Zelda: Skyward Sword

List of Upgrades: Best Item Upgrades and Required Materials

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Zelda Skyward Sword HD - List of Upgrades
This is a list of upgrades in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD for the Nintendo Switch. Read on to learn which items can be upgraded, the best items tp upgrade first, as well as the materials needed for all upgrades.

Best Items to Upgrade

Increase the Durability of Sacred Shield

Zelda Skyward Sword HD - Sacred Shield

The Sacred Shield is the second strongest shield type in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD. Unlike the Wooden Shield and Iron Shield, Sacred Shield will gradually recover its Shield Gauge or durability, making you more sturdy and stable in battles. In this game, shields are one of your most important pieces of equipment, so upgrade it first!

Sacred Shield Upgrades

Item Required Materials
Divine Shield IconDivine Shield Sacred Shield
Ornamental Skull x3
Dusk Relic x1
Bird Feather x2
Upgrade Price: 100 Rupees
Goddess Shield IconGoddess Shield Divine Shield
Monster Horn x3
Dusk Relic x4
Blue Bird Feather x1
Bird Feather x3
Upgrade Price: 150 Rupees

Strengthen Your Bow and Quiver Next

Zelda Skyward Sword HD - Strengthen Your Bow and Quiver Next

The next thing players will want to upgrade is the Bow and Quiver. This is obtained after Sacred Shield, but it is an almighty weapon you can use to defeat most enemies in the overworld and dungeons, so prioritize upgrading your Bow. Strengthen your Quiver as well to add more arrows to your stock!

Bow Upgrades

Item Required Materials
Iron Bow IconIron Bow Bow
Tumbleweed x3
Monster Claw x3
Evil Crystal x1
Eldin Ore x2
Upgrade Price: 50 Rupees
Sacred Bow IconSacred Bow Iron Bow
Tumbleweed x5
Lizard Tail x3
Goddess Plume x1
Evil Crystal x2
Upgrade Price: 100 Rupees

Quiver Upgrades

Item Required Materials
Medium Quiver IconMedium Quiver Small Quiver
Monster Horn x3
Dusk Relic x3
Amber Relic x5
Upgrade Price: 50 Rupees
Effects: Lets you hold 10 additional Arrows.
Large Quiver IconLarge Quiver Medium Quiver
Monster Horn x2
Golden Skull x1
Goddess Plume x1
Dusk Relic x3
Upgrade Price: 100 Rupees
Effects: Lets you hold 15 additional Arrows.

Catch More Bugs with Big Bug Net

Zelda Skyward Sword HD - Big Bug Net
Lastly, it is recommended to upgrade your Bug Net to Big Bug Net to make it easier to catch hard-to-catch bugs and Tumbleweeds. It is especially helpful in upgrading your potions and playing the Bug Heaven minigame.

Item Required Materials
Big Bug Net IconBig Bug Net Bug Net
Tumbleweed x3
Evil Crystal x1
Ancient Flower x2
Upgrade Price: 100 Rupees

List of All Upgrades

Tap to Jump Ahead
Shield Sword Bug Net
Beetle Mitts Slingshot
Bow Ammunition Wallet
Potion Adventure Pouch -

Shield Upgrades

Item Required Materials
Banded Shield IconBanded Shield Wooden Shield
Monster Claw x1
Jelly Blob x1
Amber Relic x2
Upgrade Price: 30 Rupees
Braced Shield IconBraced Shield Banded Shield
Tumbleweed x2
Ornamental Skull x1
Monster Claw x2
Amber Relic x3
Upgrade Price: 50 Rupees
Reinforced Shield IconReinforced Shield Iron Shield
Ornamental Skull x2
Monster Claw x2
Eldin Ore x2
Upgrade Price: 50 Rupees
Fortified Shield IconFortified Shield Reinforced Shield
Tumbleweed x3
Monster Claw x3
Eldin Ore x3
Blue Bird Feather x1
Upgrade Price: 100 Rupees
Divine Shield IconDivine Shield Sacred Shield
Ornamental Skull x3
Dusk Relic x1
Bird Feather x2
Upgrade Price: 100 Rupees
Goddess Shield IconGoddess Shield Divine Shield
Monster Horn x3
Dusk Relic x4
Blue Bird Feather x1
Bird Feather x3
Upgrade Price: 150 Rupees

Upgrading the shield increases its durability, allowing you to use it longer.

Note that upgrading the shield does not prevent it from being susceptible to the elements. This means that the Wooden Shield's upgrades and the Iron Shield's upgrades will remain vulnerable to fire and electricity respectively.

