If you're diving back into The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker on the Nintendo Switch 2 or reliving the HD version, powering up Link is essential for making your journey smoother. From expanding your wallet to unlocking stronger attacks and a broader arsenal, these upgrades are scattered across the Great Sea—and each one is worth collecting.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through every item upgrade location in Wind Waker HD, including wallet expansions, bomb and quiver upgrades, magic meter boosts, and even the hidden Hurricane Spin skill. We’ve also included how to unlock the Deluxe Picto Box, a side item that’s key for several completionist quests.
Let’s get started with the first and easiest to find: wallet upgrades.
Wallet Upgrades – Carry More Rupees Early
Link starts out with a very limited rupee capacity in Wind Waker HD, which quickly becomes a problem when buying items or collecting treasure. The good news? You can upgrade your wallet twice—and pretty early in the game.
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First Wallet Upgrade (Outset Island):
Once you’ve returned to Outset Island later in the story, use the Deku Leaf to float across the broken bridge that leads into the forest. Inside, use bombs to destroy a large rock blocking the entrance to a Fairy Fountain. Drop inside, meet the Great Fairy, and receive your first Zelda wallet upgrade, boosting your capacity to 1,000 rupees. -
Second Wallet Upgrade (Northern Fairy Island):
Head northwest from Windfall Island to Northern Fairy Island once you have access to free sailing. The Fairy Fountain here is easy to access—just bomb the entrance and go in. This Great Fairy will give you the final wallet upgrade, raising your max rupees to 5,000. That’s more than enough to hold treasure chart bounties and shop freely.
Bomb Bag Upgrades – Maximize Your Firepower
After you pick up the bombs as part of the main quest, you can seek out two upgrades to greatly increase how many you can carry. These help especially in combat, puzzle-solving, and exploring hidden areas.
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First Bomb Bag Upgrade (Eastern Fairy Island):
Sail to Eastern Fairy Island, where a large rock blocks the fountain’s entrance. Use your bombs to blow it open and meet the island’s Great Fairy. She’ll increase your bomb capacity to 60, up from the initial 30. -
Second Bomb Bag Upgrade (Southern Fairy Island):
On Southern Fairy Island, you’ll see a wooden barrier instead of a rock. Blow it up the same way, and inside you’ll find another Great Fairy. She provides your final bomb bag upgrade, bringing your total bomb capacity to 99—the highest in the game.
Quiver Upgrades – More Arrows, More Options
The Hero's Bow is one of Link’s core weapons, but you’ll need extra arrow capacity to make the most of it—especially in later dungeons or when facing tougher enemies. Just like with bombs, you’ll find two quiver upgrades hidden in Fairy Fountains.
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First Quiver Upgrade (Western Fairy Island):
After defeating Phantom Ganon and picking up the Skull Hammer at the Forsaken Fortress, sail to Western Fairy Island. Use the hammer to hit the large ground switch, which opens the entrance to the fairy cave. Inside, the Great Fairy will increase your quiver size to 60 arrows. -
Second Quiver Upgrade (Thorned Fairy Island):
This upgrade is on Thorned Fairy Island, where you’ll find three large switches. Use the Skull Hammer again to flatten all three, opening the path to the fairy. This second upgrade lets you carry up to 99 arrows—ideal for handling tough boss fights and late-game challenges.
Magic Meter Upgrade – Boost Your Spell Power
Link’s magic meter controls many abilities in Wind Waker, including the use of fire/ice arrows, the Deku Leaf, and the Hurricane Spin. There’s only one upgrade available, but it doubles your magic—and you can get it earlier than you might think.
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Magic Upgrade (Tingle Reef - Big Octo Battle):
After completing the Forbidden Woods and receiving Farore’s Pearl, sail down to Tingle Reef in the southern sea. There, you’ll see a group of seagulls circling. That’s your cue: it’s a Big Octo fight. Use bombs, arrows, or your boomerang to take out all four eyes. Once defeated, the Great Fairy will appear and double your magic meter permanently. It's one of the most valuable upgrades in the game, especially for exploration and combat.
