Rupees (pronounced /ˈɹuːpiː/ ROO-pee)^[2],^{[3][4][note 1]} also known as Rubies,^[6][7][8] are items in The Legend of Zelda series.

Location and uses[]

Rupees are the main unit of currency in the The Legend of Zelda series, in circulation in the lands of Hyrule, the Dark World, Koholint Island, Termina, Labrynna, Holodrum, the Great Sea, the World of the Ocean King, New Hyrule, Skyloft, Lorule and Hytopia.^[3] They resemble hexagonal gemstones, come in many colors and sizes, and are most often stored within a Wallet.

Rupees are most commonly acquired by defeating enemies, cutting tall Grass or Bushes, throwing Rocks, smashing Pots, rolling or dashing into Trees, winning mini-games or found inside Treasure Chests. They can also rarely be found simply lying around in the Overworld and in Dungeons and are sometimes given to Link as rewards for completing certain sidequests. In many games, it is possible for Link to sell certain Items, such as Treasures and Bugs, in order to obtain Rupees quickly and easily. In some games, it is also possible to gamble for Rupees as well.

The number of Rupees that Link can carry at a time varies between appearances. In most games, Rupees are stored inside Wallets, and Link can increase his carrying capacity by obtaining Wallet upgrades.

Rupees are primarily used to purchase Items in Shops, play certain mini-games or progress through the game, usually by paying an important character a certain fee. The value of a Rupee is often denoted by its color, but the value of each color is inconsistent throughout the series (for example, a Silver Rupee's value is 5 in Ocarina of Time but is 100 in Majora's Mask). Generally, the greater the value of a Rupee, the harder it is to obtain, usually requiring more difficult tasks to do so. In Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages, Four Swords, The Minish Cap, Phantom Hourglass, and Spirit Tracks, both size and color denote value. In Link's Awakening, the value of a Rupee is specified through text rather than color because of the Game Boy's limited color palette.

Mainline appearances[]

The Legend of Zelda[]

In The Legend of Zelda, Rupees were originally called Rupies^[9] (singular: Rupy),^[10] while they were called Rubies in the game manual.^[11] However, they referred to as Rupees in the 1994 Famicom release as well as the Game Boy Advance and Virtual Console re-releases.^[12] Only two varieties exist in The Legend of Zelda. The Rupee that flashes yellow and blue is worth 1, while the blue Rupee is worth 5.^[13] Link can only hold up to 255 Rupees, due to the limited 16-bit value memory of the Nintendo Entertainment System.^[14]

Normally, they can only be found by killing enemies or stumbling across hidden rooms in Dungeons,^[15] where a large formation of yellow Rupees can be found. Defeating all enemies in a room will sometimes reward Rupees. However, in addition to this, Moblins hidden in Caves around Hyrule will gift Link Rupees when visited, uttering "It's a secret to everybody."^[16] Alternatively, Old Men can be found in hidden Caves, who will force the young hero to pay Rupees to repair the entrance that he damaged to get inside.^[17] Link can also gamble his Rupees by playing Money Making Game,^[18] where he can choose to spend 10 Rupees on one of three slots to either gain or lose Rupees.

Rupees are used to buy items from Merchants and Life Potions from Old Women.^[19] There are two Old Women who give Link advice for navigating areas in exchange for 30 Rupees.^[20] One Old Woman is found near the Lost Woods and tells Link how to navigate through the Lost Woods.^[21] The other Old Woman is found in the waterfall near the Lost Hills and tells Link to go up the Lost Hills to find Level 5.^[22] Old Men inside certain Dungeons will sell Link Bomb capacity upgrades for 100 Rupees.^[23] In the Second Quest, Old Men appear in Level 4 and Level 7 who will only let Link pass if he pays them either 50 Rupees or one Heart Container.^{[citation needed]} Due to the lack of an Arrow ammunition mechanic unlike Bombs, Rupees are also required to use the Bow, with one Rupee being deducted for every Arrow that Link shoots.

Because of the small value of Rupees and high prices of items/upgrades in The Legend of Zelda, unlike later games, some fans have criticized for obtaining many of them to be a tedious task. In the extremely rare Satellaview remake for the Super Famicom, BS The Legend of Zelda, the maximum number of Rupees the BS-X avatar hero can carry is well beyond 1000 and at few points of the quest, the prices by Merchants and Old Women are cut in half.

Types of Rupee

Rupee	Value
Rupee	1
5 Rupees	5

A Link to the Past[]

The three colors of Rupees from A Link to the Past

After their absence in The Adventure of Link, Rupees reappear in A Link to the Past, in which they are colored Green, Blue, or Red. These colors have since been used in every other game in the series, having the exact same value in every canonical appearance. There are also three other kinds of Rupee that can only be found in Treasure Chests, which are all green and have their value denoted by a small number. Large formations of Blue Rupees can also be found hidden in certain Caves and Dungeons, such as the basement floor of the Palace of Darkness and Chris Houlihan's room, which brightly glisten. The Super NES title is also the first game in the series were Rupees can be obtained in large quantities.

A Link to the Past introduced the concept of being able to find Rupees by cutting grass and bushes, destroying Rocks and Pots, opening Treasure Chests, and dashing into Trees. The Shovel can also be used to dig for Rupees, most notably at the Treasure Field. It also introduced the ability to sell Items to gain Rupees; Link is able to sell Golden Bees to the Street Merchant for 100 Rupees each,^[24] as well as Fish for 21 Rupees in addition to Bombs and Arrows.^[25] As a small Easter Egg, paintings resembling Mario can be found in certain buildings in Kakariko Village, and will occasionally produce Rupees when pulled. Link is able to spend his Rupees at various Shops and mini-games located throughout both Hyrule and the Dark World, earning him many Items such as Shields and Potions. There are also three Fortune Tellers, one located north of Kakariko Village, one north of the Village of Outcasts, and one beside the Lake Hylia Shop, who Link can pay between 10 and 30 Rupees to learn how to progress in his quest. Most importantly, Rupees used to open the Palace of Darkness, as Link needs to pay Kiki the monkey ten Rupees to follow him to the Dungeon, and another 100 to open its door. Rupees are perhaps used most extensively to donate to the Pond of Happiness, where Venus will upgrade Link's Bomb or Arrow carrying capacity by five for every 100 Rupees he throws in.

