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Template:Ability The Life Gauge,[1] also referred to as Life Hearts in The Legend of Zelda,[2] Life Points in The Legend of Zelda,[3] Heart Containers in A Link to the Past and Link's Awakening,[4] Life Energy in Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask and the Template:OoX,[5] and the Heart Meter in Four Swords and The Minish Cap,[6] is a recurring element in Template:LZS. It is a meter that measures Link's current amount of health in Hearts.

Uses

Template:IncompleteListing The Life Gauge measures Link's current amount of health, represented in the form of Hearts (with the exception of The Adventure of Link, where Link's health is instead represented by square segments). Whenever Link takes damage, either by an enemy attack, a hazard, or by falling from a high altitude, Link will lose a certain amount of Hearts or part of a Heart equal to the damage taken. In earlier games, the Life Gauge's Hearts are in fractions of two. Starting from Ocarina of Time, Hearts are in fractions of four. When Link loses all of his Hearts, the game ends with a Game Over. Link's Life Gauge can be replenished by picking up recovery Hearts. The Gauge can also be replenished by drinking recovery Potions, using a Fairy, visiting a Great Fairy, or by resting while Sitting or Sleeping. In many games, Link can also instantly be revived and some or all of his Hearts restored provided he has a Bottled Fairy or a Potion with the effect.

In most multiplayer games, such as Four Swords and Four Swords Adventures, the Links each have their own Life Gauge. The Life Gauge is shared in single-player campaigns, as well as in Tri Force Heroes, wherein the Links all share the damage taken.

In most games, but not all, Link's Life Gauge starts with three Hearts. The Life Gauge can usually be increased by obtaining Heart Containers, which add an additional Heart to the Life Gauge for every Heart Container acquired. In some games, Link can also temporarily increase his maximum health through the use of items or equipment. The maximum total of Hearts the Life Gauge can have varies by game.

Often it is also possible for Link to enhance his defense against enemy attacks, thereby taking less damage than normal. This may either take the form of wearing certain equipment, using items, or by receiving permanent upgrades.

Main Series
Game Initial Total
The Legend of Zelda 3 16
The Adventure of Link 4 8
A Link to the Past 3 20
Link's Awakening 3 14
Ocarina of Time 3 20
Majora's Mask 3 20
Oracle Series 3 14
Four Swords 6
The Wind Waker 3 20
Four Swords Adventures 4
The Minish Cap 3 20
Twilight Princess 3 20
Phantom Hourglass 3 16
Spirit Tracks 3 16
Skyward Sword 6 18
A Link Between Worlds 3 20
Tri Force Heroes 8
Breath of the Wild 3
Other Appearances
Game Initial Total
Zelda (Game & Watch) 3 5
The Faces of Evil 3 6
The Wand of Gamelon 3 6
Zelda's Adventure 3 14
BS The Legend of Zelda 3
Ancient Stone Tablets 4
Battle Quest 6
Hyrule Warriors 10 60

The Legend of Zelda

The Heart Meter,[7] originally referred to as Life Hearts,[2] can be extended to a total of 16 Hearts in The Legend of Zelda.

When Link is at full health, he can shoot Sword Beams from any level Sword he possesses.

Link can enhance his defense to enemy attacks by obtaining the Blue and Red Rings, which reduce damage taken by a quarter and a half, respectively.

In addition to extending Link's Heart Meter, Link can also permanently decrease his Heart Meter as well. In the Second Quest only, Old Men encountered in certain dungeons will request that Link either pay them an amount of Rupees or give up one of his Meter's Hearts in order to pass. The sacrificed Heart can never be recovered, however, more Hearts can still be obtained by finding Heart Containers.

The Adventure of Link

In The Adventure of Link, Life Points are represented as a meter marked in square segments as opposed to Hearts.[3] Link's Life Points start with 4 segments, and can be extended to a total of 8 segments.

When Link is at full health, he can shoot Sword Beams from his Sword.

Whenever Link loses all of his Life Points, he loses an Extra Life and restarts at the entrance of the area he was last in. However, if Link loses all of his Lives and perishes, he will be forced from restart from the North Castle. The exception to this is if Link loses all his Lives while in the Great Palace, where he will restart from the Palace entrance instead.

Link can enhance his defense to enemy attacks by increasing his Life whenever he Levels up; this is separate from extending the meter, which can only be extended by collecting Heart Containers. Link's Life can be leveled up a total of eight times.

