Ocarina of Time: Zelda’s Item Glitch Explained

Since its initial release on the N64, fans have been discovering all sorts of interesting glitches in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The game, which has also appeared on GameCube and Nintendo 3DS, has a number of notable tricks. One of these tricks is known as the “Ocarina Items” glitch. Here’s what the Ocarina Items glitch does, and how to do it.

At first glance, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time’s Ocarina Items glitch doesn’t do much. It just allows Link to pull an item up to his mouth and play it like an ocarina. Items like Deku Sticks, bombs, and the Megaton Hammer all work with this glitch. It’s a bit silly, and players can experiment with different items if they want. However, using the Ocarina Items trick can be used to unlock several other glitches in the game, such as Swordless Link or slowing down the game in the Twinrova fight.

Over the years, Ocarina of Time has been data-mined so heavily that fans have discovered all sorts of hidden details, scrapped ideas, and glitches waiting to be exploited. The Ocarina Items glitch is a fairly simple trick that can work in all versions of the game (although it is altered in the 3DS version). First, players will need to obtain a bottle and fill it up with a fish or bug. This trick won’t work if it’s an empty bottle, as an empty bottle will just result in Link whipping it out.

How To Get Zelda’s Ocarina Items Glitch To Work

Once Link has a full bottle, it’s time to get the Ocarina Items glitch to work. The methods here are slightly different on 3DS than in other versions of the game. In the 3DS version, players will need to hold a bomb and wait for it to explode. This part takes some practice, since Link needs to pull out the full bottle during the last frame showing his empty hands after the bomb explodes. If the timing is right, Link will pull out an invisible ocarina and begin to play it.

However, the Ocarina Glitch in the other versions of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is a lot more fun. After filling a bottle with a bug or fish, players will need to find something to jump off of — like a small cliff or rooftop. It can be anything, really, as long as it gives Link some time in the air. Make sure Link is holding the full bottle. If necessary, Link can empty the bottle and then re-catch the fish or bug so that it’s in his hands. Once Link is holding the bottle out, he needs to jump.

This is where things can get tricky. While in midair, players will have to perfectly time a C-button press for the bottle and quickly follow it up with another C- or B-button press to draw out the item they wish to play like an ocarina. If it’s timed correctly, Link will land safely on the ground, whip out this new item, and begin to play it. Remember, this works in every version of the game except the one on 3DS.

Once players learn the correct timing and procedures of the Ocarina Items glitch, it’s fairly easy to repeat. This glitch can also lead to some other fun tricks, like Swordless Link and slowing down the game. With the seemingly never-ending growing list of exploits in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, this trick could lead to something that hasn’t even been discovered yet.

About The Author

Austin King
(1234 Articles Published)

Austin King is a Game Features Editor at Screen Rant. He’s the author of several books and hosts the Dragon Quest FM and JRPGs & Me podcasts. You can find him on Twitter @DragonQuaustin.

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