In The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening for Nintendo Switch a total of 50 Secret Seashells hidden on Koholint. Nintendo has thus greatly expanded the shell search compared to the Game Boy original and Link’s Awakening DX. In the classic versions there are 26 possible shells – 24 regular Locations as well as two additional bonus shells in the Seashell Mansion. In the Switch remake, however, you no longer have to show up at the bazaar with exactly five or ten shells. All rewards will be unlocked automatically once you have reached the respective amount.
Our order is largely based on the optimal course of our Link’s Awakening Walkthrough. This allows you to collect a lot of shells as soon as you get the ability you need, and avoid having to go back across the island later. The shell detector, which you get after finding 15 shells, is particularly helpful. It reacts as soon as there is an uncollected Secret Seashell in your immediate surroundings.
Rewards in Seashell Mansion
The Seashell Mansion is located in the east of Ukuku Prairie. You don’t have to hand in the shells individually: just enter the building and stand on the podium. If you have exceeded several thresholds since your last visit, you can receive the corresponding rewards one after the other.
- 5 Secret Seashells: A Piece of Heart. You can compare the find with our overview of the 32 Pieces of Heart.
- 15 Secret Seashells: The mussel detector. He reports when there is a mussel nearby that has not yet been found.
- 30 Secret Seashells: A special Chamber Stone for Dampé.
- 40 Secret Seashells: The Koholint Sword. It deals increased damage and shoots sword beams when at full health.
- 50 Secret Seashells: Another Chamber Stone as well as the ruby effect for Dampé’ Chamber Labyrinths.
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Secret Seashells 1 to 10: Mabe Village and Mysterious Forest
- 1. Secret Seashell – Eastern Mabe Village: From Marin and Tarin’s house, go to the right into the small field. Cut away the bushes or grass with the sword and examine the conspicuous area. Here you can already find one of the first Secret Seashells of the game.
- 2. Secret Seashell – Trendy Game: Another shell lies early as a price in the Trendy Game. It’s best to first get the Yoshi doll and Piece of Heart out of the way and then catch the shell with the gripper arm. If it falls unfavorably, you can move it piece by piece towards the output shaft in another round.
- 3. Secret Seashell – At Madam MeowMeow: Get the shovel from the corner shop. Then enter the right area or CiaoCiao’s hut at Madam MeowMeow and dig at the conspicuous spot. Another shell is buried there.
- 4. Secret Seashell – Path to Mt. Tamaranch: West of Dampé’ hut there is a signpost in the direction Mt. Tamaranch. There is a heavy rock to the right. As soon as you have received the Power Bracelet in the Bottle Grotto, you lift the rock and find the shell underneath.
- 5. Secret Seashell – Tabahl Wasteland: In the north of the Grimace Forest there are three small holes behind which you previously found a Piece of Heart. There is a single hole southeast of it. From this hole, stand two spaces to the right and then two spaces down. Dig there with the shovel and you will find the shell.
- 6. Secret Seashell – Zombie Depression: There is a single bush in the sandy area with the zombies or gibdos south of the cemetery. Cut him away. Below that is the next Secret Seashell.
- 7. Secret Seashell – Northern Mysterious Forest: Goes from Mr. Write’s house facing south toward Mysterious Forest. Near the northern entrance to the forest there is an inconspicuous open space on the trees to the left. Use the shovel there. BowWow can also draw your attention to the hidden find while accompanying you.
- 8. Secret Seashell – Northeast of Mr. Write: Northeast of Mr. Write’s house has a ladder leading up the rock face. Cut away the bush to the right of the ladder and dig in the exposed area with the shovel.
- 9. Secret Seashell – Flower circle in the Mysterious Forest: In the Mysterious Forest a Moblin patrols with a sword and Shield. Nearby you see a circle of flowers. Stand right in the middle and dig. Here too, BowWow reacts to the hidden shell if you still have him with you.
- 10. Secret Seashell – Chest in Mysterious Forest: Near the southern entrance to the Mysterious Forest there is a chest behind a heavy rock. With the Power Bracelet you can finally lift the stone and open the chest.
