Every Legend of Zelda player knows the thrill of opening a treasure chest to that iconic jingle and finding a new item. Part of that thrill comes in the form of discovering the utility of the new equipment. In his many quests to save Hyrule, Link obtains a bevy of tools to traverse dungeons and battle foes. These items range from simple magical trinkets to powerful weapons and armor, and each stays fairly unique from one another.
Even so, some are downright strange. Whether due to their design or their effect, they can leave players wondering how they got into the game in the first place.
10 Spinner
This ancient piece of technology made its first and only appearance in Twilight Princess. Link uses it to traverse hazardous terrain, ride on rails, and even attack enemies.
What makes this item bizarre is its presence in a high fantasy world; it feels out of place compared to some of the more classic or mystical tools in Link's arsenal. Even more strange is how the hero rides it like a life-sized Beyblade. It might have felt more commonplace had it been used more outside of the Arbiter's Grounds, where it's discovered, but unfortunately, it gets little use aside from a few puzzles and rails.
9 Roc's Feather
Having a feather from a mythical bird sounds like an interesting concept for an item. In the Zelda series, though, its usage is questionable at best. This feather, found in games like Oracle of Seasons/Ages, Link's Awakening, and Four Swords, supposedly makes Link feel lighter. Using this newfound weightlessness, he can jump over small pits. That's it. Why Link needs a feather in order to jump is beyond many fans' understanding.
Though it also begs the question of how the other Links can jump at all, considering all those items they hold...
8 Mystery Seed
The Mystery Seed comes from Mystery Trees found in the Gameboy Color's Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages. With a name like Mystery Seed, they obviously have some peculiar properties.
When used normally, they have random effects that mimic the other Mystical Seeds found in the game. They also bring Owl Statues to life, which give advice like the Gossip Stones in Ocarina of Time. How they possess this ability is still an enigma.
7 Blast Mask
The Blast Mask is one of the many pieces of headgear Link obtains in Majora's Mask, as well as its remake. While many of the masks found in the game have their odd qualities, this one, in particular, takes the cake. An old bomb merchant gives it to Link if he stops a passing bandit from robbing her. The mask itself is rather plain, being a dark sphere with a skull emblazoned on the front. However, pushing a button causes an explosion that damages Link and anything nearby.
Who exactly was the bomb merchant's target demographic here? Why would anyone make something so dangerous, let alone use it? Perhaps she pushed it onto Link because she knew it wouldn't sell.
6 BowWow
BowWow is a Chain Chomp that makes its home in Mabe Village in Link's Awakening. Already its appearance is strange in the Zelda universe, as it is originally a Mario enemy. But, as this list implies, it also becomes a usable item in Four Swords.
While it is useful against many enemies, BowWow remains a dangerous item to wield. It lunges at everything in an attempt to eat it, including the other Links. The Chain Chomp also appears in Hyrule Warriors as a little Easter egg for the older Zelda fans.
5 Whirlwind
Wind plays an important role in many Zelda games. As such, a slew of puzzles centered around wind mechanics appear across each timeline. In Spirit Tracks, these puzzles are solved with the Whirlwind, which looks like a megaphone attached to a pinwheel.
Somehow, blowing into this contraption causes a cyclone to appear. This has many uses, including lifting a variety of objects and snuffing out torches. Even so, it doesn't change the oddity of this device's appearance and mechanics.
4 Super Lamp
Candles, lamps, and lanterns have always been a part of Link's toolkit since the beginning. All three usually serve the same function across each game: bringing light to dark areas and igniting small fires. In A Link Between Worlds, this item takes on a whole new role.
After completing the challenges of the Treacherous Tower, this humble item gets a serious upgrade. Its flames deal eight times the damage of its original form, making the Super Lamp as powerful as the level two Master Sword. How does a lamp even get that powerful?!
3 Flippers
Admittedly, there isn't anything too strange about a set of flippers. But when one takes into consideration their purpose in the Zelda universe, things really don't add up. In each game featuring a set of flippers, Link cannot swim until he obtains them.
Let that sink in. The legendary hero of Hyrule cannot even manage to cross a small pond without the aid of some aquatic footwear. It really makes one wonder if there was a more capable adventurer in those games.
2 Gust Bellows
Making its appearance in Skyward Sword, the Gust Bellows is yet another wind-based item that Link acquires. This one generates an endless current of wind from somewhere, though the game doesn't specify how. With such a magical item, one would expect Link to utilize these winds to great effect.
Instead, he uses it as a glorified duster. He sometimes pushes wind turbines around and slightly dazes enemies, but it holds no real purpose beyond that. Why give such an intriguing item such weak utility?
1 Ooccoo
Ooccoo is easily one of the most strange and disturbing things ever to enter Link's pockets. This small human-bird hybrid brings Link back to the start of a dungeon in Twilight Princess and makes a checkpoint to which he can return later.
Given her bulbous head, beady red eyes, and overall unsightly form, however, players may be reluctant to touch her. Even Link himself seems hesitant to accept Ooccoo's gift, as his face upon first discovering her clearly demonstrates. With any luck, Twilight Princess will be her only appearance in the franchise.