged enough and provide no protection whatsoever from electricity-based attacks. With that in mind, players will want to pick up a Sacred Shield to replace it as soon as possible
Players can reinforce their Iron Shields by taking them to Gondo at the Bazaar. They'll need two Eldin Cores, two Monster Claws, and two Ornamental Skulls in their inventory as well as 50 Rupees in order to do so though.
The most powerful form of the Iron Shield, the Fortified Shield can only be obtained by upgrading a reinforced one. This will require three Eldin Cores, three Monster Claws, three Tumbleweeds, and a Blue Bird Feather. Players will also need to pay Gondo 100 Rupees to perform the upgrade for them.
Though they are a little more fragile than shields made from wood or iron, Sacred Shields are able to repair themselves over time. They can also block curses, fire, and electricity-based attacks and will startle Cursed Bokoblins. Sadly, players will need to wait until after they've defeated The Imprisoned for the first time before they can get their hands on one, at which point they can be purchased at the Gear Shop at the Bazaar for 500 Rupees.
Players can upgrade their Sacred Shield to a Divine Shield by paying Gondo 100 Rupees and providing him with three Ornamental Skulls, two Bird Feathers, and a Dusk Relic. Once upgraded, the shield becomes far more durable and will regenerate noticeably faster too.
The Goddess Shield is the most durable form of the Sacred Shield and is easily the second-best shield in the game. To get one, players will need to upgrade their Divine Shield by collecting four Dusk Relics, three Bird Feathers, three Monster Horns, and a Blue feather, and then paying Gondo 150 Rupees.
The Hylian Shield is hands down the best shield in Skyward Sword HD, although players will have to wait until near the very end of the game to get their hands on it. To do so, they'll need to revive the Thunder Dragon in Lanayru Gorge and then return to the area at any point after leaving. This will enable them to take part in the dragon's Lightning Round boss rush, and defeating eight of the game's bosses in a row will see players rewarded with the Hylian Shield. It's not easy, but is definitely worth the effort, as, unlike every other shield in the game, the Hylian Shield cannot be destroyed.
Zelda will give Link the Sailcloth as a reward for emerging victorious from the Wing Ceremony. It's mainly used when diving down to the surface world or returning to the sky via bird statues, although players can also use it to cushion large falls in dungeons and other areas by hitting the right trigger during their descent.
Players will receive the Adventure Pouch from Fledge right before they head down to the surface for the first time. When Link first gets his hands on the pouch, it will only be able to store four items, but this can be upgraded to eight by collecting four special upgrades. Three of these can be purchased from Beedle's Flying Shop for 300, 600, and 1,200 Rupees respectively, while the fourth is found in a Goddess Chest on Pumpkin Landing. Before players can open the chest though, they'll first need to deliver a Skyward Strike to the Goddess Cube that's found in the Deep Woods near the entrance to Skyview Temple.
The Knight's Unifrom is given to Link by Headmaster Gaepora after Zelda falls down to the surface world near the beginning of the game. It offers no real benefits over Link's regular attire, although does bring the young adventurer's appearance more in line with those of the Links from other Zelda games.
The Slingshot is the first of many items that Link picks up down on the surface. It's given to him by Bucha in Faron Woods after Link tracks down all of the missing Kikwi. Though incredibly useful for large parts of the game, the Slingshot becomes somewhat redundant once players get their hands on the bow.
Players can upgrade their Slingshot to a Scattershot for 50 Rupees at the Skyloft Bazaar. They'll just need to give Gonzo three Jelly Blobs, two Dusk Relics, and two Amber Relics to make the required changes. It will then be able to fire multiple Deku Seeds at a time rather than just one.
The Beetle is one of the most unique and most useful tools in Link's arsenal and is needed to solve countless puzzles throughout the game. It allows players to collect certain items remotely, carry items to different places and even activate some of the game's many switches. Players will find it in a chest in the game's first dungeon, Skyview Temple, and can upgrade it multiple times to improve its range and speed.
