Zelda: Skyward Sword - Heart Pieces: Every Pieces of Heart location and Life Medals explained

Heart Pieces, Heart Containers and Life Medals locations in Zelda: Skyward Sword explained

Health in the Zelda series is tracked by a series of hearts found in the top left-hand corner of the screen. In Skyward Sword, you begin the game with six hearts, but this can be increased by finding Heart Pieces, Heart Containers and Heart Medals.

Heart Containers will increase your health metre by one full heart and there are six to collect from defeating the following bosses - Ghirahim in the Skyview Temple and Fire Sanctuary, Scaldera, Moldarach, Koloktos and Tentalus.

You can also increase your health by finding the Heart Pieces, which are scattered across the surface and the sky. You need to find four Heart Pieces to make one full heart and there are 24 Heart Pieces to be collected in total.

Finally, the last two hearts on Link's health metre are earned by placing the two Life Medals in your Adventure Pouch. It's important to remember that, if removed, you will lose one of these hearts.

The first Life Medal can be purchased from Beedle for 800 Rupees - remember you may need to purchase other items to make it appear.

The second is found by first activating the Goddess Cube located just south-west of the Lanayru Mining Facility. You will need to use the Clawshots - earned by completing the Silent Realm challenge in Lanayru Desert - to reach it.

You can receive the Life Medal by opening the Goddess Chest west of the Lanayru Desert entrance, just past Fun Fun Island. The chest can be found by climbing down the vines, which are located near one of the yellow flowers.

Skyloft Heart Pieces locations in Zelda: Skyward Sword

There are six Heart Pieces for you to find in Skyloft in Skyward Sword.

The first can be found once you've unlocked the Gratitude Crystals by talking to Batreaux. He will then reward you with a Heart Piece once you bring him 10 Gratitude Crystals.

For this Heart Piece, you must first unlock the Gratitude Crystals and visit Fledge in his room over two nights. During both of these visits, you must give him a stamina potion and, then, on of the third, you'll receive five Gratitude Crystals. You must also find the Wooden Bow on the Sandship.

With these conditions met, you'll now find Fledge outside of the Sparring Hall on Skyloft where he'll offer you a new mini-game - Pumpkin Pull.

To earn the Heart Piece, you need to get more than 600 points. This is done by consecutively hitting pumpkins to receive a higher score, so it may take some practice! It will also cost you 20 Rupees per game.

For the third Heart Piece, you must first have the Water Dragon Scale - obtained by completing the Silent Realm challenge in Faron Woods - and activate the Goddess Cube found along the eastern sand hill of Eldin Volcano.

To reach this Goddess Cube, you use the gust of wind on the left-hand side to reach the first platform and, from there, jump down to the platform below where the cube sits.

With this achieved, head back to Skyloft and swim into the tunnel located beneath the lakeside house. You will emerge in a storeroom containing the Goddess Chest and a chest containing 100 Rupees.

For the next Heart Piece, you'll need the Clawshots, which are earned by completing the Silent Realm challenge in Lanayru Desert. Next, head to the roof of the Knight's Academy and use the item on the Clawshot shot on the chimney.

You can then use the crawlspaces to reach Zelda's bedroom and, inside her cupboard, you'll find the Heart Piece.

To find the fifth Heart Piece, you must first activate the Goddess Cube at the Pirate Stronghold, which requires completing the mini-dungeon first. You will then be able to use the Clawshot spots above the door you exited the stronghold by to reach the Goddess Cube.

Returning to Skyloft, head to the entrance of the Waterfall Cave. There you'll find a collection of islands, which can be reached by using the Clawshots on the vines. These vines will allow you to reach the top of the waterfall where the Goddess Chest containing the Heart Piece lives.

The final Heart Piece on Skyloft can be brought from Beedle for 1,600 Rupees. You will have to buy a number of his items to make it appear on sale and, if you find Beedle's Insect Cage, Beedle will allow you to purchase one item at half price.

Lumpy Pumpkin Heart Pieces locations in Zelda: Skyward Sword explained

There are two Heart Pieces to be found on the Lumpy Pumpkin, which located to the south-east of Skyloft in Skyward Sword.

For the first you need to roll into the balcony on the second floor of the inn until the chandelier falls down.

The second is earned once you gain the Harp after completing the Lanayru Mining Facility dungeon and involves completing a series of tasks in forgiveness for breaking the chandelier.