In the Game Boy Advance remake in A Link to the Past & Four Swords, Rupee Rocks will sometimes randomly appear in place of other stones. These Rocks can be struck with the Sword repeatedly to drop Rupees for as long as it sparkles.

Types of Rupee

Rupee	Value
Green Rupee	1
Blue Rupee	5
Red Rupee	20
	50
	100
	300

Link's Awakening[]

In Link's Awakening, due to the Game Boy's limited color palette, Rupees found by defeating enemies, cutting grass, and digging with the Shovel are worth only one Rupee. Higher values of Rupees, namely those found in Treasure Chests, are instead denoted by text rather than color. The Trendy Game Shop in Mabe Village provides Rupees worth thirty as prizes on the moving conveyor belt. If Link has at least twenty Secret Seashells and exchanges them for the Level 2 Sword, then any chests that would have contained extra Secret Seashells will contain twenty Rupees instead.

Rupees in Link's Awakening can either be spent at the Town Tool Shop or at various mini-games around Koholint Island. Collecting Rupees becomes a necessary endeavor in this game, as the Deluxe Shovel and Bow must be purchased in order to progress through the game, the latter of which is required to solve a puzzle in Turtle Rock. Furthermore, Link must pay Mamu 300 Rupees if he wishes to learn the Frog's Song of Soul, revive the Flying Rooster, and access Turtle Rock.^[26]

In Link's Awakening DX, all Rupees are colored blue, with the exception of the Rupee prizes in the Trendy Game Shop, which are colored red. In the Color Dungeon only, a large formation of green Rupees can be found in a secret room, similarly to the hidden Rupees of A Link to the Past. These Rupees are worth five each.

Types of Rupee

Rupee		Value
	Blue Rupee	1
	Green Rupee	5
	Red Rupee	30

Link's Awakening for the Nintendo Switch changes Rupees to follow the values used by more recent titles in the series and introduces Purple, Silver and Gold Rupees to the game.

Types of Rupee

Rupee		Value
	Green Rupee	1
	Blue Rupee	5
	Red Rupee	20
	Purple Rupee	50
	Silver Rupee	100
	Gold Rupee	300

Ocarina of Time[]

In Ocarina of Time, seven different varieties of Rupee exist, though the Blue and Silver Rupees are both worth five Rupees, while the Huge and Orange Rupee are both worth 200. Silver Rupees are unique as they serve as a puzzle element; a set of Silver Rupees must be collected (occasionally within a time limit) in order to open a locked door or make a Treasure Chest appear. These Rupee puzzles can be found in Dodongo's Cavern (Master Quest only), the Ice Cavern, the Bottom of the Well, the Shadow Temple, the Gerudo Training Ground, the Spirit Temple, and some routes of Ganon's Castle.

Like in A Link to the Past, Link may sell certain Bottled Items such as Fish and Blue Fire to the Buyer who lives in the Market when Link is a child, or Kakariko Village when he becomes the Hero of Time.^[27] Poe Souls and Big Poe Souls, however, can be sold to the Poe Collector, who appears near the entrance to the Market in the future. As part of the Mask Trading Sequence, Link may also sell Masks to various characters, the most notable being the Running Man, who will completely fill up Link's current Wallet, regardless of how large it is, for the Bunny Hood.^[28][29] If Link kills all 100 Gold Skulltulas and returns to the Cursed Rich Man in the House of Skulltula, he will be rewarded with a Huge Rupee and the hero may return to the Cursed Rich Man multiple times in order to receive the reward again, effectively giving Link an unlimited supply of Rupees. In addition, if Link enters the Lost Woods as an adult and manages to defeat one of the Skull Kids there, he will receive an Orange Rupee, which can also be obtained multiple times. As an Easter Egg, if Link shoots at the east window in the Castle Courtyard with the Slingshot (which itself shows a picture of Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Princess Peach, and Bowser from the Mario series in the Nintendo 64 original), it will produce a Red Rupee, though this may only happen once. Link can spend his Rupees in the numerous Shops and mini-games found in both Hyrule's past and future periods, but can also use them to buy items and upgrades from Business Scrubs. Furthermore, a total of 550 Rupees is required to buy all ten Magic Beans from the Bean Seller, which opens up many shortcuts and secrets throughout the Overworld, including Pieces of Heart. Interestingly, if Link defeats an enemy with a Light Arrow, a Purple Rupee is almost always rewarded.

Types of Rupee

Rupee	Value
Green Rupee	1
Blue Rupee	5
Red Rupee	20
Purple Rupee	50
Gold Rupee	200
Silver Rupee	5

Majora's Mask[]

Rupees in Majora's Mask remain largely the same as in Ocarina of Time, the only difference being that Silver Rupees are now worth 100 rather than 5, and are not used as puzzle elements. Whenever Link plays the Song of Time to reset the three-day cycle and return to the Dawn of the First Day, any Rupees in the young Hero of Time's Wallet will be lost, along with any ammunition Items. To counteract this, Link can deposit his Rupees at the Clock Town Bank in West Clock Town (South Clock Town in Majora's Mask 3D), which allows Link to store up to 5,499 Rupees. As Link saves up more Rupees, he will be rewarded with different prizes, the most valuable being a Piece of Heart. The upside to resetting the three-day cycle, however, means that most Rupees can be obtained multiple times whenever Link resets the cycle, most notably those found in Treasure Chests. Of these, some of the most notable are the three Silver Rupees that can be found in Treasure Chests in East Clock Town, the Bombers' Hideout, and the Stock Pot Inn, as well as the Purple Rupee, found in a Treasure Chest on the tower opposite of the Clock Tower in South Clock Town on the Final Day. Also, three Red Rupees can repeatedly be found in the Laundry Pool, but they can only be accessed on the Night of the Second Day, being out of reach at any other time.

