Post-Game Content & New Game+

Find post-game content and start a New Game+ in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Collect treasures and tackle new challenges after saving Hyrule.

Congratulations, hero! You've vanquished Ganondorf, saved Hyrule, and restored peace to the Great Sea. But your adventure doesn't have to end there! The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker offers a wealth of post-game activities to truly complete your journey, from collecting every last treasure to embarking on a challenging New Game+ run.

Completing Your First Playthrough

Before diving into New Game+, there are several objectives you might have missed during your initial quest. These often involve extensive exploration and puzzle-solving, rewarding you with powerful items and a deeper understanding of the Great Sea.

Heart Pieces & Containers

If your heart meter isn't full, you still have work to do! There are a total of 44 Heart Pieces scattered across the Great Sea, forming 11 additional Heart Containers. Many are found through side quests, mini-games, or by simply exploring every nook and cranny. Check your Sea Chart for islands you haven't fully explored. Some common culprits for missing Heart Pieces include:

• Pawprint Isle: Complete the maze inside the cave.
• Needle Rock Isle: Use a Hyoi Pear to control a seagull and hit the switch on the rock spire.
• Flight Control Platform: Achieve a high score in the flying mini-game.
• Windfall Island: Win various mini-games at the Ferris Wheel, or complete the Pictograph Contest.
• Private Oasis: Defeat all enemies in the Savage Labyrinth.

Additionally, ensure you've collected all three full Heart Containers from defeating the main bosses: Gohma, Kalle Demos, and Molgera.

Treasure Charts & Sunken Treasure

The Great Sea holds a staggering amount of hidden riches. There are 49 Treasure Charts in total, each leading to a sunken chest containing either a valuable Rupee sum (often 200 or 300 Rupees), a Heart Piece, or a rare item. If you haven't found them all, consult your in-game map and the Fishman's hints for unexplored quadrants. To retrieve sunken treasure:

1. Locate the "X" on your Sea Chart, indicating the treasure's position.
2. Sail to the exact spot and use the Grappling Hook.
3. Reel in the treasure chest. Be prepared for a few tries if the current is strong!

Some Treasure Charts are rewards for completing side quests, while others are found in dungeons or purchased from merchants like the Beedle's Shop Ship.

Figurine Collection (Nintendo Gallery)

For the true completionist, the Nintendo Gallery on Crescent Moon Island (Quadrant B-2) offers a massive undertaking. Carlov, the eccentric artist, will craft detailed figurines of nearly every character, enemy, and boss you've encountered – provided you give him a Deluxe Picto Box picture of them. This requires significant time and often specific conditions to get the perfect shot.

• Obtaining the Deluxe Picto Box: Complete the "Lenzo's Assistant" quest on Windfall Island. This involves taking specific pictures for Lenzo, then showing the Forest Firefly to the potion shop owner.
• Taking Pictures: Equip the Deluxe Picto Box and snap a picture of your target. Ensure the subject is centered and clearly visible. Some characters only appear at certain times of day or after specific story events.
• Submitting Pictures: Sail to Crescent Moon Island and speak with Carlov. He can only accept three pictures per day cycle (dawn, day, night).
• Rare Figurines: Some figurines, like the "King of Red Lions" or "Ganondorf," require specific story progression or are only available after certain events. Don't worry about missing these; you can always return later.

Completing the entire collection is a monumental task, but the reward is a truly impressive display of Hyrule's inhabitants.

Other Collectibles & Side Quests

• Tingle Statues: Find all five Tingle Statues hidden in dungeons (Dragon Roost Cavern, Forbidden Woods, Tower of the Gods, Earth Temple, Wind Temple). You'll need the Tingle Tuner (GameCube version) or just keen observation (HD remake) to spot them. Each statue you find and report to Tingle will earn you 50 Rupees.
• Magic Armor: Obtain the Magic Armor from the merchant on Windfall Island after completing the "Trading Sequence" side quest. This powerful item makes you invincible for a short period, consuming Rupees while active.
• Swift Sail (HD Remake Only): If playing the HD remake, ensure you've acquired the Swift Sail from the auction house on Windfall Island. This dramatically speeds up sailing and makes exploration much more enjoyable.
• Bomb Bag Upgrades: Maximize your bomb capacity by finding the two Bomb Bag upgrades. One is from defeating the Big Octo near Mother & Child Isles, and the other is a reward for completing a mini-game on Spectacle Island.
• Quiver Upgrades: Increase your arrow capacity by finding the two Quiver upgrades. One is found in the Forbidden Woods, and the other is a reward for completing the archery mini-game on Pawprint Isle.

New Game+ (Second Quest)

Once you've completed the game and watched the credits roll, you'll be prompted to save your game. This save file will be marked with a small Triforce symbol, indicating it's a "Second Quest" or New Game+ file. Loading this file will start a brand new adventure with some unique differences and benefits.

What Carries Over?

Starting a New Game+ retains several key elements from your previous playthrough, making your second journey both easier and more interesting:

• Completed Nintendo Gallery: All figurines you collected in your first playthrough will be present in the Nintendo Gallery from the start. This is a huge time-saver if you're aiming for 100% completion on a new file.
• Deluxe Picto Box: You will begin the game with the Deluxe Picto Box already in your inventory. This means you can start taking colored pictures immediately, allowing you to complete the Nintendo Gallery much earlier if you wish.
• Hero's Clothes (Link's Pajamas): Link will wear his iconic blue and white pajamas throughout the entire game, even after receiving the Hero's Clothes from Grandma. This is purely cosmetic but a fun nod for fans.
• Hylian Text Translation: All instances of Hylian text that you previously translated (e.g., the stone tablets in the Earth and Wind Temples) will remain translated. This doesn't offer a huge gameplay advantage but adds to the immersion.

What Does NOT Carry Over?

Most of your progress and inventory items will be reset for the New Game+:

• Heart Containers & Pieces: Your heart meter will reset to the starting three hearts. You'll need to re-collect all Heart Pieces and Heart Containers.
• Rupees & Wallet Upgrades: Your Rupee count will reset to zero, and you'll need to find the larger wallets again.
• All Inventory Items: Swords, shields, bombs, arrows, bottles, and all other quest items will be gone. You'll re-acquire them as you progress through the story.
• Sea Chart Progress: All discovered islands and charted areas on your Sea Chart will be reset. You'll need to re-explore the Great Sea.
• Side Quest Progress: Any incomplete side quests will be reset.

Benefits of New Game+

The primary benefit of New Game+ is the ability to experience the story again with a head start on the Nintendo Gallery and the ability to take colored pictures from the very beginning. This is ideal for:

• 100% Completionists: If you missed any figurines or want to complete the gallery more efficiently, New Game+ is your best bet.
• Speedrunners: While not a traditional speedrunning category, the early Deluxe Picto Box can be useful for certain challenges.
• Casual Replays: Enjoy the story and world of Wind Waker again with a fun cosmetic change and a slightly streamlined experience for certain collectibles.

Whether you choose to meticulously complete every last detail on your first save file or embark on a fresh journey with New Game+, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker offers endless hours of adventure on the high seas!