First, you need to talk to Pumm, the owner of the Lumpy Pumpkin, and deliver some soup to Eagus in the Sparring Hall of the Knight's Academy in under five minutes. You will need an Empty Bottle to accomplish this.

Next, you need to carry a stack of pumpkins without dropping them from the field to the storage shed.

Finally, you need to visit the Lumpy Pumpkin at night and, luckily, there's a choice of two beds you can use. Once night has fallen, talk to Pumm and he'll ask you to accompany Kina's singing with your Harp.

You need to match your playing to the direction in which the customer's wave, but, no matter the success of your performance, you'll receive the Heart Piece.

The Sky Heart Pieces locations in Zelda: Skyward Sword explained

There are five Heart Pieces located in the sky of Skyward Sword.

For the first Heart Piece located in the sky, you need to activate the Goddess Cube outside the Skyview Temple.

You will be able to find the Goddess Chest containing the Heart Piece on an island south of the entrance to Faron Woods.

To open the Goddess Chest containing the second Heart Piece, you need to activate the Goddess Cube near the Temple of Time in the Lanayru Desert. You do this by performing a Skyward Strike as you ride past the Goddess Cube in a mine cart.

The chest itself is located on Beedle's island, which is in the top north-eastern corner of the sky.

For the next Heart Piece, you need to activate one of the Goddess Cubes in Faron Woods. To find this cube, you first need to earn the Clawshots from the Lanayru Desert's Silent Realm.

Once you have this item, return to Faron Woods and head to the root above the pond at the base of the great tree. Here you can grapple the Clawshot spot, so you can reach the Goddess Cube.

Upon returning to the sky, you can find the Goddess Chest on an island to the east of the Lanayru Desert entrance. You will need to fly above the island and dive inside to reach the chest, which can be reached with Clawshots.

For the fourth Heart Piece, you need to visit the area containing the waterfall on the Volcano Summit. This area also contains a gorge where, behind the pillar of rock directly to the left of the platform you can dive off of, is the platform containing the Goddess Cube.

The easiest way to reach this cube is to go around the right-hand side of the stone pillar. You can then leave this platform by using the Clawshots on the nearby vines.

The Goddess Cube can then be found on the island south-west of the Isle of Songs in the Thunderhead. To reach the chest you need to climb to the top of the tower and then drop down onto the ledge below.

The last Heart Piece which can be found in the sky is the only one which doesn't require you to activate a Goddess Cube first. Instead, you need to visit Dodoh on Fun Fun Island after you've visited the Isle of Songs for the first time and unlocked the Gratitude Crystals.

He's lost his party wheel and it's up to you to find it! To do so, head to the entrance of Lanayru Desert, which is directly, itself, by the entrance to the Lanayru Mine.

Here you need to hit a nearby Timeshift Stone, uncovering it with a bomb if necessary, to return this area to the past. You'll then be able to climb the nearby vines and ledge to reach the party wheel. With Scrapper in tow, you can return to Dodoh.

With his party wheel returned, Dodoh will now open his mini-game on Fun Fun Island and you'll earn five Gratitude Crystals.

To win the Heart Piece from Dodoh you need to fall through all five of the multiplier balloon rings and land on the 50 Rupee spot. Achieving this takes both luck and practice, so it's a good idea to visit Fun Fun Island with a full bag of Rupees.

Sealed Grounds Heart Pieces location in Zelda: Skyward Sword explained

There is one Heart Piece to be found in the Sealed Grounds of Skyward Sword.

To find it, you must defeat The Imprisoned for the first time and learn about Goddess Walls from the Goron archaeologist.

Next, you need to activate the Goddess Wall near the entrance to the Sealed Temple when he is nearby. He will give you a hint about what you can draw on the Goddess Wall and you need to correctly draw these symbols on the wall for him.

In return, he will give you a Heart Piece!

Faron Woods Heart Pieces locations in Zelda: Skyward Sword explained

There are two Heart Pieces hidden away in Faron Woods in Skyward Sword, with the first being available from the moment you step foot in the woods.

If you visit the pond at the base of the great tree, you'll be able to see a Heart Piece on a platform above the water. To reach it, you need to go up on to the nearby rope and walk across the tightrope.

The second Heart Piece can be found after you receive the Bomb Bag in the Earth Temple.

