How to Farm Rupees in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Farming rupees in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake works differently from the Nintendo 64 original and its later ports. The familiar trick of collecting red rupees above the Castle Town drawbridge no longer works, but there are still plenty of ways to fill your wallet quickly.

Sell beetles to the Buyer

Early in the game, one of the easiest ways to earn rupees is to catch bugs in empty bottles and sell them to the Buyer. You’ll find this creature enthusiast sitting across from the Shooting Gallery in Hyrule Castle Town, patting the ground with his hands. He pays 20 rupees per beetle.

Bugs hide beneath rocks and vegetation throughout Hyrule, but young Link can find a reliable supply in northeastern Hyrule Field, near Kakariko Village. Look for the Song of Storms plant and the shrubs surrounding it. You can ignore the plant itself for now, since you won’t learn the song until later. It reveals a cave with a rupee reward, although the ReDeads inside make it a dangerous stop for young Link.

Cut down the nearby plants, catch the bugs in your empty bottles, and return to Castle Town to sell them. Repeat whenever you need more money. The journey takes a little time on foot, but the Buyer isn’t far away.

Adult Link can use the same method, though the Buyer moves to Kakariko Village in the future.

Sell blue fire to the Buyer

Selling blue fire is a lucrative option once you’ve made enough progress as adult Link. The Buyer relocates to Kakariko Village alongside the survivors of Castle Town. He still purchases bugs and fish, but after you visit the Ice Cavern, he’ll also pay 40 rupees for each bottle of blue fire.

To make this route efficient, obtain Farore’s Wind from the Great Fairy Fountain in Zora’s Domain and complete the Forest, Fire, and Water Temples. Then unlock the Shadow Temple and learn the Nocturne of Shadow from Sheik, giving you a quick way back to Kakariko Village.

Travel to the Ice Cavern and set a Farore’s Wind warp point in a room containing blue fire. Fill your available bottles, play the Nocturne of Shadow, and sell the fire to the Buyer. Use Farore’s Wind to return to the cavern and repeat until your wallet is full.

Sell Poes to the Poe Collector

Adult Link can also earn money by selling Poes to the collector at the entrance to the ruined Hyrule Castle Town. These ghosts appear in Hyrule Field at night and in the Kakariko Graveyard at any time. Defeat one, capture the spirit it leaves behind in a bottle, and sell it for 15 rupees. The graveyard provides a seemingly endless supply.

This route is faster if you have Epona and have learned the Prelude of Light from Sheik after completing the Forest Temple.

Defeat Skull Kids in the Lost Woods

Skull Kids are tougher targets, but each one drops a gold rupee worth 200 rupees when defeated. Unlike many enemies, they don’t appear to respawn according to the in-game clock. Their return may instead be tied to real-world time, possibly once per day, though that has not been confirmed.

These enemies attack adult Link in the Lost Woods, keeping their distance while firing darts. Deku Nuts won’t affect them, so the Biggoron Sword’s long reach can make landing a hit easier. If you take too long, a Skull Kid will disappear and return the next time you enter the woods.

For a quick encounter, turn right immediately after entering the Lost Woods. You’ll find two Skull Kids in that area.

The Ocarina of Time remake has plenty of other differences to discover. For help along the way, consult dungeon walkthroughs covering everything from the Deku Tree to Ganondorf’s Castle, as well as guides to finding Richard the dog and the missing Cuccos.

Completionists can also look for guides to every Piece of Heart and Gold Skulltula token, along with all the Magic Bean planting locations.

Source: Polygon