Link can sell his Bottled Items to the Curiosity Shop in West Clock Town. Unlike the Buyer from Ocarina of Time, the Man from Curiosity Shop will buy any of Link's Bottled Items—excluding major, plot-related Items such as the Deku Princess and Seahorse—and will pay the most for Big Poe Souls, Chateau Romani, and Gold Dust, which each sell for 200 Rupees. If Link dons the Postman's Hat, he may receive either a Green or a Blue Rupee whenever he interacts with a Postbox. Like in Ocarina of Time, the Huge Rupee in Majora's Mask is given to Link after he completes the Trading Quest. After giving the Ocean Title Deed to the Business Scrub in Ikana Canyon, Link will be rewarded with the Huge Rupee, and he may go back in time and repeat the entire Trading Sequence again to receive the prize as many times as he desires. Like the Skull Kids in Ocarina of Time, the Takkuri near the entrance to the Milk Road in Termina Field will drop an Orange Rupee when defeated. Also like the game's prequel, Red Bubbles, Blue Bubbles, and Guays will always drop Purple Rupees when shot down by a Light Arrow.

Termina, like Hyrule, features Shops, mini-games, and Business Scrubs that Link can spend his Rupees on. Of the 20 non-transformation Masks that appear in the game, only one, the All-Night Mask, must be purchased. It will be on sale for 500 Rupees in the Curiosity Shop on the Night of the Final Day if Link saves the Old Lady from Bomb Shop from Sakon in North Clock Town on the Night of the First Day.^[30][31][32]

Types of Rupee

Rupee	Value
Green Rupee	1
Blue Rupee	5
Red Rupee	20
Purple Rupee	50
Silver Rupee	100
Gold Rupee	200

Oracle of Seasons/Oracle of Ages[]

In Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages, Rupees are the currency used in both Labrynna and Holodrum, respectively. The land of Subrosia in Oracle of Seasons uses Ore Chunks as its currency instead, as Rupees do not appear there at all. Rupees in Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages are denoted by their color as well as size, with larger Rupees equating to higher values. Like Link's Awakening, the value of Rupees found in Treasure Chests is also denoted by text as well. While Rupees are most commonly found through conventional means, Rupees may also sometimes be randomly found inside Gasha Nuts. Maple will often drop and scatter her Rupees, along with Link's, if the two collide with each other. In certain Dungeons, it is possible to find large formations of Green Rupees in hidden rooms, similarly to those in A Link to the Past. These unique Green Rupees are worth ten each. Very large Rupees can potentially be dug up with the Shovel.^[33] In Oracle of Seasons, as a throwback to the Moblins and Old Men of The Legend of Zelda, Link may sometimes find hidden staircases on the Overworld that lead to underground homes of Old Men, who will either gift Link some Rupees or force him to pay back for destroying their doors. Similar Old Men also appear in Oracle of Ages in a single cave at the Rolling Ridge Base. The Old Man in the past will generously gift Link Rupees, while the Old Man in the present will make him pay it back. The value of Rupees is doubled when Link is equipped with the Red Joy Ring or the Gold Joy Ring.

Rupees in the Oracle games are mainly used to purchase Items, such as from the Lynna City Shop or Horon Village Shop, as well as play a variety of mini-games in their respective lands. Rupees are also used to appraise Magic Rings at Vasu Jewelers for 20 Rupees each; Vasu will buy duplicate rings for 30 Rupees.

Types of Rupee

Rupee	Value
Small Green Rupee	1 2 (Red/Gold Joy Ring)
Small Blue Rupee	5 10 (Red/Gold Joy Ring)
Small Red Rupee	10 20 (Red/Gold Joy Ring)
Red Rupee	5 10 (Red/Gold Joy Ring)
Green Rupee	1, 5, 10, or 20
Yellow Rupee	1, 5, or 20
Blue Rupee	20 or 30
Big Blue Rupee	100 200 (Red/Gold Joy Ring)
Big Red Rupee	200 400 (Red/Gold Joy Ring)

Four Swords[]

Rupees play a much larger role in Four Swords, where the main objective of the first three stages is to collect as many Rupees as possible in order to receive a Key from each of the Great Fairies. These Keys are necessary to enter Vaati's Palace. A total of 1,000 is needed for the Silver Key, 3,000 for the Golden Key, and 5,000 for the Hero's Key. After a stage is completed, the Links are each scored on the number of Rupees they have collected each. The Links who collects the most Rupees in a stage is rewarded a Medal of Courage. Like Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages, the value of Rupees is denoted by their color and size.

Rupees are found through most conventional means, such as by defeating enemies, cutting grass or other obstacles, and opening Treasure Chests. Some rooms of an area will also spawn multiple Rupees for a period of time. When all four Links are at full health, the stage goes into Rupee Fever, where the value of Rupees are doubled for as long as the Links maintain their full health. When the Links arrive at the warp zone at the end of each section of a stage, they are also awarded bonus Rupees based on how much time they took to complete that area. Four Rupee Shards can also be found hidden in every Stage. When one Link manages to collect all four, he is rewarded with a total of 500 Rupees.

However, it is also possible to lose Rupees, as well. Being attacked by an enemy will result in a Link dropping a few of his Rupees. Dropped Rupees will shortly disappear if they are not picked up in time. It is possible for one Link to steal another's Rupees by collecting them as enemy attacks drop them. Rupee Wraiths will also follow and attach themselves to a Link to drain their Rupees, though this enemy can also be passed onto another Link. A new type of Rupee, called Rupoors, may also sometimes appear, which picking up will cause the Link to drop up to 80 of his Rupees. Lastly, Rupees are also lost when one of the Links is defeated, where a penalty must be paid for revival. At first, the amount is 50, but increases by another 50 Rupees each time a Link falls. The maximum cost of a revival is 500 Rupees. If a Link is defeated and he does not have enough Rupees to revive, the game ends.

