In The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, when Link has maxed out his stamina, he will possess 29 hearts.
While Link begins his journey in the cold open with a formidable 40 heart containers and full stamina, this initial state is temporary. Upon progressing through the main game, players are faced with the strategic choice to upgrade either Link's health or his stamina. While the practical maximum number of hearts Link can achieve in the game is often cited as 38 hearts, this figure represents a scenario where hearts are prioritized. The specific number of hearts changes when you choose to maximize Link's stamina.
Understanding Hearts and Stamina Upgrades in TOTK
The upgrade system in Tears of the Kingdom revolves around Lights of Blessing, which Link obtains from completing Shrines across Hyrule and the Sky Islands.
- There are a total of 152 Shrines in the game.
- Each Shrine rewards Link with one Light of Blessing.
- At a Goddess Statue (found in towns like Lookout Landing or specific locations like the Temple of Time), Link can trade four Lights of Blessing for one upgrade.
- This upgrade can be either a Heart Container (adding one full heart) or a Stamina Vessel (adding one-fifth of a stamina wheel).
This means there are a total of 38 possible upgrades (152 Lights of Blessing / 4 per upgrade).
Achieving Max Stamina
To calculate the hearts with max stamina, we first need to determine how many upgrades are required for max stamina:
- Starting Stamina: Link begins with 1 full stamina wheel (comprising 3 segments).
- Maximum Stamina: The absolute maximum stamina Link can have is 3 full wheels (equivalent to 15 segments).
- Stamina Segments Needed: To reach 15 segments from 3, Link needs an additional 12 stamina segments (15 - 3 = 12).
- Upgrades for Stamina: Since each Stamina Vessel adds 1 segment, a total of 12 upgrades must be allocated to stamina to reach the maximum.
Calculating Hearts with Max Stamina
Once 12 upgrades are committed to maximizing stamina, the remaining upgrades can be allocated to hearts:
- Total Upgrades Available: 38
- Upgrades Used for Stamina: 12
- Remaining Upgrades for Hearts: 38 - 12 = 26 upgrades
- Starting Hearts: Link begins with 3 heart containers.
- Total Hearts with Max Stamina: 3 (starting) + 26 (from upgrades) = 29 hearts
Upgrade Allocation Summary
The table below illustrates the distribution of upgrades when Link has maximized his stamina:
| Resource Type | Starting Amount | Upgrades Allocated | Final Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hearts | 3 Hearts | 26 Heart Containers | 29 Hearts |
| Stamina | 1 Wheel | 12 Stamina Vessels | 3 Full Wheels |
| Total Upgrades | N/A | 38 | N/A |
Key Considerations
- The choice between upgrading hearts and stamina is permanent unless Link visits the Horned Statue, which allows players to reallocate their spent upgrades for a fee.
- This balance between health and endurance is a core strategic element in Tears of the Kingdom, influencing gameplay style and challenge perception.
In conclusion, if you prioritize maximizing Link's stamina to three full wheels in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, you will achieve a total of 29 heart containers.
