Empty Bottles are some of the most useful items in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. You can use them to carry fairies, potions, bugs, fish, and other items that help you survive and explore Hyrule. The more bottles you collect, the more prepared you’ll be for difficult fights and side quests.
In this guide, I’ll show you how to get all five Empty Bottles in the Nintendo Switch 2 remake. Some are easy to collect as Child Link, while others require you to progress through the story and complete a few side quests as Adult Link.
I’ll also explain what you can store in your bottles, how to use them, and which items are worth keeping on hand. If you want to collect every bottle early and make your adventure a little easier, here’s where to start.
The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time Empty Bottle Locations Guide
There are five Empty Bottles to collect in the Switch 2 remake. Three are available as Child Link, one is obtained by completing a story objective, and the final bottle comes from the Poe Collector as Adult Link.
| # | Location | How to Get It |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Potion Shop | Catch a bug for the shopkeeper |
| 2 | Lon Lon Ranch | Find three Super Cuccos in 30 seconds |
| 3 | Kakariko Village | Return seven missing Cuccos to their pen |
| 4 | Lake Hylia / Zora’s Domain | Deliver Ruto’s Letter to King Zora |
| 5 | Ghost Shop | Give the Poe Collector five Big Poe Spirits |
1. Potion Shop – Catch a Bug
The first bottle is exclusive to the Switch 2 remake. Head to the Potion Shop in Hyrule Castle Town and speak to the shopkeeper. He’ll ask you to help capture a bug and give you an Empty Bottle to use.
Catch the bug and bring it back to the shopkeeper. Once you complete his request, he’ll let you keep the bottle.
This is a new bottle added in the remake, so you won’t find it in the original Nintendo 64 or 3DS versions.
2. Lon Lon Ranch – Find the Super Cuccos
You can get another bottle as Child Link by completing Talon’s Super Cucco Game at Lon Lon Ranch.
First, wake Talon outside Hyrule Castle and speak to Princess Zelda. After Talon returns to the ranch, visit him and talk to him to start the game.
You’ll have 30 seconds to find three Super Cuccos hidden among the regular Cuccos. Find all three before time runs out and Talon will reward you with a bottle of Lon Lon Milk.
Drink the milk whenever you need to recover health. Once the bottle is empty, you can use it to store other items.
3. Kakariko Village – Find the Seven Missing Cuccos
After receiving Zelda’s Letter as Child Link, visit Kakariko Village and speak to the Cucco Lady near the Cucco pen. She’ll ask you to find her seven missing Cuccos.
Search around the village and carry each Cucco back to the pen. Some are easy to spot, while others are tucked away in harder-to-reach places.
Once you’ve returned all seven Cuccos, speak to the Cucco Lady again to receive an Empty Bottle.
4. Lake Hylia – Deliver Ruto’s Letter
This bottle is part of the main story, so you’ll obtain it as you progress through the game.
First, visit Zora’s Domain as Child Link and win the Diving Game to receive the Silver Scale. This upgrade lets you dive deeper underwater.
Use the Silver Scale to dive through the underwater tunnel from Zora’s Domain to Lake Hylia. Search the lakebed for a bottle containing Ruto’s Letter.
Take the bottle back to King Zora and show him the letter. He’ll read it and move aside, allowing you to enter Zora’s Fountain. The letter is removed from the bottle, leaving you with an Empty Bottle.
5. Ghost Shop – Collect Big Poe Spirits
The final bottle is obtained from the Poe Collector in the Ghost Shop near the exit of Hyrule Castle Town. You can start this quest after becoming Adult Link.
Speak to the Poe Collector, who will ask you to bring him Big Poe Spirits from Hyrule Field. Find Big Poes, defeat them, and capture their spirits in an Empty Bottle.
Return to the Poe Collector and give him five Big Poe Spirits to receive your final Empty Bottle. If you continue collecting and turn in all ten Big Poes, you’ll also receive a Gold Rupee.
How to Use Empty Bottles
Store Items for Later
Each Empty Bottle can hold one item at a time. You can use bottles to carry helpful supplies such as fairies, potions, bugs, fish, and Blue Fire.