A Link to the Past

The Life Gauge,[8] originally referred to as Heart Containers,[4] can be extended to a total of 20 Hearts in A Link to the Past.

When Link is at full health, he can shoot Sword Beams with the Master Sword, Tempered Sword, and Golden Sword.

Link can enhance his defense to enemy attacks by obtaining the Blue and Red Mail.

Link's Awakening

The Heart Meter, originally referred to as Heart Containers,[9] can be extended to a total of 14 Hearts in Link's Awakening.

When Link is at full health, he can shoot Sword Beams with the Level 2 Sword.

Link can temporarily enhance his defense to enemy attacks by picking up a Guardian Acorn, which reduces damage taken by half. In Template:LADX, Link can permanently enhance his defense by selecting the Blue Clothes after clearing the Color Dungeon, which holds the same effect as a Guardian Acorn.

Ocarina of Time

The Life Gauge,[1] originally referred to as Life Energy,[10] can be extended to a total of 20 Hearts in Ocarina of Time.

In Ocarina of Time 3D, playing Master Quest mode will make Link take twice as much damage.

Link can enhance his defense to enemy attacks by receiving an upgrade from the Great Fairy of Courage found in the Fountain near Ganon's Tower. The upgrade creates a white outline around the Hearts in Link's Life Gauge, signifying the enhancement.

Nayru's Love can be used to temporarily negate all damage taken.

Majora's Mask

The Life Energy meter can be extended to a total of 20 Hearts in Majora's Mask.[5]

Link can enhance his defense to enemy attacks by receiving an upgrade from the Great Fairy of Courage in the Great Bay Coast. The Great Fairy will enhance his defense after Link brings back her scattered Stray Fairies from the Great Bay Temple. Identically to Ocarina of Time, this upgrade creates a white outline around Link's Hearts to signify the enhancement.

Oracle Series

In a non-Linked Game of Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages, the Life Gauge,[11] originally referred to as the Life Energy Meter,[12] starts with 3 Hearts. In a Linked Game, it starts with 4 Hearts. The Life Gauge can be extended to a total of 14 Hearts in a non-Linked Game, a total of 15 Hearts in a Linked Game, and a maximum total of 16 Hearts in a Linked Game while exchanging Secrets.

When Link is at full health, he can shoot Sword Beams with the Noble Sword or Master Sword. While wearing the Light Ring L-1 or Light Ring L-2, Link can shoot Sword Beams up to two and three Hearts missing, respectively.

Link can enhance his defense to enemy attacks by wearing certain Magic Rings. Some Rings will reduce damage taken overall, while others will reduce or negate damage taken only from specific attacks or hazards. The Protection Ring ensures that all damage taken is always equal to one Heart. Conversely, the Cursed Ring increases damage to attacks.

Four Swords

In Four Swords, the Links each have their own individual Life Gauge, and start with 6 Hearts each. In a single-player game in Four Swords Anniversary Edition, the two Links each share a Life Gauge. The Life Gauge can be temporarily extended by collecting Heart Containers, however, this extension lasts only for the duration of the Stage.

When all four Links are at full health, the Stage enters Rupee Fever, where the value of Rupees are doubled for as long as the Links maintain their health. This occurrence does not happen in a single-player game. If the Master Sword is obtained, Link will shoot Sword Beams when he is at full health.

Whenever a Link loses all of his Hearts in his Life Gauge, a Rupee penalty is paid in order to revive the fallen Link. The cost will increase each time a Link is revived. If the Links do not have enough Rupees to revive the fallen Link, the Stage ends.

A Link can temporarily enhance his defense to enemy attacks by picking up Armor Seeds, which reduce damage taken by half. This effect lasts only for the duration of the Stage.

The Wind Waker

The Life Gauge can be extended to a total of 20 Hearts in The Wind Waker.

In The Wind Waker HD, enabling Hero Mode will make Link take double damage.

The Magic Armor can be used to temporarily negate all damage taken, at the cost of draining Link's Magic Meter, or his Rupees whenever he is struck in The Wind Waker HD.

Four Swords Adventures

In a single-player game of Four Swords Adventures, the Links share a single Heart Meter and start with 4 Hearts.[6] In a multiplayer game, the Links each have their own individual Heart Meter. The Heart Meter can be temporarily extended by collecting Heart Containers, however, this extension lasts only for the duration of the Stage.

Whenever a Link loses all of his Hearts in his Heart Meter, a Force Fairy is used to revive him. If the Links do not have any Force Fairies to revive a fallen Link, the Stage ends.

