You can get the four bottles in Twilight Princess from Sera in Ordon, from Coro in the Faron Woods, while fishing in Hena’s pond and from Jovani for 20 Poe Souls. You can own the first two in front of the Forest Temple.
A reward bottle remains permanent after drinking or using up its contents. Keep a bottle free for Yeto’s soup for the Snowpeak Ruins and, if possible, fill all four with suitable healing before the Cave of Ordeals. The Cave of Ordeals and the HD Cave of Shadows play differently: You cannot use bottles in the Cave of Shadows.
Game version: The route and screenshots follow the GameCube version. The normal mode of Twilight Princess HD has the same orientation; on Wii and in HD Hero Mode, left/right and east/west are swapped. HD deviations are at the affected step.
Bottle 1 – Sera’s Shop in Ordon
You practically can’t miss the first bottle because it is part of the tutorial in Ordon. First, you help Uli get her missing wicker basket back. As a thank you, Link receives his first fishing rod from her. Then go to the small jetty by the water in the village. Sera’s cat sits there on the bank and watches the fish.
Equip the Fishing Rod and catch a Greengill. When you catch it for the first time, you will first be introduced to the mechanics of fishing. Then cast the line again and catch a second fish. The cat finally grabs the catch and runs back to Sera’s shop with its prey. This also clears the way for the next small task in the tutorial.
Now go to Sera’s shop in the village. The shopkeeper is so relieved by her pet’s return that she gives Link a Empty Bottle as a thank you. It is already half filled with milk. If you drink the milk, some hearts will be restored and the bottle will then be available for other content.
Bottle 1 of 4: Sera in Ordon – after her cat returns. The bottle initially contains half a portion of milk.
You should definitely not underestimate this first bottle. A little later you can use it to transport a fairy or lamp oil, for example. However, if you follow our complete 100% solution, you will get the second bottle almost immediately afterwards.
Bottle 2 – Coro in the Forest by Faron
The second bottle is also available very early. On your way through the Faron Woods you meet Coro, the headstrong lamp oil seller. He sits at his small camp or hut at the fork in the road between Ordon, the forest and the later Hyrule Field. Coro plays an important role during the first journey to the Forest Temple because Link receives his lamp from him.
Then talk to Coro again. He offers you a bottle full of lamp oil for 100 Rupees. The price seems comparatively high at this early stage, but you should definitely accept the offer. You’re not only buying the oil, but also Link’s second, permanently usable bottle. Once the lamp oil has been used or poured out, you can transport any other suitable bottle contents in it.
The oil supplied is immediately useful. On the further way through Faron you will need the lamp several times and some of the early caves for Pieces of Heart or later for the Poe Souls are much more unpleasant without a sufficient supply of oil. Therefore, save the lamp oil for now instead of pouring it out straight away.
Bottle 2 of 4: Buy the bottle of lamp oil from Coro in the Faron Woods for 100 Rupees. After the oil has been used up, the Empty Bottle remains permanently intact.
Bottle 3 – Hena’s Fishing Pond
The third bottle is hidden in one of the most unusual ones Locations of the game. After Lanayru Province becomes accessible, you can head north to the upper reaches of the Zora River Hena’s Fishing pond visit. This is where Twilight Princess’s most extensive fishing area is located, with canoe bait fishing, various species of fish, marble slalom, several specialty baits, and more Piece of Heart.
You don’t have to rent a canoe or use Hena’s special bait fishing rod to get the bottle. Left’s normal fishing rod from Ordon is sufficient. Walk along the bank until you reach the small bridge with the sign. The sign reminds visitors not to throw garbage or empty bottles into the water. It is precisely this clue that reveals what is hidden in the small area of water behind or next to the bridge.
Stand on the bank and throw Link’s normal fishing rod into the small, demarcated area. As with normal fishing, wait for a bite or a reaction from the float and pull in the line. If nothing special is on the hook on the first try, simply cast again. After a few tries, Link fishes a Empty Bottle out of the water. What was apparently trash for the previous owner is extremely valuable for our 100% collection.
Bottle 3 of 4: Fish with Left’s normal fishing rod in the small pool near the bridge and the garbage sign at Hena’s fishing pond. The bottle is already empty and can be used immediately.
If you are visiting the fishing pond anyway, you should make the most of your stay. One of the 45 Pieces of Heart lies on a rock formation in the middle of the lake. You can also catch Hyrule bass, Hylia pike, ordon catfish and the legendary Hyrule goby, unlock the frog bait via the marble slalom mini-game and later find the secret sinking bait. Our complete Twilight Princess solution combines these tasks into the shortest possible visit.