In Four Swords Anniversary Edition, collecting a grand total of 30,000 Rupees or five Medals of Courage unlocks the Hero's Trial.

Types of Rupee

Rupee	Value
Green Rupee	1
Blue Rupee	5
Red Rupee	20
Big Green Rupee	50
Big Blue Rupee	100
Big Red Rupee	200
Rupoor	-80
Rupee Shard	N/A (if you collect 4 you receive 500)

The Wind Waker[]

The Wind Waker's Rupee system is similar to the Nintendo 64 titles, but differs as Orange Rupees are now worth 100, Silver Rupees are worth 200, and it introduces Yellow Rupees, which are worth ten. Spoils can be sold to Beedle at his Shop Ship for a small price. Once Link obtains the Grappling Hook, he will be able to salvage for Rupees while at sea by dropping the hook into spots where Rings of Light form, which will produce a Treasure Chest containing any amount of Rupees, usually 50. Some Rings of Light will only appear once Link has obtained its appropriate Treasure Chart, which may reward at 100 or 200 Rupees. Link can also earn Rupees by participating in the Letter Sorting mini-game in the Dragon Roost Cavern, where he will be paid 20 Rupees each time he completes one round.

Rupees are used extensively to purchase a variety of goods from various Shops, as well as participate in mini-games. Rupees become extremely important as they are necessary to purchase the Sail (which costs 80) from Zunari, which is required to leave Windfall Island. Link will also need to pay Tingle 398 Rupees to decipher each Triforce Chart in order to find the Rings of Light where the Triforce Shards are found. Link can purchase other various Items, such as Bait and ammunition, from Beedle's Shop Ship. Rupees are used extensively at the Auction House in Windfall Island, where Link may compete against the island residents to bid for various Items.

In The Wind Waker HD, the Magic Armor consumes Link's Rupees when he is hit by an attack, as opposed to draining his Magic originally.

Types of Rupee

Rupee	Value
Green Rupee	1
Blue Rupee	5
Yellow Rupee	10
Red Rupee	20
Purple Rupee	50
Orange Rupee	100
Silver Rupee	200

The Minish Cap[]

The Rupee system in The Minish Cap is the same as the one in Four Swords, with the exception of Rupoors and Rupee Shards, which do not appear. Some Kinstone Fusions may result in a Treasure Chest appearing somewhere that contains a certain amount of Rupees, while other fusions may produce a Golden Monsters, powerful enemies that drop a high sum of Rupees when defeated. These types of Kinstone Fusions can usually be identified when the prospecting participant dreams of a Rupee symbol. Yellow Picolyte can be purchased from Beedle in Hyrule Town square, which will increase the odds of Rupees appearing for as long as it is active.

Rupees in The Minish Cap are mainly used to purchase Items, such as goods from Stockwell's Shop, Potions from Syrup the Witch's Hut, and Lon Lon Milk from Malon when she is in town, as well as to participate in certain mini-games. In Hyrule Town, Link can also gamble for Rupees at the Chest Mini-Game Shop.

Types of Rupee

Rupee	Value
Green Rupee	1
Blue Rupee	5
Red Rupee	20
Big Green Rupee	50
Big Blue Rupee	100
Big Red Rupee	200

Twilight Princess[]

Blue, Yellow, and Red Rupees from Twilight Princess

The Rupee system in Twilight Princess is the same as the one in The Wind Waker. Link can continuously earn Rupees by finding Golden Bugs and giving them to Agitha in Hyrule Castle Town, who will reward him 50 Rupees for one bug, and 100 Rupees each time he completes a pair. Agitha will also give Link the Big Wallet after giving her the first bug, and the Giant Wallet once he has handed in all 24 bugs. Once Link has collected all 60 Poe Souls and lifted Jovani's curse, his pet cat Gengle can be found at his house, who will reward Link 200 Rupees every time he visits. Hena will reward Link ten Rupees for every Rollgoal level he completes, and will completely fill his Wallet to its maximum capacity after completing the 64th level. In Twilight Princess HD, each time Link completes one section of the Cave of Shadows as a wolf, he will find a Treasure Chest containing a small number of Rupees at its end before having to leave. The final floor of the Cave of Shadows contains a Silver Rupee, as well as a hidden Orange Rupee that can be found by digging at the head of the Wolf Link statue.

As in previous games, Rupees are used to buy goods from Shops and participate in mini-games. Rupees are used much more extensively in the sidequest to open a Malo Mart branch in Hyrule Castle Town, which first involves donating 1,000 Rupees to Gor Ebizo in Kakariko Village's Malo Mart to repair the bridge leading to Castle Town, then another 200 Rupees to buy out Chudley's Fine Goods and Fancy Trinkets Emporium and replace it with Malo Mart. Once the Castle Town branch has been opened, Link will be able to purchase the more affordable Magic Armor, which uses Rupees to function. This armor protects Link from all damage, at the cost of draining his Rupees by the second and draining him of twelve Rupees each time he sustains damage. If Link runs out of Rupees, the armor loses its power and becomes heavy. Rupees are also used extensively to donate to Charlo in the West Road of Hyrule Castle Town, who will give Link a Piece of Heart after giving him a total of 1,000 Rupees.

Twilight Princess introduced, for the first and only time, a feature where Link puts Rupees back into a Treasure Chest if his Wallet capacity is exceeded. This feature was removed in Twilight Princess HD, where Link will still keep the Rupees even if his Wallet is full.

Types of Rupee

Rupee	Value
Green Rupee	1
Blue Rupee	5
Yellow Rupee	10
Red Rupee	20
Purple Rupee	50
Orange Rupee	100
Silver Rupee	200

Phantom Hourglass[]

Phantom Hourglass uses color and size to denote value. Treasures can be sold for a small sum of Rupees to the Treasure Teller on Mercay Island. The Teller of Treasures will also buy Ship Parts from Link as well. While Rupees can be found through most conventional means while on foot and in Dungeons, Rupees can also be earned while sailing in the World of the Ocean King. When Link receives the Cannon part for the Linebeck's ship, he will be able to shoot down enemies and obstacles such as Rocks to reveal Hearts for the vehicle and sometimes Rupees. Rupees in bubbles can also be collected while using the Salvage Arm to haul up Treasure Chests, although the chests themselves do not contain Rupees.

