While Potions and Bottles have been a part of The Legend of Zelda’s identity since the very beginning, Skyward Sword made some significant changes. Similar to Breath of the Wild’s cooking system, Skyward Sword lets you make your own Potions at the Infusion Shop so long as you have a Bottle and the right ingredients.

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Potions in Skyward Sword have a wide variety of effects and are downright mandatory if you’re playing Hero Mode. More importantly, Potions can be upgraded to feature even stronger side effects. Taking the time to find the right ingredients and periodically making new Potions is more than worth it – it’s the key to success in Skyward Sword.

Heart Potions

Heart Potion

The Heart Potion can be purchased at the Potion Shop for 20 Rupees. Drinking the Heart Potion restores a maximum of 8 Hearts, so it’s worth keeping one on hand at all times. The Heart Potion can be upgraded one tier up with the following ingredients:

  • 20 Rupees
  • 3 Blessed Butterflies
  • 1 Volcanic Ladybug
  • 1 Woodland Rhino Beetle

The Heart Potion + fully restores your health when you drink it, but it can be upgraded one more time with these ingredients:

  • 30 Rupees
  • 3 Blessed Butterflies
  • 1 Deku Hornet
  • 1 Eldin Roller
  • 1 Sand Cicada

The Heart Potion ++ features two servings of Heart Potion +, allowing you to fully heal Link twice with one Bottle. This is actually fairly useful as Bottles take up a single slot in the Adventure Pouch, so the Heart Potion ++ frees you up for other equipment.

Revitalizing Potions

Revitalizing Potion

The Revitalizing Potion is a useful multi-purpose item that can be purchased for 50 Rupees which heals 4 Hearts and repairs your shield’s durability. While the Revitalizing Potion won’t heal as much as the Heart Potion, the durability restoration means you can be riskier in combat. The Revitalizing Potion can be upgraded one tier up with these ingredients:

  • 20 Rupees
  • 3 Deku Hornet
  • 2 Skyloft Mantises
  • 2 Woodland Rhino Beetles

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The Revitalizing Potion + heals 8 Hearts and fully restores your shield’s durability, making it a better Heart Potion in the grand scheme of things. Just like with Heart Potion +, Revitalizing Potion + can be upgraded one more time with these ingredients:

  • 30 Rupees
  • 1 Gerudo Dragonfly
  • 3 Lanayru Ants
  • 1 Sand Cicada
  • 2 Woodland Rhino Beetles

Revitalizing Potion ++ has two helpings of Revitalizing Potion +, letting you completely restore your shield twice while healing a total of 16 Hearts. In the hands of a smart player, Revitalizing Potion ++ is much better than Heart Potion ++.

Stamina Potions

Stamina Potion

A major mechanic in Breath of the Wild, Stamina was actually introduced in Skyward Sword. While there are Stamina Bulbs all over the overworld that restore Link’s stamina, Stamina Potions can be purchased for 50 Rupees. Drinking the Stamina Potion will recharge your Stamina while preventing it from dropping for a while.

The Stamina Potion can be upgraded with the following ingredients:

  • 20 Rupees
  • 1 Faron Grasshopper
  • 2 Gerudo Dragonflies
  • 2 Sky Stag Beetles
  • 3 Volcanic Ladybugs

Stamina Potion + has the exact same effects as the Stamina Potion, albei it takes longer for Link’s Stamina to start dropping. There’s no Stamina Potion ++ unfortunately, but having two servings of what’s temporarily infinite Stamina in one slot would be overkill in terms of balance.

Air Potions

Air Potion

While swimming doesn’t come up often in Skyward Sword, it’s a fairly extensive mechanic that makes heavy use of motion controls. Taking into account that Link can’t breathe underwater and there’s no Zora Tunic, this can be a challenge. Thankfully, Air Potions can be bought for 20 Rupees, letting you breathe longer underwater.

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The Air Potion can be upgraded one time with the following ingredients:

  • 20 Rupees
  • 2 Lanayru Ants
  • 2 Skyloft Mantises
  • 2 Sky Stag Beetles

Air Potion + actually prevents Link’s air guage from depleting underwater for a while, so it’s very much worth crafting one or two if you’re going to be swimming – especially if you’re struggling with the mechanic.

Guardian Potions

Potion Upgrading

The Guardian Potion is a must have for Hero Mode, cutting any damage you take by half for a few minutes. The Guardian Potion costs a whopping 200 Rupees, but can also be upgraded into an better potion with these ingredients:

  • 40 Rupees
  • 3 Blessed Butterflies
  • 2 Eldin Rollers
  • 1 Faron Grasshopper
  • 3 Starry Fireflies

The Guardian Potion + prevents Link from taking any damage for a few minutes, making it extremely useful during the game’s hardest boss fights. If you’re struggling with anything in Skyward Sword, take the time to upgrade a Guardian Potion +.

Next: Skyward Sword Complete Guide And Walkthrough