A Link can temporarily enhance his defense to enemy attacks by finding a Blue Bracelet, which reduces damage taken by half. This effect lasts only for the duration of the Stage.

The Minish Cap

The Life Gauge,[13] originally referred to as the Heart Meter,[14] can be extended to a total of 20 Hearts in The Minish Cap.

Link can temporarily enhance his defense to enemy attacks by using the Blue or Green Charm.

Twilight Princess

The Life Gauge can be extended to a total of 20 Hearts in Twilight Princess.

In Twilight Princess HD, enabling Hero Mode will make Link take double damage.

In Twilight Princess HD, tapping certain amiibo will have an effect on Link's Life Gauge. Upon completing a section of the Cave of Shadows, the Wolf Link amiibo may be tapped to save a checkpoint of the amount of Hearts Link has preserved. The saved amount can then be used to restore Link's Life Gauge to that amount by scanning the amiibo while in the Cave of Shadows, and is also used to determine the number of Hearts Wolf Link will have when scanned into Breath of the Wild. Scanning Ganondorf's amiibo will make Link take twice as much damage, and will turn his Life Gauge blue to signify the change. Scanning the amiibo while in Hero Mode quadruples the damage taken.

The Magic Armor can be worn to negate all damage taken, at the cost of draining Link's Rupees. Conversely, wearing the Zora Armor increases damage to fire and ice-based attacks.

Phantom Hourglass

The Life Gauge can be extended to a total of 16 Hearts in Phantom Hourglass.

In addition to Link's Life Gauge, the S.S. Linebeck also has its own Life Gauge to measure its endurance and stability. Its Life Gauge is represented in Green Hearts. These Hearts will deplete whenever the ship is attacked or crashes into an obstacle. When the Life Gauge is fully depleted, the ship is destroyed, resulting in a Game Over. The ship's Life Gauge can be replenished by finding Green Hearts in the overworld, either by defeating enemies or destroying objects, or can be fully replenished by disembarking at an island. Initially, the default ship starts with four Hearts, and can be increased by assembling matching Ship Parts.

In the Goron Temple, Link shares his Life Gauge with Gongoron.

Link can enhance his defense to enemy attacks if he is accompanied by Neri and has given her Wisdom Gems.

Spirit Tracks

The Life Gauge can be extended to a total of 16 Hearts in Spirit Tracks.

Identically to the S.S. Linebeck in Phantom Hourglass, the Spirit Train also has its own Life Gauge represented in Green Hearts. Its Hearts will deplete whenever the train is attacked or crashes. The Train becomes destroyed if its Life Gauge is fully depleted. It can be replenished by finding Green Hearts in the overworld or fully recovered by disembarking at a station. The default train starts with four Hearts, and can be increased by assembling matching Train Cars.

Link can shoot Sword Beams while at full health if he has obtained the Swordsman's Scroll #1 and the Lokomo Sword.

Skyward Sword

The Life Gauge starts with 6 Hearts in Skyward Sword. The Life Gauge can be extended to 18 Hearts by collecting Heart Containers and all Pieces of Hearts. It can also be extended by an additional Heart by wearing Life Medals, which altogether can extend the Life Gauge to a maximum 20 Hearts.

Playing in Hero Mode will make Link take double damage.

Link can temporarily enhance his defense to enemy attacks by drinking a Guardian Potion. Drinking a Guardian Potion + will temporarily negate all damage taken for three minutes.

A Link Between Worlds

The Life Gauge can be extended to a total of 20 Hearts in A Link Between Worlds.

Playing in Hero Mode will make Link take double damage.

When Link is at full health, he can shoot Sword Beams with the Master Sword and its upgraded forms.

Drinking a Yellow Potion will temporarily negate all damage taken.

Tri Force Heroes

In Tri Force Heroes, the Links (as well as Doppels in a single-player game) all share a single Life Gauge and start with 8 Hearts. The Life Gauge can be extended whenever the Links wear the Jack of Hearts Outfit (which extends the Life Gauge by one Heart), the Queen of Hearts Outfit (which extends by three Hearts), or the Lady's Ensemble (which extends by one Heart). After acquiring 30 Hero Points, wearing the Bear Minimum extends the Life Gauge by two Hearts.

When Link is at full health, he can shoot Sword Beams if he is wearing the Sword Suit, the Sword Master Suit, or the Fierce Deity Armor. The Fierce Deity Armor can still shoot Sword Beams even without full health if a Spin Attack is charged.