With this in mind, we recommend upgrading the Sacred Shield as it repels attacks from cursed enemies and is resistant to both fire and electricity.

How to Equip and Use A Shield

Sword Upgrades

Item How to Get
Goddess Sword IconGoddess Sword Obtained inside the Statue of the Goddess.
Goddess Longsword IconGoddess Longsword Upgrade the Goddess Sword after obtaining Farore's Flame.
Goddess White Sword IconGoddess White Sword Upgrade the Goddess Longsword after obtaining Nayru's Flame.
Master Sword IconMaster Sword Upgrade the Goddess White Sword after obtaining Din's Flame.
True Master Sword IconTrue Master Sword Upgrade the Master Sword after obtaining Hylia's Blessing.

The first upgradable sword you obtain is the Goddess Sword. This can be further strengthened after obtaining the three Sacred Flames, as well as Hylia's Blessing in the story.

Bug Net Upgrades

Item Required Materials
Big Bug Net IconBig Bug Net Bug Net
Tumbleweed x3
Evil Crystal x1
Ancient Flower x2
Upgrade Price: 100 Rupees

Upgrading the Beetle allows you to increase its range, making it easy to collect bugs.

If you are planning to farm for bugs or complete the Bug Hunt minigame, we recommend upgrading this item.

Beetle Upgrades

Item Required Materials
Hook Beetle IconHook Beetle Beetle
Free upgrade of the Beetle from the Ancient Robot in the Lanayru Desert.
Quick Beetle IconQuick Beetle Hook Beetle
Hornet Larvae x2
Golden Skull x1
Ancient Flower x2
Upgrade Price: 50 Rupees
Tough Beetle IconTough Beetle Quick Beetle
Goddess Plume x1
Blue Bird Feather x1
Ancient Flower x3
Amber Relic x4
Upgrade Price: 50 Rupees

The Beetle will be automatically upgraded to the Hook Beetle as you progress through the story. You can also upgrade it further at Gondo's Scrap Shop in Skyloft.

Mitts Upgrades

Item How to Get
Mogma Mitts IconMogma Mitts Obtained from Silva after defeating the two Magmanos in the Fire Sanctuary.

The Digging Mitts will be automatically upgraded to the Mogma Mitts as you progress through the story. This allows you to burrow underground and discover new areas.

Slingshot Upgrades

Item Required Materials
Scattershot IconScattershot Slingshot
Jelly Blob x3
Dusk Relic x2
Amber Relic x2
Upgrade Price: 50 Rupees

Upgrading the Slingshot to the Scattershot allows you to fire nine Deku Seeds at once while consuming one seed per use.

Bow Upgrades

Item Required Materials
Iron Bow IconIron Bow Bow
Tumbleweed x3
Monster Claw x3
Evil Crystal x1
Eldin Ore x2
Upgrade Price: 50 Rupees
Sacred Bow IconSacred Bow Iron Bow
Tumbleweed x5
Lizard Tail x3
Goddess Plume x1
Evil Crystal x2
Upgrade Price: 100 Rupees

Upgrading the Bow strengthens the damage output and range of your arrows.

Ammunition Upgrades

Item Required Materials
Medium Seed Satchel IconMedium Seed Satchel Small Seed Satchel
Ornamental Skull x2
Monster Claw x3
Amber Relic x4
Upgrade Price: 50 Rupees
Effects: Lets you hold 20 additional Deku Seeds.
Large Seed Satchel IconLarge Seed Satchel Medium Seed Satchel
Monster Claw x3
Golden Skull x1
Blue Bird Feather x1
Amber Relic x5
Upgrade Price: 100 Rupees
Effects: Lets you hold 30 additional Deku Seeds.
Small Bomb Bag IconSmall Bomb Bag
Purchase from the Gear Shop for 150 Rupees.
Effects: Lets you hold 5 additional Bombs.
Medium Bomb Bag IconMedium Bomb Bag Small Bomb Bag
Ornamental Skull x3
Lizard Tail x1
Blue Bird Feather x1
Upgrade Price: 50 Rupees
Effects: Lets you hold 10 additional Bombs.
Large Bomb Bag IconLarge Bomb Bag Medium Bomb Bag
Lizard Tail x3
Jelly Blob x4
Hornet Larvae x2
Golden Skull x1
Upgrade Price: 100 Rupees
Effects: Lets you hold 15 additional Bombs.
Medium Quiver IconMedium Quiver Small Quiver
Monster Horn x3
Dusk Relic x3
Amber Relic x5
Upgrade Price: 50 Rupees
Effects: Lets you hold 10 additional Arrows.
Large Quiver IconLarge Quiver Medium Quiver
Monster Horn x2
Golden Skull x1
Goddess Plume x1
Dusk Relic x3
Upgrade Price: 100 Rupees
Effects: Lets you hold 15 additional Arrows.