Phantom Hourglass also features Rupoors, which deduct a certain amount of Rupees from Link's Wallet when they are picked up.

As with other games, Rupees in Phantom Hourglass are primarily used to purchase Items from various Shops in their respective worlds.

Types of Rupee

Rupee	Value
Green Rupee	1
Blue Rupee	5
Red Rupee	20
Big Green Rupee	100
Big Red Rupee	200
Big Gold Rupee	300
10 Rupoor	-10
50 Rupoor	-50

Spirit Tracks[]

Spirit Tracks uses color and size to denote value. Treasures can be sold for a small sum of Rupees to Linebeck III's Trading Company. While Rupees can be found through most conventional means while on foot and in Dungeons, Rupees can also be earned while traveling by train in Hyrule. When Link receives the Cannon part for the train, he will be able to shoot down enemies and obstacles such as Rocks to reveal Hearts for the vehicle and sometimes Rupees.

As with other games, Rupees in Spirit Tracks are primarily used to purchase Items from various Shops in their respective worlds.

Types of Rupee

Rupee	Value
Green Rupee	1
Blue Rupee	5
Red Rupee	20
Big Green Rupee	100
Big Red Rupee	200
Big Gold Rupee	300

Skyward Sword[]

The Rupee system in Skyward Sword uses a simplified system with only five main colors. It reintroduces the Silver Rupee worth 100, as well as the Gold Rupee from Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks, now worth 300.

Link can earn Rupees in a variety of ways. Treasures collected can be sold to Rupin in his house in Skyloft at night in exchange for Rupees. In addition, Strich will buy Bugs that Link has caught and will give him Rupees for them at night. Link can also obtain Rupees by drawing a hexagon shape on a Goddess Wall.^[34][35] Rupees may sometimes be unearthed by digging in marked mounds using the Digging Mitts, and shooting different colors of Rupee Ore with the Slingshot or Bow will cause the corresponding color of Rupee to pop out of it.

Rupees are used extensively in Skyward Sword to purchase Items and upgrades at the Skyloft Bazaar or Beedle's Air Shop, some of which may prove necessary on Link's quest. These include upgrades to his Adventure Pouch, as well as new, stronger equipment at the Gear Shop, and upgrades to pre-existing equipment at the Scrap Shop, with the latter also requiring certain Treasures for each upgrade. Rupees can also be used to purchase Potions at the Potion Shop, as well as upgrade them at the cost of Rupees and specific Bugs.

In addition to the five colors of Rupees, Rupoors make a reappearance and will rob Link of 10 Rupees when collected. These can be found in underground tunnels or dug up during the Thrill Digger mini-game. Black-colored Rupee Ores will also drop Rupoors when shot with the Slingshot or Bow.

Equipping the Rupee Medal causes Rupees to appear more frequently. The Cursed Medal produces a similar effect, but prevents Link from opening his Adventure Pouch.

Types of Rupee

Rupee	Value
Green Rupee	1
Blue Rupee	5
Red Rupee	20
Silver Rupee	100
Gold Rupee	300
Rupoor	-10

A Link Between Worlds[]

The Rupee system in A Link Between Worlds is similar to the one in Skyward Sword, but with the absence of Rupoors and the inclusion of Purple Rupees. Silver and Gold Rupees appear larger than the other varieties, with an extra layer of translucent sheen. Rupees are used as the currency of both Hyrule and Lorule. The game notably features the lack of a Wallet upgrade and allows Link to carry up to a maximum of 9,999 Rupees. This feature facilitates the rental of equipment from Ravio's Shop, where Rupees are used most extensively in the game. Link may rent Ravio's equipment at a cheap cost for an indefinite period or may purchase the equipment to own at a higher price. If Link falls in battle while renting any Items, Ravio's bird-like pet Sheerow will appear to take the Item back to his Shop, forcing Link to return to rent the Item again.

In Death Mountain, Rupee Boulders containing chunks of Green Rupees can be found. These Boulders can be smashed with the Hammer to make the Green Rupees fly out. Similarly, when the Gemesaur King's mask is smashed with the Hammer, some Rupees will fall out as well. Some areas also feature Rupee Rocks which, for a brief period of time, will dispense Rupees as Link strikes them with his Sword. In homage to the Moblins of The Legend of Zelda, there is also a friendly Hinox found in a Cave in eastern Lorule who will bribe Link with Rupees to leave him alone. Link can demand more Rupees from him before accepting his price, although asking for too much may cause the Hinox to become enraged and attack.

Aside from Ravio's Shop, Rupees are also used to purchase Items from Shops and participate in Mini-Games. The Fortune's Choice Mini-Game, similar to the Treasure Chest Game in A Link to the Past, allows Link to choose from a selection of Treasure Chests for a chance to win Rupees.

As long as Link possesses fewer than 9,999 Rupees, any that he collects will also be added to a hidden "Total Rupees found" counter, which tracks up to a maximum of 99,999 Rupees. This total will be displayed following the game's ending and credits roll.

Types of Rupee

Rupee	Value
Green Rupee	1
Blue Rupee	5
Red Rupee	20
Purple Rupee	50
Silver Rupee	100
Gold Rupee	300

Tri Force Heroes[]

The Rupee system in Tri Force Heroes is identical to the one in A Link Between Worlds, with the minor adjustment of Purple Rupees being enlarged to match the Silver and Gold varieties. Rupees are found throughout Levels of the Drablands, and to a lesser extent, the town of Hytopia, where they are used as its currency. Like A Link Between Worlds, there are no Wallet upgrades, though Link can carry up to 99,999 in total, and up to 9,999 while in the Drablands. Rupees can be found through most conventional means, including in plain sight and inside Chests. When a Boss is defeated, it will explode into many Rupees for the Links to collect.