The first upgrade for the Beetle comes as part of the main story after Link rescues a robot in Lanayru Desert. As the name might suggest, the upgrade adds a hook to the front of the Beetle, which allows it to carry and drop bombs on nearby enemies and destructible objects.
The Quick Beetle upgrade allows players to increase the speed at which the Beetle flies by holding the right trigger. To make the change, they'll need to visit Gondo in the Scrap Shop on Skyloft and give him 50 Rupees, two Ancient Flowers, two pieces of Hornet Larvae, and a Golden Skull.
The Tough Beetle can fly for 40 seconds, allowing Link to collect items that are much further away. It's the final upgrade for the Beetle and requires four Amber Relics, three Ancient Flowers, a Blue Bird Feather, and a Goddess Plume. As with the Quick Beetle upgrade, players will also need to pay Gondo 50 Rupees to make the changes.
The Digging Mitts are obtained from a Mogma in the mini volcano area of the Eldin Volcano region. They allow Link to dig in certain spots, with players able to dig up Rupees, hearts, and other items as well as uncover special hot-air geysers that can propel Link to hard-to-reach platforms in certain areas.
Players will be given the Mogma Mitts as a reward for rescuing Silva in the Fire Sanctuary dungeon. Unlike the Digging Mitts, the Mogma Mitts enable Link to burrow underground just like a Mogma can, allowing him to access new areas and escape locked rooms.
Shortly after entering the Earth Temple, a Mogma will ask Link to help find his missing Bomb Bag. Upon its safe return, the Mogma will tell Link that he can keep the bag for himself and, from this point onwards, players will be able to store and carry bombs.
The Gust Bellows is like a giant leaf blower with infinite power and can be used to blow away sand and various other substances. Link will find it in a chest in the Lanayru Mining Facility and will need to use it quite a bit to safely navigate the dungeon.
Zelda will throw the Goddess' Harp to Link shortly before passing through the Gate of Time. It's needed at numerous points during the main story and can also be used as a regular instrument in one of the game's side quests. Playing the Goddess' Harp in spots where Blessed Butterflies gather will also summon Gossip Stones and Goddess Walls, which can help Link on his journey.
Players will find the whip in a chest not too far from the entrance of the Ancient Cistern dungeon. It's mainly used to swing across branches and pull hard-to-reach levers, but can also be used to grab the Monster Horns from Bokoblins' waists to prevent them from calling for backup.
Link receives the Clawshot as a reward for safely navigating Lanayru Desert's Silent Realm. It's easily one of the best items in the game, allowing Link to grapple onto enemies, vines, and special targets in order to get to areas that would otherwise be impossible to explore.
Players will find the Bow in a treasure chest after defeating Scervo on the Sandship. They'll need to use it quite a bit to successfully navigate through the rest of the dungeon, but it's also useful for sniping enemies from range elsewhere in the game. As with some of the other tools and weapons in Skyward Sword HD, Link can upgrade the bow to increase its range and make its shots more powerful.
The Iron Bow is able to shoot much further than its regular counterpart and is definitely worth investing in. It will cost 50 Rupees to upgrade, with players also needing to gather three Monster Claws, three Tumbleweeds, two Eldin Cores, and an Evil Crystal.
The Sacred Bow is the most powerful bow in the game and is obtained by upgrading the Iron Bow. Players will need to find five Tumbleweeds, three Lizard Tails, two Evil Crystals, and a Goddess Plume and then pay Gondo 100 Rupees to make the changes. It's again worth the effort, as the Sacred Bow can shoot further and hit harder than earlier variants.
Players will be able to buy the Bug Net from Beedle's Flying Shop for the bargain price of 50 Rupees. To access the shop, they'll need a way to ring the bell, meaning the earliest that players can get their hands on the net is after acquiring the Slingshot. When equipped, the net allows Link to catch Blessed Butterflies and other such bugs, all of which can be sold for a tidy profit or used to upgrade potions at the Bazaar. The Bug Net is also needed to catch Tumbleeds in the Lanayru Desert.
