Three Heart Challenge

The, known as a in the case of SS undefined, is an optional challenge where a game in  is completed without obtaining or forming a Heart Container, keeping only the starting Heart Containers throughout the game.

Restrictions and Variations
It is possible to perform the Three Heart Challenge in most Zelda games, with only a few exceptions:


 * , where the game starts with four life bars.
 * , where the Pendants and will only appear after collecting the Heart Container.
 * , where the boss room door leading to the Instrument of the Sirens will only open after collecting the Heart Container.
 * , where the game starts with more Heart Containers and where hearts will increase over time as Warriors level up.

In such cases, players can still pretend that they died the moment 3 hearts got depleted.

In, avoiding a certain amount of damage is necessary to obtain A-ranks in Adventure Mode.

has no Heart Containers to be gained, but the closest equivalent is having all three Links wear Bear Minimum, leaving them with 6 hearts and double damage taken.

An expansion on the Three Heart Challenge is the Low% challenge, where optional items must be avoided, including upgrades, and collecting Potions, Fairies, and any other health recovering items. There is also the No Damage challenge, where the player avoids taking any damage whatsoever.