At the end of every Level, the three Links have the amount of Rupees collected during the Level added to their respective totals. In addition, the amount of remaining Fairies the Links have is tallied and turned into bonus Rupees, multiplied by 30 for each Fairy. The Link will also receive a small number of "Sympathy Rupees" if one Link disconnects during a Level, multiplying 20 by the Stage number the Links were in. Each of the three Links receives the total amount of Rupees collected by the trio, as opposed to the Rupees being divided among them.

Rupees see very little use in Tri Force Heroes, where they are primarily used to pay Madame Couture to tailor new Outfits, as well as purchase Materials from the Street Merchant and to change the prize of the Daily Riches game. Link can also sell unwanted Materials to the Street Merchant for a small price.

If Link wears the Rupee Regalia, or if all gathered Links wear the Tri Suit, the odds of Rupees and their rarer values being dropped increases. It also causes dropped Rupees of a single value to always appear in pairs, effectively doubling the value of each drop. This does not occur to Rupees sitting in plain sight or those found in Treasure Chests.

Tri Force Heroes contains the only instance of degradable Rupees in the entire series. Several Blue Rupees on fire are found atop a platform near the beginning of Den of Flames, which turn into Green Rupees if not collected within fifteen seconds of starting the Level.

After Link clears all Levels and their Drablands Challenges in every Area, King Tuft will reward him with a Gold Rupee.

Types of Rupee

Rupee	Value
Green Rupee	1
Blue Rupee	5
Red Rupee	20
Purple Rupee	50
Silver Rupee	100
Gold Rupee	300

Breath of the Wild[]

In Breath of the Wild, Rupees do not appear when cutting grass or defeating most monsters; instead, they are obtained by selling Items and can be found under Rocks, inside Barrels, in crates, and in Treasure Chests. They are also dropped by Yiga Clan members and Treasure Octorok when defeated, and by Blupees when shot with an arrow.

Types of Rupee

Rupee	Value	Description
Green Rupee	1	A single rupee. Its soft green glow puts a smile on your face.
Blue Rupee	5	Five rupees. Its shiny blue facets make you weak in the knees.
Red Rupee	20	20 rupees. Its red luster tickles your heartstrings.
Purple Rupee	50	50 rupees. Its violet glow fills your heart with generosity.
Silver Rupee	100	100 Rupees. Its dazzling silver light reflects your beaming smile.
Gold Rupee	300	300 Rupees! Its radiant golden shine illuminates your soul.

Spinoff appearances[]

The Faces of Evil[]

In The Faces of Evil, Rupees are used as the currency of Koridai. They can be found only by defeating enemies and must be picked up by crouching down and striking them with the Sword. Rubies are used to purchase a small selection of items such as Lantern Oil, Rope, and Bombs from Morshu's shop in the Goronu area.^[36] Certain items also require Rubies to function, and will use a set amount each time they are used.^[37] Link can carry up to 999 Rubies.

Types of Ruby

Rupee	Value
Red Ruby	1
Green Ruby	5
Blue Ruby	10

The Wand of Gamelon[]

Identically to The Faces of Evil, Rupees are used as the currency of Gamelon. They have the same value as in The Faces of Evil, and can only be found by defeating enemies. As well as being used to buy a selection of items from the Merchant's general store in Sakado, they are also used by certain items to function. Zelda can carry up to 999 Rubies.

Types of Ruby

Rupee	Value
Red Ruby	1
Green Ruby	5
Blue Ruby	10

Zelda's Adventure[]

In Zelda's Adventure, Rupees come in only two values, similarly to The Legend of Zelda. They are found only by defeating enemies. Unlike other games, Rupees are kept in the Item inventory. In order to make a purchase, Rupees must first be selected from the inventory.^[38] Rupees are mainly used to purchase Spells, as they are valued for containing magical energy.^[39] Similarly to certain items in The Faces of Evil and The Wand of Gamelon, Spells also require a certain amount of Rupees to use. If Zelda gives the Blacksmith in Great Wimbich a Coal to turn into a Diamond, the Diamond will fill Zelda's capacity to the maximum of 999 Rupees.

Although while Rupees are correctly referred to as such in the game manual, characters refer to them as "Rubies".^[40]

Types of Rupee

Rupee	Value
Blue Rupee	5
Yellow Rupee	10

Ancient Stone Tablets[]

In Ancient Stone Tablets, Rupees retain the same values as in A Link to the Past. They can be used to buy Potions and ammunition from shops, to play minigames, or to temporarily rent the Shovel or an upgraded Sword. Rupees can also be used to buy Bomb and Arrow upgrades from Thieves hidden inside each Dungeon. At the end of each week, a score is given, with each Rupee collected adding to the total after being multiplied by 10.

Rupees can be easily found all around Hyrule. They can be obtained by defeating enemies, cutting bushes, digging with the Shovel, or found inside Treasure Chests hidden inside buildings, Caves, and secret areas. Every Dungeon features several hidden rooms found behind bombable walls, with each one containing several Treasure Chests with Rupees of high value. Each week, a Mole can also be found around Hyrule at certain times. If found, it leads the Hero of Light to a secret treasure trove containing six Treasure Chests, with the number of Rupees inside them increasing for each successive week. Rupees can also be obtained by playing any of the minigames found in the Overworld.

Types of Rupee

Rupee	Value
Green Rupee	1
Blue Rupee	5
Red Rupee	20
	50
	100
	300

Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland[]

In Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland, Rupees play an extensive and important role to the game and are featured heavily in the game's story. Tingle is instructed by Uncle Rupee to collect as many Rupees as possible and throw them into the Western Pool near his house to cause a tower to grow, allowing him entrance to the paradise Rupeeland. In-game, Rupees act as Tingle's health in addition to being used as currency. Nearly everything in the game requires Rupees, including talking to people. The tower that Tingle is instructed to build will also grant him entry to other areas of the game as he gradually makes his way to Rupeeland.