As the name might suggest, the Big Bug Net is just a larger form of the regular Bug Net and allows Link to catch multiple bugs with a single swipe. To perform the upgrade, players will need to visit Gondo at the Scrap Shop and give him 100 Rupees, three Tumbleweeds, two Ancient Flowers, and an Evil Crystal.
Seed Satchels allow Link to carry additional Deku Seeds for use with the Slingshot and can be obtained in a few different ways. Link will be given a Small Seed Satchel by Bucha when he first receives the Slingshot and can then purchase additional sachels from Rupin at the Gear Shop in Skyloft's Bazaar for 50 Rupees a pop. Each one can carry ten seeds, although they can be upgraded to increase their capacity.
Medium Seed Sachels are able to carry 20 Deku Seeds rather than ten. To make the upgrade, players will need to pay 50 Rupees and provide Gondo with four Amber Relics, three Monster Claws, and two Ornamental Skulls.
Players can upgrade a Medium Seed Sachel to a large one by collecting five Amber Relics, three Monster Claws, a Blue Bird Feather, and a Golden Skull and then paying Gondo the princely sum of 100 Rupees.
Though the Bomb Bag given to them by Ledd in the Earth Temple cannot be upgraded, players can purchase additional Bomb Bags from the Gear Shop at the Bazaar after obtaining it and can also find one locked away inside a Goddess Chest. Each Small Bomb Bag will cost Link 150 Rupees, and allow the young hero to carry an additional five bombs. As with Seed Satchels, players can upgrade them to further increase their capacity.
To upgrade to a Medium Bomb Bag, players will need to pay Gondo 50 Rupees and provide him with three Ornamental Skulls, a Blue Bird Feather, and a Lizard Tail. Once upgraded, they'll be able to carry up to ten additional bombs per bag.
For each Large Bomb Bag Link has in his Adventure Pouch, he'll be able to carry an additional 15 bombs. Upgrading a Medium Bomb Bag isn't easy though, as players will have to collect four Jelly Blobs, three Lizard Tails, two pieces of Hornet Larvae, and a Golden Skull as well as paying Gondo 100 Rupees.
Equipping extra quivers in his Adventure Pouch will allow Link to carry additional arrows for his bow. Players can find one in a Goddess Chest in the Thunderhead, but Small Quivers can also be purchased from the Gear Shop in Skyloft for 150 Rupees each. They only allow Link to carry five extra arrows though, so those who want more will need to bring multiple quivers or upgrade the ones they have at Gondo's Scrap Shop.
Medium Quivers are able to hold ten arrows and require players to collect five Amber Relics, three Dusk Relics, and three Monster Horns. As with other medium-sized ammo containers, the cost of upgrading is 50 Rupees.
Link's arrow capacity will be increased by 15 for each Large Quiver he has in his adventure pouch. To upgrade a Medium Quiver to a large one, Gondo will request 100 Rupees, three Dusk Relics, two Monster Horns, a Goddess Plume, and a Golden Skull.
When Link first begins his adventure, he'll only be able to carry 300 Rupees. Over time, however, the young adventurer will be able to increase his wallet size dramatically, with players able to carry up to 9,900 Rupees by the end of the game. That's only if they obtain all of the available wallet upgrades though, most of which come from completing side quests.
The Medium Wallet can hold 500 Rupees and is given to Link by Batreaux as a reward for finding five Gratitude Crystals. Players can get it immediately after completing the Lost Child side quest, which can be tackled at any time once players have completed Skyview Temple.
Batreaux will give Link the Big Wallet once the young adventurer has collected 30 Gratitude Crystals. It's able to hold up to 1,000 Rupees, which should be enough to buy all but the most expensive items in the game.
To get the Giant Wallet, players will need to collect 50 of the 80 available Gratitude Crystals in the game and then return to Batreaux's home where they will receive the wallet as a reward. It has a capacity of 5,000 Rupees, which should be more than enough for most players' needs.
