Zelda: TOTK

Both Stamina Vessels and Heart Containers are important in Zelda: TOTK, but Link will need to create a balance of both to succeed in Hyrule.

In The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Link can increase two different stats through Goddess Statues and completing Shrines. In addition, Link can either gain a Stamina Vessel or Heart Container for every four Shrines completed. Aside from the first one, which is selected for Link, he can choose every time.

Since Link can choose, it can be hard to guess which stat is more important at the time. For example, is it more important to worry about Stamina so exploring is easier, or is it better to prioritize Health so that Link can survive longer in a fight, the choice is entirely up to the player. However, there is a general balance that Link should have.

Related: Zelda: TOTK - Can You Max Out Both Heart Containers And Stamina Vessels?

These two different stats serve two entirely different purposes. Heart Containers are Link's health. Each one will add a full Heart to his health, allowing him to take more damage before dying. While always important, since a new feature called Gloom in Zelda: TOTK exists, it's more important than ever as Gloom will destroy hearts in a non-traditional manner. It lowers Link's maximum health, so if he only has a few Hearts, this could very quickly put him in a bad position where he may have to abandon a fight or risk dying completely.

Stamina Vessels in Zelda: TOTK are used for Link's Stamina Rings. Link will begin the game with a minimal amount that is only good for a small sprint. Though the Zonai vehicles make climbing less imperative as it gives an alternate method to reach high places, Stamina is used for other things besides climbing. For example, Link may need help to tame most horses. Each Stamina Vessel will increase Link's Stamina Ring by about 1/4 until he is maxed out at three full rings, at which point he cannot increase it further.

While both are equally important, certain things should be considered when evaluating which to request at the Goddess Statue. Firstly, the Master Sword in Zelda: TOTK will require at least two full stamina rings to pull it. So those looking to obtain that early will need to prioritize Stamina, but if Link maxes out Stamina and leaves his health low, he's likely to be one-shot more often. Therefore, there should be a balanced strategy for these stats. Since Stamina will be a little more useful, especially early on, it should have a little more priority over hearts, but it shouldn't replace them entirely.

Link will also gain Heart Containers for free when battling the temple bosses, which is why Stamina should be slightly prioritized at the Goddess Statue.

The recommended method for increasing these stats after the first boost, where Link is forced to obtain a Heart Container in Zelda: TOTK, is a 2:1 ratio. After every two Stamina Vessels, Link should gain one Heart Container. This will allow a quick Stamina increase while also not leaving himself completely vulnerable in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. After reaching at least 12 Hearts and 2 full Stamina Rings, Link may change this up a bit in favor of what is more important at that time since this is a good foundation that should make playing the game significantly easier.