Secret Seashells 11 to 20: Tail Cave, Seashell Mansion and Pegasus Boots
- 11. Secret Seashell – Tail Cave: In the Tail Cave is located in the Large chamber has a clearly cracked wall. Blow it up with a bomb and enter the secret room. The shell is in the chest. If you didn’t have any bombs in the first dungeon, get them after the Bottle Grotto.
- 12. Secret Seashell – Seashell Mansion: There are several bushes to the right of the Seashell Mansion. Cut them away with your sword. The shell is under one of them.
- 13. Secret Seashell – Stone Labyrinth: Southwest of the Seashell Mansion lies a small labyrinth made of rocks. Almost all of them are just decoration or cannot be lifted. Find the one rock that Link can lift with the Power Bracelet. The shell lies underneath.
- 14. Secret Seashell – Owl statue at the Seashell Mansion: Go left from the stone labyrinth into the cave. Blow up the crumbling wall inside and follow the hidden passage to the stairs. Outside you will reach a raised platform with an owl statue. Dig right at her foot.
- 15. Secret Seashell – telephone booth of the Martha’s Bay: To the right of the telephone booth in the Martha’s Bay is a small corner from which you can already see the mermaid statue can. Cut away the individual bush there. The shell is underneath.
- 16. Secret Seashell – Prince Richard’s Villa: After you return the five golden leaves from Kanalet Castle to Prince Richard, he opens the secret passage under his house. First take the left path in the underground. Push a stone into the pit so you can jump to the chest. The shell lies there.
- 17. Secret Seashell – Roof of Key Cavern: After opening the Key Cavern respectively In the area above the dungeon you will find four noticeably arranged tufts of grass. Dig right in the middle of them.
- 18. Secret Seashell – Palm tree on Toronbo Shores: As soon as you have the Pegasus Boots, go to the western part of Toronbo Shores. Ram the lower right palm with a full sprint. The shell falls out of the tree.
- 19. Secret Seashell – Romantic Beach: Go to the eastern section of the beach, where the long tree trunk lies between two palm trees, on which the scene with Marin later takes place. Dig to the left of it directly on the rock wall.
- 20. Secret Seashell – Tree west of the Tail Cave: There is a single tree west of the entrance to Tail Cave. Sprint against it with the Pegasus Boots and the shell will fall out.
Many of these Locations can be connected to each other immediately after the Key Cavern. That’s exactly why we incorporate them directly into the normal route in our Walkthrough.
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Secret Seashells 21 to 30: Ukuku Prairie, Yarna Desert and Angler’s Tunnel
- 21. Secret Seashell – telephone booth of the Ukuku Prairie: There is a telephone booth in the west of the Ukuku Prairie. Directly to the right is a single tree. Ram it with the Pegasus Boots and collect the shell that falls out.
- 22. Secret Seashell – Giant Skull: In the Ukuku Prairie, a giant skull is blocking a path. Blow him up with a bomb. Under the remains or in the exposed area you will find the Secret Seashell.
- 23. Secret Seashell – Island southwest of the Animal Village: Southwest of the Animal Village a small bridge leads to an island in the Martha’s Bay. There is an owl statue there. Dig to her left with the shovel.
- 24. Secret Seashell – Yarna Desert at the cacti: Go to the owl statue in the north of the Yarna Desert. From there, run south between the cacti. At the end of the small sandy path you use the shovel.
- 25. Secret Seashell – Eastern Yarna Desert: From the stairs to the right of the northern owl statue, go south and always keep to the right edge of the desert. At the very end there are several heavy rocks. Lift it with the Power Bracelet and take the shell with you.
- 26. Secret Seashell – Walrus and Ballad of the Wind Fish: After Marin has driven the walrus away from the entrance of the Yarna Desert, you return later with the Ocarina back to the same place. Play the Ballad of the Wind Fish there. The walrus appears again and gives you a shell.