Bottle 4 – 20 Poe Souls for Jovani
The fourth and final bottle is connected to one of the largest Side Quests in the game. After completing the Lakebed Temple, Midna is seriously injured and Link takes her to Castle Town in search of Princess Zelda. During this section you will automatically enter the house of the cursed Jovani. The man got involved with dark forces out of greed and was turned into gold along with his cat Gengle.
In the house you, as Wolf-Link, defeat the first ghost and thus receive your first Poe Soul. Jovani then explains that his soul has been divided into numerous fragments and asks Link to track down the spirits scattered across Hyrule. In total there are 60 Poe Souls. To get the bottle you only have to collect 20 of them.
Ghosts in the open world appear predominantly at night. As soon as you discover a floating lantern, you transform into Wolf-Link and activate your sense. This is the only way the actual spirit becomes visible and can be attacked. After several hits he lies on the ground and Wolf-Link is able to snatch his soul. Our detailed guide to all 60 Poe Souls takes you chronologically through all Locations and gets you to the required 20 copies relatively early on.
Give 20 Poe Souls and receive Great Fairy’s Tears
As soon as you at least 20 Poe Souls If you have it, you return to Jovani in Castle Town. Part of his curse is lifted and he can move again, but remains trapped in his golden form. As a thank you for your help so far, he gives it to Link fourth bottle. Unlike the third one, it is by no means empty, but is already filled with one of the most valuable remedies in the entire game: Great Fairy’s Tears.
Great Fairy’s Tears restores Link’s entire health when he drinks it and then temporarily increases his attack power. It is therefore particularly valuable for particularly difficult challenges such as the Cave of Ordeals, later dungeon fights or the finale in Hyrule Castle. Think carefully about when you use the first Great Fairy’s Tears. A permanent renewable source will only become available after the Cave of Ordeals is fully completed.
In Twilight Princess HD, after 20 Poe Souls you will also receive the exclusive ghost lamp. It begins to glow when there is still an uncollected Poe Soul in Link’s current area, making the search for the remaining 40 ghosts much easier.
Bottle 4 of 4: Collect 20 Poe Souls and return to Jovani. As a reward you will receive the fourth bottle, already filled with Great Fairy’s Tears. In Twilight Princess HD the ghost lamp is also added.
What can you store in bottles?
The four bottles in Twilight Princess can transport significantly more than normal healing potions. The first one already contains milk, while Coro’s bottle is filled with lamp oil. Later you can buy red or blue elixir from merchants, collect fairies, bottle various types of Chu Jelly or transport the valuable Great Fairy’s Tears. Yeto’s soup in the Snowpeak Ruins can also be taken in a bottle.
For certain Side Quests bottles also serve as transport containers. These include, for example, bee larvae and earthworms for fishing as well as Goron spring water for the side quest around the Malo Mart and one of the Pieces of Heart. A free bottle is therefore regularly useful outside of battles.
Fairies – the best protection for difficult fights
Fairies are one of the most practical bottle contents. If Link’s health runs out completely, a captured fairy automatically uses its healing effects and revives him. This can make up for a single mistake during a difficult boss or on the final levels of the Cave of Ordeals. Alternatively, you can release a fairy from the bottle yourself at any time to heal you instantly.
You can find fairies in certain jars in front of bosses, among other things. After you cross the Cave of Ordeals in sections, fairies will also gradually be unlocked at the sources of the light spirits. This means you will have several reliable places to refill your bottles later.
Great Fairy’s Tears – strongest regular bottle content
The Great Fairy’s Tears from Jovani’s fourth bottle is one of the most powerful consumables in the game. It fills Link’s entire heart bar and temporarily increases his attack power. The rare glittering Chu Jelly has a similar effect, but is much more difficult to obtain.
After completing all 50 levels of the Cave of Ordeals, Great Fairy’s Tears will also be available at the Sources of the Light Spirits. This means you can equip yourself perfectly for the final stages of the game. Appropriate preparation is worthwhile, especially before the Palace of Twilight and Hyrule Castle.
Red, blue and purple Chu Jelly
Defeated Chus can drop different types of jelly, which can be picked up with an empty bottle. Red Chu Jelly restores health and is suitable as a free replacement for a purchased red elixir. Blue Chu Jelly is significantly more valuable and restores Link’s entire heart bar. You should therefore prefer blue jelly, especially on long exploration tours and before difficult fights.
