The Sword is Link's main weapon. He cannot proceed through the game without it. You'll get the Fighter's Sword when you first meet Link's Uncle inside the secret entrance to Hyrule Castle. If you hold down the sword button until the tip of the sword flashes yellow, and you hear a sound, you can use the Whirling Blade Technique by releasing the button. Also, walking with the sword button held will let you walk anywhere while still facing in the same direction, and your shield will continuously block on one side of you. You'll find that Link always uses his sword with his left hand, except while facing east. This causes his shield to always face Death Mountain when he's fighting to the east or west. Later, you can use your sword or other items to attack a chicken. If you attack a chicken repeatedly, eventually the entire flock will retaliate against you. Just pick up the chicken you've been attacking to clear the flock.
This is the legendary sword of evil's bane. You must win the Pendants of Courage, Power, and Wisdom, and then retrieve the Master Sword from its resting place in the Lost Woods. With this sword, you'll be able to use the beam attack when your hearts are full. Only the true hero can wield the Master Sword.
Find the Blacksmith's partner in the lower part of the Village of Outcasts and lead him to his home in the Light World. In return, the two of them will temper your sword, giving you even greater offensive power.
The Golden Sword is the most powerful sword anyone has seen in the land of Hyrule. Use the Super Bomb to blow open the cracked wall in the Pyramid. Inside, throw your sword into the Wishing Pond, and the fat Faerie will reward your honesty with this devastating weapon. Don't forget to throw your arrows in the pond while you're there. You'll get the Silver Arrows (required to defeat Ganon) in return.
As with the Fighter's Sword, you'll receive this shield from Link's Uncle inside the secret entrance to Hyrule Castle.
After you obtain the Flippers, visit the Waterfall of Wishing. Along with the Boomerang, throw in your Fighter's Shield. You'll now have defense against fireballs. While you have the Fighter's or Red Shield, be careful in the Dark World when you come across Pikit, a strange little flower with a very long tongue. He'll steal your shield if he gets the chance (except for the Mirror Shield). If he gets your shield, destroy him before he takes anything else from you, and you'll get it back. Otherwise, you'll have to buy a new shield at one of the shops.
Found inside Turtle Rock, the Mirror Shield will protect you from eye beams, as well as giving you overall better protection. Also, if you hold the sword button, you can continuously block eye beams and dangerous projectiles on the side your shield is facing.
This is the clothing Link starts out in. It will protect a person from the cold, but is of little benefit for defense.
Deep inside the Ice Palace, you'll find the Blue Mail. It offers more protection than Link's standard clothing.
The Red Mail lies hidden in Ganon's Tower. It provides the best defense, reducing the amount of damage Link takes from enemies.
When you successfully retrieve the Pendant of Courage from the Eastern Palace, proceed to the Village Elder's hideout. You'll learn more of the legend of the Knights of Hyrule, and you'll get the Pegasus Shoes, which enable you to dash (run) quickly, and bash into things. Dash-bash into trees to find Rupees, Faeries, and bees. Be careful, though. Bees in trees come in swarms.
Make sure you have at least 500 Rupees on hand, and travel to Zora's Falls. Zora will sell you the Flippers. Now you'll be able to swim even in the deepest waters.
Unlock the secrets of the Desert Palace, and find the big treasure chest holding the Power Glove. This glove will help you to lift the light-colored green stones you find nearly everywhere in Hyrule.
Within Gargoyle's Domain, you'll get your hands on Titan's Mitt. It will give you the power to lift the darker green stones you can't lift with the Power Glove.
What magic does the mystical Moon Pearl hold, which allows it to overcome the formidable power of the Triforce? No one knows for sure, but Link will retain his human (Hylian) form even in the Dark World, after you've gotten the Moon Pearl from the Tower of Hera.
24 of these are scattered throughout the Light and Dark Worlds. Obtain four of them, and your number of Heart Containers will increase by one.
You'll begin your quest with 3 Heart Containers, your source for energy. As your experience and knowledge of places grows, you'll earn more of them. There is only one unguarded, unbroken Heart Container in the entire land of Hyrule. It is located in a treasure chest inside Sanctuary.
These are what sustains you. Small hearts can be found in pots, skulls, under bushes, etc. Some enemies, when destroyed, will also provide you with them. However, an enemy stunned with the Boomerang or Hookshot will give you nothing but a Rupee when destroyed. Small hearts give you the life you need to keep going.
As with small hearts, small potions can be found in many places. Each of these will fill up 1/8 of your magic meter. Try freezing enemies with the Ice Rod or Medallion of Ether, and then pounding them with the Magic Hammer. Quite often you'll receive (small or large) magic potions for doing this.
Just like small potions and small hearts, large potions can be found nearly everywhere. One large potion will completely fill an empty magic meter.
Rupees are the currency of Hyrule. Green ones are worth 1 Rupee. Blue ones are worth 5 Rupees. Red are worth 20 Rupees. Use them to purchase items in shops or to purchase special items or services from individuals. Make sure to visit the Fountain of Happiness. While you're there, throw some Rupees in to increase your capacity for carrying bombs or arrows.
These ancient creatures will help you restore your life. Each Faerie you come into contact with will raise your life meter by 7 hearts. You can catch Faeries with your Bug Catching Net, and store the Faeries in magic bottles for later use. If you happen to lose your life while you have a Faerie in a bottle, she will revive you, and you'll be able to continue where you left off.
A bee can be your friend as well as your foe. Bees are usually found by slashing grass and bushes, or by dash-bashing a tree. Sprinkle Magic Powder on a bee to turn it into a Faerie. Or, catch bees with your Bug Catching Net and store them in magic bottles. Release a bee from a bottle, and watch it attack your enemies. Locate the Good Bee in a cave northeast of Lake Hylia. If you catch this one, place it in a bottle. Release it, and after polishing off your enemies, it will nearly always return to you to be re-caught. If you don't want to keep the Good Bee, take it to the bottle merchant in Kakariko Village. Release it near him and he'll pay you 100 Rupees. By the way, the bottle merchant also has a taste for fresh fish.
Apples can be found by dashing into certain trees in and around
Hyrule. They help to restore your life.