Rupees can be found by defeating monsters, opening chests, or given as rewards for services to people. In the instances where Tingle is rewarded, he must choose the number of Rupees he expects to receive from the person. If the amount he chooses is too high, the character will become outraged and give him nothing. Tingle must also choose how much he will pay people for information or services. There is no set price on any Item, and Tingle must guess how much the other character will want for it. This is done with a sort of cash register type of interface on the touch screen.

Not all Rupees in the game have set values. They are generally the same, but some can vary slightly.

Types of Rupee

Name	Value
Green Rupee	1
Blue Rupee	5
Yellow Rupee	10
Red Rupee	~20*
Purple Rupee	~50*
Orange Rupee	~100*

*Values may vary

Super Rupees and the Master Rupee[]

During his quest to reach Rupeeland, Tingle must also obtain the five Super Rupees hidden throughout the three continents, and eventually the Master Rupee hidden in the Auros Ruins. The Super Rupees have no value but are said to contain mystical powers. The five Super Rupees are the Metal Rupee, the Aqua Rupee, the Leaf Rupee, the Earth Rupee, and the Magma Rupee.

Link's Crossbow Training[]

In Link's Crossbow Training, Rupees increase Link's overall score during a level. By breaking certain Pots, Skulls, and other destructible objects, an Orange Rupee will be released. These Rupees are initially worth 1,000 points, but their point value will decrease the longer they stay on-screen. Link must shoot at them quickly to gain the highest amount of points.

Hyrule Warriors series[]

Hyrule Warriors[]

In Hyrule Warriors, Rupees are obtained by defeating Enemies, opening Treasure Chests, breaking tan colored Jars, selling Weapons^[41] and completing battles. Finishing a battle gives bonus Rupees based on the performance, time and difficulty settings, with more Rupees being rewarded the better the Warrior performed and the higher the difficulty setting. Rupees are used in the Bazaar to craft new Badges in the Badge Market^[42], increase the level of a Warrior in the Training Dojo^[43], buy Potions and Mixtures in the Apothecary, and modify Weapons in the Smithy (Hyrule Warriors).^[44][45]

Unlike other games, Rupees are automatically collected once they appear, making their physical appearance during gameplay cosmetic and an indicator of the amount earned. The Rupee colors that normally appear are Green, Blue, and Red. Silver and Gold Rupees can also appear if a Rupee Fairy is obtained.

An 8-bit version of the Rupee from The Legend of Zelda, called the 8-Bit Rupee, also appears as the Lv.★ form of Agitha's Parasol. This Weapon is added through the Twilight Princess DLC Pack in Hyrule Warriors.

In Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition, Tingle's last combo can randomly switch from exploding Bombs to exploding Rupees when they all are thrown on the ground, they explode enemies into the Bigger bomb that Tingle will hold at the end of his combo.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity[]

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In Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, Rupees act as a currency. They can be used to upgrade characters, fuse weapons, or buy from Merchants and Shops. During battle, Rupees can be found inside boxes or Treasure Chests. Rupees come in three colors, green, blue, and red. Green Rupees are worth one Rupee, blue Rupees are worth five Rupees each, and red rupees are worth 20 rupees each.

Crossover appearances[]

Super Smash Bros. Brawl[]

A Green Rupee appears as a Sticker in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Sticker	Artwork from	Effect in The Subspace Emissary	Usable by
Green Rupee	Twilight Princess	[Body, Spin] - Attack +5	All

Animal Crossing: New Leaf[]

The Player can find 100 Rupees by opening another Villager's storage unit, but is unable to use them as Bells are the prevailing currency in their Town.^{[citation needed]}

In Animal Crossing: New Leaf Welcome amiibo, Rupees appear as Furniture. When walked over, they disappear and a Rupee chime sounds before reappearing moments later. The Player can find Rupees in both Ganon's and Medli's RVs. Rupees can be purchased from inside their RVs for three MEOW Coupons.

Rupees also appear as the treasure found inside Hyrulean Treasures.

Mario Kart 8 & Mario Kart 8 Deluxe[]

Single Green Rupees replace Coins on the Hyrule Circuit track in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe They function identically to regular Coins, increasing a Kart's base speed by 1% per Rupee up to a cumulative total of 10% when 10 Rupees are obtained. Whenever a Rupee is added to a racer's count, it will make the standard Rupee jingle in place of the Coin sound.

Values[]

*Values can vary

Rupee Thieves[]

In certain games of The Legend of Zelda series, there exist enemies that will steal or cause Link to lose Rupees when attacked. When Link comes in contact with one, they will either cause his Rupees to fly out of his Wallet and onto the ground, allowing Link to quickly pick them up again, or drain or steal his Rupees straight from his Wallet.

Known Rupee thieves include:

• Pikit
• Purple Keaton
• Rat
• Rupee Like
• Rupee Wraith
• Takkuri
• Thief
• Yellow Keaton

Rewards[]

Link will be rewarded simply for collecting a high number of Rupees in the following games:

• In Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons, Vasu will give Link the Rupee Ring after collecting a grand total of 10,000 Rupees.
• The Banker in Majora's Mask gives Link the Large Wallet after depositing 200 Rupees, a Blue Rupee after depositing 1,000 Rupees and a Piece of Heart after 5,000 have been deposited.
• Four Swords rewards the Link with the most Rupees a Medal of Courage. In Four Swords Anniversary Edition, collecting a grand total of 30,000 Rupees or five Medals of Courage unlocks the Hero's Trial.

Trivia[]

• Shigeru Miyamoto said that Rupees are based on ruby gems rather than the actual Indian Rupee.^[46]
• The Yellow Rupee sprites in The Legend of Zelda first appear as Gold Bars in the 1985 Nintendo game Clu Clu Land.
• Rupees are a mirror to the Coin currency from the Mario franchise.
• The large formations of Blue Rupees found in hidden Caves and rooms in A Link to the Past have a smaller hitbox than Rupees found from killing enemies and lifting Jars or Skulls. This is because these Rupees are not sprites, but rather object layer tiles as the game cannot handle many sprites on screen. As a result, Link cannot pick these Rupees up with Items like the Hookshot or the Boomerang, as they will simply go right through them. Link can even walk in between the Rupees even if they are very close to another.^[47] Green Rupees found in the Color Dungeon of Link's Awakening DX behave similarly.
• In Breath of the Wild, Materials can still be sold if Link is at 999,999 Rupees, but the Rupee count will remain the same.