If all your bottles are full and you need to collect something else, use or empty one of the items you’re carrying to make room.
Use Bottles as Both Child and Adult Link
You can use Empty Bottles in both forms of Link. Switching between Child Link and Adult Link happens when you pull out or return the Master Sword at the Temple of Time.
Sell Certain Bottled Items for Rupees
Some bottled items can be sold to the Buyer for Rupees. The Buyer’s location depends on Link’s age:
- Child Link: Hyrule Castle Town
- Adult Link: Kakariko Village
| Item | Switch 2 Price | Original N64 Price |
|---|---|---|
| Bugs | 20 Rupees | 50 Rupees |
| Fish | 30 Rupees | 100 Rupees |
| Blue Fire | 40 Rupees | 150 Rupees |
The Buyer only accepts certain items. Potions and other recovery items can’t be sold, and Poe Spirits should be sold to the Poe Collector.
Blue Fire can be a useful way to earn Rupees once you reach the Ice Cavern. You can collect it from the blue flames and sell it to the Buyer. Bugs and fish are less reliable for farming because they don’t respawn as frequently in the remake.
All Bottle Items
Empty Bottles can hold several types of items. Here’s what each one does and where you can find it.
Creatures and Spirits
| Item | What It Does | Where to Find It |
|---|---|---|
| Bugs | Can be released on soft soil to reveal Gold Skulltulas. They can also be sold to the Buyer. | Rocks and grass around Hyrule |
| Fairies | Revive Link when his hearts run out. | Fairy Fountains, Gossip Stones, and the Potion Shop |
| Poe Spirits | Can be sold to the Poe Collector or consumed; consuming one may heal or damage Link. | Dropped by Poes or found at the Potion Shop |
| Big Poe Spirits | Can be sold to the Poe Collector for Rupees and points toward rewards. | Dropped by Big Poes in Hyrule Field |
| Fish | Can be sold to the Buyer or used to enter Jabu-Jabu’s Belly. | Underground ponds, Zora Shop, and Potion Shop |
Bugs and fairies are especially useful to keep in your bottles. Bugs help you find Gold Skulltulas, while fairies can save you during a difficult fight by reviving Link.
Potions
| Potion | What It Does | Where to Find It |
|---|---|---|
| Lon Lon Milk | Restores five hearts per use and has two uses per bottle. | Talon’s Super Cucco Game or by playing Epona’s Song near a cow |
| Green Potion | Restores Link’s magic power. | Potion Shop or Business Scrubs |
| Red Potion | Fully restores Link’s hearts. | Potion Shop or Business Scrubs |
| Blue Potion | Restores both hearts and magic power. | Granny’s Potion Shop after completing her request |
Lon Lon Milk is a good early-game recovery item because it’s easy to obtain and gives you two uses. Later in the game, Red Potions are useful when you need to refill all your hearts at once.
Once you unlock Blue Potion, it’s an excellent option to carry because it restores both health and magic.
Other Items
| Item | What It Does | Where to Find It |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Fire | Melts Red Ice blocking certain areas. | Blue Fire braziers in the Ice Cavern and Ganon’s Castle |
| Ruto’s Letter | Must be delivered to King Zora to progress the main story. | Bottle on the lakebed of Lake Hylia |
Blue Fire is essential for melting Red Ice, while Ruto’s Letter is a story item. After you deliver the letter, the bottle becomes available for regular use.
Empty Bottle Information
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Item | Empty Bottle |
| Damage | None |
| Magic Cost | None |
| Shop Price | Not sold |
| Sell Price | Not sold |
| Timeline Use | Child Link and Adult Link |
| Sources | Potion Shop, Lon Lon Ranch, Kakariko Village, Lake Hylia, Ghost Shop |
An Empty Bottle can hold many different items, so it’s worth collecting all five as soon as you can. Keep a fairy or recovery potion ready for tough encounters, and leave at least one bottle free when you’re exploring areas that require bugs, fish, or Blue Fire.
With all five bottles in your inventory, you’ll have more room to carry useful supplies throughout your adventure in Hyrule.