Post-Game Exploration & Secrets — Zelda: Wind Waker Guide

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Post-Game Exploration & Secrets — The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker Guide

Congratulations, hero! You've vanquished Ganondorf and brought peace back to the Great Sea. But the adventure doesn't end there! The Wind Waker is brimming with secrets, side quests, and collectibles that you might have missed during your epic journey. This comprehensive guide will help you uncover every last hidden gem, ensuring you've truly mastered the waves.

Heart Piece Collection

Collecting all 44 Heart Pieces is a true test of a seasoned adventurer. Each four pieces combine to form a full Heart Container, boosting your maximum health. Many are found through mini-games, side quests, or by solving environmental puzzles. Here's a rundown of some of the more elusive ones:

Needle Rock Isle: Use a Treasure Chart (Chart #23) to pinpoint a sunken treasure chest containing a Heart Piece.
Rock Spire Isle: Pay the Zunari's Shop a visit and purchase it for 950 Rupees.
Private Oasis: Win the high score in the Barrel Shooting mini-game. You'll need a steady hand and a good understanding of the cannon's trajectory.
Dragon Roost Island: After completing the main quest here, return and speak to the Rito Chieftain. He'll reward you for your bravery.
Pawprint Isle: Navigate the underground maze to find a chest. You'll need the Hookshot to reach certain areas.
Outset Island: Complete Orca's sword training challenge by landing 1000 hits. This requires patience and precise timing.
Windfall Island: There are several Heart Pieces here.
- Win the highest prize in the Battleship mini-game.
- Win the highest prize in the Sinking Ships mini-game.
- Help the rich man, Zunari, by lighting all the streetlights.
- Win the auction at the Auction House for a specific Heart Piece. This may take multiple attempts and strategic bidding.

Triforce Shard Hunt

While you collected eight Triforce Charts during the main story, eight more Triforce Shards are still out there, waiting to be unearthed. Each chart points to a specific location where a Triforce Shard is buried. You'll need to use your Salvage Arm to retrieve them from the depths of the Great Sea. Make sure you have plenty of Rupees for deciphering the charts at Tingle's Island!

Triforce Chart #1: Deciphered by Tingle. Leads to a shard near Greatfish Isle.
Triforce Chart #2: Deciphered by Tingle. Leads to a shard near Gale Isle.
Triforce Chart #3: Deciphered by Tingle. Leads to a shard near Stone Watcher Island.
Triforce Chart #4: Deciphered by Tingle. Leads to a shard near Southern Fairy Island.
Triforce Chart #5: Deciphered by Tingle. Leads to a shard near Needle Rock Isle.
Triforce Chart #6: Deciphered by Tingle. Leads to a shard near Bird's Peak Rock.
Triforce Chart #7: Deciphered by Tingle. Leads to a shard near Cliff Plateau Isles.
Triforce Chart #8: Deciphered by Tingle. Leads to a shard near Horseshoe Island.

Pro Tip: Deciphering all eight Triforce Charts will cost a hefty sum of Rupees (398 Rupees per chart). stock up by defeating enemies, selling treasures, or playing mini-games.

The Swift Sail (HD Remaster Only)

For players of the HD Remaster, the Swift Sail is a game-changer for post-game exploration. This magical sail allows your boat to travel at maximum speed without needing to change wind direction with the Wind Waker. To acquire it:

Head to Windfall Island.
Participate in the Auction House, which opens at night.
The Swift Sail will appear as one of the auction items. You'll need to outbid the other patrons. Be prepared to spend a significant amount of Rupees (typically between 200-400 Rupees, but sometimes higher).
Once you win, the Swift Sail is yours to equip from your inventory.

Deluxe Picto Box Quests

If you've upgraded your Picto Box to the Deluxe Picto Box (by trading a Forest Firefly to the Picto Box shop owner on Windfall Island), you can embark on several photography-related side quests:

Lenzo's Gallery: Lenzo, the photographer on Windfall Island, will give you a series of photography challenges. He'll ask you to take pictures of specific people or events. Successfully completing these will earn you a Heart Piece and other rewards.
Kamo's Statues: On Windfall Island, Kamo, the artist, wants pictures of various characters to inspire his statues. Take a picture of the requested character and show it to him. He'll reward you with a Joy Pendant for each successful submission.
Nintendo Gallery: On a small island in the Forest Haven sector, you'll find the Nintendo Gallery. Here, you can submit your pictographs of characters and enemies to be turned into collectible figurines. There are 134 figurines in total, and collecting them all is a massive undertaking! You'll need to take a perfect "color" pictograph of each character or enemy. Some enemies only appear in specific locations or at certain times, so keep an eye out!

Submarine and Ghost Ship Encounters

The Great Sea holds more than just islands. Keep an eye out for these unique encounters:

Submarines: Scattered across the map are several submarines. Docking with them will lead you to a small mini-dungeon or combat encounter, often rewarding you with a Treasure Chart or a Heart Piece upon completion.
Ghost Ship: The elusive Ghost Ship appears only during specific moon phases (which you can check with the Moon Pearl on your chart). When it appears, you can sail into it to find a challenging combat sequence, culminating in a valuable Treasure Chart.

Treasure Chart Completion

There are 49 Treasure Charts in total, each pointing to a buried treasure chest somewhere in the Great Sea. Many of these chests contain valuable items like Heart Pieces, Rupees, or even the coveted Magic Armor. If you haven't already, make it a priority to collect and decipher all of them. Use your Tingle Tuner (if playing the original GameCube version with a GBA) or the in-game map to mark the locations once deciphered.

Joy Pendant Collection

Joy Pendants are a valuable currency for certain side quests. You can obtain them by defeating Bokoblins, completing specific mini-games, or helping various NPCs. You'll need a total of 40 Joy Pendants to complete all related quests:

Teacher on Windfall Island: Give her 20 Joy Pendants to receive the Hero's Charm, which allows you to see enemy health bars.
Kamo on Windfall Island: As mentioned above, he'll reward you with Joy Pendants for successful pictographs.
Mila on Windfall Island: After rescuing her from the Forsaken Fortress, she'll occasionally ask for help. Giving her Joy Pendants will lead to a Heart Piece.

The Savage Labyrinth

Located on Outset Island, the Savage Labyrinth is a challenging, multi-floor dungeon filled with waves of enemies. Each floor presents a new combat scenario. Successfully clearing all floors will reward you with a Heart Piece and a valuable upgrade for your wallet, allowing you to carry more Rupees. stock up on potions and arrows before entering!

Big Octo Encounters

There are several Big Octos lurking in the Great Sea. These massive creatures are typically found in specific quadrants and are marked by a flock of seagulls circling above. Defeating them (usually by using your Boomerang to hit all their eyes) will often reward you with a Heart Piece or a large amount of Rupees. There are different sizes of Big Octos, with the larger ones offering better rewards.

Fishman's Knowledge

visit the Fishman on every island! For a small fee (usually 20 Rupees), he'll mark your map with important locations and information about the current island and its surrounding waters. This is invaluable for finding hidden caves, shops, and other points of interest you might have overlooked.

With these tips, you're well on your way to becoming the ultimate master of the Great Sea. Happy sailing, Link!