Upgrading the Quiver, Bomb Bag, and Seed Satchel allows you to hold more ammunition for your weapons.

You can also equip multiple ammunition bags in the Adventure Pouch to increase its capacity without upgrading it. However, since the pouch has limited slots, we recommend upgrading each of these ammunition bags to increase their maximum capacity.

Wallet Upgrades

Item How to Get
Extra Wallet IconExtra Wallet Purchase from Beedle for 100 Rupees.
Effects: Increases wallet capacity by 300 Rupees.
Medium Wallet IconMedium Wallet Give 5 Gratitude Crystals to Batreaux.
Effects: Lets you hold a maximum of 500 Rupees.
Big Wallet IconBig Wallet Give 10 Gratitude Crystals to Batreaux.
Effects: Lets you hold a maximum of 1000 Rupees.
Giant Wallet IconGiant Wallet Give 50 Gratitude Crystals to Batreaux.
Effects: Lets you hold a maximum of 5000 Rupees.
Tycoon Wallet IconTycoon Wallet Give 80 Gratitude Crystals to Batreaux.
Effects: Lets you hold a maximum of 9000 Rupees.

Upgrading the Wallet allows you to hold more Rupees. The maximum amount that you can have is 9900 Rupees.

To increase your wallet capacity, you need to collect Gratitude Crystals and show them to Batreaux.

How to Expand Your Wallet

Potion Upgrades

Item Required Materials
Air Potion + IconAir Potion + Air Potion
Skyloft Mantis x2
Sky Stag Beetle x2
Lanayru Ant x2
Upgrade Price: 20 Rupees
Effects: Gives you infinite oxygen for 3 minutes.
Guardian Potion + IconGuardian Potion + Guardian Potion
Starry Firefly x3
Faron Grasshopper x1
Eldin Roller x2
Blessed Butterfly x3
Upgrade Price: 40 Rupees
Effects: Gives you immunity to all damage for three minutes.
Heart Potion + IconHeart Potion + Heart Potion
Woodland Rhino Beetle x1
Volcanic Ladybug x1
Blessed Butterfly x3
Upgrade Price: 20 Rupees
Effects: Restores all hearts.
Heart Potion ++ IconHeart Potion ++ Heart Potion +
Sand Cicada x1
Eldin Roller x1
Deku Hornet x1
Blessed Butterfly x3
Upgrade Price: 30 Rupees
Effects: Contains two servings and restores all hearts.
Revitalizing Potion + IconRevitalizing Potion + Revitalizing Potion
Woodland Rhino Beetle x2
Skyloft Mantis x2
Deku Hornet x3
Upgrade Price: 20 Rupees
Effects: Restores eight hearts and fully replenishes the shield gauge.
Revitalizing Potion ++ IconRevitalizing Potion ++ Revitalizing Potion +
Woodland Rhino Beetle x2
Sand Cicada x1
Lanayru Ant x3
Gerudo Dragonfly x1
Upgrade Price: 30 Rupees
Effects: Contains two servings and restores eight hearts and fully replenishes the shield gauge.
Stamina Potion + IconStamina Potion + Stamina Potion
Volcanic Ladybug x3
Sky Stag Beetle x2
Gerudo Dragonfly x2
Faron Grasshopper x1
Upgrade Price: 20 Rupees
Effects: Gives you infinite stamina for 3 minutes.

Potions can be upgraded by using the materials you have collected and infusing them at Bertie and Luv's shop at the Bazaar.

How to Use Potions

Adventure Pouch Upgrades

Item How to Get
Adventure Pouch IconAdventure Pouch First Upgrade: Activate the first Goddess Cube in Deep Woods and open the Goddess Chest on Pumpkin Landing.
Second Upgrade: Purchase from Beedle for 300 Rupees.
Third Upgrade: Purchase from Beedle for 600 Rupees.
Fourth Upgrade: Purchase from Beedle for 1200 Rupees.
Effects: Allows you to carry shields, medals, ammunition upgrades, and bottle items.

Fledge gives you the first Adventure Pouch shortly after receiving the Goddess Sword in the story. You can increase its capacity further to allow you to hold more shields, potions, ammunition upgrades, and medals.

How to Expand Your Adventure Pouch

Related Guides

Zelda Skyward Sword HD - Items and Equipment Partial

List of Items and Equipment

Items and Equipment
Weapons Equipment
Bottle Items Medals
List of Upgrades

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