Whenever the Life Gauge is fully depleted, a Fairy is used to revive the Links and the Level's Stage is restarted. If the Links do not have anymore Fairies to revive themselves, the Level ends.

Wearing the Serpent's Toga and standing still will negate all damage taken. Conversely, wearing the Bear Minimum or Cursed Tights will increase damage taken.

Breath of the Wild

The Life Gauge can be temporarily extended by consuming certain Foods that grant Link yellow Hearts. These Hearts are lost when Link takes damage and cannot be recovered, however, more can be obtained by eating another Food that gives the same effect.

Wolf Link, when scanned in with the Wolf Link amiibo, has his own Life Gauge. The amount of Hearts in his Life Gauge can be increased by scanning the amiibo in Twilight Princess HD after completing a section of the Cave of Shadows, which saves a checkpoint of Link's number of preserved Hearts that determine Wolf Link's health in Breath of the Wild. When all of Wolf Link's Hearts are depleted, he will vanish and cannot be scanned into the game until the following real-world day.

Link can enhance his defense to enemy attacks by equipping Armor. Each garment increases Link's resilience by a certain amount of defense points.

Other Appearances

BS The Legend of Zelda

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Ancient Stone Tablets

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Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland

In Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland, no named Life Gauge for Tingle appears. Instead, Tingle's health is measured in the Rupees he has collected, which in addition are also used in the exchange of items and services. Whenever Tingle engages with an enemy, he will gradually lose Rupees by a varying amount for as long as the battle lasts. Tingle can also lose Rupees if he gets hurt through other means, such as by falling into water.

Bodyguards have their own Life Gauge, known as Hearts.[15] Like stats, each Bodyguard has a different total of Hearts. Bodyguards will gradually lose their health as they engage with enemies and take damage. When a Bodyguard's health is fully depleted, they will leave Tingle's side. Their health can be restored by providing them with Power-Up Potions or by using Rupees.

Tingle's Balloon Fight DS

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Link's Crossbow Training

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Ripened Tingle's Balloon Trip of Love

Zelda (Game & Watch)

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The Faces of Evil

The Life Heart meter can be extended to a total of 6 Hearts in The Faces of Evil.[16]

When Link loses all of his Life Hearts, he will lose a life and a Continue screen with a counter will be displayed, allowing him the option of restarting at the entrance of the last area he was in. However, if Link perishes a total of three times, he will be returned to the world map and be forced to start over the Stage.

The Wand of Gamelon

The Life Heart meter can be extended to a total of 6 Hearts in The Wand of Gamelon.[17]

Identically to The Faces of Evil, a Continue screen with a counter will appear when all of Zelda's Life Hearts are depleted. If, however, Zelda perishes a total of three times, she will be returned to the world map and be forced to start over the Stage.

Zelda's Adventure

The Life Meter can be extended to a total of 14 Hearts in Zelda's Adventure.[18]

Whenever the Life Meter is fully depleted, Zelda must restart from either the Vision Henge if she is outside, or at the beginning of a Shrine if she perishes while inside one.

Battle Quest

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Hyrule Warriors Series

In Hyrule Warriors, each playable Warrior possess their own Health gauge.[19] At Level 1, Warriors begin with 10 Hearts, however, Warriors unlocked at higher Levels may start with more than 10 Hearts. Their Health can be extended by collecting Heart Containers and Pieces of Heart hidden in Scenarios, but can also gradually be increased as the character Levels up. Warriors who do not have any Heart Containers or Pieces of Heart to find can only extend their Health through gaining Levels.

The Health gauge for each warrior can be extended to a maximum of 60 Hearts. The maximum can only be reached after updating to Version 1.6.0, which increased the maximum Level to 255 in both Hyrule Warriors and Hyrule Warriors Legends. However, without purchasing any DLC Packs, only Medli will be able to reach the maximum in Hyrule Warriors. In Hyrule Warriors Legends, no Warriors can extend their Health gauge to the maximum without purchasing a DLC Pack. Any Character obtained as part of a DLC Pack will be able to extend their Health gauge to 60 Hearts without purchasing any additional DLC Packs.

Allied and opposing characters alike also carry their own visible Health guage, displayed as a colored gauge above their heads that matches the color of their Force. Their Health totals can also be found in the Battlefield Info menu. Allied characters whose Health are low can be recovered by touching the Rescue Area circle that forms around them.

If Link uses the Master Sword at full Health, all of his Combo Attacks will shoot Sword Beams.

Warriors will take increased damage when using Weapons with the Special Skills Regen and Sturdy Feet.