Nomenclature[]

Rupee is likely derived from or a corruption of ruby, a valuable gemstone. As a result, Rupees were frequently misnamed early in the series, such as the name "Rupy" in the original The Legend of Zelda. In the German versions of The Legend of Zelda games, a Rupee is called a Rubin, which is German for ruby. Ironically, Red Rupees resemble rubies.

Names in other regions
Language		Name	Meaning
	Japanese	ルピー (Rupī) (TLoZ | ALttP | ALBW)[48][49][50] ルピー (Rupī) (LANS) でっかいルピー (Dekkai Rupī) (OoT)	Rupy/Rupee Rupee Same as English.
	ChineseTR	盧比 (Lúbǐ) (LANS)
	Dutch	Rubie (TLoZ)[51] Rupee (LANS)
	FrenchCA	Rubis (ALBW | LCT)[52][53]
	FrenchEU	Rubis (TLoZ | ALBW)[54][55] Rubi (LANS)
	German	Rubin (LA | LANS | ALBW | HWDE)[56][57][58]	Ruby
	Italian	Rupia (LANS | ALBW)[59]
	Korean	루피 (Lupi) (LANS) 루피 (Rupi) (ALBW)[60]
	Russian	Рупия (Rupiya) (LANS) N/A (TLoZ)
	SpanishEU	Rupia (LANS | ALBW)[61]
	SpanishLA	Rupia (ALBW | LCT)[62][63]
This table was generated using translation pages. To request an addition, please contact a staff member with a reference.

Gallery[]

• 

  A Rupee from The Legend of Zelda

• 

  5 Rupees from The Legend of Zelda

• 

  Green Rupee artwork from A Link to the Past

• 

  Rupees artwork from A Link to the Past

• 

  A Blue Rupee from Link's Awakening for Nintendo Switch

• 

  A Gold Rupee from Link's Awakening for Nintendo Switch

• 

  A Purple Rupee from Link's Awakening for Nintendo Switch

• 

  A Red Rupee from Link's Awakening for Nintendo Switch

• 

  A Silver Rupee from Link's Awakening for Nintendo Switch

• 

  Blue Rupee seen when obtained from Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask

• 

  Red Rupee seen when obtained from Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask

• 

  Purple Rupee seen when obtained from Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask

• 

  Huge Rupee seen when obtained from Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask

• 

  Blue Rupee model from Ocarina of Time 3D and Majora's Mask 3D

• 

  Red Rupee model from Ocarina of Time 3D and Majora's Mask 3D

• 

  Purple Rupee model from Ocarina of Time 3D and Majora's Mask 3D

• 

  Silver Rupee model from Ocarina of Time 3D

• 

  Green Rupee seen when obtained from Ocarina of Time 3D and Majora's Mask 3D

• 

  Blue Rupee seen when obtained from Ocarina of Time 3D and Majora's Mask 3D

• 

  Red Rupee seen when obtained from Ocarina of Time 3D and Majora's Mask 3D

• 

  Purple Rupee seen when obtained from Ocarina of Time 3D and Majora's Mask 3D

• 

  Gold Rupee seen when obtained from Ocarina of Time 3D and Majora's Mask 3D

• 

  Silver Rupee seen when obtained from Majora's Mask

• 

  Rupee Shards artwork from Four Swords

• 

  Green Rupee artwork from Four Swords

• 

  Blue Rupee artwork from Four Swords

• 

  Red Rupee artwork from Four Swords

• 

  Big Green Rupee artwork from Four Swords

• 

  Big Blue Rupee artwork from Four Swords

• 

  Big Red Rupee artwork from Four Swords

• 

  Green Rupee artwork from The Wind Waker

• 

  Blue Rupee artwork from The Wind Waker

• 

  Yellow Rupee artwork from The Wind Waker

• 

  Red Rupee artwork from The Wind Waker

• 

  Purple Rupee artwork from The Wind Waker

• 

  Orange Rupee artwork from The Wind Waker

• 

  Silver Rupee artwork from The Wind Waker

• 

  Green Rupee artwork from Twilight Princess

• 

  Blue Rupee artwork from Twilight Princess

• 

  Yellow Rupee artwork from Twilight Princess

• 

  Red Rupee artwork from Twilight Princess

• 

  Purple Rupee artwork from Twilight Princess

• 

  Orange Rupee artwork from Twilight Princess

• 

  Silver Rupee artwork from Twilight Princess

• 

  Green Rupee and a Wallet from Twilight Princess

• 

  A Green Rupee from Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks

• 

  A Blue Rupee from Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks

• 

  A Red Rupee from Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks

• 

  Green Rupee artwork from Spirit Tracks

• 

  Blue Rupee sprite from Skyward Sword

• 

  Red Rupee sprite from Skyward Sword

• 

  Silver Rupee sprite from Skyward Sword

• 

  Icon of Rupees from Skyward Sword

• 

  Render of Rupees from ­­Skyward Sword

• 

  Blue Rupee model from ­­Skyward Sword

• 

  Red Rupee model from ­­Skyward Sword

• 

  A Blue Rupee from Skyward Sword HD

• 

  A Red Rupee from Skyward Sword HD

• 

  Icon of Rupees from Skyward Sword HD

• 

  Series artwork of a Green Rupee

• 

  Series artwork of a Blue Rupee

• 

  Series artwork of a Red Rupee

• 

  Rupee inventory icon from Zelda's Adventure

• 

  Agitha's 8-Bit Rupee from Hyrule Warriors

• 

  Icon of a Rupee from Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition

• 

  Agitha wielding the 8-Bit Rupee from Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition

• 

  A Rupee, as seen in-game from Mario Kart 8

• 

  Gold Bar from Clu Clu Land

Notes

References