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You need no specific number of hearts to start or complete a Divine Beast quest in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The 13-heart requirement sometimes mentioned in guides is for drawing the optional Master Sword, not for accessing the Beasts.
Do Divine Beast quests require a minimum number of hearts?
No. You can attempt a Divine Beast quest with your current heart containers; there is no heart-count gate for entering or completing one. Nintendo’s Breath of the Wild Explorer’s Guide describes the Beasts and their role, but does not set a minimum heart requirement.
More hearts can make combat less punishing, but you do not have to delay a Beast quest to collect a particular number first. The Beasts are described in Nintendo’s guide as “fearsome mechanical titans that have been terrorizing the four tribes of Hyrule.”
Why do players hear that 13 hearts are needed?
That number belongs to the Master Sword. Drawing it requires at least 13 permanent heart containers, according to Nintendo Life’s guide and Game8’s guide. Link starts with three hearts, so reaching the threshold means gaining ten more permanent hearts.
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- Discover Hyrule as never before: by making your own path, choices, and consequences
- Ingenuity is the key to survival: find multiple solutions to tons of dynamic puzzles
- Surprises hide around every corner: scavenge weapons, armor, plants, animals, and more
- Live off the land: find weapons and armor, cook food, and brew elixirs
- Utilize special technology: the in-game Sheikah Slate controls, objects and enemies in fun ways
The Master Sword is optional for approaching the Divine Beasts. Do not treat its 13-heart requirement as a prerequisite for Beast quests.
Do temporary bonus hearts count toward the Master Sword?
No. Extra yellow hearts from meals are temporary and do not count toward the Master Sword’s 13-heart requirement. Count permanent heart containers instead.
Rank #2
- Enhanced resolution, framerates, and load times optimized for Nintendo Switch 2.
- Explore a massive open-air version of Hyrule with complete freedom.
- Solve physics-based puzzles, survive dynamic weather, and uncover hidden secrets.
- Customize your adventure with weapons, gear, and food you craft yourself.
- Use the ZELDA NOTES app for bonuses, item sharing, and social features.
How can you build toward 13 permanent hearts?
You can exchange four Spirit Orbs at a Goddess Statue for a heart container, or receive a heart container for defeating a Divine Beast. The Beast rewards contribute to the Master Sword total as well. Spirit Orbs can also be spent on stamina, so the route depends on how many upgrades you choose to put into hearts.
Game8 gives these example routes to 13 hearts. They assume you choose heart containers rather than stamina upgrades when exchanging Spirit Orbs:
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Rank #3
![The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51xVZUUZ1hL._SL160_.jpg)
- Discover Hyrule as never before: by making your own path, choices, and consequences
- Ingenuity is the key to survival: find multiple solutions to tons of dynamic puzzles
- Surprises hide around every corner: scavenge weapons, armor, plants, animals, and more
- Live off the land: find weapons and armor, cook food, and brew elixirs
- Utilize special technology: the in-game Sheikah Slate controls objects and enemies in fun ways
| Divine Beasts completed | Shrines completed in the example |
|---|---|
| 0 | 40 |
| 1 | 36 |
| 2 | 32 |
| 3 | 28 |
| 4 | 24 |
These are progression examples for earning enough permanent hearts to draw the Master Sword, not recommended minimums for starting the listed number of Beast quests. The figures are from Game8’s Master Sword guide.
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