Purple Chu Jelly, on the other hand, is risky. Its effect is random and can be both helpful and detrimental. You shouldn’t rely on it for the important final levels of the Cave of Ordeals or a boss fight. Even rarer is glittering or rare Chu Jelly, which fills up all hearts and also increases Link’s attack power.
lamp acid or lamp oil
Lamp oil is needed regularly, especially during the first half of the game. The lamp slowly uses up its oil supply each time it is used, and in long caves the light may go out before Link reaches the exit. Coro sells both the second bottle of oil and later refills. You can find further options for refilling at various points in the game.
Especially the large lantern cave at Lake Hylia, in which several Poe Souls, a Piece of Heart and in Twilight Princess HD additional stamps are hidden consume a significant portion of the oil supply. A bottle of reserve oil makes exploring there much more relaxed.
Bee larvae and earthworms for fishing
Fishing lures are also transported in bottles. You can find bee larvae in various bee nests and earthworms can be dug up in certain places as a wolf link. If you attach them to Link’s normal rod, they increase the chance that fish will bite and help you hunt larger specimens.
Such additional baits are not absolutely necessary for the main action. However, if you want to fill the catch book and experience all the contents of Hena’s fishing pond, you should at least occasionally have a free bottle available for fishing bait.
Yetos soup in the Snowpeak Ruins
While exploring the Snowpeak Ruins, Yeto is cooking soup in the kitchen. At the beginning it is relatively weak, but the ingredients that Link finds throughout the dungeon improve the dish several times. The end result is a particularly strong soup that restores a large amount of health.
If you have a free bottle, you can fill a portion for free and drink it later if necessary. After that you can come back at any time and have soup again. Since the Snowpeak Ruins only offers a few normal healing options, this bottle mechanic is particularly useful during the dungeon.
Which bottle filling is best for the Cave of Ordeals?
To complete the 50 levels of Cave of Ordeals you should have all four bottles. A very safe composition consists of several high-quality remedies and at least one fairy. Great Fairy’s Tears or glittering Chu Jelly provides the strongest direct healing, while the fairy acts as an automatic backup in case Link unexpectedly loses all of his health.
Which exact combination is ideal depends on your maximum heart bar and your play style. If you already own all 45 Pieces of Heart or a large part of them, high-quality remedies will last much longer. In conjunction with the magical armor and a well-filled wallet, even the last levels with several Shadow Guards can be played with much more control.
Can you miss a bottle?
None of the four bottles are permanently lost. If you initially decline Coro’s offer, you can return later and continue purchasing the bottle of lamp oil. The bottle at the fishing pond also stays in the water until you actually fish it out. Jovani’s reward is also waiting for you once you have collected the required 20 Poe Souls.
The first bottle at Sera, on the other hand, is practically part of the normal tutorial flow in Ordon and is usually collected automatically during the early main story. If you’re still missing a bottle towards the end of the game, it’s almost always Hena’s fishing pond or the one that isn’t advanced enough Poe Soul Quest the cause.
When is the earliest time you can own all four bottles?
You can own the first two bottles in front of the Forest Temple. Hena’s bottle becomes available once you can reach the upper reaches of the Zora River and thus the fishing pond. The last bottle is not attached to a specific dungeon, but to the 20 Poe Souls. Since the ghost hunt can only be meaningfully started after Jovani’s introduction and the free wolf transformation, you will receive the fourth bottle much later than the first three.
If you follow our chronological solution for all 60 Poe Souls, you will reach the 20 souls mark long before the finale. This means you have all four bottles available for the more demanding dungeons and the Cave of Ordeals.
With Sera’s milk bottle, Coro’s oil bottle, the find at the fishing pond and Jovani’s Great Fairy’s Tears bottle, Link owns all four bottles from Twilight Princess. Especially because two of them are available in the first few hours of play, it’s worth starting your collection early. More bottles mean more medicine, additional fishing bait and much more flexibility at Side Quests.
Bottle Search also directly overlaps with many other parts of our Twilight Princess 100% Walkthrough. In Ordon you learn to fish at the same time, Coro’s bottle is on the way to the Forest Temple, Hena’s fishing pond also contains one of the 45 Pieces of Heart and the fourth bottle leads directly to the great search for the 60 Poe Souls. This means that the collection fits perfectly into our chronological 100% route.