.jpg)
Let’s be real for a second. If you’re playing the Nintendo Switch remake of The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, you probably realized pretty quickly that the seashell hunt is a whole different beast compared to the original 1993 Game Boy version. Back in the day, you only needed 20 shells to get the Level 2 Sword. Now? There are 50. Finding every single seashell locations Link's Awakening map point is basically a full-time job for a tiny guy in a green hat.
It's frustrating. You’ll be slashing at a random patch of grass or digging near a cactus, wondering if you're actually making progress or just wasting time. But there's a specific rhythm to Koholint Island. Once you understand how the developers tucked these things away—hidden under rocks, buried in the sand, or gifted by eccentric NPCs—the hunt becomes way more satisfying.
Why 50 Shells is a Massive Jump
The shift from 26 shells (in the DX version) to 50 in the Switch remake wasn't just about padding the game length. It changed the entire reward structure. Honestly, you don't even need all 50 to feel powerful. At 15 shells, you get the Seashell Sensor, which is basically a life-saver because it beeps whenever you're near a hidden one. By 40, you get the Koholint Sword, which is the "Big Bad" weapon of the game. So why go for all 50? Because the final reward is a Trendy Toy and the sheer satisfaction of seeing that 100% completion stat.
👉 See also: The Truth About Slot Machines Poker Free Games and Why We Still Play Them
The Shell Mansion: Your Home Base
You’ve gotta visit the Seashell Mansion in the UKuku Prairie early. It’s not just a place to dump your loot. The meter on the wall tracks your progress and spits out rewards at specific milestones.
- 5 Shells: A Heart Piece.
- 15 Shells: The Seashell Sensor (Get this ASAP).
- 30 Shells: A Chamber Stone for Dampé’s dungeon builder.
- 40 Shells: The Koholint Sword.
- 50 Shells: More Chamber Stones and bragging rights.
Early Game Shells You Probably Missed
Mabe Village is deceptively dense. Most people find the one in the tall grass or the one you win at the Trendy Game, but did you know there’s one buried right under the ghost's house? Or the one you get for just being a jerk to CiaoCiao’s house?
Digging is your best friend. Seriously. Once you buy the shovel from the shop for 200 rupees, your gameplay should basically become "The Legend of Zelda: Agriculture Simulator." Dig in the middle of a circle of flowers. Dig at the end of a suspicious-looking path. If you see a patch of ground that looks even slightly different from its surroundings, shove that shovel in there.
The Tail Cave and Surrounding Woods
Inside the first dungeon, Tail Cave, there’s a wall you can bomb. It’s a classic Zelda trope, but in the heat of trying to find the Nightmare Key, a lot of players just walk right past it. Outside, in the Mysterious Woods, check the log where you found the mushroom. There’s a chest hidden there that only reveals itself if you come back later with the Power Bracelet.
The game loves to gate these seashell locations Link's Awakening rewards behind items. You see a shell on a high ledge in the woods? You aren't getting that until you have the Roc's Feather. You see one underwater in the pond near the fishing hole? You’ll need the flippers. It’s a constant process of backtracking.
The Brutal Middle Stretch: Desert and Swamp
The Yarna Desert is a nightmare for completionists. It’s huge, the sand looks the same everywhere, and there are Pokeys everywhere. There’s a shell hidden in the southmost part of the desert, tucked away in a corner that serves zero purpose for the main quest. Most people miss it because there's no reason to go there.
📖 Related: How to set up a PLS DONATE stand and actually get people to click
Then there's the Goponga Swamp. You'd think the shells would be in the water, right? Some are. But others are hidden in the reeds. If you have the Bow or the Hookshot, try hitting things that seem out of reach.
Don't Forget the NPCs
Some shells aren't found in the dirt.
- The Ghost's Grave: After you return the ghost to its home, go back to its grave near the Witch’s Hut. Dig there. It’s a bit macabre, but hey, free shell.
- Christine's House: In Animal Village, after you finish the goat's questline, come back and talk to her.
- The Fishing Hole: You need to catch a big lunker. Not just a regular fish, but a "Cheep Cheep" or a "Blooper" if they happen to spawn.
Late Game: The Mountains and the Rapids
Once you get the Hookshot and the Flippers, the map opens up. The Tal Tal Mountain Range is a vertical puzzle. You'll be falling down holes on purpose just to see if there’s a ledge with a chest. There is one shell located specifically in a treasure chest that you can only reach by jumping off a bridge in the mountains and landing on a tiny outcrop of rock. It’s finicky. You’ll probably miss and have to climb back up three or four times.
💡 You might also like: The GTA San Andreas Background Details You Definitely Missed
The Rapids Raid mini-game is another goldmine. You can’t just float down the river; you have to use the Hookshot to pull yourself against the current to reach the islands in the middle. If you just go with the flow, you'll miss at least two shells that are sitting right there in plain sight on the tiny islands.
Practical Strategies for the Final Ten
When you get to 40 shells, the sensor stops being helpful. It just stays quiet because the remaining shells are usually tied to specific mini-games or very late-game areas like Turtle Rock.
- Check the Telephone Booths: Sometimes Ulrira gives hints, though he’s usually pretty vague.
- The Crane Game: It refreshes. If you've cleared out the prizes, go do a dungeon and come back. A new shell might have cycled in.
- The Rapids Race: There is a shell rewarded for finishing the race in under 100 seconds. It’s tough, but doable if you master the Hookshot-to-tree maneuver.
Actionable Steps for Your Shell Hunt
Start by prioritizing the Shovel and Roc's Feather. You cannot find the bulk of the early shells without these. Once you have 15 shells, immediately head to the Mansion to get the Sensor. This device is the difference between a 10-hour hunt and a 30-hour hunt.
When you're stuck, use the Map Pins. The Switch version allows you to place icons on your map. If you see a shell you can't reach yet, pin it with a specific icon. Do not assume you'll remember where it was. You won't. The map is too dense and the art style, while beautiful, makes everything look remarkably similar when you're tired.
Finally, keep a close eye on the "suspicious" geometry. Circles of stones, lonely bushes on a cliffside, or a single tile of grass in a room full of tiles are almost always indicators. The developers at Grezzo were very intentional with the placement. If something looks like it was placed by a human and not randomly generated, hit it with a sword or dig it up.
Complete your collection by visiting the Manbo’s Mambo warp points frequently to check different quadrants of the map. By the time you reach the final dungeon, you should have enough to at least claim the Koholint Sword, making the final boss fight significantly less of a headache. Focus on the village, then the prairie, then the mountains, in that order, to maintain a steady flow of rewards.