- 27. Secret Seashell – At the Angler Key lock: In the Tal Tal Heights you go from the keyhole of the Angler Key to the right towards the warp point. There is a small hole in the rock formation. Throw a bomb in and the shell will be thrown out.
- 28. Secret Seashell – Kanalet Castle moat: After the Angler’s Tunnel you have the Flippers. Below the keyhole of the Angler Key, a ladder leads into the water. Swim through the moat to the far left and then north to the small waterfall. Dive right where the waterfall hits.
- 29. Secret Seashell – Waterfall above the Wonder Tunnel: Swim to the right on the ledge above the Angler’s Tunnel entrance until you reach a single waterfall. Dives just below where the water meets the surface.
- 30. Secret Seashell – Cave to the right of the waterfall: There is a cave directly to the right of the previous shell. Blow up the fragile wall inside and follow the corridor to the stairs. You will come to a room full of Treasure Chests. The chests themselves contain mostly enemies and can be ignored. Instead, move the stone blocks so that the lower exit is accessible. Behind it you will find the shell.
Secret Seashells 31 to 40: flippers, ghost and Hookshot
- 31. Secret Seashell – Hanging Bridge at the Chicken Coop: Return west from the waterfall and climb up to the chicken coop in Tal Tal Mountain Range. A suspension bridge begins to the left of the stable. Stand on the first boards and throw a bomb into the small hole directly under the bridge. The explosion throws the shell out.
- 32. Secret Seashell – Island near the Key Cavern: There is a small island in the lake east or north of the Key Cavern. You can swim across with the flippers. Cut away the individual bush and take the shell with you.
- 33. Secret Seashell – Island in the Martha’s Bay: South of the telephone booth of the Martha’s Bay there is a small island in the water. Swim over and knock the bush away. The shell is underneath.
- 34. Secret Seashell – House of the Pink Spirit: After the Angler’s Tunnel, the pink spirit joins you. Take him to his abandoned house on the Martha’s Bay coast. Lift the jars there. Underneath one of them is a Secret Seashell. You then take the ghost to his grave and in the Switch remake you will also receive the second bottle.
- 35. Secret Seashell – Second Shell Prize of the Trendy Game: After completing the Wonder Tunnel, another shell appears in the Trendy Game. Catch them with the gripper arm. If a new figure is offered first, it wins and places it so that the other prizes can move up.
- 36. Secret Seashell – Cheep-Cheep at the fishing pond: After the Angler’s Tunnel, red ones can be found for the first time in the fishing pond Cheep-cheeps show up. Catch the first one. If the fish jumps out of the water, leave the line loose for a moment so that it doesn’t break. For a successful catch you get the mussel.
- 37. Secret Seashell – Goat Christine: In the exchange series, exchange the hibiscus with Christine in Animal Village for her letter and bring it to Mr. Write. Then return to Christine again. As a thank you for the successful delivery, she will give you a Secret Seashell.
- 38. Secret Seashell – Invisible Zora: After receiving the Magnifying Lens at the end of the exchange series, enter the northeast house at Animal Village. A previously invisible Zora now becomes visible in the water. Speak to him and you will get the shell.
- 39. Secret Seashell – In front of Kanalet Castle: To the left of the bridge or the entrance gate of Kanalet Castle there is a staircase behind several holes. After the Catfish’s Maw you move to the other side with the Hookshot. Climb down and open the chest underground.
- 40. Secret Seashell – Island in the Rapids: Start a journey through the rapids and use the Hookshot to pull yourself to the central island using trees and vines. Get out and dig in the upper right corner of the island. For this you need the shovel – if you traded it at Goriya for the Boomerang, you can buy it back in the Switch remake for 300 Rupees.
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Secret Seashells 41 to 50: rapids, dungeons and Tal Tal Mountain Range
- 41. Secret Seashell – Rapids race: Start the rapids racing variant at the raft rental company. For the Secret Seashell you have to achieve a time of under 35 seconds. Use the Hookshot on trees and vines to pull the raft through turns and against the current. Focus solely on the finish line and ignore Rupees. There is previously a Piece of Heart under 40 seconds, and a special Chamber Stone under 30 seconds.
