You need 13 full heart containers to pull the Master Sword in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

How Many Hearts for Master Sword in BOTW?

To actually claim the Master Sword from its pedestal in the Lost Woods, Link must meet a strict requirement:

  • You must have 13 permanent (red) hearts.
  • Temporary/yellow hearts do not count toward this requirement.
  • If you try with fewer than 13, the sword’s drain will kill Link before he finishes pulling it out.

You start the game with 3 hearts , so you need 10 more Heart Containers from:

  • Defeating Divine Beasts (each gives 1 Heart Container).
  • Trading 4 Spirit Orbs at a Goddess Statue for a Heart Container (from Shrines).

Some players who invested heavily in stamina use the Horned Statue in Hateno Village to swap stamina vessels for heart containers, grab the Master Sword, then swap back.

Quick Scoop (Forum/Trending Style)

“You need 13 hearts. Yellow ones don’t count. If you’ve got too much stamina, just trade it at the evil statue, grab the sword, then switch back.”

Lately, community discussions still circle around a few recurring points:

  1. Design choice and nostalgia
    • Fans often point out that Breath of the Wild requiring 13 hearts seems like a nod to the original Legend of Zelda , where the powerful Magical Sword required 12 hearts.
 * The idea is that the Master Sword, being even more iconic, should demand _one more_ heart.
  1. “Do I really need 13?” debates
    • Guides and FAQs consistently confirm: yes, 13 full hearts is mandatory to pull the sword in BOTW.
 * Temporary bonus hearts from meals or elixirs won’t bypass it.
  1. Glitches and exploits talk
    • Some sites and videos discuss tricks or glitches that might help with the requirement, but they’re generally described as unreliable and potentially patchable.
 * Most advice still recommends playing “as intended”: get the hearts via Shrines and Divine Beasts, or use the Horned Statue swap trick if you over-invested in stamina.

Simple Step Outline to Reach 13 Hearts

  1. Clear Shrines to gather Spirit Orbs.
  2. Trade 4 Spirit Orbs at a Goddess Statue for each Heart Container.
  1. Defeat Divine Beasts for extra Heart Containers.
  1. If needed, visit the Horned Statue in Hateno Village to convert stamina vessels to hearts until you reach 13.
  1. Head into the Lost Woods , reach the pedestal, and pull the Master Sword once you have 13 red hearts.

Mini FAQ

Q: Can I use yellow/temporary hearts to reach 13?
No. Only permanent red hearts count for the Master Sword requirement.

Q: Do I have to keep 13 hearts forever?
No. You only need 13 to pull the sword; after that, you can trade hearts back into stamina if you like.

Q: Is 13 hearts also the rule in Tears of the Kingdom?
In Tears of the Kingdom , the Master Sword has different requirements (focused on stamina instead of hearts).

TL;DR:
For how many hearts for Master Sword BOTW you must have 13 full, permanent hearts —no more, no less—to pull the Master Sword from its pedestal in the Lost Woods.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.