Hurricane Spin – Unlock a Powerful Sword Technique
The Hurricane Spin isn’t a standard item upgrade—it’s more of a hidden ability that enhances Link’s combat skills. Once unlocked, it lets you spin rapidly while hitting all enemies in a circle around you. It uses magic power, but the damage and crowd control make it a worthy addition.
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How to Learn the Hurricane Spin:
First, you’ll need to collect 10 Knight’s Crests, which are dropped by Darknuts—large, armored enemies you’ll start encountering in the Tower of the Gods and beyond. The best way to farm these is to use your grappling hook during combat. Once their helmets are knocked off, you can steal a crest directly from them. After you’ve got 10, return to Outset Island and visit Old Man Orca, the sword master who originally trained Link. Show him the Knight’s Crests, and he’ll reward you by teaching you the Hurricane Spin.
Deluxe Picto Box – For Side Quests and 100% Completion
The Picto Box isn’t used in combat, but it’s a must-have if you’re going for full game completion or exploring Wind Waker HD’s side quests. With the upgraded version, you can take color photos, essential for certain mini-games and rewards.
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How to Get the Deluxe Picto Box:
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Get the Basic Picto Box:
On Windfall Island, find Tingle’s jail cell and open it. Behind it is a hidden crawl space that leads to a maze. At the end, you’ll find a chest with the standard Picto Box. -
Start Lenzo’s Photo Quests:
Bring the basic Picto Box to Lenzo’s photo shop, located near the school and windmill. He’ll give you three photography tasks:-
Snap a photo of a man mailing a love letter near the docks.
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Capture a scared man trembling inside the café (roll into the wall to scare him).
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Photograph a couple sharing a glance outside Lenzo’s house.
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Final Step (GameCube Only):
In the original version, one extra task is required. Travel to Forest Haven, near the Great Deku Tree, and catch a glowing Forest Firefly in a bottle. Bring it back to Lenzo to complete the upgrade.
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Once done, you’ll have the Deluxe Picto Box, unlocking even more side content and rewards.
Conclusion – Power Up Link for the Full Wind Waker Experience
Collecting every item upgrade in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker can feel like a side project—but it's absolutely worth it. From carrying more rupees, arrows, and bombs to unlocking the Hurricane Spin and increasing your magic meter, each upgrade gives you more tools to explore, fight, and complete side quests.
Whether you're playing Wind Waker HD or on the Nintendo Switch 2, the Fairy Fountain locations haven’t changed. That means it’s easy to follow this guide no matter your platform. And if you're a completionist, don't forget the Deluxe Picto Box—a key to unlocking some of the game's hidden secrets and quests.
With this guide, you're ready to explore the Great Sea with full power, complete every quest, and enjoy everything Wind Waker has to offer.
FAQ – Wind Waker Item Upgrades
Q: Where do I find the biggest wallet in Wind Waker?
A: You’ll get the largest wallet by visiting the Great Fairy on Northern Fairy Island after unlocking free sailing. It boosts your rupee limit to 5,000.
Q: How do I carry more bombs in Wind Waker HD?
A: You can upgrade your bomb bag twice—once at Eastern Fairy Island (up to 60) and again at Southern Fairy Island (up to 99).
Q: Can I upgrade the magic meter in Wind Waker?
A: Yes, by defeating a four-eyed Big Octo near Tingle Reef. After the battle, a Great Fairy appears and doubles your magic meter.
Q: What’s the Hurricane Spin and how do I get it?
A: It's an advanced sword technique that spins Link rapidly. Collect 10 Knight’s Crests from Darknuts and give them to Orca on Outset Island to learn the move.
Q: How do I get the Deluxe Picto Box in Wind Waker HD?
A: Start with the Picto Box from Tingle’s cell on Windfall Island, complete three photo quests from Lenzo, and you’ll automatically get the upgraded version in HD. In the GameCube version, you also need to bring a Forest Firefly to Lenzo.
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