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HYRULE ATLASTHE FAN ARCHIVE
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2002 · Nintendo GameCube

The Wind Waker

Rescue Aryll, awaken two sages, and follow Hyrule's history beneath the waves.

Source & original artwork ↗
Nintendo artwork, archived by Zelda WikiImage source ↗1920 × 1280

Before you set out

Your journey, at your pace.

GameCube, first released in Japan in 2002. Original: eight Triforce charts. Wii U HD: three charts and five direct shards.

  • Set wind before sailing or gliding.
  • Feed Fishmen to map islands.
  • Upgrade your wallet for chart fees.
Begin the walkthrough ↓

From the beginning to the final encounter

A path through the story.

Story routes, puzzle solutions, boss tactics and collection planning. Linked references provide additional room maps and individual collectible locations.

0 / 27 steps completed

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01

Outset and the Forsaken Fortress

0 / 3 steps

Attempt Aryll's rescue.

Route and puzzle solutions

  1. Learn swordplay from Orca, rescue Tetra in the forest and board the pirate ship. In the fortress, disable the searchlights before crossing exposed walkways.

  2. Use barrels and careful timing to pass guards while unarmed. Recover the sword near the upper approach to Aryll.

  3. After arriving on Windfall, obtain a sail and free Tingle. Return to the King of Red Lions and sail east toward Dragon Roost.

Chapter references

Checkpoints

A useful detail

Barrels conceal Link only while still.

02

The first pearl

0 / 3 steps

Help the Rito on Dragon Roost.

Route and puzzle solutions

  1. Learn the Wind's Requiem, speak with the Rito and help Medli reach the upper ledge. Use water to restore the bomb flowers and open the cavern route.

  2. Inside, cool lava with water pots and use bombs for blocked passages. Rescue Medli to obtain the Grappling Hook, then swing across the large gaps.

  3. Hook Valoo's tail above Gohma to bring the ceiling down onto its shell. Once the shell breaks, pull or approach the exposed eye and strike.

Chapter references

Checkpoints

A useful detail

Swing the Grappling Hook before releasing toward a safe landing.

03

Forbidden Woods

0 / 3 steps

Rescue Makar for Farore's Pearl.

Route and puzzle solutions

  1. Clear the creatures from the Great Deku Tree and climb using Baba Buds. Obtain the Deku Leaf, set the wind and glide toward the Forbidden Woods.

  2. Use the leaf to operate wind devices and move suspended platforms. Cut vines with the Boomerang, marking several targets before releasing it.

  3. Cut Kalle Demos's supporting vines with the Boomerang. Run into the fallen flower to attack its core, then leave before it closes.

Chapter references

Checkpoints

A useful detail

Cut grass for magic before long flights.

04

Three pearls and a sunken kingdom

0 / 3 steps

Draw the Master Sword.

Route and puzzle solutions

  1. Follow the Greatfish Island lead back to Windfall and obtain bombs from the pirates. Return to Outset and blast the whirlpool barrier to meet Jabun.

  2. Place the three pearls on their matching Triangle Islands. In the Tower of the Gods, use the changing water level to navigate the lower rooms.

  3. Guide the statues with the Command Melody and obtain the Bow. Shoot Gohdan's hands and eyes, then throw a bomb into its mouth; descend afterwards and draw the Master Sword.

Chapter references

Checkpoints

A useful detail

After the tower, solve Hyrule Castle's Triforce block puzzle.

05

Return to the fortress

0 / 3 steps

Rescue Aryll and discover the sword's weakness.

Route and puzzle solutions

  1. Return to the fortress armed with the Master Sword and bombs. Defeat Phantom Ganon by returning his energy ball, then collect the Skull Hammer.

  2. Use the hammer on pegs blocking the rescue route. Climb the flooding tower and keep moving until you reach the rooftop arena.

  3. When the Helmaroc King drives its beak into the floor, hit it with the hammer. After breaking its mask, use the sword on the exposed head.

Chapter references

Checkpoints

A useful detail

Smash barred switches with the Skull Hammer.

06

The Earth Sage

0 / 3 steps

Restore the first half of the sword's power.

Route and puzzle solutions

  1. Learn the Ballad of Gales and obtain Fire and Ice Arrows. Freeze Fire Mountain, collect the Power Bracelets and open the Earth Temple's stone entrance.

  2. Learn the Earth God's Lyric and play it with Medli. Inside, use the Command Melody to aim her reflected light while Link operates switches and carries mirrors.

  3. Acquire the Mirror Shield and combine beams to remove light-sensitive barriers. Illuminate Jalhalla, lift and throw him into a pillar, then defeat the scattered Poes.

Chapter references

Checkpoints

A useful detail

Keep Medli near doors that require both characters.

07

The Wind Sage

0 / 3 steps

Finish restoring the Master Sword.

Route and puzzle solutions

  1. Use a Fire Arrow to thaw Ice Ring Isle's entrance and retrieve the Iron Boots. Learn the Wind God's Aria and find Makar behind the waterfall at Forest Haven.

  2. Guide Makar to planting spots with the Command Melody. Use the Iron Boots on spring mechanisms and the Hookshot to reconnect routes when the companions are separated.

  3. Hook Molgera's exposed tongue and strike it with the sword. Keep moving on firm sand and clear smaller worms when they interfere with your aim.

