ZD Top 5 – Items Appearing in Only One Game

The Zelda series is well known for its dependable set of items showing up in virtually every game — bombs, bow, and so forth. But what about those items that only ever appeared in one game?

This week, we asked Zelda Dungeon staff to rank their top 5 items that appear in only one game.

Which single-appearance items were most memorable for you? Which might you like to see again in the future? As always, leave your own rankings in the comments.

Alexis Anderson – View Profile

5. Cane of Byrna (A Link to the Past)
4. Cane of Pacci (The Minish Cap)
3. Magic Mirror (A Link to the Past)
2. Beetle (Skyward Sword)
1. Piece of Power (Link’s Awakening)

Zelda items are generally present in multiple games, so one-off items are few and far between. The Beetle was so much fun to use and it’s so cute; I think it was a fan favorite (somewhat) so we’ll see if it remains one-off. I remember always being so excited to get a Piece of Power in Link’s Awakening; it was always a good time. And the Magic Mirror was basically the gateway to the greatest thing about A Link to the Past: traveling between the Light and Dark worlds!

Jon Lett – View Profile

5. Kinstones (The Minish Cap)
4. Hawkeye (Twilight Princess)
3. Harp of Ages (Oracle of Ages)
2. Gale Boomerang (Twilight Princess)
1. Tingle Tuner (The Wind Waker)

I must say, as much as I adore The Wind Waker HD, and really like the Tingle Bottles, there will always be a place in my heart for the Tingle Tuner. When I first played The Wind Waker and got this item, I didn’t understand it and pretty much wrote it off as useless. But when I one day came across a Gamecube/Game Boy Advance connecter, I realized that greatness of this thing. I always used it on my own, as no one I knew was interested in Zelda, let alone playing in this strange second player mode. Still, seeing Tingle on that screen, occasionally giving you some commentary for your adventure, made up for the King of Red Lions’ relative lack of communication along your journey, and made you feel like there was always someone by your side wherever you went. He gave dungeons more character through stories of his own, he presented a new sidequest with his brother Knuckle, he gave you rupees for finding hidden gold statues in every dungeon, and best of all, he offered a shop you could use essentially anywhere, which included bombs, and a balloon to walk over gaps freely! This guy may be a bit of a creepy cheapskate, but he had one awesome piece of tech that helped Link greatly. Also, I loved seeing that speedruns of The Wind Waker, which I have had a great time watching, sometimes involved the Tingle Tuner. At least that means it hasn’t been forgotten.

Thomas Jacobs – View Profile

5. Great Fairy’s Sword (Majora’s Mask)
4. Stepladder (The Legend of Zelda)
3. Stone Mask (Majora’s Mask)
2. Deku Leaf (The Wind Waker)
1. Grandma’s Soup (The Wind Waker)

The Great Fairy Sword is a fun weapon to use, striking enemies for far more damage than with any other weapon you have. Unfortunately it’s found near the end of the game, severely limiting how much you can use it. The Stepladder is a simple item used to navigate the world, allowing Link to navigate obstacles, create shortcuts and navigate rooms in dungeons faster. The Stone Mask allows you to have some fun in the world, messing around with enemies or just speeding through certain segments with ease. The Deku Leaf is a well-designed item with multiple uses: it can be used to sail across chasms as a makeshift parachute of some kind, or to blow wind at enemies to stun them or at objects to solve puzzles. All that in a handy package makes for a fun experience. But the best would be Grandma’s Soup: it fully heals you, has two portions, and doubles your damage for a bit. I like the soup not just because it’s a very powerful healing item, but also because Grandma made it. Link is alone way too often on his adventures and he deserves a reminder of home while making his way across the Great Sea.