Phantom Hourglass

This article is about the item of the same name. For the game, see The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass.

Phantom Hourglass
Artwork of the Phantom Hourglass
First appearance	Phantom Hourglass (2007)
Appearances	Phantom Hourglass Hyrule Warriors Legends
Found	Temple of the Ocean King
Use	Surviving in the Temple of the Ocean King

"You now hold the legendary Phantom Hourglass, Link. As long as you carry it, this temple cannot drain the life from you.... However... You are only safe as long as sand remains in the top of the Phantom Hourglass. When all the sand has drained to the bottom, your life, too, will be drained."

— Oshus

The Phantom Hourglass is a quest item from The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. It is a magical hourglass that Link finds the second time he visits the Temple of the Ocean King. It is explained in the game that all living things have a life force, and the physical manifestation of this force is the Sand of Hours that fills the hourglass. This magical hourglass cannot be flipped, and can only be restored with sunlight, which is done by leaving the temple.

Though fairly ordinary in appearance, the Hourglass holds quite a few plot influences; it can prevent Link from being damaged by the evil in the Temple, and it is the key to finishing the game (i.e. killing the Phantoms). It collects sand from each boss Link defeats and is later forged into the handle of the Phantom Sword by Oshus. Sand of Hours can also be found for the Hourglass on the ocean floor with the help of the Salvage Arm.

When a Phantom hits Link with his sword, the Hourglass loses 30 seconds. When a Wizzrobe hits Link, he loses 15 seconds, but gains 30 when he kills one.

Link can also gain time for the Hourglass by breaking golden jars, often containing 30 seconds, though some may only contain 15 seconds. When a boss is defeated, the Hourglass gets 2 minutes of sand. Some treasure marks have one minute worth of sand. The maximum amount of sand the Hourglass can provide is 25 minutes.

At the end of the game, when Link and Tetra return to their pirate ship, he proves that their adventure was more than a dream when he removes the hourglass from his pack, although it is now empty. What happens to the hourglass afterward is unknown.

Other appearances

Subseries warning: This article or section contains information on a subseries within the Legend of Zelda series and should be considered part of its own separate canon.

Hyrule Warriors series

The Phantom Hourglass appears incorporated into the hilt of the Phantom Sword, Toon Link's Level 2 Light Sword.

Hyrule Warriors Legends

"The Phantom Hourglass can be found in the center of the map. The hourglass protects the land from a curse cast by two Boss Giant Beasts, but some sand will fall every three battles. If all the sand falls to the bottom half of the hourglass, the curse will take effect and moving between map squares will become more difficult. You can restore sand to the top half of the hourglass by defeating Giant Beasts in squares marked as "Final battle!" Winning the same battle multiple times will restore sand each time. The Boss Giant Beasts can be encountered in certain "Final battle!" squares throughout the map. Defeat all Boss Giant Beasts to lift the curse from the Grand Travels Map once and for all!"

— Phantom Hourglass, Tutorial Description

Phantom Hourglass tutorial from Hyrule Warriors Legends

As part of the Phantom Hourglass & Spirit Tracks DLC, the Phantom Hourglass appears in the center of the Grand Travels Adventure Map. Every three battles, sand will fall to the bottom of the hourglass and when all the sand runs out, moving between map squares will become more difficult (any nearby black squares will require an "A" Rank to unlock). The Sand can be reset by defeating Giant Bosses (known as Giant Beasts) in scenarios entitled "Final battle!". The goal of the Grand Travels map is to defeat all the Boss Giant Beasts to lift the curse on the Grand Travel map.

Subseries warning: Subseries information ends here.