Trading Quests,[1] also known as Trading Sequences,[2] are recurring sidequests in The Legend of Zelda series.
Overview
By trading a long list of items, the player will eventually be rewarded with a useful item such as a better sword, new tools or even numerous Pieces of Heart. However, due to their status as sidequests, they are not necessary to complete the game, except in the case of Link's Awakening, where several items, including the final reward, are mandatory.
As Link tries to help a character, he may receive an item that becomes useful for someone else; when Link gives the newer item to the right character, he receives in turn another item that is destined to yet another character; a trade sequence takes form when this process is repeated continuously, thus resulting into a long string of exchanges that ultimately lead to a powerful item. For natural reasons, the traded items generally have one-time uses, and therefore one-time appearances.
Link's Awakening
In Link's Awakening, the Trading Quest begins by obtaining the Yoshi Doll from the Trendy Game in Mabe Village. It eventually ends with Link obtaining the Magnifying Lens that allows him to read the Book Dark Secrets And Mysteries Of Koholint inside the Library which tells him the directions to navigate the Egg Maze.
Ocarina of Time
In Ocarina of Time, the Trading Quest can only be completed by adult Link. For doing so, he receives the Biggoron's Sword, a powerful two-handed blade.
| Item | Character | Location | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
 Pocket Egg | Cucco Lady | Kakariko Village | — |
 Pocket Cucco | — | — | Waiting a day after obtaining the Pocket Egg. |
 Cojiro | Cucco Lady | Kakariko Village | Waking up Talon with the Pocket Cucco. |
 Odd Mushroom | Master Craftsman's Son | Lost Woods | — |
 Odd Poultice | Granny | Granny's Potion Shop | Bringing the Odd Mushroom within three minutes of obtention. |
 Poacher's Saw | Fado | Lost Woods | — |
 Broken Goron's Sword | Master Craftsman | Gerudo Valley | Having Epona or the Longshot. |
 Prescription | Biggoron | Death Mountain | — |
 Eyeball Frog | King Zora | Zora's Domain | — |
 World's Finest Eye Drops | Lake Scientist | Lakeside Laboratory | Bringing the Eyeball Frog within three minutes of obtention. |
 Claim Check | Biggoron | Death Mountain | Bringing the World's Finest Eye Drops within four minutes of obtention. |
 Biggoron's Sword | Biggoron | Death Mountain | Waiting three days after obtaining the Claim Check. |
Majora's Mask
In Majora's Mask, there are Business Scrubs desiring to move to new places, yet they are unable to do so because they need documents of property from their destinations. In exchange, they accept to sell their own Deku Flowers before moving to other places, every time enabling Link to reach a Piece of Heart.
| Item | Character | Location | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
 Moon's Tear | — | Astral Observatory | Looking at the Skull Kid through the telescope. |
 Town Title Deed | Business Scrub | Clock Town | — |
 Swamp Title Deed | Business Scrub | Southern Swamp | — |
 Mountain Title Deed | Business Scrub | Goron Village | Being Deku Link. |
 Ocean Title Deed | Business Scrub | Zora Hall | Being Goron Link. |
 Gold Rupee | Business Scrub | Ikana Canyon | Being Zora Link. |
Oracle of Seasons
In Oracle of Seasons, completing the Trading Quest rewards Link with the Noble Sword.
| Item | Character | Location | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
 Cuccodex | Dr. Left | Horon Village | Lighting the Torch inside Dr. Left's house. |
 Lon Lon Egg | Malon | Horon Village | — |
 Ghastly Doll | Maple | Holodrum | — |
 Iron Pot | Inga | Holodrum Plain | — |
 Lava Soup | Subrosian Chef | Subrosia | — |
 Goron Vase | Biggoron | Death Mountain | — |
 Fish | Ingo | Sunken City | — |
 Megaphone | Old Man | Eyeglass Pond | — |
 Mushroom | Talon | Mt. Cucco | — |
 Wooden Bird | Syrup | Syrup's Potion Shop | — |
 Engine Grease | Tick Tock | Horon Village | — |
 Phonograph | Guru-Guru | Horon Village | — |
 Noble Sword | Business Scrub | Lost Woods | Navigating the Lost Woods by following the Business Scrub's instructions. |
Oracle of Ages
In Oracle of Ages, completing the Trading Quest rewards Link with the Noble Sword.
Phantom Hourglass
In Phantom Hourglass, completing the Trading Quest rewards Link with the Swordsman's Scroll allowing him to learn the Great Spin Attack.
| Item | Character | Location | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
 Hero's New Clothes | Man of Smiles | Traveler's Ship | Defeating all the enemies on the Traveler's Ship. |
 Kaleidoscope | Nyeve | Prince of Red Lions | — |
 Guard Notebook | Hoiger Howgendoogen | Traveler's Ship | — |
 Wood Heart | Nyave | Traveler's Ship | — |
 Swordsman's Scroll | Old Wayfarer | Bannan Island | Bringing Joanne to the Old Wayfarer's house. |
Trivia
- The Trading Quests were inspired by the Japanese Buddhist tale, "Straw Millionaire".[3] "Straw Millionaire" is a tale about a poor man who becomes rich through trading various items.
References
- ↑ "THE TRADING QUEST" — Explore Koholint Island, the setting of the Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening game., Zelda.com, retrieved September 21, 2019.
- ↑ Majora's Mask manual, pg. 33
- ↑ "We had (Kensuke) Tanabe-san join early on. He thought up the sub-events and stuff like the "Straw Millionaire" parts." — Takashi Tezuka, Iwata Asks : The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks : Kirby and Chomps in ..., Nintendo.com, published n.d., retrieved January 24, 2020.