Chapter references

Checkpoints

A useful detail

Iron Boots hold down spring mechanisms and resist strong wind.

08

Eight pieces of courage

0 / 3 steps

Reopen the route to Hyrule.

Route and puzzle solutions

  1. Obtain the IN-credible Chart and work through the eight Triforce locations. Prepare the required equipment and rupees before setting off on a sea-wide collection trip.

  2. On GameCube, take each Triforce Chart to Tingle for deciphering before salvaging its shard. In HD, collect five shards directly and decipher only the remaining three charts.

  3. Use the correct chart and sea square to align the boat over the salvage light. Return to the Tower of the Gods once all eight shards are assembled.

Chapter references

Checkpoints

A useful detail

HD replaces five of these chart-and-salvage chains with direct shard rewards.

09

Ganon's Tower

0 / 3 steps

Bring the ocean journey to its conclusion.

Route and puzzle solutions

  1. Return to Hyrule and cross the restored route to Ganon's Tower. Complete the remembered boss rooms and follow the tower's visual clues through its maze.

  2. Use Light Arrows for Phantom Ganon and cut Puppet Ganon's strings before shooting the tail jewel. Watch the tail's position during its later forms.

  3. In the final duel, create openings with Zelda's arrows. When the battle changes, reflect her arrow with the shield to stun Ganondorf, then follow the sword opening.

Chapter references

Checkpoints

A useful detail

Replenish arrows and magic before the Puppet Ganon arena.

Collection field guide

Plan your final discoveries.

Use these routes alongside the edition-specific counters. The references link to individual locations and additional maps.

Sea charts, hearts and upgrades

  1. Feed the Fishman in each sea square to build the chart. Combine nearby islands, Great Fairies, Big Octos and salvage sites in one sailing route.

  2. Separate finding a Treasure Chart from salvaging its reward. Mark both stages before counting the associated heart or rupees as collected.

  3. Collect bottles and capacity upgrades before longer optional challenges. Use the edition selector because HD changes some charts and rewards.

Chapter references

The Nintendo Gallery and island errands

  1. Unlock the Nintendo Gallery and take usable photographs before losing access to a subject. Review the figurine checklist before boss encounters and one-time character scenes.

  2. Prepare a sailing route before collecting Forest Water for the wilted trees. The time allowance differs between the original game and HD.

  3. Complete Zunari's trading chain and the island side quests as separate objectives. Owning a decorative trade item does not mean every trade or display reward is finished.

Chapter references

Beyond the ending

Your route to 100%.

Chart the sea while building the photograph collection, rather than postponing every side quest.

This is a collection roadmap with editable counters and links to detailed locations. The bar measures completed checklist goals, not a percentage read from your game save.

41 Treasure Charts. Tingle Tuner hardware-dependent extras are listed separately.

Choose your adventure

Compare editions & modes.

See what changes before choosing your checklist. Each column uses the edition’s own collection targets.

Nintendo GameCube

41 Treasure Charts. Tingle Tuner hardware-dependent extras are listed separately.

Wii U HD

46 Treasure Charts and the Swift Sail; Miiverse delivery is no longer required.

Collection targets by edition
Goal & referenceNintendo GameCubeWii U HD
Finish the main story ↗IncludedIncluded
Pieces of Heart ↗4444
Sea chart sectors ↗4949
Bottles ↗44
Treasure Charts salvaged ↗4146
Nintendo Gallery complete ↗IncludedIncluded
All permanent upgrades and songs ↗IncludedIncluded
Island side quests and special charts ↗IncludedIncluded
Check every dungeon ↗IncludedIncluded
Swift Sail ↗Not includedIncluded
Tingle Statues ↗Not included5

These are checklist targets, not an overall completion percentage. “Not included” means the goal is absent from that checklist. Hardware-dependent extras and additional runs are listed below.

Explore & collect

Your collectible atlas.

Keep track of individual locations and return to the ones still waiting for you.

No integrated coordinate map is documented for this edition. Use these detailed location references with the checklist below.

  1. Feed Fishmen as you sail and unlock the Deluxe Picto Box early.
  2. Photograph bosses and limited encounters before they disappear.
  3. Sweep islands, salvage treasure and finish Windfall rewards before Ganondorf.
0 / 9 collection goals completed

Saved separately for this edition, in this browser.

Finish the main story

Follow the story chapters above, take every boss reward and reach the ending.

Locations & reference ↗

Submit all required pictographs; check the missable-subject list before major battles.

Locations & reference ↗

All permanent upgrades and songs

Finish magic, wallet, bomb and quiver upgrades, Hurricane Spin and all six songs.

Locations & reference ↗

Island side quests and special charts

Finish trading, Forest Water, Windfall errands, platforms, submarines and Big Octo rewards.

Locations & reference ↗

Check every dungeon

Compare each floor with its map; collect permanent equipment, maps, compasses and remaining treasure before leaving.

Locations & reference ↗
Additional challenges and special requirements
  • On GameCube, the Tingle Tuner and its statues require the compatible GBA link setup.
Take your progress with you

One file for all games, editions, map marks, story checklists and the N64 companion. Download it on the old address, then import it on the new one. Nothing is uploaded.

Keep the source close

Sources & further help.

Independent route notes written for this archive. For a specific room, collectible or alternate version, consult these credited references.

Game artwork and characters © Nintendo.
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