With a stock of bombs, you need to head towards the tree where you first talk to Machi the Kikwi. Along the way, on the right-hand side, you'll see a bombable wall and, once destroyed, you'll find the Heart Piece.

Skyview Temple Heart Pieces location in Zelda: Skyward Sword explained

You find one Heart Piece during your exploration of Skyview Temple in Skyward Sword, but you must have earned the Beetle first.

Once you have this useful item, you need to walk around the dome in which you fought the Stalfos until you find the Heart Piece locked behind a set of bars.

Now you need to release the Beetle and hit the switch atop the dome in front of you to remove the bars and earn the Heart Piece.

Eldin Volcano Heart Pieces location in Zelda: Skyward Sword explained

There is one Heart Piece waiting for you in the Eldin Volcano of Skyward Sword. To find it, you need to climb the platforms near the skeleton bridge.

Now all you need to do is follow the path around, until you reach the Heart Piece.

Lanayru Desert Heart Pieces location in Zelda: Skyward Sword explained

You can find one Heart Piece in the north-east corner of the Lanayru Desert in Skyward Sword.

To reach the Heart Piece, you need to head to the platform located to the north-east of the Lanayru Mining Facility and then head towards a bombable wall in the cliff surrounding the desert.

Follow the passage, killing Yellow Chuchus as you go, until you reach the chest containing the Heart Piece.

Sandship Heart Pieces location in Zelda: Skyward Sword explained

To find the Heart Piece on the Sandship in Skyward Sword, you must first defeat Screvo, so you can earn the Wooden Bow.

With the bow in hand, you can use the Timeshift Stone atop the central mast to turn the ship to the past. After this, you'll be able to climb up the central mast and, using the ziplines, find your way to the rear of the ship.

Here you'll be able to find a series of Clawshot spots, which will take you down the back of the ship to a chest containing a Heart Piece.

Lanayru Sand Sea Heart Pieces location in Zelda: Skyward Sword explained

To earn the one Heart Piece in the Lanayru Sand Sea in Skyward Sword, you must first complete the Sandship dungeon.

With that accomplished, return to the Shipyard and you'll discover that a Goron has opened up a new minigame - Rickety Coaster. As the name suggests, this minigame is all about racing around the mine cart tracks of the shipyard.

If you want the Heart Piece, then you need to complete the expert course, entitled Heart Stopping!, in under 65 seconds. Be warned - this may take a bit of practice!

Fire Sanctuary Heart Pieces locations in Zelda: Skyward Sword explained

There is one Heart Piece hidden away in the Fire Sanctuary of Skyward Sword and it can be found in the area just before you reach the walkway outside the boss chamber.

In this room, you'll have to use the Mogma Mitts to enter a burrow, so you can push a switch to move a gate. It's within this burrow that you'll enter a Mogma who will, at first, run away from you.

To earn the Heart Piece, you need to catch this Mogma, which is easily achieved through a bit of stealth and dashing.

Volcano Summit Heart Pieces location in Zelda: Skyward Sword explained

To find the Heart Piece at the Volcano Summit in Skyward Sword, you need to visit the cave before the entrance to the Fire Sanctuary.

Here, on the right-hand side, you'll find three digging spots and, with the Mogma Mitts, you need to burrow into the middle one.

Simply head through the burrow and you'll find the Heart Piece on the other side.

Lanayru Gorge Heart Pieces location in Zelda: Skyward Sword explained

There is one Heart Piece to be found in the Lanayru Gorge in Skyward Sword and, to earn it, you must first heal the Thunder Dragon. When you return to the gorge after this, the Thunder Dragon will offer you the chance to take the Thunder Dragon's Lightning Round.

One aspect of this minigame allows you to take part in a boss rush, where, without your Adventure Pouch items, you'll once again face the game's bosses. Both your health and shield health will also carry over from each battle, so it's a good idea to grab health from the boss rooms when you can.

The only exception is Bilocyte, while the separate battles against The Imprisoned and Ghirahim do count. If you want to battle Demise, then you need to replay Skyward Sword in Hero Mode.

You must win at least four battles to earn the Heart Piece. Though you will only receive it if you decide to end the boss battle run there.

Good luck collecting all the Heart Pieces in Skyward Sword and, if you need any more assistance, visit our Skyward Sword walkthrough.