- 42. Secret Seashell – Stone Labyrinth at the Ancient Ruins: There is a small stone labyrinth between the rapids and the ancient ruins. In the upper right area there is a single rock a little off to the side. Lift him up with the Power Bracelet. The shell is underneath.
- 43. Secret Seashell – Ancient Ruins: In the upper middle area of the ancient ruins is an Armos statue that comes to life as soon as you touch it. Defeat them – it’s particularly quick with Boomerang or arrows. A staircase appears beneath their location. Climb down and take the shell underground with you.
- 44. Secret Seashell – Face Shrine: In the Face Shrine there is a staircase in the northwest area out of the dungeon. You land on a small island in the area of the rapids. There is a Treasure Chest with the Secret Seashell.
- 45. Secret Seashell – Big Catch at the Fishing Pond: This reward is slightly misdescribed. The decisive factor is not necessarily the first “master of the pond”, but the size of the catch. According to the Catfish’s Maw, catch a fish between approximately 100 and 150 centimeters. A large blooper or an appropriately large Ol’ Baron can fulfill the condition. The first blooper also brings the heavy bait; However, the Secret Seashell depends on the size mark.
- 46. Secret Seashell – To the right of the chicken coop: In Tal Tal Mountain Range go right from the chicken coop over the suspension bridge. On the other side there are several heavy rocks. Lift it with the Power Bracelet. You will find the shell under one of them.
- 47. Secret Seashell – Eagle’s Tower: In the Eagle’s Tower you come to a room with a red Hinox. Drop down through one of the left holes in the floor. Link lands on a narrow raised ledge on the floor below. Follow the ledge north and open the chest with the shell.
- 48. Secret Seashell – Dampé: Build a total of four Chamber Dungeons at Dampé or complete the four challenges of the first level. For this early progress you will receive a Secret Seashell. If you visit Dampé continuously parallel to the main adventure, you can get this find much earlier than Shell 48.
- 49. Secret Seashell – Mt. Tamaranch: On the way to the Turtle Rock you reach a high section in the western Tal Tal Mountain Range with several heavy rocks and one Treasure Chest. To the right of the chest or in the upper area, lift one of the rocks. The penultimate shell lies underneath.
- 50. Secret Seashell – Western Tal Tal Mountain Range: Activates the warp point “Western Tal Tal Mountain Range” behind the stream of fire you create with the Mirror Shield crosses. Go left from the teleporter. You can see a cross-shaped arrangement of small stones on the ground. Stand right in the middle and dig with the shovel. If you followed our route, this is the last of the 50 Secret Seashells.
All 50 Shells Found: Final Reward
Once you have all 50 Secret Seashells, travel to the warp point at the Seashell Mansion with Manbo’s Mambo. Enter the building and stand on the pedestal. You get the last special Chamber Stone as well as a ruby effect for Dampé’ Chamber Dungeons. This completes the entire Magic Shell side quest.
You already got the stronger Koholint sword at 40 shells. It deals significantly more damage than the normal sword and shoots additional energy beams when at full health. It’s not absolutely necessary for the final dungeons and the nightmares, but it makes the rest of the game much more comfortable.
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What to do if only 49 mussels were found?
If you end up missing exactly one shell, you should first look on the world map. Shells that have already been found are noted there for the respective card fields. In addition, the shell detector reacts in many overworld locations as soon as you enter the right area. However, it does not reliably help with all mini-games and event rewards. This is precisely why the shell from Dampé’ fourth labyrinth, the second crane shell, the big catch at the fishing pond, Christine’s reward after the letter is delivered or the shell for the speed race are most often overlooked.
Also check the two dungeon finds: In the Tail Cave there is a shell behind a wall that can be blown up, in the Face Shrine a staircase leads to the island of rapids and in the Eagle’s Tower you have to fall through a hole onto the raised ledge. Such Locations are outside the normal overworld search and are therefore particularly easy to forget.