During "All attacks are devastating!" Battles or Battles following the "Don't Get Hit!" Master Quest or Great Sea Rule in Adventure Mode, the player Warrior will take devastating damage if hit. This will reduce the Warrior's Health to one Quarter-Heart unless they already had one Quarter-Heart, in which case the Health gauge will fully deplete. In Hyrule Warriors Legends, Companion Fairies with the Glass Cannon Rental Skill can also cause all damage a Warrior takes to become devastating.

The player Warrior's Health gauge cannot fully deplete unless they take damage when they have a Quarter-Heart of Health. If the player Warrior takes enough damage that their Health gauge should fully deplete, they will instead be reduced to a Quarter-Heart. Whenever the player Warrior's Health is fully depleted, they collapse. In Hyrule Warriors, the Battle is lost but in Hyrule Warriors Legends, if the Warrior is battling with a Companion Fairy with the Hard Worker Rental Skill, the Skill will automatically be used and revive the Warrior with 28 and a quarter Hearts. If the Warrior's Health gauge fully depletes again or the Warrior didn't battle with with a Companion Fairy with the Hard Worker Rental Skill, the Battle is lost. Depending on a Battle's circumstances, allied characters who lose all of their Health may either retreat from the battlefield without dire consequence, or may also cause the Battle to result in a defeat.

Etymology

TMC Forest Minish Artwork Names in Other Regions TMC Jabber Nut Sprite
Language Name Meaning
Japan Japanese ライフゲージ (Raifu Gēji) Template:ExpGame Life Gauge

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Life Gauge Hearts are depleted when you are struck by enemies, fall from high places, or otherwise get hurt." (Ocarina of Time 3D manual, pg. 8)
  2. 2.0 2.1 "The heart container increases the number of LIFE hearts that Link has." (The Legend of Zelda manual, pg. 22)
  3. 3.0 3.1 "LIFE points remaining" (The Adventure of Link manual, pg. 18)
  4. 4.0 4.1 "Heart Containers This displays the extent of your life-force with Heart Containers. If you are hurt, your Heart Containers will empty. If all your Heart Containers are empty, the game ends." (A Link to the Past manual, pg. 11)
  5. 5.0 5.1 "Life Energy This gauge displays Link's life energy. When Link takes damage, the number of hearts decreases, but energy can be replenished by collecting the hearts that appear after defeating enemies." (Majora's Mask manual, pg. 16)
  6. 6.0 6.1 "Heart Meter This is each player's endurance. When it runs out, your character is downed." (Four Swords Adventures manual, pg. 22)
  7. "You begin your adventure with only three Heart Containers. Search for additional Heart Containers to increase the number of hearts in your heart meter." (The Legend of Zelda Classic Series manual, pg. 20)
  8. "Life Gauge: This decreases when you are wounded. If it reaches zero, the game ends." (A Link to the Past & Four Swords manual, pg. 16)
  9. "Heart Containers This displays your life force in Heart Containers. Each time you get hurt, your Heart Containers will empty. If all your Heart Containers empty, your quest ends." (Link's Awakening DX manual, pg. 12)
  10. "Life Energy" (Ocarina of Time manual, pg. 12)
  11. "The hearts represent Link's life gauge. When you take damage it will decrease and if it runs out your game will be over." (Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages Virtual Console manual, pg. 8)
  12. "Your life energy is represented by Hearts. The Life Energy Meter decreases as you take damage. When your life energy is all gone, your game will be over." (Oracle of Seasons manual, pg. 20)
  13. "The filled hearts in your life gauge will decrease when you take damage from an enemy. When all of your hearts are empty, it is game over." (The Minish Cap Virtual Console manual, pg. 10)
  14. "Heart Meter Decreases whenever you take damage. Once it runs out, the game is over." (The Minish Cap manual, pg. 10)
  15. ""Watch the Hearts" You have to hear this!" — A Solana (Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland)
  16. "Your health is measured in Life Hearts. The number of Life Hearts you currently have is shown in the upper left corner of the screen when you are walking around the island." (The Faces of Evil manual, pg. 7)
  17. "Your health is measured in Life Hearts. The number of Life Hearts you currently have is shown in the upper left corner of the screen when you are walking around the island." (The Wand of Gamelon manual, pg. 8)
  18. "Each time Zelda finds and grabs one, her Life Meter increases by one heart." (Zelda's Adventure manual, pg. 3)
  19. "Health" (Hyrule Warriors manual, pg. 4)
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