The Tycoon Wallet is the largest wallet in the game and is able to hold a whopping 9,000 Rupees. Obtaining it isn't easy though, as it requires players to collect every single Gratitude Crystal in Skyword Sword HD.
As well as the wallets from Batreaux, players can also purchase three Extra Wallets from Beedle's Flying Shop for 100 Rupees a pop. Each one will allow Link to carry an additional 300 Rupees, bringing his total Rupee capacity up to 9,900 when paired with the Tycoon Wallet.
As with most Zelda games, players are able to use Empty Bottles to carry potions, fairies, and a few other items. There are five empty bottles in total, although players will only need to find one of them to complete the game. The first is given to Link by the woman at the Potion Shop in Sklyloft and the second can be found in a chest at the temple in the Sealed Grounds. Players can get the other three by completing the Missing Sister side quest, exploring the Fire Sanctuary, and hitting a Goddess Cube at the summit of Eldin Volcano.
As they make their way through Skyward Sword HD, players can find special medals that will provide passive perks when placed in Link's Adventure Pouch. Some are fairly useless, but there are one or two that can really make life easier for players, particularly when they're taking on some of the game's harder content.
Life Medals are easily the best of the available medals as they provide Link with an additional heart of health. There are two of them in total, the first of which can be purchased from Beedle's Flying Shop for 800 Rupees (400 if players use the discount given to them for completing the Beedle's Missing Beetle side quest). The second is obtained from a Goddess Chest on an island northwest of Fun Fun Island, although players will first need to deliver a Skyward Strike to a Goddess Cube in the southern section of the Lanayru Desert. They won't be able to get to the cube in question until they have the Clawshot, however.
Heart Medals increase the likelihood of Link finding hearts while down on the surface and can be useful if players are having a hard time keeping the young hero alive. There are two of them available, both of which can be found in Goddess Chests. The required Goddess Cubes are both in the Lanayru Desert area; one in the southwest portion where players use Ampilus shells to cross the sand and the other in the northeast section of the desert behind a bombable wall and some Clawshot targets.
Having the Potion Medal in Link's Adventure Pouch will double the amount of time that certain potions last, making it useful for those thinking about taking on the Thunder Dragon's boss rush mode. There's only one of them to find and it's locked away in a treasure chest on an island just west of Skyloft. Before they can open it, however, players will first need to deliver a Skyward Strike to a Goddess Cube at Skipper's Retreat. It's on a stone pillar around the area with the Metal Shield Moblin and can be reached by using the Clawshot to grapple onto some nearby vines.
As the name might suggest, the Treasure Medal increases the likelihood of treasure dropping from defeated enemies. To find it, players will first need to hit the Goddess Cube near the Bokoblin village by the Earth Temple with a Skyward Strike and then open the chest on one of the islands northeast of Skyloft.
The Rupee Medal increases the likelihood of Rupees dropping from downed enemies, broken pots, and cut grass. There are two of them available, both of which are locked away inside Goddess Chests. The corresponding cubes can be found on a platform coming off of the Great Tree in Faron Woods (players will need to drop down onto a nearby platform from the top of the tree and then cross a tightrope to reach it) and on top of Skyview Temple (accessed by using the Clawshot to grapple onto some vines) respectively.
If players have the Bug Medal in their Adventure Pouch, the locations of any nearby bugs will be marked on their map. It's one of many great items on offer in Beedle's Flying Shop and can be purchased for 1,000 Rupees (500 with the aforementioned discount).
The Cursed Medal will increase the likelihood of Link finding Rupees and Treasure, but also prevent him from opening up his Adventure Pouch while it's in there. This sounds bad at first, but it only actually prevents Link from using empty bottles and bottled items (Pink Fairies still revive Link). To get the Cursed Medal, players simply need to open the chest that shows up in Batreaux's house after they have collected 30 Gratitude Crystals and been given the Big Wallet.
NEXT: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD Complete Guide For Dungeons, Items & Collectibles
